Restaurant Renewal Continues On Main Street

Spring has arrived on Main Street, with venerable dining establishments undergoing renovations in a search for new growth.

The Grille on Main reopens on Thursday after a two-and-a-half week blitz remodeling job. Frank and John's, meanwhile, was closed the first week of April for painting and some decor changes. Finally, the former Taste of China is in the midst of a complete renovation – to reopen as a sushi-hibachi-Thai-Chinese restaurant sometime this summer.

Whew! Let's start with the Grille. 

It closed the day after Easter for what many around town acknowledge was a much-needed renovation. The changes include a new paint job, refinished floors, and some kitchen alterations. 

"Just giving it an updated pub feel," said Greg Esposito, general manager of the Marra Restaurant Group. "It's still going to be a family place."

Esposito said the menu, which underwent a change last fall, will remain the same. And the restaurant will continue to offer an array of choices for people with gluten alergies. 

"We've been in East Greenwich for over 25 years. It's our home for the group as a whole," Esposito said. "We really enjoy being part of this community, an established landmark."

Although originally they had planned to reopen Monday, April 15, they are now looking to Thursday, April 18.

At Frank & John's, the changes aren't quite as big, but they are perhaps no less significant, given the pizza restaurant's place in the the town's psyche. They changed the interior! It looks different! 

The food, I'm assured, is the same. 

In between those two eateries sits the forlorn blue building that was the longtime home of Taste of China. That restaurant closed Jan. 30. Ever since, workers have been toiling inside to transform the space into a "new-style Asian restaurant," according to owner Jason Yau. 

Yau's family has owned the building and the restaurant since 1995. It was time for a change, he said. Inside, workers have built a brand new sushi bar and regular bar. Yau said he is hoping to get a full liquor license. The former Taste of China has a beer and wine license only.

Yau said he was also looking to renovate the outside of the building and had gotten Zoning Board approval for that. As for when it would open, he wasn't exactly sure, but said it should be open by September.