Osteria Ester (Instagram), the new Italian-American concept by the Good Salt Restaurant Group in partnership with restaurateur Craig Ustler, will soft open on Tuesday, December 9, at 629 E. Central Boulevard [GMap], the former home of SoCo Thornton Park.
The restaurant is led by chef-partner Michael Cooper, who drew inspiration from his grandmother Ester’s way of bringing people together. The menu focuses on comforting, familiar dishes like spaghetti alla vongole, pappardelle bolognese, chicken-parm meatballs, and house-baked focaccia. The beverage program will feature Italian-style wines and classic cocktails like Aperol spritz and cicchetti.
During the soft opening phase, which starts December 9, guests can expect a pared-back menu and limited reservations while the team trains staff and fine-tunes service. Full hours and brunch service are expected in early 2026.
