Welcome to the neighborhood?

Will Stephanie Sokolove's newest restaurant in the South End shine?

By: Marissa Grey

The corner of Tremont and Clarendon streets boasts a prime location for business, near high-volume, award-winning restaurants like Hamersley's, The Beehive and Sibling Rivalry. So when Garden of Eden closed its doors after 12 years, a new restaurant had to fill its very large shoes.

Stephanie Sokolove, owner of popular Stephanie's on Newbury Street, opened up shop in early March with a new "sister restaurant," Stephi's on Tremont. Sokolove had been hunting for space for a new restaurant: "We'd been looking for a long time and nothing seemed to be right, but when the landlord called me from the South End space, I realized that we could do what we do on Newbury, just smaller," she said.

Stephi's on Tremont has the charm of being on a corner, just like its "sister" on Newbury. It is equipped with high ceilings and outdoor seating. But some people are asking if it fits in the South End, which is notorious for chic, trendy and unique restaurants.

Although Sokolove admits that she has felt welcomed by her restaurant neighbors, some local South Enders said they are just not feeling it.

"It feels too commercial," said Danielle Allen, who has lived in the South End for over 10 years and frequents restaurants like Mistral and Hamersley's on a regular, weekly basis. "It's like she [Sokolove] is starting to make Stephanie's a chain in Boston," she said.

Although some residents are turned off, Sokolove knew that Stephi's had to be different than Stephanie's.

"We still wanted to pull over our residential feel that we have over on Newbury Street and this space feels residential, but it certainly is hipper and more sophisticated which is more appropriate for the South End," said Sokolove.

Sokolove also had the support of the Ellis Neighborhood Association, who contributed feedback during construction and makes decisions with the restaurant regularly.

"Stephanie had a great relationship with the Back Bay Neighborhood Association, and our relationship with her is just as successful," said David Mundell, chairman of licensing for Ellis. "A good relationship was the most important, fitting in with the South End style was definitely second," he said.

Yet, even after scaling down the menu and re-vamping the interior for a more contemporary look, some South Enders aren't convinced yet.

"I don't want the South End to turn into one of those places with a Starbucks on every corner. I think Sokolove is trying to do that with her restaurants, and that's not what the South End is about," said Sara Sweet Rabidoux, a South End resident of three years and bartender at The Beehive.

Rabidoux said that Garden of Eden was an institution in the South End and many South End residents haven't really let go since the restaurant closed last year.

"It was really sad for the South End when Garden of Eden left," said Allen. "We used to take our son there every week for grilled cheese," he said.

Whether or not Stephi's can replace Garden of Eden, only time will tell.

"We changed it but I wouldn't say change, just a growing concept of what we do," said Sokolove of her new restaurant, which is packed on week nights by locals. "It appears to be that this is working," she said.