I got a sneak peek today of Sitti by Neomonde, the new joint project between Neomonde and Greg Hatem’s Empire Eats opening at the corner of Hargett and Wilmington Streets. All I can say is wow! Sitti takes Neomonde’s great food and provides it with the atmosphere its always needed.
I have always delighted in introducing my friends and colleagues to Neomonde. Its like I’m letting them in on a secret; like they become members of the club. Word of mouth is what led the first tucked-away, Beryl Road restaurant to double in size. It also led to the opening of a Morrisville location. With popularity came the pains of growth: even with the expanded size, the Raleigh restaurant sometimes has more diners than available tables.
Such will not be the case with Sitti by Neomonde. It is a full-service restaurant and will employ top-talent wait staff. The dining room has beautiful hardwood floors, walls with Mediterranean color, an antique restored bar, and a beautiful view of an up-and-coming Raleigh through big corner windows.
The restaurant features a downstairs dining area perfect for private parties, with the buildings character preserved in typical Empire style. The downstairs reminded me of one of my favorite Raleigh bar: The Old Bar. I could hear the laughter already echoing off its funky brick walls.
The jewel of Sitti is its courtyard. Its a oasis of calm in the city. It will be very romantic when filled with tables lit by candlelight. There’s even a stage at one end for live music. I can imagine it could be magical.
The restaurant expects to open next month. For someone who loves Mediterranean food and loves eating downtown, Sitti seems a home run.
Update 27 Oct 2008: Corrected the name: it’s “Sitti” not “Siti.”