Years ago, the partners with PROOFHospitality Group were planning to expand their restaurants in the Wilmington area beyond Rebellion NC. First came Fox's Hole in the Wall, which opened last year on Princess Street.
It’s taken a little longer to open the third, Commodore Public House & Kitchen in Wilmington’s Brooklyn Arts District. For good reason.
“This wasn’t even a restaurant. It was an empty shell,” Travis Weiss said. Along with Brian 'Wes' Westlye and John Bradley, the three oversee the food, operations, and financials of the restaurants, respectively.
The space had to be outfitted with everything that a restaurant needs, from plumbing to a kitchen. In recent days, they’ve started offering soft opening hours to show the public what they’ve been working on. They’re now open for dinner service at 620 N. Fourth St. Tuesday through Saturday.
The partners have also opened restaurants in the Washington, D.C., area and it’s where they first started this Commodore concept.
“Rebellion is all about whiskey,” Weiss said. “Commodore has more of a Caribbean, Spanish flair. It's more rum focused, with more citrusy and fruity flavors.”
They worked with Nathanial Fabian to help create the drinks. He oversees the bar program at PinPoint restaurant and is also a cocktail consultant. You can find drinks like the El Floridita and house specialties such as the Poblano Escobar, a spicy margarita with habanero-infused tequila. They are currently barrel aging a rum for a signature Old Fashioned.
As for the food, Weiss said he is classically trained, but he enjoys making accessible, delicious bar food. Westlye recommends The Heavy, a loaded fries dish with a base of boniato, a type of sweet potato, and topped with a Cuban style fried pork. Look for other familiar menu items (salads, quesadillas and sandwiches) that are similarly served with unique twists.
“We want it to be laid-back and easy-going, with an attention to detail,” Weiss said. “And we want the food to be delicious.”
They have a similar goal for the overall vibe.
“We wanted it to be cozy. To feel like it’s been here for 20 years, even though it opened last week,” Westlye said.
Next year, look for the partners to convert a side yard into a beer garden. Then, they plan to make sure all of the restaurants are running smoothly. But they have ideas for more. Weiss is planning to move to the Wilmington area permanently, and then they'll take a look at the possibilities.
“We really want to take it to the next level,” Westlye said. “That’s our plan for 2025.”
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New restaurant with cozy, laid-back vibe opens in Wilmington's Brooklyn Arts District
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