Deco becomes Sebastien's

Eagle-eyed food enthusiasts have undoubtedly noticed that Spring Garden institutionDeco(5518 Spring Garden) has been closed all week. But all is not quiet on the Deco front---inside, the restaurant’s abuzz with painting, menu-planning and general hustling (not to mention bustling). The restaurant’s under new ownership, and will soon be reborn with a new menu, a new head chef, and a shiny new name---Sebastien’s Bistro. That’s right: Deco’s being re-invented as an authentic French bistro.Sebastien Schwab, one of the restaurant’s new co-owners, is a veteran chef who hails from Brittany in France, and specializes in seafood. He’ll make his sure-to-impress Halifax cooking debut when the Bistro opens. For the past few years, Schwab and his wife,Silvia Cambray(the Bistro’s other owner), have been living in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (French islands off the Newfoundland coast), where they’ve been running their own French fine-dining establishment,La Voilierie Restaurant, since 2003. (They’re selling it to facilitate their move here.) All the food at the Bistro, will be crafted using “Sebastien’s own unique touch,” says Cambray. The restaurant’s final menu hasn’t been selected yet---this week, Schwab will meet with his sous-chefs to get their input. Plus, says Cambray, Schwab tends to be inspired by the area he’s in. “He needs to sort of be here a little bit, and spend some time and discover the products---and then, the inspiration comes from there.” But expect traditional French dishes like escargots and blanquette de veau, alongside chicken and beef dishes and more “adventurous fare,” which could incorporate anything from wild boar to dandelion liqueur. Wild boar not your speed? Watch for the Bistro’s “chocolate week,” which will feature a wide array of dishes prepared using everyone’s favorite comfort food (no, not peanut butter on a spoon). The official grand opening of Sebastien’s Bistro is set for November 23. Call the restaurant at 423-9795.