By SCOTT CHERRY Restaurant Critic on Oct 25, 2012, at 12:06 PM Updated on 10/25 at 12:06 PM
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Brian Biehl, who recently has worked at a trio of McNellie’s Group restaurants, will open a new restaurant, The Alley, in Ranch Acres Shopping Center before the end of the year.
It will be located on the back side of the center in space that formerly held St. Michael’s Alley for many years and most recently Rick’s Café Americain.
“I know the space had a long and colorful history with St. Michael’s Alley, so the name is a nod to that history,” Biehl said over lunch Wednesday at the Palate Deli, just down the sidewalk from the new restaurant.
Biehl said he plans a gastropub-style menu.
“It will be high-end pub fare, and it’s going to have really good beer and wine lists,” he said.
Exact hours have not been determined, but Biehl said The Alley will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
St. Michael’s Alley opened in 1960 as Tulsa’s first San Francisco-style coffeehouse. Baby boomers will remember the highbacked oak booths, dark paneling and subdued lighting.
St. Mike’s sometimes featured poets and folk singers, and would become known for signature dishes such at hot German potato salad, Reuben sandwiches, charburgers and white chili.
The restaurant had several owners and after a fire it was replaced for a while by the Glen Again. It reopened as St. Michael’s Alley in 1988.
In 2008, it closed and was replaced by Rick’s Café Americain. Rick’s closed in 2011.
“I can’t re-create the atmosphere of St. Michael’s when it opened,” Biehl said. “That would be impossible. But we will have a little something here and there to remind people of it.”
Biehl most recently has worked at The Tavern, Fassler Hall and Dilly Deli.
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