That picture there? That's what Ondo's looked like a few weeks ago. The space at 250 Steele Street was still coming together, and even as recently as last week, there was no set menu because no one on staff had actually been able to get into the kitchen to cook anything.
But yesterday, Ondo's was open (kinda) and serving (kinda) as it went through the obligatory and nerve-wracking friends-and-family dinner, which must've been quite a shock for first-time restaurateurs Curt and Deicy Steinbecker. "Things were coming out great, and the staff was super-fired-up about everything," Curt reported. Which was good to hear, even if his voice over the phone was breathless from putting the finishing touches on everything, and almost giddy at the prospect of an opening just hours away. "Now we have one test dinner under our belts and we're ready to go," he said.
"Really?" I wanted to ask. "One whole test dinner?" But I didn't. He sounded so happy.
It's 4:01 right now. The doors at Ondo's will open to the public at 4:30. I'm just hoping that Curt sounds as happy tomorrow morning, and the morning after, and the morning after that.
