As the old idiom goes, too many cooks spoil the broth. But throw two chefs with amazing pedigrees into the kitchen and you may have the recipe for success. That's what local well-known chefs Seth Lindahl and Kenneth Holenbeck are hoping with their new venture, Zeppa Bistro, which opened its doors last week in the South Wedge. Lindahl, formerly of Max Chophouse, and Holenbeck, owner of Mise En Place, which Lindahl now co-owns, cooked up the partnership idea years ago when they worked alongside one another at Restaurant 2Vine.

The new restaurant is situated in the space that formerly housed The Keg, a sports bar, grill, and music venue in the lower floor of Gregory Street's historic German House. The German House itself is also now under Lindahl's and Holenbeck's management.

"We both have a huge passion for this," says Holenbeck. "We love the South Wedge neighborhood and the building is beautiful, so we really wanted to make it shine."

The pair extensively renovated the space, gutting the basement to its studs and adding new floors and a ceiling. During the process they uncovered brick arches from the building's original construction, which are now prominently featured in the restaurant design. The basement bistro is decorated mainly in neutral beiges and grays, allowing the richness of the wood tables, leather banquettes, and arched wood ceiling to stand out. The pair has also added a handicapped-accessible elevator.

The restaurant - currently only open for dinner - features a menu of modern American dishes made with ingredients sourced from local purveyors, like Bolton Farms in Hilton. The menu includes a handful of pasta dishes, five different cuts of dry-aged steak, salads, starters, and specialty entrees. Some notable selections include a slow-cooked pork shoulder served with crispy polenta, rapini, and a natural au jus; fennel sausage sliders topped with fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, and garlic Dijon aioli; seared Atlantic salmon served with lentils, salsify (a root with a flavor compared to oysters), carrot nage, frisee, and crispy shallots; and sides like polenta fries topped with parmesan and truffle oil, or honey Dijon roasted Brussels sprouts. The restaurant also serves wine, beer, and specialty cocktails.

In addition to the restaurant, Lindahl and Holenbeck also plan to use the German House theater upstairs as a catering hall that can accommodate up to 240 people, as well as the aptly named 47 Room, a back room for private parties of up to 47 people with a private entrance and bathroom. They will also continue to run concerts and events in the upstairs German House.

To find Zeppa Bistro in City Newspaper's online Restaurant Guide - including a map, user reviews, and more - click here.

Zeppa Bistro is located at 315 Gregory St. Prices range from $8 to $35. It is open Tuesday-Thursday 4:30-10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 4:30-11 p.m. For more information call 585-563-6241 or visit its Facebook page.

Off East and to the east

Two-year-old casual gourmet restaurant Shea's Grill moved earlier this month from its downtown location on East Avenue to the town of Ontario, childhood home to owner Mark Leenhout's grandfather. The restaurant's comfort-food menu has remained largely the same, with specialties like stuffed meatloaf, homemade chicken pot pies, and five different kinds of macaroni and cheese. One new addition to the menu is a sweet potato-encrusted chicken breast topped with caramelized onion apple glaze and sweet potato strings.

To find Shea's Grill in City Newspaper's online Restaurant Guide - including a map, user reviews, and more - click here.

Shea's Grill is located at 6361 Knickerbocker Road in Ontario. Prices range from $8 to $21. It is open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday 5-9:30 p.m. and for brunch Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information call 315-524-8367 or visit sheasgrill.com.

Cue up the ‘que

Texas-style barbeque joint Texas Blues BBQ opened last month in the former Bertino's Italian Food To Go space on Monroe Avenue. The menu includes signature sandwiches, smoked meat platters, starters, combo plates, and sides. Sandwich selections include pulled pork, smoked beef, and brisket topped with a variety of items, from bacon to coleslaw. Smoked meat entrees include the usual suspects: pork ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, and barbeque chicken (notably apple-brined before smoking), all of which are served with a homemade biscuit and a choice of two sides. Side selections include barbeque favorites like mashed potatoes with gravy, macaroni and cheese, fresh-cut fries, and barbequed beans, as well as lesser-seen treats like candied yams and sweet-potato fries.

To find Texas Blues BBQ in City Newspaper's online Restaurant Guide - including a map, user reviews, and more - click here.

Texas Blues BBQ is located at 649 Monroe Ave. Prices range from $6 to $17. It is open daily 11 a.m.-12:30 a.m. For more information, call 585-319-4436.

Closed and coming soon

Mexican grill Casa Moreno (200 Park Point Drive) has closed. Patrons of the restaurant can still enjoy similar authentic offerings at the owners' other restaurant, Blue Cactus Mexican Grille (5 Liftbridge Lane, in Fairport). The space will not be empty for long - an Aladdin's Natural Eatery is slated to open there this spring. It will be the fourth location for the Mediterranean eatery in Rochester; current locations are 646 Monroe Ave., 8 Schoen Place in Pittsford, and 290 Exchange Blvd.

Chow Hound is a restaurant and local food news column. Do you have a tip for our Chow Hound? Send it to food@rochester-citynews.com.