Downtown Dinners

Deveron Timberlake takes a look at the dining options near CenterStage.

"In general, the drinking is better than the eating in the short radius from CenterStage, but most everything is affordable and therefore more palatable. Here’s where to go now for before — and after — theater sloshing and noshing:"

• Gibson’s Grill
  700 E. Broad St., 644-2637
  http://www.gibsonsgrill.com/
• Café Rustica
  414 E. Main St., 225-8811
• Capital Ale House
  623 E. Main St., 780-2537
  http://www.capitalalehouse.com/
• O’Neill’s Penny Lane Pub
  421 E. Franklin St., 780-1682
  http://www.pennylanepub.com/
• T-Miller’s Sports Bar & Grill
  500 E. Broad St. in the Marriott, 648-2255
  http://www.tmillerssportsbar.com/
• Coming Attraction
  Pie is the newest in a local restaurant group that includes the Fan’s Si Tapas and downtown’s Bank and Vault. This Italian restaurant in the former Berry-Burk building, at 525 E. Grace St., is under construction with an anticipated late-fall opening.

This is only a partial list. Others that I can think of are:

• Louisiana Flair (Open late from 10:00 AM to 3:00 AM Friday and Saturday)
  322 E. Grace St 612-9066
• Kenn-Tico Cuban Bar and Grill - Opening early October
  2nd & Grace next to Chic Chapeau
• LeMaire @ The Jefferson

Since you will most likely drive you could take in any of the great restaurants on Broad east of Belividere

• The Belvidere at Broad
• Tarrants Cafe
• Tarrantino's Pizza
• Twenty-Seven
• Popkin's Tavern

• Comfort

As the season picks up expect more restaurants to start opeing late. Downtown should soon be full of places to eat and stroll. Given enough traffic, may some of the many art galleries will extend their hours making downtown a true arts and entertainment district.

See the full coverage of CenterStage in this week's Style.