LAKEVIEW — An oyster and cocktail restaurant planned for Broadway may have a twist when it opens later this year: homemade wine.
Lakeview entrepreneur Phil Tadros, who owns coffee shop Bow Truss and marketing company Doejo, plans to open Oyster Pail at 2928 N. Broadway, home of former porn shop Adult Fantasy.
Now, he's seeking a zoning change so that the restaurant will also be able to make small batches of wine, sparkling wine and vermouth, Tadros and attorney William O'Donaughe told South East Lake View Neighbors at a meeting earlier this week.
"Think of a brewpub, but with wine," O'Donaughe said.
Oyster Pail would only make small batches of wine and would not sell it outside of the restaurant. Tadros is also considering repackaging vermouth for diners to take home, he said.
He's primarily focused on making Oyster Pail a simple place for people to relax with craft cocktails, oysters and charcuterie, he said.
The second floor will have about 20 seats and a bar, while the first floor will have a total of about 70 seats at a bar and at tables. A fuller menu featuring fish and small plates would only be available downstairs.
"No one's doing this for any other reason besides wanting to do something amazing for the space and for the neighborhood," Tadros said.
The zoning on the building needs to be changed to allow wine-making on site, O'Donaughe said.
Tadros has previously said he would like a May opening for the restaurant — a date he repeated at the meeting this week — but O'Donaughe said early August is more realistic and even that date is "optimistic" considering the city approvals needed, he said.
Aquanut brewer, formerly known as Strange Pelican Brewery, will no longer be making oyster beer in the restaurant, as previously reported, according to Eric McNeil, brewmaster at Aquanut.
South East Lake View Neighbors will take an advisory vote on whether to support the zoning change in coming months.
