( Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer staff)Pasta will once again be served from the little building at 1830 N. College Ave., formerly home to Pesto Cafe.
Private chef Lance Corbin is set to open an Italian restaurant in the space under a slightly different name, Pesto’s by Lance, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 27.
According to his website, Corbin got his start at 19 as a pantry chef for a resort in northern Michigan called Marsh Ridge. He worked with with Chef Lynn Allen who encouraged him to pursue his apprenticeship through the American Culinary Federation. Later, he worked as executive chef of Sarasota, Florida restaurant, Mama Leone’s.
He moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2018 to work for Tyson Foods, and has also offered personal chef services.
Corbin took over the lease of the building in February after learning from the Flyer that longtime local restaurant Pesto Cafe had closed, according to a news release.
Renovations on the building have been underway recently, and the updated space will feature “classic Tuscan-inspired décor and an authentic Italian menu,” according to the release.
As far as the menu goes, he has similar plans to build on the foundation already in place at the restaurant.
“We will keep many of the same dishes, plus add a few more classic Italian entrees as well,” Corbin told us.
The new menu is listed on the restaurant’s new website, pestosnwa.com.
After Saturday, the restaurant will be open Tuesday through Thursday from 5-9 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 5-10 p.m. Late-night bar service with a limited appetizer menu will also be available on Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to midnight.
