According to recent reporting, a new restaurant will open in Short North called Hiraeth, located at 38 E Lincoln St. The eatery is owned by BJ Lieberman and Bronwyn Haines, the duo behind Chapman’s Eat Market and the jazz lounge Ginger Rabbit.
The new restaurant is slated to open in mid-July provided the interior build out stays on schedule. Hiraeth will feature two levels, a ground floor level with a 1,600 square foot dining area and as well as 4,000 square foot basement level dining area with a 10 foot hearth that is the focal point of the space.
What Now Columbus spoke with BJ Lieberman who shared the inspiration behind the new concept. Although Lieberman said the menu isn’t finalized yet, guests can expect a modern steakhouse inspired by cultures where the cuisine is focused around wood-fired dishes. At Hiraeth, that will mean big cuts of meat cooked over a wood-fired grill served with a sauce that complements the cut, such as steak with chimichurri. Sides will be a la carte and the appetizers will be small shareable bites. The cocktail menu will center around drinks made with scotch and mezcal, since both spirits have smokey elements.
Lieberman said the fire focus will extend beyond the menu items, with it also playing into the elements of the decor. The basement aesthetic is centered around things that are made with fire, such as clay tiles, natural wood elements with a burnt finish and metal pieces that have been forged in fire. The first floor will have a Mediterranean feel, with pops of blue and white, reminiscent of Greece, along with lots of plants and greenery.
The eatery’s name is Welsh, which is a nod to Lieberman’s wife’s family. Although the word hiraeth doesn’t translate well into English, Lieberman said it’s similar to experiencing a moment that evokes a rush of homesickness, such as a smell that transports you to your grandmother’s kitchen. That nostalgic, homesick feeling is what the team at Hiraeth hope to replicate with each visit to the restaurant.
“The idea was to create a space that’s so unique that the only way to get the feeling is to come back and see us,” Lieberman said.
