Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009

Rivertown Bistro back in Conway

A Conway restaurant destroyed by a blaze last year is back.

Rivertown Bistro, a local's favorite, had a soft opening Feb. 9 serving only lunch.

The restaurant began operating on its full schedule Feb. 10, said its owner and executive chef, Darren Smith.

Rivertown Bistro now has a wine cellar, outdoor seating for 30 that overlooks downtown Conway and upstairs dining, accessible by stairs or an elevator.

The seating capacity is 115, and there is a lower level dining space that allows customers to watch as cooks prepare their food.

Diners on the upper level can also look down into the kitchen, which is more spacious than the previous one. The restaurant, which remains at 1111 Third Ave., is about 6,000 square feet.

The original Rivertown Bistro burned Jan. 31, 2008. The fire was possibly caused by faulty wire, although the actual cause was never determined by the Conway Fire Department.

More than 20 employees were displaced because of the fire.

``I've got all of my awesome family coming back,’’ Smith said. ``I've added a few more cooks and [wait] staff.’’

The staff is the same, but the ambiance of the new Rivertown Bistro is different.

The décor is in warm, earth tones, including the milk chocolate-colored granite bar counter.

Smith said he and his wife, Cyndi, wanted to achieve a more mature-looking atmosphere.

They poured through magazines and were inspired by nature and places they had visited when conceptualizing the eatery's décor.

The menu mixes the old and new. Lowcountry spring rolls and crab encrusted grouper served with two potato artichoke hash and lemon confit sauce are among the signature creations, while several sushi offerings are among the new items.

Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for dinner.

Call 248-3733.