Asheville, NC, October 17,2019– Bargello™, a full service restaurant with a Mediterranean slant, and District 42™, an all-day restaurant and lounge, open today, Thursday, October 17th. Owned and operated by Asheville-based restaurateurs Peter and Martha Pollay of Mandara Hospitality Group (Posana Restaurant), the two restaurants are located on the ground floor of the new Kimpton Hotel Arras and provide an upscale dining experience with a laid-back communal vibe.
The Pollays’ goal was to create two spaces that focus on their commitment to elevated hospitality and building a sense of community. With this in mind, along with their partner, hotelier John McKibbon, they built restaurants that serve as siblings balancing each other in the open-concept ground-floor space.
Bargello is a full service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The 88-seat interior and 58-seat outdoor patio include a mix of tables with a chef’s counter and seating around the pizza oven, which serves as the epicenter of the room. Bargello also has a 10-seat private wine cellar for special events.
With a deep commitment to Western North Carolina, Bargello’s menu, helmed by Executive Chef Jordan Arace, utilizes locally sourced ingredients from area farms applied to Mediterranean dishes. The entire experience is centered around dishes that can easily be shared at the table. Highlights include:
- House-made pastas and pizzas prepared using locally-milled flour from Farm & Sparrow and Carolina Ground, blended custom in-house
- House Baked Focaccia with Stracciatella Cheese
- Lamb Kofta Kebab with Marinated Three Graces Feta, Bulgur Wheat Salad and Zhug
- Harissa Grilled Swordfish
Executive Pastry Chef Seth Massie runs the bread & pastry program, creating breads fired in the open pizza oven and all the pastries, desserts and pizza dough.
“We are extremely excited about the grandeur of the space mixed with the comforting, accessible menus,” says Peter Pollay. “When we were approached with creating restaurants in this iconic Asheville building four years ago, we couldn’t have imagined anything more incredible. The Bargello space was inspired by our travels and there’s nothing quite like it in Asheville.”
Adds Martha Pollay, “We know that people want food that unites them in a space that is transporting. I am optimistic that both restaurants will do that. They are accessible luxury. And everything is made in house as we’ve established our reputation for years, from our pasta and pizza dough to the juices for our cocktails. Plus we are working with more than 60 different farmers and local purveyors to assure the best quality ingredients.”
Named after the original 42 lots running along Biltmore and Broadway Ave, District 42 is an ode to the past, present and future narratives of downtown Asheville both in its design and classic cocktail menu. The lounge and bar is open all day and has a mix of tables and soft seating. The menu of small plates, also headed by Arace, is designed to complement an expansive cocktail and bar program, helmed by Greg Heiremans. The space accommodates 66 guests, with an additional 40 seats on the patio.
The open, welcoming vibe of District 42 invites people to stay all day, whether for coffee midmorning or drinks late into the night.
Bargello will also offer a special in-room dining menu for guests at the Kimpton Hotel Arras, as well as a custom private event menu for the multiple event spaces throughout the hotel.
CONTACT:
7 Patton Avenue
Phone: 828.774.5564
BARGELLO HOURS:
6:30 – 10 am Breakfast
11 am – 2:30 pm Lunch
5 to 10 pm
Dinner Reservations Recommended
DISTRICT 42 HOURS:
7 am – Midnight
No Reservations Necessary
