A new Mediterranean restaurant that will be called “The Island Blend” will soon open in the Orange Street location previously occupied by Shangri-La Kitchen, which closed last month after a nine-year run.
The Island Blend will be run by Milan Basnet, who opened the new Easy Street Restaurant earlier this year, and his partner, Anil Thapa. They signed a new lease for the space with Rick Ulmer, who owns the property at 149 Orange Street. Before Shangri-La Kitchen, the space had previously been operated by Ulmer as Fooods For Here And There.
“As the name says, it will be a blend of flavors,” said Basnet. “It will be Mediterranean, but we will also have pizza and sushi, to keep those traditions going. We want people to come try us. It’s going to be a great addition. There’s no authentic Mediterranean restaurant, and we’re bringing in a chef from New York and one from Springfield, Mass. to give people an authentic taste.”
Basnet added that the interior of the restaurant is undergoing a renovation to make it “brighter, more airy, and more refreshing,” and his team is targeting November 1st for an opening date.
Basnet, whose fiancé, Rekha, worked at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, had been coming to the island for years before opening the Easy Street Restaurant in the spring. In his career off-island, he has opened and managed several restaurants, including The Friendly Toast, an IHOP, and a TGI Fridays.
Dining and Cooking