Upscale pub headed for Powell

The Powell location of Easy Street Cafe (pictured) closed after Mother's Day brunch on Sunday. By the end of the month, the eatery at 5 S. Liberty St. will reopen as upscale, bar-food concept Kraft House No. 5.

The new restaurant owners are brothers and veteran restaurateurs Louie and Michael Pappas. Michael runs Tommy's Diner with his father, while Louie co-owns Milo's Cafe & Catering. Leading the kitchen will be chef Marcus Meacham, who left popular Short North bar Bodega in April. "He's obviously one of the top chefs in the city," Louie says. "We're going to have a chef-driven kitchen. That's going to expand to a lot of the bar as well-having house-infused liquor, making a lot of our mixers and bitters, really emphasizing the craft component to quality food."

The menu will include items like shrimp and grits, mussels and fries, burgers and lots of smoked things. Rotating "pop-up" menus will also be a big component, too, Louie says. "[Meacham] loves having the creativity to create new dishes daily," he says. "He's got new ideas and new things he wants to roll out."

There will also be Saturday and Sunday brunch, and fun bar snacks like candied bacon and a variety of flavored house-made chips. There will also be a craft cocktail list and 20 beers on tap.

As for the look of the space, structurally nothing's changing. But aesthetically, it's a complete overhaul, says Louie, adding the bar will have a rustic, warm feel. "When people walk in they are going to know it's a different restaurant than what it was before," he says.

For now, the hope is to open the week after Memorial Day.