For practical reasons, a Bluffton restaurant is changing its name: the place known as Luke's since 2005 will be rebranded as Kira's Flipside Grill. The ownership transition is official, but it will take a while to implement on the restaurant's website, social media, menus and signs.
Owner Kira Kohli explains that the name and logo are all that will really change.
Kohli worked at the 133 N. Main St. establishment even before it became Luke's. She calls the restaurant "her first baby" and can't imagine doing anything else. She says the restaurant has grown with her and that she always has new ideas for the decor and menu. She is proud of the gradual transformation from a bar to a restaurant.
All eateries have faced staffing and supply chain challenges in the last couple of years. Kohli notes that she has chosen not to make portions smaller while the cost and availability of ingredients has been volatile. She explains that for a while business was 30-50% carryout, but that dining-in is now much closer to normal.
Several members of the staff paused for a photo, revealing Kohli isn't the only one with a long history at the restaurant; some have worked here for as long as 17-18 years. When employees Danielle and Justin Clark got engaged, Kohli was ordained so she could marry them.
The new name, Kira's Flipside Grill, is a nod to Kohli's love of music. The restaurant features live music on Saturday evenings from 7:00-10:00 p.m. Kohli has the slot booked through December, with a focus on solo and duo acts. Coming up:
July 23 - The Two of Us
July 30 - Adam Thayer
August 6 - Muddy Shutters
Music is performed in the patio area, where large doors can be rolled up in nice weather.
Restaurant hours are:
Monday - Closed
Tuesday-Thursday - Open 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Friday-Saturday - Open 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sunday - Open 11:00 am.-10:00 p.m.
PHOTO L-R Front: Charissa O'Connell, Kira Kohli, Lindsay Huber; Back: Miriam Fike, Charles Hauenstein, Justin Clark, Danielle Clark
