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If someone walked into the restaurant at 47 Clarence St., they might not be sure if they were inside the newly opened Red Lion pub or still in Empire Restaurant.

New co-owners Jack Bisson and Kent Bagnall are currently in the process of transforming the eatery, formerly known as Empire Restaurant, into the Red Lion pub while keeping their doors open and serving customers.

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“We call it a very soft opening because all the finishing details aren’t done yet,” Bisson said.

The two acquired Empire Restaurant last month and have since been reworking its appearance with new signage, furniture, a paint job and televisions.

Despite the cosmetic changes, Bisson said that all previous staff were kept and the menu will retain its “high-end food selection… (but) with a pub twist.”

Former owners David Mangano and John Borsten built the ByWard Market restaurant’s reputation as a fine-dining spot for 19 years before selling it last month. Last year, the pair undertook a sizeable rebranding of the eatery, including dropping the “Grill” from “Empire Grill” in favour of “Restaurant,” and revamping the interior to make it feel more relaxed, warm and contemporary.