Chef Barry Honan is getting ready to take ramen to the next level in St. Augustine with Lotus Noodle Bar, located at 56 Grove Ave.
The company, owned and operated by Honan and Lauren Woinski, recently submitted a plan review application to open a brick-and-mortar, according to public records. While the elevated craft ramen restaurant was initially slated to open in Winter 2022, Honan tells What Now Jacksonville that the restaurant is now expected to open in late July 2023. Customers can expect modern Japanese flavors integrated with French techniques. The restaurant will also offer a wide range of premium sake, as well as specialty sake cocktails created seasonally.
“It’s something that I’ve dreamed of for a long time,” Honan tells What Now Jacksonville. “To have a platform of my own and the ability to create freely is a very liberating feeling. I’m ready to bring something unique to Noth Florida and further.”
Chef Honan is a former alumnus of the 3-Star Michelin restaurant Le Bernardin in NYC, mentored under Chef Eric Ripert. He possesses over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, working in restaurants such as Eleven Madison Park, Alinea, Per Se, and The French Laundry. Chef Honan’s first venture will sit in Downtown St. Augustine, giving customers a new experience with food.
“It’s a journey through the creative mind of a storyteller-chef, with each plate being a delightful surprise of flavors, textures, and visual composition rooted in a sense of constant evolution,” according to the company’s website. “Utilizing an appreciation for simplicity and beauty, Lotus showcases the seasonal bounty from local farms and exquisite products direct from Japan.”
