By Deborah Willoughby

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER (June 14, 2005) - The opening of Red Star Tavern at The Shoppes at EastChase is good news for night owls who want to go out for dinner and specialty drinks. The restaurant offers a full menu of Upscale American Comfort Food until 11 p.m. and a Late-Night Menu until closing time.

To Tenesha Wright, the restaurant is a nice change from places that close earlier.

"There is not really anyplace that stays open that late besides drive-ins," Wright said. "This will be a substantial place with nice food and drinks, and it will do real well."

Laura Cruse of Wetumpka also said Red Star Tavern is likely to find a solid customer base.

"There's not a lot of things to do late nights on this side of town," Cruse said.

The 6,500-square-foot restaurant seats 180 in the dining room, 80 at the red-mahogany, indoor bar and 100 on the patio. It's in the location of the former Crepes Egg-Setera restaurant.

General manager Chris Dressel said the restaurant, which has about 80 employees, will be open just for dinner at first. Lunches may be available in the future.

"We're trying to go after service-industry people who get off work late and don't have a place to set down and eat," Dressel said.

Food will be served until late every night. The full menu will be available until 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. A late-night menu will be available afterward until last call. The late-night menu will have Appetizers, Sandwiches and Burgers -- "more of your upscale bar food," Dressel said.

Dressel, who has been with the company for three years, moved to Montgomery from Kansas City.

"We're a very small chain based out of Chicago and owned by two individuals instead of a corporation," he said. "We do things in a more personal way than the average chain."

The Red Star Tavern menu has Steaks, Seafood, Salads, Pasta and Sandwiches. Drinks include 10 Beers on Tap, seven Bottled Beers, Wine and 25 Martinis.

"We do prime-cut, 28-day-aged steaks, pastas, seafood, meatloaf, ribs, sandwiches," Dressel said. "All are big portions. It's meat-and-potatoes type food in a clubby atmosphere."

Smoking will be allowed in the patio area only.

Dressel said the restaurant will appeal to people who like Aged Steaks and other Menu Specialties. The bar and patio will be fairly casual, with the dining room a bit less so.

What menu item does Dressel like best?

"I like the Chicken Giardiniera pasta and the 20-ounce Porterhouse steak," he said.

Jennifer Scott, director of training, said she is partial to the Hazelnut-Crusted Trout.

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