Turkey? Nah, Let's Eat French

The Twisted Frenchman recently relocated to its new space in the former Royal York Auction Gallery building on Baum Boulevard in East Liberty. The new location combines two unique restaurant concepts: The Twisted Frenchman, a luxurious, fine dining restaurant on the second floor and Bar Frenchman, a bar and casual dining space on the first.

The URA provided a $100,000 Pittsburgh Business Growth Fund (PBGF) loan, $50,000 Business Energy Savings Program(BESP) loan, and a $31,500 Streetface Program grant to Twisted Frenchman.

“We learned about the URA from Terri Sokoloff at the Specialty Group. They met with us right away and walked us through all the steps and details of URA financing,” said Andrew Garbarino III, co-owner.

The Twisted Frenchman partners and executive chef, Andrew Garbarino IV, worked with the URA’s Rochelle Lilien, senior business development specialist and Karlee Turkaly, entrepreneurship investment specialist, on the loans for working capital and equipment, and Quianna Wasler, façade program manager, on the restaurant’s façade renovation.

“When we toured the space as renovations were in process, I was amazed by Andrew’s (IV) attention to every aspect of the interior design, ultimately transforming this unutilized space into a stunning restaurant,” Lilien said. “The equipment that was being purchased was energy efficient, so it was the perfect opportunity to utilize the URA’s BESP Program and provide the client with a lower interest rate.”

“Rochelle and Quianna were both very accommodating to us. We had gone substantially over budget in the rehabilitation of the building, so the financial assistance from the URA was extremely helpful,” said Garbarino III.

With the URA's investment, The Twisted Frenchman has been able to create 28 jobs and expand from 32 to 128 seats.

Through the URA Streetface Program, with architectural design prepared by Benjamin J. Policicchio AIA, the restaurant partners drastically improved the façade of their new building. Project contractors Raimondo Masonry Restoration and Modern Art & Plate Glass Co. removed and rebuilt the stone parapet wall, removed and replaced damaged limestone as needed, pressure washed and sealed the masonry surface, tuckpointed, removed glass block from all windows, and installed new storefront windows and doors. The total façade project cost was $100,752.24.

“The Garbarinos did an amazing, historically-appropriate renovation to a beautiful building that had been blocked over and shuttered for a long period of time,” said Wasler.

“The rehabilitation of the façade completely changed the block,” Garbarino III said. “Pittsburgh has a lot to offer, and now, having a first-class restaurant like this can be added to the list. There’s no other restaurant in the city quite like The Twisted Frenchman.”

The Twisted Frenchman is located at 5925 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Read more about the restaurant here. View photos here.