Tributary @ Flat River Grill Ready to Welcome Guests

Two weeks ago, Flat River Grill opened the doors to its new bar for the first time. Dubbed Tributary @ Flat River Grill, the space not only expands seating at the popular Lowell restaurant but also creates a “chill vibe” that is distinct from the main dining room, according to general manager Dawn Broderick.

“This is a cool but cozy space,” Broderick says. “It’s a place to come and converse with one another.”

Flat River Grill staff designed the area to include a large bar, high top tables and two booths. Among the touches are tabletops that were taken from The B.O.B. in Grand Rapids which has closed. Both The B.O.B. and Flat River Grill are owned by The Gilmore Collection.

Tributary @ Flat River Grill isn’t a sports bar, and you won’t find a wall of screens or a pool table here either. “What we want is for people to relax ,” Broderick says.

The bar is located in the space that used to house the Century Post Pub. Flat River Grill purchased the building and connected the two with an interior doorway. The bar’s name seemed like a natural fit given that it is now the main entrance for the restaurant.

“We wanted it to reflect that we are named after a river,” Broderick says. After considering several ideas, Tributary was chosen, and just as a tributary feeds into a river, the bar will feed into the Flat River Grill.

Patrons will enter the restaurant through the bar, eliminating the need for guests to navigate stairs and making the entrance ADA-compliant. What’s more, moving the entrance to Tributary @ Flat River Grill opens up space in the main restaurant which may eventually allow for expanded seating.

With the tables in Tributary, Flat River Grill can now accommodate 174 diners. The full menu is available to those seated in the bar although Broderick says the restaurant’s chef may eventually create some appetizer dishes specifically for bar patrons.

Up next for Flat River Grill is renovating the floor above Tributary to create a banquet space for gatherings. Broderick says that renovation will occur as time and budget allows.

For now, Tributary @ Flat River Grill will be open the same days as the main restaurant: Wednesdays through Sundays. More information about hours and the menu can be found on the Flat River Grill website and Facebook page.