Just weeks after Portico closed its restaurant in Southdowns Shopping Center on Perkins Road, a new restaurant with a farm-to-table concept has been announced as its replacement.
Table Kitchen and Bar has signed a lease to move into the roughly 3,500-square-foot space at 4205 Perkins Road, and hopes to be open as early as March. The concept is the brainchild of Scott and Michelle Wilson, and has been in the works for more than a year.
“Table will be a culmination of successful concept ingredients taken from ideas across North America and executed as a singular and unique concept in Baton Rouge,” says Scott Wilson in a prepared statement.
Table Kitchen and Bar’s daily menu will focus on traditional offerings such as chicken, pork, fish and steak—all with a farm-to-table culinary approach—as well as featured selections of game and charcuterie. The restaurant will serve alcohol, with a wine list, craft beers and cocktails.
Some minor renovations will be completed in the coming months to the former Portico space. Alex Knight of Donnie Jarreau Real Estate, who brokered the lease deal, says the addition of the “upscale but relaxed” restaurant will be a great fit in Southdowns Shopping Center.
As Daily Report first reported, Portico closed its doors in the center in mid-December. Despite its prominent location, the former Portico space has been somewhat of a revolving door for restaurateurs in recent years. Portico’s predecessor, Romacelli Bistro, was also in business for less than a year at the location before closing. Enoteca Marcello’s Wine Bar and Café, which operated in the space prior to Romacelli, closed after less than three years.
Developer Donnie Jarreau, who owns the shopping center, has told Daily Report the location has nothing to do with the turnover of restaurants in recent years, adding Portico’s owners decided to leave the local market to concentrate on their north Louisiana locations. —Steve Sanoski
