Dining with the stars in Sisters

Pleiades, Sisters' newest restaurant, is open for business. Named after a cluster of stars in the heavens that is alternatively known as the Seven Sisters in English and Subaru in Japanese, the restaurant served dinner for the first time last Friday evening, glistening as brightly in Sisters as the stars of Pleiades shined in the heavens.

Now that Pleiades' doors are open, they will not again close. The restaurant will welcome all for both lunch and dinner seven days a week, 365 days a year.

"We built this restaurant for the community. We want it to be frequented by community members. We want it priced reasonable, the menu palatable. We want locals to have a place to come and eat," said restaurant manager Kendra Littrell, who also serves as events manager for FivePine Lodge and Conference Center.

"Obviously, we're going to be busy with all the tourism, with all the guests from FivePine Lodge, with Sisters Athletic Club. We know we have this base of customers already, but we really built this restaurant for all of us who want to go out to eat," Littrell said.

Friday's quiet opening was set aside for Sisters Athletic Club members and their guests with the hope of giving both Pleiades' kitchen crew and servers a practice round before the restaurant's official opening the next day.

"It's the first night that we've been able to provide the full menu from the kitchen with all of the service," said Littrell. "It's a trial run for us so we can kind of get all of the kinks out."

According to Tate Metcalf, Sisters Athletic Club manager and partner in Pleiades, the decision to open the restaurant on the first night specifically to athletic club members was made because of the connection club members feel with the restaurant.

"They've been watching the construction, so they really feel a part of it. The club members are going to be a little more lenient as they come and try it. That's why we wanted to start with the club members first," Metcalf said.

With every table full on Friday night, the staff of nearly 20 (including five servers, two bussers, a hostess, a bartender and the eight or so who were working in the kitchen under the supervision of executive chef David Berger) rose to the occasion. They served some 120 dinners.

One special feature that the restaurant offers is child care. Children may attend the athletic club's Kids Club while their parents or grandparents are dining.

For more information about this service, contact Pleiades at 588-6151 or Sisters Athletic Club at 549-6878.