Havana Cigar Lounge, a new bar and restaurant at The Yard in Fishers, donated the meals from its grand opening to first responders. Indianapolis Star

Plans have been delayed by actions taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but restaurant owners have not given up on their dreams

The novel coronavirus pandemic hasnixed dine-in service but it hasn't crushed the spirits of owners whowere scheduled to open new Indianapolis restaurants this spring.

Plans have been delayed by precautionsmeantto slow the spread of the coronavirus, but the owners of these restaurants have not given up on their projects. Keep a look out for a new breakfast place in Broad Ripple, a few brunch options, a European bistro in Noblesville and a Havana-themed lounge in Fishers.

9707 District North Drive, havanacigarlounge.vip.

March 23 was the scheduled debut date for former Delicia chef Ricky Martinezs contemporary Latin menu at this Yard at Fishers District newbie.

Havana Cigar Lounge chef Ricky Martinez grills skirt steak to serve to Fishers first responders and public service workers on March 21, when the lounge was supposed to celebrate its grand opening. The lounge's debut was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.(Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

Theluxury, tropical-escape was ready to go days in advance. Owner Omar Barham, who also runs the automobile sales business Coast to Coast Imports in Carmel and Fishers, had planned a grand-opening blowout, complete with ice sculptures and a live band under the lounge's palm trees.

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Instead, he donated the grand opening to first responders in Fishers. Police, firefighters and public works department employees were able to pick up free meals curbside on March 21. The restaurant will resume full service when the the dine-in ban ends.

6331 Guilford Ave.

Thisshrine to biscuits was scheduled to open in late winter 2020 at the former Corner Wine Bar. Half-foot diameter biscuits hollowed like bread bowls and filled with sausage gravy were in the works, as well ascheesy and extra-spicyversions of biscuits and gravy. The restaurant is ready for inspections and will open once the dine-in prohibitions is lifted, co-owner Joel Bourke said.

B & G's will be abreakfast-all-day-and-night restaurant with a full bar and a pub area. Sit in acozy 28-seat breakfast caf serving classic breakfast favorites such as pancakes, eggs and bacon in addition to biscuits. Table service switches to quick service for the smaller, late-night menu.

56 S 9th St., Noblesville.

Chef Samir Mohammad and Rachel Firestone had planned to open their cozy, European-inspired bistro this spring. The couple is sitting tightas they consider retooling the menu for takeout.

We are still completely committed to accomplishing our goals and becoming a part of this community, they wrote on 9th Street Bistros Facebook page.

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Before arriving in Noblesville, Firestone, from Lafayette, and Mohammad, a New Mexico native, ran Bettola Bistro near Denver. The Italian restaurant garnered accolades from local food writers and crowd-source review sites. The chance to own their own restaurant brought Mohammad and Firestone to Noblesville.

1901E. 46th St.,goldleafindy.com

Nothing more than $10 on the menuand $5-$8 wine and beer by the glass are Chef Kristine Bockmans guidelines at this 60-seat eatery bringing breakfast, lunch and evening nibblesto theArsenal Park area.

Most of everything is completely built out now, Bockman said.

Once the dine-in cease order order is lifted, Gold Leaf could be ready to open in as little as two weeks.Meantime, were just going to kind of bide our time and perfect some things, Bockman said.

Atrained butcher who spent much of her cooking career at Italian restaurants in New York City and catering in Seattle, Bockman hasalso been a Smoking Goose sausage maker. Her Gold Leaf menu ideas include provolone-stuffed meatballs in tomato sauce and salted carmel pot de crme. By day, Gold Leaf will serve coffee, quick breads, breakfast sandwiches and light lunch.

1258 Windsor St.,kankanindy.com.

The team that created top Indianapolis top restaurant Bluebeard and its neighbor, Amelias Bakery, had planned to introduce this family-friendly theater/restaurant combo March 23. Opening day is up in the air, but Kan-Kan is already showing movies at virtual watch parties on its Slack channel and at Kan-Kan On Demand. Youll have to make your own popcorn for now.

When Kan-Kan Brasserie opens, Bluebeard chef and James Beard Awards semifinalist Abbi Merriss will helm the kitchen.She'll use locally sourced ingredientsin no-fussdishes like steak frites.An Amelia's Bakery cafe is under construction next door.

1101 N. College Ave.

Pastry chef Pete Schmuttes fans were thrilled to hear the dessert master would open his own place. AroundIndianapolis-area professional food circles, Schmutte has been described as probably the best chef in the city" thanks largely to showstoppers like the white chocolate tart he crowed with caviar for Beholder.

