Anxiously awaited DoveCote brasserie opens downtown today

According to their Facebook page, which foodies have been stalking for months now, DoveCote opens today. The restaurant takes over the old Terrace 390 (and before that, Harvey’s Bistro) space in the Bank of America building downtown, but has been completely renovated with a sleek new design by Andrew White of Lot1433.  The food and drink are handled by a supergroup-like dream team of local culinary experts: Gene Zimmerman of the Courtesy Bar handles the beverage program, with James and Julie Petrakis of the Swine Family Restaurant Group (Ravenous Pig, Cask & Larder, Swine & Sons) and Clayton Miller, one of Food & Wine‘s Best New Chefs in 2010, on restaurant management and menu development. Last night they announced simply, “The wait is over. We are pleased & proud to announce the official opening of DoveCote, Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Coffee & pastry service begins at 7 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m., dinner 5-10:00 p.m. For reservations call 407-930-1703.” 

Chef Miller told us a month ago that the menu of “approachable French cuisine with some twists” would include:

• Fried frogs’ legs, garlic, parsley, chili ($14)
• Vermouth-braised veal cheeks, sunchoke puree, asparagus, corn, crimini mushrooms ($28)
• Mussels & frites, chorizo sausage, paprika, tomato ($18)
• Cote de boeuf, 26-ounce bone-in ribeye au poivre, trumpet mushrooms, brandy jus ($45)
• Chocolate and Grand Marnier souffles ($9)

This article appears in Jul 20-26, 2016.