Jefferson Hotel’s revamped Lemaire opens July 8

SLIDESHOW: The remodeled Lemaire

Though alligators no longer roam the lobby of The Jefferson Hotel, they will be well represented when Lemaire reopens next month.

The restaurant, which closed Jan. 1 for a complete remodel, is scheduled to open to diners July 8. Lemaire also is keeping its name, even though the hotel initially had said the restaurant would get a new one.

In an effort to honor its past, the wait staff will have alligators on their ties, and the barstools are upholstered with faux alligator skin. Yes, barstools.

Alligators lived in the marble pools in the hotel's Palm Court for years, with Richmonders and hotel guests donating their pet alligators. The last alligator remained at the hotel until dying in 1948.

The remade Lemaire will be decidedly lower key, with a large mahogany and granite bar at the heart of the new restaurant.

The restaurant's bar is part of a larger effort by the hotel to make Lemaire accessible to a wider clientele.

"We wanted to be more approachable, livelier," said Joseph Longo, the hotel's managing director.

The Jefferson wants the new Lemaire to be more of a community gathering place than a luxury restaurant where people only go on special occasions.

Ben Eubanks, director of restaurants and wine at the Jefferson, designed the menu so people could eat casually in the bar area or a bit more formally at a table.

The menu has plates starting as low $5, and no entrees are priced above $30.

Lemaire will carry 150 wines, with a decent selection costing less than $30, Eubanks said.

Though the changes are designed to be appealing to more patrons, the level of service and the attention to detail will not change.

"You can still have the experience without so much of the formality," Eubanks said.

Lemaire had earned the five-diamond award from motor club AAA for 10 years. It didn't participate in the ratings in 2007 or 2008 because of the planned renovations.

Longo said Lemaire's lower-key atmosphere shouldn't interfere with the hotel attaining Mobil Travel Guide's five-star award for a 10th straight year or with receiving the top-rated five-diamond award from AAA.

Service and good food are what set an establishment apart for those distinctions, he said.

Beyond the food, Lemaire will have a whole new look.

The color scheme is made up of gold, tan and cream. Most of the furniture is upholstered in a burnt orange.

The dining rooms have new lighting fixtures and the fireplaces, which date to 1895, will be operational.

Contact Louis Llovio at (804) 649-6348 or .