New restaurant will offer Filipino flavors in downtown Belleville
A new restaurant coming to downtown Belleville will soon offer authentic Filipino flavors—and more—in a family-friendly atmosphere.
The Roundabout Bar & Grill is set to open this spring under the ownership of David and Jeanny Hite and Jason Buss.
Before moving into the building at 104 W. Main St., the Hites operated a vendor booth called Finger Lickin’ Lumpia at various downtown events. They served fresh lumpia (egg rolls), kabobs, pancit (noodles) and other Filipino fare, all cooked onsite.
Opening a restaurant was not their original plan.
“We wanted to do a food truck for a long time,” said David, who worked with taco and barbecue food trucks in Texas while serving in the military.
To do that, he and Jeanny needed a commissary kitchen as a base of operations. Instead, they adjusted their plan and decided to pursue a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
They also had discussed owning a bar for a long time.
“We looked at this together,” said Jason, who works full-time in real estate.
Jason announced the restaurant online earlier this month. He previously owned Keil’s Antiques and Keil’s Estate Sales and “enjoyed owning a business in downtown Belleville.”
While Jason is one of the business’s owners, he will not oversee The Roundabout’s daily operations.
“Being in the background is enough for me,” he said. “I’ll come here to eat and have fun.”
Filipino fare to make the business stand out
While specific menu details haven’t been released, David said The Roundabout will have a full-time soup and salad bar and serve authentic Filipino dishes, such as tilapia fried whole (with eyes and all). Lumpia, which is handmade by Jeanny, also will be on the menu.
People already enjoy their food at local events, “why not serve them every day?” she said. “I think Americans are more excited about my food” than anyone else, she said.
The menu will start small and expand over time. Jeanny said the fare will be simple to ensure quality. Food specials will be offered every few days to test out new items.
Except for the existing pizza ovens, the kitchen at The Roundabout features all new equipment. This includes a large meat grinder that David said will be used to freshly grind all meats for burgers, lumpia and other dishes.
“You get a better flavor” with fresh ingredients, Jeanny said.
Making everything from scratch and by hand is time-consuming. Jeanny currently owns a cleaning service, but after the restaurant opens, she will reduce her client list and eventually leave that business entirely.
As for beverages, there will be eight beers on draft. David said they are working with Shoehorn Brewing to create an exclusive Filipino-style house beer called the Round Horse.
Non-draft beers, including nonalcoholic options, seasonal beverages, cocktails, mocktails, seltzers and Coke products will also be available.
There is ample seating at the double bar and in the dining area. Ten tables are planned for the patio.
The business plans to operate from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week, although some days may have shorter hours.
“We need to feel it out,” Jason said.
The full menu and the soup and salad bar will be available daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. A limited bar menu will be available from 9 to 11 p.m.
A place for families, fun and potential
The décor in the front of the house will not feature neon bar lights, David said. They want to create a pleasant dining environment.
Jason said his biggest challenge is finding the right salad plate for the salad bar.
Other tableware—plates, bowls, utensils and cloth napkins—has been acquired.
“All three of us have OCD about these things,” said Jeanny, adding they complement each other when sharing ideas.
“We’ve been friends for a long time,” she said.
A raised lounge seating area near the entrance includes a sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table, giving guests a place to relax and enjoy drinks.
David said that area could be cleared to serve as a stage for live music, which would be limited to a single artist with an acoustic setup.
They want customers to be able to converse without shouting over music, a challenge in some establishments.
“People can feel comfortable coming in here with their families,” said David.
A key part of The Roundabout’s family-friendly focus is separating the front dining area from the gaming area at the back of the building, creating the feel of two spaces in one.
The gaming room will have lounge seating, gambling (slot) machines, dartboards, two pool tables and a jukebox. David mentioned plans to start a darts league.
Video gaming will not be available when The Roundabout first opens. David said it can take six to nine months to get a gaming license and machines, so those features will come later.
David and Jason have renovated multiple properties together. Although they no longer flip houses, Jason said, they maintain those they already own.
David, a retired member of the military, said his current job is serving as Jason’s full-time carpenter.
Having worked on many old buildings, David researched how to restore architectural features when possible—including repurposing items.
Behind the bar, four decorative pillars frame two large mirrors and a big-screen TV. These, and two ornate mirrors in the women’s restroom, were found in the basement after acquiring the property.
The dining area wall opposite the bar is currently empty but will eventually display images—including the building’s history.
The rest of the building remains under renovation.
There is potential in the upstairs space, which features many windows, exposed brick, and a nonfunctioning service elevator. David said it could eventually be used for private events.
An opening date hasn’t been set.
“We would like to have the bar part open for St. Patrick’s Day,” said Jason. “We’re hoping for a March opening but won’t rush things.”
The Roundabout Bar & Grill will be the latest bar and restaurant addition to downtown Belleville. Recent openings include Schatze’s and Belleville Stein Haus. Charlie’s Place welcomed a new co-owner partnership last summer.
Other bars along West Main Street include The Harp Pub, Shain’s Tavern and Rachel’s Sidebar.
“We just love the downtown atmosphere,” Jason said. He believes the new business will be “a really good fit for everybody.”
About The Roundabout Bar & Grill
The Roundabout is located at 104 W. Main St. in Belleville.
The site housed many businesses since its construction around 1860, including Pitchers Sports Pub & Pizzeria and Castletown Geoghegan.
Earlier businesses included the Coyote Café, Dave’s Saloon, Peters Shoe Store, multiple sandwich shops and other businesses.
For updates about The Roundabout Bar & Grill, visit the business’ Facebook page.
