RM 12:20 Bistro will have a covered patio for dining

It’s been a while in coming, but executive chef Erin Willis’ newest venture, RM 12:20 Bistro, is just a couple of weeks from opening at Lakeridge Village. Erin signed the lease on her new rustic French bistro with a Southern flair in February, but it’s taken months to completely renovate the former Offshore’s Nextdoor space and get it “just right.”

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RM 12:20 Bistro, named for a biblical passage in the book of Romans, is part of a full scale redo of the southeast corner of Audelia and Walnut Hill, originally built in 1965. Shop Companies, which purchased the center in 2017, has commitments from Vector Brewing Company and Taco Joint, and other new restaurants and retail are in deep discussions about moving in. The last piece of the construction puzzle will be a treed pocket park in the center, complete with hookups for food trucks and shaded seating.

You can read more about Erin’s plans for the bistro here.

“Things are really moving now,” Erin told me. “I’m excited and ready.”

Working with local farmers to bring in fresh ingredients will mean changing her menu with the seasons, but she’ll begin with choices like sole mueniere, diver scallops and coq au vin. Sides will include gruyere mac & cheese, roasted squash and herbed wild mushrooms. She’ll add craft cocktails to her menu of French wines and offer Haute Sweet Patisserie desserts in addition to her house-made desserts.

You can view the full menu here.

Erin is shooting for a soft opening on or about Dec. 14. Her big grand opening will be a New Year’s Eve party, where she’ll host special seatings at 6 and 9 p.m. You can learn more on her website here and sign up here to get newsletter updates.