Jim Henderson is excited to breath some new life into a once-popular Geist hangout.
Pendleton entrepreneur Jim Henderson has been eyeing a place to open a restaurant for years. Owner of the Move Crew and a few PODS franchises, Henderson has been collecting menus from some of his favorite eateries in hopes that one day he could be a restaurateur.
When the Fox Pub & Grill closed last month, a few of the owners stepped off the bus and Henderson stepped on and took the wheel.
“I’m excited for the opportunity, I’ve always wanted to do this,” said Henderson.
To breathe new life into the once thriving local hangout, Henderson enlisted the help of his marketing guru wife Kerrie and hired a new head chef, Jeff Kleindorfer, formerly with Binkley’s Kitchen & Bar in Broad Ripple.
With a completely new kitchen staff and seven returning servers and managers, the Fireside Grill quietly reopened on February 12th to family and friends. One of the first customers was Rich and Kim Shields from Admirals Bay.
“We were headed to El Rodeo and we seen the lights on inside so we decided to give them a try,” said Kim. “Our food was excellent and the staff was friendly. We will be regulars for sure.”
Patrons will notice several changes, most notably the new lounge area surrounding the signature stone fireplace. A new curved stone and dark wood wall separates the now smaller dining area from the larger, thriving bar area.
Even the entrance has changed. The door to the bar area has been closed off forcing all customers to enter into the expanded hostess station and new waiting area to the left. Kerrie explained that this is all part of the new focus on customer service.
“We want everyone to be greeted when they come in here.”
Jeff Kleindorfer brings a new staff and menu to the Fireside Grill.
A southern Indiana native and Maryland culinary school graduate, Kleindorfer has created a new food menu featuring some of his own creations.
“Everything is nicely seasoned,” said Kleindorfer. “I’m from southern Indiana so I like to cook hearty meals.”
New food selections include an Adobo Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer, gourmet personal pizzas, and an expanded entrée selection highlighted by the Fireside bone in pork chop. Soups, salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes round out the new food menu.
The wine menu has also been overhauled. Working with a local wine connoisseur, Henderson revamped the wine selection as well. Thirty-two different wines are available by the bottle ranging in price from $16 to $108. Several selections are available by the glass or half bottle as well.
Perhaps the most notable change is seeing the new owner in the dining area. Kim Shields felt Henderson’s presence “kept everyone on their toes a little more.”
A new kitchen staff, new owner, new food and wine menus, and a new attitude are just what this neighborhood restaurant needed. The Fireside Grill is located at 11705 Fox Road on the southwest corner of Fox and Oaklandon Roads. Reservations are recommended, call 823-1000.
