Bites Nearby: Park Cafe

A fine dining restaurant featuring southern comfort food with a classical French twist is the subject of this week's Bites Nearby.

 -- The Park Cafe occupies the Knox House on West Lawrenceville Street, the former residence of Duluth's first mayor John Knox, dating from 1899. It was renovated in 2001 to house a specialty sandwich shoppe, a craft store, and office space upstairs before being acquired by current owner Michael Ganley, the former executive chef of the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, MI. The Park Cafe now occupies the entire house including a patio for outdoor seating and a wine market. Chef Ganley has kept the turn-of-the-century feel of the building with much of the original hardwood flooring and paneled walls and classic, understated decor. The menu hosts southern favorites like fried green tomatoes, meatloaf, and sweet potatoes, all with a French fine-dining influence. Reservations are strongly recommended as the cafe is frequently packed for lunch and dinner. The food is pricey, after all, the place is run by a top-rated chef. Located at 3579 W. Lawrenceville St., Duluth, GA 30096. 770-476-2989. Hours are Tuesday-Thuursday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 p.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, Saturday, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday & Monday, closed. A full menu is available on the Park Cafe website.

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