Local food media and marketing executives piled into the new One Eleven at the Capital hotel last night for a first look at the renovated space. Previously known as Ashley's, the new restaurant now features a large bar area, stripped down decor and a revamped menu. The space will be open tonight for dinner, but before you scramble for a reservation, here's what you should know:
The lobby bar is gorgeous. Though it serves One Eleven, the bar area faces the Capital Hotel's lobby, allowing patrons to choose between one of the dozen barstools or taking cocktails out into the lounge seating in the lobby to enjoy. The bar itself features a stunning zinc bar top with tall glass shelves displaying the hotel's hefty wine and spirit options.
The dining room is fresh, but not unrecognizable. Designed by David Kleinberg & Associates in New York, the dining room has a younger, more relaxed vibe than those heavy drapes and pastels used to give off. Now, the area features hardwood floors, bare hardwood tables at lunch, brighter white trim and modern artwork along the walls. It's lighter, to be sure, but the bones are still the same. The striking windows, columns and elaborate trimwork.
You can try big-ticket wines by the glass. A new high-tech wine chiller/vacuum system allows eight bottles to be open for weeks without damaging the taste due to oxidation. And that means high-dollar, rare wines will be available in 1,3 and 5-ounce pours instead of only by the bottle.
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