The team behind The Dorian (Anderson Pugash, Benson Wang, Jack Herr), now quietly open in the old Circa space in the Marina, is hoping the new Victorian-inspired restaurant will be just as beloved in the neighborhood as Circa once was. "I’ve never worked anywhere else that people got as excited about and interested in as this. Like, ‘Oh you’re taking over the old Circa location? What are you doing?’" executive chef Chris Ricketts told Eater. "I’ve been working in that neighborhood for a while, and I want to see familiar faces coming back." Ricketts recently became chef after Jason Saunders stepped away from the role, and he plans to stay in charge of Palm House’s kitchen as well, though he’ll be more often at The Dorian while it gets up and running. Ricketts was heavily involved in menu development, which veers toward meaty American classics with a raw bar, steak tartare and a house burger. Brunch, which used to be a favorite at Circa, is soon to follow and Ricketts wants it to be just as boozy as Circa’s was. Drinks from Anthony Parks (50/50 Cocktail Co) follow the same classics path, like with an entire martini menu.
Check out the space above, designed by Shelly Amoroso (Palm House), which has a large bar and lounge area separate from a dining room. The Dorian is now open for walk-ins (but closed on Mondays), with a grand opening set for Tuesday, September 22.
