Turning Tables: David Burke Arrives in Rhode Island
In addition to opening a new restaurant in White Plains, NY and another in Manhattan, acclaimed chef and restaurateur David Burke has brought his flair to Rhode Island, his first location in the state. Earlier this month, Burke and David Burke Hospitality Management (DBHM) acquired food and beverage operations at the Preserve Sporting Club & Residences in Richmond, RI, including the 3,500-acre luxury resort’s signature restaurant, Double Barrel Kitchen.
“Last fall I received a call from the owner of the Preserve Sporting Club & Residences, Paul Milhailides,” Burke said wine spectators by email. “It’s a great partnership. He has an energy that matches mine.”
Now called Double Barrel Steak by David Burke, the restaurant offers a revamped menu with everything from regional favorites (lobster dumplings, oysters with crabmeat) to dishes like burrata and prosciutto salad and butternut squash ravioli. This, of course, is in addition to a wide range of steaks aged on-site in Himalayan salt (from an 8-ounce filet mignon to a 40-ounce tomahawk), classic steakhouse toppings, and other seafood dishes like swordfish chops – a mainstay of Burke. “The location itself is the main inspiration,” Burke said, “the surrounding nature and resources, like Rhode Island’s fishing and farming industries.”
The new menu is a perfect fit for a Preferred Hotels & Resorts destination that focuses on outdoor and land sports. “[Burke is] perfect for a premier, athlete-oriented property,” said Milhailides. “He loves working with game and saltwater fish.”
General Manager Steve Lieberman oversees a roster of more than 200 wines distilled from a wine cellar valued at around $1 million. The focus is on steak-friendly reds from regions like Napa Valley, Rhône Valley, Bordeaux, and Piedmont, but Burgundy, Sonoma Pinot Noir, dessert wines, and more are also well represented. “We’re privileged to have taken on the Preserve Listing, which is a great Old World classic, like that of a collector who’s been curating it for 20 years, with a lot of big red verticals,” Lieberman explained, noting that he did so plans to add picks like Malbec and Petite Sirah in collaboration with the resort’s operations manager. “Our goal is to make it the best list in Rhode Island and one of the best on the East Coast.”
The restaurant covers an impressive area of 7,000 square meters with 350 seats. In addition to wood and leather features and original artwork depicting horses, the space now features a new Himalayan salt wall, a Burke’s Restaurant signature.
In addition to The Preserve’s double barrel steak, room service and special events, Burke’s team will oversee operations at the resort’s H2O Café, White Birch Café, bourbon-focused Maker’s Mark Hobbit Houses and the Cohiba & Laphroaig Safari Tasting Tents, where the Guests combine small plates with scotch and cigars.
“The natural beauty of the Preserve is amazing and puts people in a relaxed, happy mood,” said Burke. “It’s up to us to make sure it continues and actually improves. You are in a special place and expect a special dining experience; we have to meet those expectations – and we meet them.”
Double Barrel Steak is one of a wide variety of restaurants, bars and event spaces that have guided the culinary vision of David Burke and his team, including The wine spectators Award of Excellence-winning Red Horse by David Burke in Rumson, NJ – CD
Left Bank Brasserie expands to Oakland, California
Ever since the first Left Bank Brasserie opened on San Jose’s vibrant Santana Row in 2003, the Parisian-inspired restaurant – now a wine spectators Award of Excellence Winner – has won two Award of Excellence winning siblings in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Larkspur and Menlo Park. On February 17, a fourth location opened in Oakland’s Jack London Square, a waterfront dining and retail district.
The brasseries, owned by Vine Hospitality, are part of a diverse group of establishments across the Bay Area, including two Best of Award-winning LB Steak restaurants and the Award of Excellence-winning Meso Modern Mediterranean.
“When I first became aware of the opportunity at Jack London Square, I was excited at the thought of bringing our brasserie to such a vibrant part of Oakland,” said Obadiah Ostergard, CEO of Left Bank Brasserie and LB Steak. “As soon as we saw the space, we knew it was perfect for Left Bank. Who wouldn’t want oysters and champagne on this beautiful waterfront?”
The all-day menu will look familiar to those who’ve eaten at Left Bank’s other restaurants, with dishes like the popular Left Bank Petit Plateau, a platter of raw seafood (including oysters) for up to three guests. Alongside brasserie trademarks like Salade Niçoise, Moules Frites and Boeuf Bourguignon, chef Larry Finn has added a personal touch with new menu items like the Chicken friesFried chicken served with root vegetable tartar sauce inspired by his experience eating at New York’s Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken.
The wine program also stays true to the Left Bank’s roots, with an impressive selection of wines primarily from California and France. However, Serena Harkey, director of wine and spirits, said the Jack London space allows them to offer more, including a dedicated champagne room. “We currently have close to 150 wines on offer, but I’m hoping to double that over the course of the year,” she explained, noting that Oakland is a wine lover’s community. “We strive to offer them one of the most impressive yet accessible programs in the region.”
Cocktails are also a highlight at the new restaurant, according to Harkey, including variations on American standards as well as non-alcoholic options “that have the look and feel of a cocktail without the fuss.”
The restaurant is located on the former Belcampo Meat Co. site, a sprawling 5,500 square foot warehouse with an additional 2,000 square feet for al fresco dining along the waterfront. The restaurant’s interior is reminiscent of a classic French bistro, with mosaic tile floors, tin ceilings, wooden bistro tables, and tufted leather banquettes. Additionally, Ostergard said the team refreshed the signature Left Bank design palette, opting for bright blues and deep reds, along with custom wallpaper featuring images of the Port of Oakland and the Bay Bridge.
Francophiles can also enjoy “Fun and French” events throughout the year on the Left Bank, including Bastille Day, an Oyster Festival and a celebration of the annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau.—AR