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[Avila, 2/18/14]
The restaurant formerly known as St. Jack NW has opened its doors as location-indicator-free St. Jack, after the acclaimed Lyonnaise bistro's original SE Clinton location closed last week. But let's focus on the positives: St. Jack's new NW 23rd home doubles the seating (from 45 to 90 seats) and as previously reported, majorly upgrades the kitchen space that chef Aaron Barnett gets to play with: the new restaurant's walk-in refrigerator, Barnett says, is the same size as the SE outpost's entire kitchen.
The result of extra room to play are the much-touted menu additions like a playful raw bar, roving cheese cart, and tableside tarte flambés (all are in slow roll-out mode). At the new U-shaped bar, 16 guests can grab stools to sip on bar manager John Salas' bold drinks (the "Cameron's Kick" combines whiskey, scotch, lemon, and nutmeg; the "Brandy Fix" features Cognac, chartreuse, tea-infused Pineau des Charentes, pineapple, and lime.) St. Jack is currently open for dinner seven days a week.
· St. Jack [Official site]
· All Previous St. Jack Coverage [Eater PDX]