Olivia Culpo's celebrity status lures diners to new restaurant but real star is the food

EAST GREENWICH — Last week, Olivia Culpo brought the spotlight to the opening of Union & Main, the town's newest restaurant.

But it will be the food and atmosphere that will attract, and keep, diners in the long run.

The restaurant is the second with Culpo's investment, but the third in Rhode Island for the core ownership team of Justin Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo, a cousin. Part owners include Olivia, her father Peter Culpo, culinary director Rob Pirnie and Gina Mercurio Martin.

Dalton-Ameen and Josh Culpo, both with roots in Rhode Island, started with Lulu's in Allston, Massachusetts in 2014. The group opened North Kingstown's Back 40 in 2017 with Olivia and her father. Then Black Oak in Coventry opened in 2019. Next up is Evie's in Westerly later this year.

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At Union & Main, Pirnie and executive chef Travis French have introduced a menu that features a stellar Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich and inspired Sesame Crusted Tuna dish with jasmine rice, sesame oil, soy, vegetables, nori, wasabi aioli and greens.

In fact, when French interviewed for the job, he made that chicken sandwich for Pirnie. French has worked at restaurants across the state including Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown and the Rathskeller in Charlestown.

Pirnie also said the Dill Pickle Wings are not to be missed.

French calls the style creative coastal cuisine and said he will focus on fresh fish from the area as well as offering "the best burger around," salads and fusion dishes.

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French makes his own kimchi and said his scratch kitchen will have diners talking about the sauces that accent the dishes.

They are also making homemade pasta, said Pirnie.

Pirnie said he is thrilled to be launching a new restaurant, an opportunity that doesn't come along too many times.

The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and brunch and dinner on the weekends. That's a lot of hours but French said they've been building up staff. The restaurant has been in the works for 15 months. It's in the space formerly occupied by Red Stripe.

Breakfast and brunch will feature French toast.

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There are three dining spaces. As you enter on Main Street, there's the bar area with hi-top tables and plenty of bar seating. Down the hallway are some tables in a private alcove. The back room, which was a function room at Red Stripe, has another full bar and banquette and table seating.

It's already turning out to be a popular space, said Peter Culpo.

The longtime Boston restaurateur said the ownership group keeps finding underserved areas and the restaurants are doing well. That was true in North Kingstown with The Back 40 and at Black Oak in Coventry. He's very excited about the opening of Evie's on Post Road at the Cross Roads Shopping Center where an Applebee's had operated.

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He's not worried about being on busy Main Street in East Greenwich where restaurants keep multiplying.

Details: Union & Main, 455 Main St., East Greenwich, (401) 289-1191, unionandmainri.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Olivia Culpo opens Union & Main: East Greenwich's newest restaurant