Hartford-based Statement Group has opened its highly anticipated RAW seafood bar at 280 Trumbull St., in the former V’s Trattoria space, across from the Hartford Stage.
Statement Group founder Gina Luari – the woman behind the successful brunch-all-day Place 2 Be restaurants – had a “soft,” unannounced opening on May 15, in order to give her staff time to warm up and fine-tune the new operation.
The concept infuses artistic and modern flare to the raw bar seafood concept, with décor including graffiti art, neon lights and industrial design.
RAW is the first restaurant by Statement to diverge from The Place 2 Be’s brunch-all-day concept. Luari is also pushing to open a brick-oven pizzeria and a restaurant featuring Central and South American cuisine in downtown Hartford.
“I’m just incredibly excited, this is the first of many concepts we are going to open downtown, and it really adds something to Hartford’s hospitality scene,” Luari said Wednesday.
At RAW, Chef Chantheoun Thanh will pair artistic food presentations with craft cocktails, and entrees like lobster macaroni and cheese, beef tartare with caviar and egg yolk, and petite filet mignon.
There will be a happy hour featuring five oysters for $5, and happy hour versions of appetizers.
Luari said she’s hired 35 staff so far and is seeking to take on another 15 for almost every facet of the operation, from servers, to cooks and bartenders – even oyster shuckers. That’s a difficult position to fill, Luari said.
RAW is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Luari’s project received a $150,000 boost from Hartford’s Hart Lift grant program, which aims to help entrepreneurs expand existing and establish new restaurants and retail throughout the city. Altogether, Luari puts opening costs at about $400,000, and counting. She’s hoping to add an outdoor patio area, and there will be other costs.
“We are constantly going to evolve,” Luari said.