File under efficient renovations: Mile End modern British destination Lawrence reopens for service this evening (Friday, June 1).
As the closure was imminent back in March, Lawrence’s owners told Eater that while the original Lawrence — which opened over seven years ago — is different to the kind of restaurant that the team wants to run now. Owners Annika Krausz, Marc Cohen, Ethan Wills, and Sefi Amir described the renovations as both “physical and spiritual”.
In the more concrete sense, that means a refreshed Lawrence — the centrepiece is a striking round bar in the middle of the glassy room on the corner of St-Laurent and Fairmount. Other cosmetic shuffles, like refreshed furniture and a reupholstered banquette, also make for a cohesive and clean-cut design that steps away from the slightly vintage touches of the previous Lawrence.
Beyond a fresh design, the approach to service and food has also had a rebirth. Cohen described Lawrence’s previous approach as being more of a formal commitment — good for a two hour meal, but perhaps a little rigid. The new one aims to be perfect, though that doesn’t mean it will be a heavily upscale tasting-menu-only establishment.
While an example of the opening menu hasn’t yet dropped, it seems like Lawrence 2.0 will also work for a creative cocktail accompanied by some small plates. In any case, the Lawrence team said that staples like the charcuterie and fish program will still be on hand, as will Lawrence’s hit weekend brunch.
In the meantime, Instagram has provided a first glimpse of the reborn restaurant — take a look.