Delius' Finally Opened

Thursday, July 6, 2007

After many months (actually close to 2 years) the new Delius' doors opened for a pre-opening soiree.

The first thing you notice is a large parking lot that is not shared with anyone else. (Hallelujah)

When you walk in the front door, right in front of you is a very large expanse of mahogany with outcrops (shelves) of mahogany and recessed lighting. This same detail will be on the back wall of the bar area.

It still has the Delius touch. The main walk-in dining area is with the bar/lounge area. There are free standing tables, booths and a long banquette against the far wall with small tables. Track lighting with individual spotlights for each table hangs from above. There are soffitts around the dining area which soon will be filled with an acoustical sound absorbing material. Right down the noise level is high. The ceiling is open to the roof with exposed ductwork, etc. painted a dark color so you do not notice that it is open.

4 wine cellars line the one wall in the main dining room. Hopefully they will soon be filled with the wine that is stacked very high in the "new private" dining area that has a window that looks out into the kitchen area that Louise will be cooking in.

The prix fixe dining area is a separate room with a back entrance/exit for the servers coming from the kitchen (no more coming through the dining room to get to the bar). The other dining room is served by a second door in the hallway.

The kitchen is set up into 2 cooking areas. One for the cook and one for Louise who will still cook the high end dinners for the prix fixe dining room (reservations only) The dishwashing area is larger than the kitchen at the old place.

We were served an assortment of appetizers, true to Delius' reputation. Endive leaves, stuffed with a lobster concoction, stuffed mushrooms, procuitto wrapped grilled shrimp, ginger wontons, chicken wrapped up in a very small crepe like roll with a sauce , gourmet pizzas, freshly made, very thinly sliced potato chips (addicting), small pieces of chicken in a lemon dipping sauce, miniature cream puffs and cookies. Wine was being poured freely and the bar was open for those who purchase mixed drinks.

Everyone I talked with tonight felt the same as I did, that this place is going to be a real winner.