Artemis Has Become The Lookout

The recession has taken down a slew of local businesses. Oscar Valasco-Schmitz and Boris Gorodnitsky decided to revamp before things got any tougher. Last February they closed the doors of their Capitol Hill fine-dining restaurant Artemis, open since September 2007, to rethink and retool their concept. Last week they reopened as The Lookout, a restaurant and pub with a much less expensive menu that includes oyster poboys, muffuletta sandwiches, quesadillas, and burgers, with prices falling between $3.95 and $12.95.

Valasco-Schmitz told us they wanted the new incarnation to have a more laid-back, neighborhood-friendly vibe, so they installed an outdoor patio, a pinball machine, a jukebox, booths, and a mural by a local graffiti artist. Time will tell if accessibility means more business--and if other local high-end restaurants heading toward a possible demise will take a cue from The Lookout.

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