Lemon Grass owner plans to open new restaurant in downtown Syracuse
Sabrina Koenig | Asst. Photo Editor
Every two weeks, Lemon Grass has to decline requests for large events with more than 100 to 150 guests, the restaurant's owner, Methin "Max" Chutinthranond, said. Now, Chutinthranond plans to open a new restaurant nearby with additional space.
The owner of the popular Lemon Grass restaurant in downtown Syracuse is planning to open another restaurant and banquet hall in the Armory Square neighborhood.
Methin “Max” Chutinthranond, owner of Lemon Grass, is opening the restaurant, called Citronelle, to accommodate larger parties and expand cuisine options.
The Syracuse City Planning Commission heard a request for permits to start construction for the restaurant at a public hearing Monday night. Construction plans include renovations of an existing structure and the construction of a one-story addition.
“Of course we would love to do weddings, and we can do weddings now because we’ve had requests to do weddings at Lemon Grass before,” said Ploy Chapman, operations manager at Lemon Grass and Chutinthranond’s daughter.
Every two weeks, Lemon Grass has to decline requests for large events with more than 100 to 150 guests because the business can not accommodate groups of that size, Chutinthranond said.
Citronelle’s food will not be like Lemon Grass’, and it will not be “Mediterranean,” Chutinthranond said. The new restaurant will feature a blend of Spanish, Italian, French and Moroccan cuisine.
Robert Seigart, an architect for Schopfer Architects, said the building where Citronelle will be located already has an existing 7,000 square feet of dining space, but would need an additional 2,300 square feet to complete the resturaunt.
Citronelle will be located on Walton Street. The back of the restaurant will extend to Armory Square, neighboring Lemon Grass.
The addition to the building will be in the parking lot space between Nick’s Tomato Pie and Jet Black, Seigart said.
Lemon Grass is already booked for Syracuse University’s 2018 commencement, Chapman said.
Citronelle would feature a 60-foot bar with an atrium allowing for “sky light all day long,” Chutinthranond said.
Citronelle would commission an artist to create a mural on the restaurant’s side. Wall art on buildings are a staple in the city.
The restaurant will move forward with construction if the plans are approved by the planning commission. The next meeting is on Oct. 16.
“I mean, something like this, it’s really hard for (the planning commission) to say no,” Seibert said.
Published on September 26, 2017 at 12:58 am
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