re: Kenton's to close, Alon Shaya's new restaurant will take over the space

It is and like someone else said, rent is crazy stupid. A lot of places indicated high rent.

the food was very good to great
the service was pretty unfriendly and kind of stuck up
the two times I went it was so crowded as to be uncomfortable but it's been a few months

I guess the shine wore off

There is barely any parking for that strip of shops + Kenton's. Can't help that it's too expensive.

I'm in this neighborhood often, and the revolving door of coffee shops has been funny to watch. It's a high traffic block, with lots of foot traffic too. But most of those attempts at coffee have been just stupidly bad at customer service. The Pie and Quiche joint--ugly, boring pies no better than the average half-assed home baker could have produced. The Hi-Volt coffee hipsters were dreadfully slow and disinterested in customers....

District seems to do solid business, with an interesting menu of coffee drinks, plus friendly, competent, and quick service.

Back to the Kenton's/Shaya reboot: I hope the private dining side room is retained. It is difficult to find a restaurant w/private room in this particular area. I used it multiple times for business functions & always rec'd good service, good food, etc. It is spacious without being empty/sterile.

I'm wondering where the wood fired oven will go?

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Wow. I never ate there, but saw the building and lots of pictures of the inside. Looks like a very nice space.

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I went once and it was a very good dinner. It does almost seem like too nice of a space for Shaya, in a way - or at least too romantic, because Shaya is entirely too loud to be called that.

Tonight's the most people I've seen eating outside Kenton's in awhile.