A Durham fine-dining institution is opening a new sandwich shop
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Chef Amanda Orser plans to open LRB Provisions later this summer in Durham. Photo: Stacey Sprenz.
For nearly three decades, Durham chef Amanda Orser has worked in some of the Triangle's most respected kitchens, including Magnolia Grill, Lantern and Littler.
- Now, she's taking a stab at the lunch crowd with a new neighborhood sandwich shop set to open this summer inside a former Dog House hot dog stand in Durham's Walltown neighborhood.
Why it matters: LRB Provisions will first focus on serving takeout lunch from the 550-square-foot space, drawing inspiration from the success of other Durham favorites, like the early years of Saltbox Seafood Joint and Ideal's.
Zoom in: The Dog House space became available in January and Orser, who had been on the hunt for a potential spot to open for a restaurant, quickly jumped at the opportunity, signing a lease in February. She hopes to open in August.
- Originally, she had been looking to open a restaurant focused on dinner, but had been slowly shifting toward a lunch spot.
- "About a year ago, I started thinking, 'Hey, what if I started doing lunch stuff?'" Orser said. "It came before the location was available but this kind of confirmed it."
What to expect: LRB (a nod to the nearby Ellerbee Creek) will have a menu focused heavily on sandwiches, soups, salads and the capabilities of a large smoker that Orser acquired from a friend.
- That will include sandwiches made with house-made pastrami, smoked trout or a vegetarian-friendly pastrami made from celery root.
- It will also offer an al pastor pork sandwich (a staple Orser grew to love living in Mexico), grilled paneer, confit chicken and brunch boxes on the weekend featuring bialys with smoked and cured fish, schmears and pickles.
- Sides will include house-made potato chips and for dessert, an LRB Brookie made with brown butter, dark chocolate, oats and pumpkin seeds.
And yes, in a nod to the space's history as The Dog House, Orser plans to serve a rotating hot dog option on Thursday, ranging anywhere from Chicago-style dogs to bratwursts or other styles, depending on the week.
What they're saying: "After 27 years of fine dining experience, I am embracing my first-ever lunch shift and am excited to apply the same flavors, techniques and ingredients between two slices of bread," Orser said in a statement.
- "The best part of being a cook is the people you meet and form relationships with. Reconnecting with customers, farmers, coworkers and so many more is what I am most looking forward to at LRB Provisions."
📍Address: 2009 Guess Road
🕰️ Hours: 11am to 3pm, Thursday through Monday, to start.