Two of the most beautiful restaurants you will set foot in recently opened in Huntsville. For anyone who loves and appreciates impeccable design and attention to detail, The Providence Bar and Loona's, located in Providence, will make you feel as if you have stepped into the pages of Architectural Digest or a stunning Los Angeles eatery. In fact Loona's decor and food is inspired by the Los Angeles restaurant Great White. While Providence Bar features pizzas, small plates, and wine, Loona's is an elevated brunch destination with an Australian/America inspired menu. Every plate that is sat in front of you at these two new eateries, is beautifully presented, fresh, colorful, and delicious.
And the three faces behind these beautiful restaurant concepts and mouth watering menus are all from immigrant families. Their unique American journeys brought them to Huntsville, Alabama.
The American Dream looks a little different for everyone, but one thing is for sure, if you work hard and stay in a state of learning, anything can happen. Jim Xue entered the US not knowing what life in America would look like for him, but he knew he loved sushi and wanted to learn as much as he could about the art of culinary creations. He learned the ins and outs of the restaurant business as he worked his way up in a sushi restaurant in LA, eventually leading him to Alabama where he would open I Love Sushi in Jones Valley.
"Since 1999 I have seen Huntsville grow and grow," says Jim. "Huntsville is just such a unique place and every time I travel anywhere I can't wait to come home."
Jim met Yunus Hasan one of his co-restauranteurs years ago in the restaurant industry. Yunus came to Huntsville in high school when his dad's civil engineering job moved his family here. From a first generation American family, Yunus attended Bob Jones High School and met Jim in college. Yunus, a known over achiever, working multiple jobs most his life, playing in a band, and going to college found the restaurant business exciting because you never sit still. Yunus's restaurant story even includes a stint at former Huntsville sub shop, Subzone. If you know you know. Yunus's other love is music which he believes is intricitally involved in the atmosphere. "I have been in different bands, one called Madcore which you will not find on any of our restaurant playlists," he laughs. "But I believe that love for music helps create great sound and tunes that play into the vibe of each of our restaurants."
Yunus and Jim began working together with the opening of I Love Sushi Madison, and then continued collaborated together with Chop N Fresh.
The third partner, Ryan Colvin met Yunus and Jim at I Love Sushi Madison when he was a waiter. Ryan moved to Huntsville in 2014 was working part time at a steel factory and also waiting tables at I Love Sushi which was near his house. He fell in love with the restaurant industry and felt a kinship with Jim and Yunus, so he gave up the steel job and went fulltime into restaurants. "I saw those guys and all they were doing in the city and their drive for opening new restaurants and it inspired me to be a part," says Ryan.