Gastropub Comes to Colchester 

Sometimes the decision to open a restaurant is all about timing. Kathleen Stine says she and her husband, Aaron, were only looking for a new catering kitchen. Their business, bevo, whose slogan is “Food and bar catering for the epicure,” had outgrown its current location. While seeking a new prep site for their trademark global party bites, the couple happened upon the vacant Colchester space previously occupied by Junior’s, Big Chile Republic and, most recently, a VFW. “It just kind of felt right,” says Stine.

The Stines hope to open their new restaurant, also called bevo, on April 5. Previously partnered with 1/2 Lounge, the couple will retain that hip bar aesthetic and add creative food. Though Kathleen Stine says the menu will be on the small side, she quickly reels off a list of appetizers: fried Vermont cheese curds with truffled honey, smoked local chicken wings, Korean-style galbi short ribs, Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches.

Stine also proudly describes her restaurant’s fries, which will be topped with bacon dust — or shiitake dust for vegetarians. “It tastes like bacon, but not as good — but pretty good,” she says of the veggie version. Of course, bevo will offer a burger to pair with those bacon-dusted fries. Stine says the restaurant will be dry-aging beef onsite for a steak sandwich.

Now, if we can just find out who or what is coming to the former Noah’s Ark Pet Center next door...