It’s not a biker bar — it just looks like one
September 4th, 2007 by Cliff Bostock in Restaurants
This gigantic antipasti platter is featured at the new Lamplighter Cafe (280 Connally St., 404-247-0240). The tiny restaurant and coffee bar is in an odd location, on a side street between Memorial Drive and MLK Jr. Boulevard, a few blocks west of Hill Street. It’s been opened by Eric Newman, who briefly co-owned Solstice Cafe in Grant Park. Eric formerly worked as a server at Eclipse di Luna.
The restaurant’s exterior, a grim gray that Eric said has people wondering if it’s a biker bar, will be repainted soon. “People say it looks scary,” Eric said. I confess that’s exactly what I said to Wayne when we drove up to the building.
The menu is mainly light fare — salads, sandwiches, noodle bowls, pizza — with just three substantial entrees. Eric told me he’s thinking about menu changes, too. “One day last week, we had people at 15 tables get up and leave because we didn’t have any ‘real food’ — meaning chicken wings,” he said.
The Lamplighter, which also serves weekend brunch, is convenient to the downtown Capitol area and Grant Park. Check it out.
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