Blue Plate Kitchen to Open in West Hartford in Mid-January

The much-anticipated Blue Plate Kitchen - the sister restaurant to Hartford’s popular City Steam Brewery - is nearing a mid-January opening at its Bishops Corner location, according to general manager and business partner Anthony Sousa.

“We like to say that ‘We are setting the table to the kitchen,’” Sousa said in a telephone interview Saturday.

The eatery located next to Maximum Beverage in the Marshall’s Shopping Plaza will serve “American comfort food” for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“It’s a twist on the ‘dineresque’ experience,” said Sousa, noting that it will also be the only privately owned restaurant in the area, Sousa said.

That means diners can look forward to unique offerings, such as four beers that are brewed and served at City Steam.

“We’re also going to feature a lot of beer from our friends at Hooker, New England Brewery, Olde Burnside Brewing,” Sousa said. There will also be beers offered from all around New England, California and Chicago, Sousa said.

The restaurant will serve chicken and turkey off its own rotisserie, as well as homemade desserts such as popovers. It will also feature breads and bagels from local establishments like Crown Market and Lox, Stock and Bagels, Sousa said.

The 2,950-square-foot space will seat about 90 patrons inside and, during the spring, summer and fall, the patio will accommodate another 60 diners, Sousa said. There will also be a heated waiting area outside.

Blue Plate Kitchen, located at 345 N. Main St., will be open from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. weeknights, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

While much of the hiring for staff has take place, Sousa said that he is looking for full-time waitresses, waiters and bartenders who have an eye for customer service.

Anyone interested may e-mail Sousa at anthony@bpkwesthartford.com

For additional information about Blue Plate Kitchen, follow Sousa on Twitter @sousabpk.

The restaurant is the latest addition to the Bishops Corner area, which has seen the opening of Maximum Beverage, Qdoba, Neighborhood Market by Walmart, Noodles & Company and Pet Valu have all opened in the last year and a half.