San Mateo's Astaria to close, become A3

Petrakis and Lolas plan to start an extensive remodel of the space as soon as Astaria closes and hope to have A3 open in June after six to eight weeks of remodeling, Petrakis told the Daily Journal.

The new restaurant will have the same team and same energy with a new atmosphere, menu and new name, she said.

A3 will offer a more urban experience as downtown itself has been transformed with all the new young adults who work for tech companies that call the area home.

"The area is evolving and the demographics are changing," Petrakis said.

A3 is not a new idea, she said, but with the Benjamin Franklin now being occupied by the Draper University of Heroes, after sitting empty for nearly a decade, there is more certainty that a new restaurant will survive in the spot, she said.

Venture capitalist Tim Draper is now the restaurant's landlord and recently extended it a five-year lease.

Petrakis and Lolas have noticed that people and the way they dine are ever evolving.

While Astaria guests love the food, it is sometimes too much for them, they contend.

They are calling their new spot A3 because it will be essentially the third stage of Astaria's evolution after opening in 2003 and then changing its menu dramatically in between.

A3 will introduce a menu of vibrant flavors that encourages sharing and socializing at the table, Petrakis said. Petrakis and Lolas want customers to be able try several things on the menu every time they visit.

The duo also hopes to attract some of the crowd from restaurant-rich B Street up to their section of downtown, which is more retail oriented.

A3 Restaurant and Bar will feature organic, sustainable products from local farms and its own roof-top garden. It will also serve hand-crafted cocktails and plenty of items made from scratch.

silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com

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