The Boardroom restaurant opens after two years of renovations in former Twins Restaurant

Jennie Geisler, Erie Times-News
Updated ·2 min read
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Monday had been a long time coming for Joshua Walters and Michel Chessario, owners of The Boardroom Dining & Spirits, which is in the renovated Twins Restaurant, 4353 West Ridge Road.

"Two years," Walters said, shaking his head and ticking off the various delays they'd experienced in creating the new restaurant, which is decorated in gleaming gray and black accents, with portraits of the Rat Pack and contemporary celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe.

The bar at The Boardroom, 4353 West Ridge Road, seats 15, and serves craft cocktails and dozens of beers and wines.
The bar at The Boardroom, 4353 West Ridge Road, seats 15, and serves craft cocktails and dozens of beers and wines.

Walters presided over an invite-only soft opening of the restaurant Thursday evening. It was quiet at first, but by 7 p.m. there wasn't a seat to be had.

The mushroom ravioli at The Boardroom Restaurant is served with piquant roasted tomatoes.
The mushroom ravioli at The Boardroom Restaurant is served with piquant roasted tomatoes.

The limited menu featured during the soft opening included dishes such as Lobster Bisque, The Boardroom BLT, Creole Shrimp Salad, filet and Portabella Mushroom Ravioli. Some of the items had Rat Pack- or corporate-themed names such as The Interview (swordfish in a smoked tomato anchovy salsa with cilantro lime rice and vegetables); and The Vice President (herb-roasted airline chicken with roasted garlic parm mashed and seasonal vegetables).

Other sure-to-be favorites included Jumbo Shrimp & Gnocchi (served in a vodka cream sauce with roasted tomatoes) and The Executive (20-ounce pork osso bucco with roasted garlic parm mashed and seasonal vegetable). "That's my absolute favorite thing we have here," Walters said with a laugh.

Chef Jonathan Larson, formerly of Lakelands Pub in Lake City, created the menu with input from the owners, including Walters, also a partner with Chessario in a band called Theory of Evolution. Walters said he'd never owned a restaurant, but he and his friends have been in the entertainment and hospitality business for 30 years and decided to give it a go.

The Boardroom, a new restaurant in the gutted and renovated former Twins Restaurant, opened for business on Monday.
The Boardroom, a new restaurant in the gutted and renovated former Twins Restaurant, opened for business on Monday.

Other plans for the property include a possible cigar lounge in the space upstairs, and the restaurant includes a basement for which plans are on hold while the restaurant finds its feet.

More: Bricks at Cashier’s House, a new American steakhouse, takes downtown Erie upscale

Contact Jennie Geisler at jgeisler@timesnews.com. Or at 814-870-1885. 

The Boardroom, 4353 West Ridge Rolad, was to open Monday July 17 after two years of renovations.
The Boardroom, 4353 West Ridge Rolad, was to open Monday July 17 after two years of renovations.

The Boardroom

4353 West Ridge Road

Hours: Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; closed Sundays; Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to midnight.

814-616-0089

www.facebook.com/TheBoardroomErie

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: The Boardroom Dining & Spirits opens after two years of renovations