About Town: French bistro says 'oui' to Habersham

When restaurateur Lantz Price was approached about leasing an open space in the Habersham Marketplace in Burton, he thought it a perfect location for a restaurant serving French-style cuisine.

"That's a live-work neighborhood," Price said of Habersham. "Traditional French bistros find themselves in that kind of community."

Enter Bistro Patois, the latest venture for Price and his Plums Inc. Restaurant Group, which includes Bay Street favorites Saltus River Grill and Plums.

Price began setting up Bistro Patois in May and opened it a few weeks ago in a small space on Market Street. Business has been steady and customers have enjoyed the food, he said.

An official grand opening for Bistro Patois is set from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, when patrons will be able to tour the space, mingle with restaurant staff and sample items from the menu. A ribbon-cutting with the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce will take place at 5:30.

The atmosphere at the new restaurant is a cozy and warm combination of a bistro and tavern, Price said.

"It's a classic place to go and feel like you're in a neighborhood," he said. "It's a good place to call a destination when you just want to get away, but it's also great to gather when you're just in the neighborhood."

Jim Spratling, the executive chef at Saltus, will also man the kitchen at the bistro. Spratling and Price began their working relationship in 1997 at

Plums.

"It's a treat for me to be able to work so closely with Bistro Patois," said Spratling, a native North Carolinian. "Every venture with Plums Inc. has proven to be an exceptional journey, and I expect no less from this one."

Price also hopes to have the same success at his new restaurant that he has experienced at his other establishments.

"It works really well for my company," he said of Bistro Patois. "It gives us an opportunity to hit another demographic that we can really capitalize on, right there in Habersham and the surrounding areas."