Kiva Restaurant is now Blackberries Bar and Grill

A friend stopped by our house today mentioning that he thought he saw some new "happy hour 4-7" signs on Kiva's building.

Wondering what the heck was going on, I headed over there tonight--To find the parking lot packed (at least Kiva packed). Bass rattled the windows of the normally serene Kiva dining room--And it was only 6PM. Yup, something had changed.

Still Kiva signs outside, but when you walk into their foyer, you see a "Blackberies Bar and Grill" menu where there used to be a Kiva one. Walk up the stairs, and you're greeted with a strobe light and a dance floor where the Kiva dining room once was. I bore right (as usual at Kiva) and headed for the bar.

Again, pretty crowded (at least Kiva crowded) and really, really loud (just like Kiva, turn the freakin' music down a little bit!!!) Sat at the bar and after a couple minutes began chatting with Deidre, the bartender.

Turns out Marty, the owner of Kiva (and Exdo), as I had heard he hoped to, had sold the building. Voila! No more Kiva, but something (potentially) better (we'll wait and see). Had no idea things would move this fast. Turns out tonight was their first night open.

Interesting menu--Bar food: Chicken fingers, Shrimp Tempura, Wings, etc., etc. A couple salads. Burgers. Fajitas. We'll wait and see what the final menu is like and how the food quality is.

I ordered tempura shrimp, but then learned they hadn't prepped any. So, Deidre offered me a free order of calamari. Though, OK, I guess...

It was a bit of a wait, but heck--First night, of course they're figuring things out--the calamari came out piping hot, of adequate quality (especially for their first try) and the marinara sauce on the side tasted above grade for what you typically get at bars, with a nice garlicky bite.

I left after that point, around 6:30 PM. Wondered how dead the place was going to get once the cheap drinks expired at 7PM.

Interesting to see what happens with this place. They're affiliated with Blackberries Coffee over on Welton. Have heard lukewarm things about that place, but never went there myself so don't know if that place was any good.

They're clearly ambitious, like Kiva--Open 10:30 AM every morning, and it appears they're going to try to attract a late night crowd with the dance floor. In Cole? Good luck...

Happy hour is decent. $2 domestics; $3 wine and wells, $5 Long Islands. Will have to see how the food quality stacks up, the service is, and of course, how deep the owners' pockets are to weather the storm necessary to get some momentum and profitability here.

Will I go back? Heck yes. We need businesses like this here. I'll give them my business and loyalty just like I did Kiva. Here's hoping their vision, and their sustainability eclipses that of their predecessors.

Please--Give 'em a try, and tell your friends of our newest local restaurant.