First Look: Prime 55 Restaurant & Lounge on The Delmar Loop

Co-owners Orlando Watson and Tony Davis will add a new space to The Delmar Loop's arsenal of places to hang out, eat and catch a generally chill vibe. Prime 55 Restaurant & Lounge will open at the end of May or the first week of June. 

Prime 55 will open at 6100 Delmar Blvd., which was formerly occupied by VietNam Style. It will be the first restaurant from Watson and Davis, who have operated primarily in the entertainment industry.

When they moved into the space, Watson said there was a lot of work to do, including removing wood paneling, painting the walls, adding new flooring in the basement lounge and building out a first-floor restroom. The end result is a homey, rustic space that’s equally appropriate for pre- or post-Pageant hangs and date nights.

The main floor currently seats 26, but Watson said he will put a few tables on the patio, which will double the seating. There are about 40 seats in the downstairs lounge, which also sports a full bar and numerous TVs. Eventually, the restaurant will host events like live music and spoken word in the downstairs space.

Prime 55’s kitchen is headed by Tyler Wayne, former sous chef at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Clayton. The menu will heavily feature vegetarian and vegan dishes, as Watson is a longtime vegetarian. Starters will include a Cajun kale soup, the Amazing Green Chili and numerous salads, like the farro and quinoa salad with a blend of ancient grains and a sweet raisin puree. Other starters will include crabcakes, wings and lobster fries.

Wayne has created an assortment of vegetable- and meat-based entrees such as Cajun veggie gnocchi, chargrilled rib-eye, blackened Atlantic salmon and a grilled cauliflower steak with mushrooms, carrots, confit tomatoes and preserved Meyer lemons. The restaurant’s namesake dish, the Steak 55, is a 9-ounce sirloin served with white cheddar tots, chimichurri, veal jus and a seasonal vegetable.

Though the bar menu isn’t finalized yet, Watson promises a number of unique signature drinks in addition to an assortment of draught and bottled beers.

When doors open in a few weeks, Prime 55 will be open Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Here’s a first look at The Loop’s newest eatery: