Atlantic Quest sells restaurant group to LM Restaurants
Privately held Atlantic Quest Corp. sold its five-restaurant group this month to Raleigh-based LM Restaurants Inc., the parent company of the Carolina Ale House for an undisclosed amount.

In addition to the restaurants, LM will also manage AQ Catering, formally Atlantic Quest Catering, which caters from all five former Atlantic Quest restaurants.

Becky Parker O’Daniell, President of Atlantic Quest, will remain on board with the new LM team to make the transition seamless in all restaurants. O’Daniell will also continue in the role of partner in running Henry’s and Eddie Romanelli’s. O’Daniell said the deal seemed like a perfect fit for the two restaurant groups from the minute they began negotiations.

“Our companies were just so much alike. It will provide good opportunities on both sides,” she said.

There are no immediate plans to continue expanding any of the restaurants concepts from the former Atlantic Quest group, but the sale puts restaurants like Eddie Romanelli’s in a good position for quicker growth once the company decides to expand

There might be a few new menu items at some of the restaurants, but O’Daniell stressed there will be no major reworking of the menus.

“Customers won’t see a lot of change except some capital improvement things,” she said.

No changes in the daily mana gement and staff to any of the restaurants are planned. Atlantic Quest had 250 full-time and another 350 part-time employees at the time of the sale.

Atlantic Quest began it’s successful restaurant run in the spring of 1990 with the opening of The Oceanic restaurant in Wrightsville Beach. Two years later, the group opened the first Eddie Romanelli’s on Oleander Drive. At the end of the decade, Atlantic Quest brought us Henry’s restaurant and Bluewater. Just this year, they expanded the Eddie Romanelli’s name to the newly developed Waterford in Leland.

Financing of the deal was done by RBC Centura. The sale puts LM Restaurants at about 1,600 employees and the company expects revenues to top $50 million in 2008.

Sanitation Scores
You see them but do you know what they mean? Ever wonder about the sanitation scores that hang in local dining establishments? Unless you request an explanation from the management, the single grade scoring can be misleading and deceptive.

Here is some important information you should know. The grade system: A score of at least 90 percent is the equivalent of an A, A score at least 80 percent but less than 90 percent is the equivalent of a B, A score at least 70 percent but less than 80 percent is the equivalent of a C. And, according to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources handbook, “Permits shall be revoked for establishments with a score of less than 70 percent.”

According to Ricky Gibbs, Sr. Environmental Health Specialist with the New Hanover County Health Department, it is very rare to have a restaurant closed for a grade below 70.

“We have many years this does not occur and occasionally one per year”.

The state also mandates the standards and guidelines which inspectors strictly adhere to. The grouped violations impart a loss of 5, 4, 3, 2, & 1 point(s) for each infraction. Starting at 100, restaurants are penalized a specific amount of points for differently grouped infractions.

For example, any violation for a specific set of rules as it relates to potentially hazardous food temperatures can result in a 5-point reduction. Furthermore, failure to post a sign at the buffet line regarding the use of clean plates for every visit to the buffet will result in a deduction of no more than 1 point.

There are approximately 75 Rules relating to everything from food storage, thawing, preparation and handling to properly labeling food, hand washing, accurate thermometers, storage of utensils, self-closing doors, screened windows, properly constructed walls, and ventilation & lighting.

Although the main consensus of the consumer is that the score relates primarily to food, this is not always the case. Inspectors are concerned with the entire facility. Even though restaurants start at a score of 100, many local restaurants have a posting of 102.

What this means is that these restaurants have earned a perfect sanitation inspection as well as two points to their score for having a manager or other full time on-site employee who has successfully completed an approved food service sanitation program. Although there is no mandate for restaurants to post what infractions have led to their inspection deductions, the rule of thumb is “Caveat Emptor.

”While restaurants may display a poor or questionable score, it is always advisable to inquire or research the infractions – in many instances, restaurants are awaiting a re-score and have made necessary improvements that may have adversely affected the initial score — some of which may not have any bearing on your dining experience.

Black Horn Bar & Kitchen in Carolina Beach Expands
Big changes are on the horizon for Black Horn Bar & Kitchen. Opened on Memorial Day of 2007, the relatively new location will be unveiling a 150 seat dining deck with a covered bar area and an entertainment stage.

According to Marc Harding, general manager, “The new deck will provide us with a great expansion of the property and a fantastic dining area. We will be adding an outdoor entertainment series that will be varied and very unique to the area.”

Changes to the interior are also underway and will include a full service sushi bar separate from the formal dining area. The addition of a sushi bar will occupy some of the former bar area space and according to Harding, “our bar will have some additional offerings such as infused liquors and a focus on North Carolina micro brews.”

Last, but not least, menu changes are in the works and will include an addition of fresh catches and prime meats.

Surf’s Up on Market Street
Coming in late May/June, a new restaurant concept, Surf’s, will occupy the vacated Wilmington Ale House location in the Promenade Center at the corner of Eastwood Road and Market Street.

According to the new general manager, Henry Minutillo, “We have a unique concept that will astound Wilmingtonians. The new restaurant will utilize an extended 50 person capacity dining bar which houses a central grill for fresh prepared surf and turf.”

Minutillo further explained that “you can watch your grilled dinner prepared in front of your eyes and coordinated with sides from the kitchen. With a family friendly comfortable dining area, the bar is a nice alternative — part hibachi and part open kitchen — making for a unique indoor grilling experience.”

The restaurant partners are renovating the entire space and are mindful of providing a great experience at a great price with everything on the menu freshly prepared to order. They will also offer a regular daily specials board and will be open daily from 11 a.m. till 1p.m.

Big is back
Charin (Big) Choti and his wife Narisara Treerat, have acquired Rim Wang and re-opened the location as Charin of Thailand.

The former chef of Rim Wang, “Big,” helped open the original location but left in 2007 to open his own restaurant, Big Thai on 4th Street. Narisara and Charin took over the location when former partner Ann Vever left to pursue her newest endeavor by opening Jessamine on South College Road.

According to Michael Dolan, the general manager at Charin, because of “Big’s” intimate ties to the restaurant and knowledge and development of the menu, “there will be very few changes but, some very exciting additions.

All the favorites will be available and the public can be assured that “Big’s” well-known coconut cake is here!” Another concern has been whether or not Charin will continue to offer the very hard to find whole fried fish special, rest assured “We’ve got it covered,” said Dolan.

Around Town
• Harbor Masters anticipates a mid May opening
• The infamous Dixie grill, located at 116 Market Street is expanding to a second location at 118 S. Front Street.
• The former Middle & McDaniel’s Restaurant and Creamery is in the process of being renovated and new owners will re-open it as The Farm House
• Chic-fil-a in Mayfaire makes the top ten list nationwide

Lisa Layman is the owner of Dine Us Online Inc., which operates DineWilmingtonOnline.com and DineMyrtleBeachOnline.com. The specialty Web sites provide exclusive information pertaining to local restaurants. Send items for the Restaurant Notes column to lisa@dinewilmingtononline.com or to 130 N. Front St., Suite 105, Wilmington, NC 28401.