The restaurant portion of the Woodbine Hotel and Restaurant in Madisonville will reopen to the public for its Easter brunch buffet Sunday and resume normal operations Tuesday after being closed for nearly a year during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening comes with a rejuvenated menu including a new slate of dishes for locals to enjoy.

The hotel portion of the Woodbine has been open since May, but the restaurant will follow suite next week. All of the favorites from the old menu will remain in place along with the new dishes that will be added, according to owner Shamshad Zaidi.

“It will be the same menu but we are brining in new dishes,” said Zaidi. “Most of (the new dishes) are south Asian and Mediterranean cuisine.”

The hours of operations for lunch will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

They will offer dinner on Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are required for dinner.

The new dishes offered will include (Japanese dishes) sushi, tempura, okonomiyaki, (Mediterranean dishes) Mediterranean chicken and mushroom, quinoa salad, Mediterranean marinated vegetable salad, feta cheese Mediterranean salad, (Indian and Pakistani dishes) Pakistani chicken curries, chicken tikka, chicken biryani, chicken Kabuli Paulao, shish kabab, chapli kabab and goli kabab.

Prime rib will be offered on Friday and Saturday nights for dinner. Reservations are required for dinner as well as Easter brunch. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own wine. Glasses will be provided.

The Woodbine is also open for weddings, birthday parties, baby showers and other events.

The restaurant will also follow standard COVID-19 guidelines.

“Our premises are sanitized regularly and staff wear protective gear to ensure safety,” said Zaidi. “We also require face masks and social distancing.”