The upscale cocktail bar Olive or Twist has begun construction to expand its footprint within the Perkins Palms shopping center.
Co-owner Scott Gremillion tells 225 Dine the bar, located at 7248 Perkins Road between Essen Lane and Kenilworth Parkway, recently started renovating and updating its current space and is remodeling the neighboring space formerly occupied by Painting and Pinot.
The expansion into the neighboring space will allow the bar to offer a full-service restaurant experience, under the guidance of executive chef Richard Markert. Painting and Pinot has moved to another location within Perkins Palms.
Gremillion says it’s too early to set a timeline on when the expansion will be complete, but it is not expected to disrupt normal operating hours.
Olive or Twist opened on Perkins Road in 2012.
In other news, even though The Overpass Merchant, 2904 Perkins Road, has been serving food and drinks since March, the gastropub will host its grand opening at noon on Saturday. The full service kitchen will be in use for the grand opening, and there will be specials on the restaurant’s signature Merchant Mule.
Live music will also be performed on the patio, and an LSU baseball game will be screened.
The Overpass Merchant also is partnering with New Belgium, a Colorado brewery, for the day to celebrate 25 years of Fat Tire.
Read the full story, which includes updates on the reopened Serop’s Express on Jefferson Highway and Brew Ha-Ha’s daily breakfast and brunch. Make sure you get your fill of local culinary news each week by signing up for the free 225 Dine e-newsletter.
