Rosetta Stone offers upscale cuisine, culture
YOUNGSTOWN — Downtown has a new restaurant.
Owners Greg Sop of Hubbard and George Lenahan of Canfield have opened the restaurant’s West Federal Street doors to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Though they only opened Jan. 14, they say they've already had several repeat customers for the restaurant’s diverse menu of upscale food.
Sop says they are battling the stigma that downtown is unsafe, but emphasizes the police station is one block away, and HE hasn't had any problems himself.
"It's not a bad place," Sop says. "It's really turning into a nice little entertainment district."
Photo by Katie Libecco
Part of mural on back wall by chef Barry Karrh
Lenahan says he's been working on opening Rosetta Stone since 2003, when he first began looking at buildings downtown.
"I wanted to bring something from out-of-town back home," he says.
After seeing a show at The Oakland Center for the Arts in 2003, Lenahan says he went walking through downtown.
Rosetta Stone Cafe
110 W. Federal St., Youngstown
"It was clean, safe, nice," he says.
Lenahan, a native of Youngstown's West side, says he considered downtown when he saw the 2010 plan being formed. “It just seemed to make sense," he said.
"It seems like people are changing here," Lenahan says. "The appreciation for this kind of project has grown significantly in the past years."
Photo by Katie Libecco
Rosetta Stone wine selection
The owners say Rosetta Stone will open at 7:30 a.m. with coffee, pastries and breakfast sandwiches. They say they will be open until 10 p.m. on weeknights, then stay open for customers after downtown events on the weekends. On nights with no shows or games downtown, Sop says they'll close the kitchen around midnight, but keep the bar open until 2:30 a.m.
The restaurant caters to the working crowd, as there is free Wi-Fi Internet access and an exorbitant number of outlets.
Photo by Katie Libecco
Private dining area of Rosetta Stone
"We want there to be more class and culture in the city. We're hoping that by opening here, it'll be a stepping stone for other businesses," Sop says.
The owners hope to feature culture with the restaurant. Sop says he plans on scheduling live jazz, blues and acoustic performances by local performers at Rosetta Stone. He's also planning to use the restaurant as a gallery for local artists.
Any artist interested in displaying work at the restaurant or any musicians interested in performing should cal Sop at (330) 507-4106 for more information.
The decor of Rosetta Stone is in and of itself art. Large murals on the back wall and a recessed ceiling were done by chef Barry Karrh, who came up with most of the current recipes. Sop says Karrh has a French Creole background and went to culinary school in Paris. His specialty is desserts.
Photo by Katie Libecco
Rosetta Stone mural on back wall by chef Barry Karrh
Lenahan says they'll also start introducing more recipes by Rosetta Stone's other chef, Chuck Wolfcale. Overall Lenahan and Sop say their food selection is diverse world cuisine.
The restaurant includes a private dining area Sop says they hope to use for big-name artists and performers passing through the area.
Comments
i drove by last night and was contemplating stopping in for a drink because it looked so nice and cozy but alas i was summoned away to sharon to discuss newspaper layout with sarah weber who i think you know katie from her vindy internship. im definitely going to RS on my next night off, which hopefully will be during a steelhounds home game. this whole gainful employment thing is really putting a cramp in my downtown presence.
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Sarah interned with me at the Vindy summer '06. She's really cool.
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I love the idea of bringing business back here, which will bring people back here. I too can't wait to check out RS, just from the shots here it looks like a nice decor. And any place interested in the promotion of the arts has to have some culture. My hats off to you gentlemen.
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My wife and I stopped in after the YSU basketball game last Saturday night. The place looked really nice inside, a decent crowd was enjoying dinner. There were about 8-10 people in line waiting for a table (at 9:30 PM) when we were told after standing there for about 10 minutes that the cook was going home and they were closing. WHAT???? I will definately give Rosetta another chance, but to turn away a dozen people on one of the first weekends isn't a way to make friends. Ray in Hubbard
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I was in last week for lunch. I thought the decor was great, as was the atmosphere. With exception to one major element that was flawed. The manager, her name was Toni. She seemed to me to be a very incompetent individual. She was in a tizzy concerning something in the kitchen?? I am in the restaurant management field myself so I was appalled to see her behaving this way in front of the customers. You have a wonderful restaurant, perhaps you should give more thought to your management staff. That is, if you want repeat customers.
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My husband & I went for dinner on a Friday night. Wonderful food but the service was so-so. Would definitely go back again, but hope the staff has gotten into more of a "groove!"
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you seems to have avery nice restaurant.What about getting tropical specalities in the menu?I am a chef and would love to hear from you.Thanks
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I was just in the other nite
and the food was exceptional!
The atmosphere is wonderful
Thank you for the experience!
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Rosetta Stone had a warm cozy atmosphere with its leather sofas and deep red walls. The art work was exceptionally classy. We had a wonderful waiter, Luke, who promptly took our order for drinks and a bruschetta appetizer. When the appetizer came just a few minutes later,not only did it look delicious with balsamic vinegar drizzled over the top, but the taste was tantalizing! The best I've ever had! The menu had various special and most entrees were around the 14-22 dollar range. The entrees included a salad, potato and mine also included a vegetable. I had the Mahi Mahi special. It was a treat! I would definitely return, enjoyed my visit, great service, good value and lovely atmosphere. Elsie gives it a 4 star rating!
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