Lyons’ residents have a new fine dining establishment found in an old classic. Maitre D’ at Trombino’s opened its doors in September, bringing American bistro fare made from some of New York’s finest and freshest ingredients. Christopher VanEpps, General Manager, quickly fell in love with Lyons – the people, the community, the pride – and wanted to give the town a delicious, fine dining experience.
The building at 12 Pearl Street in Lyons had previously been home to an opera house and most recently, Trombino’s restaurant. Instead of modernizing the dark and smoky space that Trombino’s had been, VanEpps chose to tap into the building’s roots. “I decided to preserve it the way it was and refresh it back to just before it was a restaurant. I was now dating my project back to the 1940s and merging a restaurant with an opera house,” said Christopher VanEpps. “Vintage lighting, hardwood floors, rich colors and textures were all going to bring this space back to life.”
Fine attention to detail was key to remastering the restaurant. The upscale dining room includes visual touches of the building’s past. Faux taxidermy to match the rustic feel of the all-natural woodwork are dressed in old-fashioned theatre attire utilizing vintage opera costumes and draperies. A wine wall was added to the restaurant to showcase Maitre D’ at Trombino’s fine wine selection, and the New York City-style banquette seating in the bar area provides the flow of table-to-table conversation and interaction.
The restaurant’s welcoming atmosphere goes beyond interacting with other guests. VanEpps wanted to become engrained in the lives of the diners as well, and incorporated this idea into the name of the restaurant. “When it came to a name, I stemmed back to when I first was taught this industry. I was told in order to succeed, I was not just a manager or operator, I needed to tend to the diners’ every needs. I needed to remember their names, their families, their stories and their lives – I was their Maitre D’,” explained Christopher VanEpps. “In [honor] of Trombino’s, I incorporated the two and came up with Maitre D’ at Trombino’s.”
Providing what diners appreciate and expect, Chef Daniel Yacashin uses fresh ingredients, sourced locally, to create a trendy menu. Alluding to the space’s former existence as an opera house, the courses are themed operatically. Overtures range from various pizzas to Chick Pea Fritters and PEI Mussels; interludes include salads topped with poached pears, goat cheese or toasted quinoa. Finales feature house-made Ricotta Gnocchi with butternut squash, Bone-In Pork Chop with Brussels sprout leaves and provolone polenta and Chick Pea “Burger” with hand cut house frites.
Maitre D’ at Trombino’s, located at 12 Pearl Street in Lyons, is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4:30 to 9:30, and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10:30. Their menu is available: at www.maitredattrombinos.com.
