The former Prime 490, and Roseland Restaurant before that, will be reopening next Thursday (soft opening) under a new name and with a fresh concept.
Owner/operator Josh Hanzlian is busy putting the final touches on what he says will be a “new American fusion” restaurant, serving small shared plates (but not tapas), where a couple of people will be able to share a medley of culinary creations without breaking the bank. “I want this to be a social experience,” Josh told me. “Hence the name. We will not have one style of food, rather we will be offering a range of appetizers and entrees that can be broken down to smaller offerings that can be sampled and shared. We’ll have a house wine selection of 45-60 wines at any given time. Our bar will serve unique spirits and craft drinks that might include ingredients such as clarified egg whites or concepts that feature herb infused cocktails. This is a ‘come as you are’ restaurant that will specialize in meals that we will be putting our own twists on. We will be relying on our wait staff to make sure that our customers feel at ease with the portion size of shared plates… Providence Social will not be your traditional restaurant, as you can see.”
Already I’m liking the brilliant neon signage that can be seen on the side of the building, made right here in Buffalo by Flexlume. The entire facade of the restaurant has been altered and looks sharp. Inside, a few of the transom windows above the bar have been replaced with stained glass depicting Buffalo’s skyline. With a brighter interior and a fresh new culinary concept, this will be a welcome addition to a neighborhood that continues to bud in many different directions – from restaurants to a bakery, a gardening co-op, public “sculpture” park, neighborhood clean-ups, and an overall residential renaissance with lots more to come on the commercial end as well.
Providence Social | 490 Rhode Island Street | West Side | Buffalo NY | Facebook