FRISCO — The phrase “Let's grab a bite at the Grille” will soon be a regular part of Frisco residents' vernacular.

The Fifth Avenue Grille opened last week at the intersection of Fifth Ave. and Main Street in Frisco at the site of the former Farley's Chop House. The new establishment shares ties with the former one, but brings a more approachable feel for locals and visitors alike. Former Farley's partner Seth Zelen teamed with former Farley's bartender Michelle Foster to reopen the business under the new name, with plenty of changes in store.

A standard plate runs about half the price of what customers paid at the former establishment, Zelen said, and the menu has been expanded to include choices beyond standard steakhouse fare. The hand-cut New York strips, famous beef tips and chicken tenders are still on the menu, but smaller plate options — including vegetarian fare — have been added.

“We want to create that local, neighborhood bar feel, but you can come in and get something great to eat, as well,” Foster said.

The price for a plate may have gone down, but with High Country chef extraordinaire Tim Rohr running the kitchen, the quality of the food should remain high. Rohr has worked at a number of kitchens in Vail and Summit County, including Sweet Basil, Cafe Alpine and Embers.

The interior of the building has been altered, as well. Walls were removed to create a cohesive space that combined the bar, dining room and back room areas. The back room also has a new fireplace to create a cozy feel.

“We think it's an ideal spot to host a party or get-together,” Foster said.

The restaurant opens at 3 p.m. daily and runs a happy hour from opening until 6 p.m. with drink and food specials. The wine menu itself has also been revamped to include a dozen glasses under $10.

About the owners

Foster and Zelen were contacted separately by the building's landlord to gauge their interest in opening a new restaurant in the location. After some initial discussions, Zelen and Foster realized their vision for the space was strikingly similar, so they decided to go into business together.

“The more we chatted about it, the more we realized that we think alike,” Zelen said. “We complement each other.”

Foster brings youth and experience on the front lines as a bartender, whereas Zelen brings better than a decade of restaurant management to the table.

“She has some fresh ideas, and she knows what customers are looking for from her experience as a bartender,” Zelen said.

Though Zelen looked at a variety of locations to open a new restaurant, the former Farley's site seemed like a perfect fit. Both Zelen and Foster have lived in Frisco for better than 10 years, so opening the new restaurant there made perfect sense.

“We're really excited about the future plans for Main Street,” Zelen said. “It's looks like it's going to be very pedestrian friendly.”