LELAND — Closed after a brief five-week run in the spring, Bluestar Kitchen & Bar aims to keep its doors open for good this time.
Off Village Road in Leland, the restaurant is under new management with a revamped menu and renovated interiors.
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Leland’s mom-and-pop
With few mom-and-pop options in Leland, Bluestar Kitchen & Bar wants to bring a hometown feel to the area.
“We’re really the only spot on this side of town that offers anything other than commercial chains, we’re one of the only few, if not the only one that offers an eclectic menu of locally sourced food and local craft beers,” Tyler Jeffrey, Bluestar Kitchen & Bar’s bar manager, said.
Curated by Steven Hawlie, an executive chef hailing from Fayetteville, the restaurant’s new menu features all local food items; nearly all produce is sourced from Brunswick County’s Prospect Farms and all seafood is from Seaview Crab Company.
Bluestar Kitchen & Bar’s drink menu carries the same local flavor.
“I want to keep a healthy family of North Carolina alcohol options,” Jeffrey said. “We wanted to support as many local breweries and local liquor companies as possible.”
Back open again
After hosting a soft re-opening on Aug. 15, the restaurant aims to win back the locals’ patronage.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve done here, taking this place from the ground up,” Andrew Middlemiss, Bluestar Kitchen & Bar’s general manager, said. “It was an uphill struggle.”
Though the restaurant’s menu is subject to change, Middlemiss said it will always offer 15 percent off to veterans and emergency service individuals. Since opening last week, the restaurant plans to incorporate two specials – crab cake slides and a smoke salmon penne dish – to its menu based on customer feedback.
“I don’t like the whole set in stone thing,” Middlemiss said. “One of our mission statements is to be as fluid as possible.”
While hours of operation may vary, Bluestar Kitchen & Bar plans to keep its doors open between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Mondays, the restaurant will host limited hours on Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Located at 117 Village Road, Bluestar Kitchen & Bar is now open at Charlie Macgrooders’ former location.
Check out the restaurant’s menu below:
Send tips and comments to Johanna Ferebee at johanna@localvoicemedia.com
