In our May issue, Adam Baru of Mani Osteria detailed plans for Le Mec, a French-inspired bistro at the corner of W. Liberty and S. First St. But he says a literal nightmare awakened him to realize that “we were trying to do something that ultimately was pretty far outside of what we do really well. I want to eat that burger and have that French onion soup just as bad as anybody, but it’s not enough to go and build a whole restaurant around.”
Instead, the small building is now in the demolition phase for what will become Sal Pepe, a sixty-seat, full-service Italian restaurant featuring house-made pastas and breads, as well as antipasti (starters), secondi (protein-based main courses), and a beverage program including cocktails and an Old World–influenced wine list.
Baru says the sister concept, sans pizza, is “more of an intimate sort of dining experience” than you’ll find five blocks east at Mani, which he opened in 2011. He’s hoping to launch early next year.
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