In January, we broke the news that Hyde Park Restaurant Group would be the new owners of Gamekeeper’s Tavern, the iconic Chagrin Falls restaurant that closed last spring after 40 years. Having literally just signed the lease on the property, founder Joe Saccone had little information to share at that time other than the fact that big changes would be in store.

Today, we learned a little more about what will await diners when the new eatery opens in mid-summer.

For starters, the restaurant will be called Bull & Bird Steakhouse (87 West St.), a new concept from the hospitality group that also runs 12 Hyde Park Prime Steakhouses in four states, along with ML Tavern and Jekyll’s Kitchen in Cleveland and Black Point Steakhouse and Stack City Burger Bar in Columbus. For now, Saccone is sticking with his description of the place as a “chef-inspired, boutique steakhouse with European influences.”

Some of the biggest changes taking place are physical. Hyde Park has undertaken a complete transformation of the Gamekeepers space inside and out. The exterior that faces West Street is being reworked into a year-around covered patio that will expand the original bar capacity from 24 to 64 seats and feature a new fireplace. The interior, formerly chopped up into several smaller rooms, will be renovated to an open floor plan that offers views throughout the dining room.

We’ll keep you posted on the progress.

Bull & Bird marks the sixth concept for the Hyde Park Restaurant Group.

This article appears in May 9-15, 2018.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.