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These area restaurant locations are about to get a new look
BASIL 1791
A new Asian-American “gastro-pub-esque” restaurant is expected to open in mid-October in the former Ryan’s Tavern space on 241 High Street.
The establishment will be called Basil 1791. Basil Asian Bistro is the name of three existing restaurants owned by the same group in northeastern Ohio, and 1791 is a nod to the year Fort Hamilton was completed.
Tony Ly, operator of the restaurant, said Basil 1791 will feature “a predominantly pan-Asian menu,” including sushi.
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The restaurant also will feature “a lot of dishes you’re familiar with, hamburgers for one,” Ly said. “But you’re going to see a lot of play-offs, with a lot of Asian-influenced things. For example, don’t be surprised if you see pierogies on the menu, with an Asian spin on it.”
Besides the restaurant itself, another aspects that excites city officials and nearby businesses is the fact the restaurant will have outdoor dining: A construction crew this summer installed a garage door that will link the restaurant to tables with 30 to 40 seats for an area that will be surrounded by planters.
GUTHRIE’S CHICKEN FINGERS
Guthrie’s Chicken Fingers will open its first Butler County location in Stockton Station, a $2 million project being built at 6775 Dixie Highway in Fairfield.
Guthrie’s, an Alabama chicken chain started in 1965, has more than 27 locations around Alabama, as well as locations in Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
The closest location to Butler County are two locations in Northern Kentucky. The only other Ohio location is in Cleveland.
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The chain considers itself the "original chicken finger specialists," as it started to serve the now-common dish in the 1970s.
Its blend of chicken fingers, crispy fries, cole slaw, buttered Texas Toast and special sauce has been copied by various other chains over the years, according to the company, but “we’re the original.”
Stockton Station, an 8,919-square-foot multi-tenant retail center between the Spinning Fork and a new Starbucks, will provide space for three to five tenants, including restaurants, retailers, or service businesses.
RAPID FIRED PIZZA
Also coming to Stockton Station in Fairfield is Rapid Fired Pizza, a Kettering-based pizza chain that serves fresh-made pizza in just 180 seconds.
Scheduled to open next spring, the restaurant will offer its own craft pizza selections or a choice of more than 35 fresh toppings and a dozen different sauces to create one’s own pizza.
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For those watching carbs or counting calories, Rapid Fired Pizza offers four salads starting at less than 400 calories. Custom salads can also be created with your choice of fresh toppings.
The new restaurant, which will employ about 80 people, will offer seating for 89 people inside and eight people outside.
CHICK-FIL-A
A new Chick-fil-A will open in West Chester Twp., just about two miles from a current location of the restaurant.
The new location is expected to open early next year across the street from Liberty Center, according to company officials. The Chick-fil-A at in the Voice of America Centre Shopping Center will remain open when the new restaurant opens.
Chick-fil-A system sales reached nearly $8 billion in 2016, marking 49 consecutive years of sales growth, according to the company.
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In 2017, Chick-fil-A received the top score among fast food brands and one of the top 10 scores overall for customer experience in the Temkin Experience Ratings survey. Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company.
Founded in 1967, it has more than 2,200 restaurants in 46 states and Washington, D.C.
GOLD STAR CHILI
A local restaurant chain with a “Cincinnati flavor” recently broke ground on a new location in Butler County.
Gold Star Chili is building a new 2,700-square-foot restaurant at 7388 North Liberty Drive in the Liberty Commons shopping center, just north of Ohio 129’s Cincinnati-Dayton Road exit.
The new Gold Star, which company officials said should be open “in the next couple of months,” will be located next to Burger King and between Kroger and First Watch.
Founded in 1965 by the four Daoud brothers, Gold Star Chili has 76 locations in the Greater Cincinnati area, including 57 serving its original menu and 19 offering its “Chill & Grill” menu, according to the company’s website.
QUARTER BARREL BREWERY & PUB
Quarter Barrel Brewery & Pub, based in Oxford, will bring rooftop dining overlooking the Great Miami River and Hamilton’s downtown to the city’s growing Main Street entertainment district.
Restaurant owner Brandon Ney, who signed a lease for the building at the southwest corner of Main and B Streets, said it is “a premier location.”
The brew pub will be identical in philosophy to the original location of Quarter Barrel Brewery and Pub in Oxford, Ney said.
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“But while population swings in Oxford necessitate a high volume approach, the Hamilton location will let us explore a few different concepts in regards to beer and food pairings, service settings and so on,” Ney said. “It will certainly be interesting to experience what it’s like to be busy during the summer.”
The business is hoping for a fall opening.
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