Pastry chef Pete Schmutte is developing Leviathan Bake House, a bakery, cafe and dessert bar scheduled to open sometime in 2020 in the downtown Indianapolis area near Mass Ave.(Photo: Michelle Pemberton/The Star)

The 40-seat bakery/caf/dessert bar he and Gallery Pastry Shop alum Matt Steinbronn are developing at the former R2GO specialty food marketnear Mass Ave. was scheduled to open in early 2020.

Were funded, Schmutte said. I can only say well open when were ready and it makes sense.

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When that time comes, look for fancy treats alongside breads and simple cookies. Pop inmornings and afternoons for croissants, breakfast sandwiches, coffee andlight soup-and-sandwichlunches. At night, consider Leviathan a dessert bar.

130 E. Washington St.

ThisJapanese kaiseki experience was originally scheduled to open in November 2019. Construction delays moved the date to May 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has probably crashed that plan, but chef Akinori Tanigawa continues to tweak recipes for the sublime feasts of small plates Hinata owner Nobuharu Nobu Nakajima has in mind.

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Before stay-at-home orders hit Indiana, Tanigawa showcased his cooking at privatetastings where he creatededible works of art like perfectly rare, soy-poached beef tenderloin slices in broth under a tangle of slivered scallion. Sweet red bean paste filled strawberry mochi packets alongside green tea ice cream dusted in macha and blooming from the center of a yellow sunflower bowl.

Hinata Japanese restaurant chef chef Akinori Tanigawa prepares tasting plates at a private luncheon at Studio C in Indianapolis. Hinata, a kaiseki-style restaurant, is scheduled to open in 2020 in downtown Indianapolis.(Photo: Liz Biro/IndyStar)

5858 N. College Ave.

Owner Gino Pizzi was waiting for final inspections in the days before the coronavirus stoppeddine-in service at Indiana restaurants. Construction delays had already pushed the opening date of this seafood restaurant from spring 2019 to fall to early 2020.

Pizzi, the man behind Indys popular Italian restaurant Ambrosia, ran an oyster bar by the same name years ago in Broad Ripple. Expect raw East Coast oysters, clam bakes, lobster rolls, chowders, clams casino, oysters Rockefeller, mussels steamed in red chili broth andfrom-scratch linguini with fresh clams.

The Pizzi family has also been working on a new Fountain Square speakeasy named Bar Fontana.

gallerypastryshop.com.

Owners Allison Keefer and pastry chef Ben Hardyhave been working ontwo outposts of their popular Broad Ripple location since mid-2019.

Gallery Pastry Shop chef Ben Hardy of Indianapolis prepares bread pudding at the 2019 World Food Championships semi-finals in Dallas. New Gallery Pastry Bar in downtown Indy and Gallery Pastry Brunch on the city's Old Northside are scheduled to open sometime in 2020.(Photo: Nikki Acosta/Magnetic Focus Photography)

Gallery Pastry Bar, a haven for bubbles, dessert-inspired cocktails and brunch andevening bites around an open kitchen, was scheduled to start popping champagne corks in April at 130 S. Pennsylvania St. All-brunch-all-the-time Gallery Pastry Brunch was due late summer at 319 E. 16th St., on the bottom floor of the new Three 19 apartment and townhouse complex at North New Jersey Street.

While both projects are on hold, Gallery continues operating as a takeout bakery and caf. Order cakes, lunch boxes, mimosa kits and more.

9707 District North Drive, havanacigarlounge.vip.

March 23 was the scheduled debut date for former Delicia chef Ricky Martinezs contemporary Latin menu at this Yard at Fishers District newbie.

Theluxury, tropical-escape was ready to go days in advance. Owner Omar Barham, who also runs the automobile sales business Coast to Coast Imports in Carmel and Fishers, had planned a grand-opening blowout, complete with ice sculptures and a live band under the lounge's palm trees.

Instead, he donated the grand opening to first responders in Fishers. Police, firefighters and public works department employees were able to pick up free meals curbside on March 21. The restaurant will resume full service when the the dine-in ban ends.

Follow IndyStar food writer Liz Biro on Twitter: @lizbiro, Instagram: @lizbiro, and on Facebook. Call her at 317-444-6264.

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These 10 restaurants that were supposed to open this spring. They'll get here, eventually. - IndyStar

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