If you weren't already, it is officially time to take Newark's food scene seriously.

Because on Friday, award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson is bringing his talents and credibility to the redeveloped Hahne & Co. building, 56 Halsey St., when he opens his newest restaurant, Marcus B&P, an all-day casual restaurant with the food made entirely in-house or sourced locally, as Samuelsson described it to NJ Advance Media in July.

Dinner options will range from snacks, like his homemade cornbread ($6), to two-person entrees, such as a locally sourced whole roasted chicken ($45). Other items include spaghetti piccadilly ($23), which is peekytoe crab, roasted peppers and crab butter, and a New Jersey-themed pizza, "The Nine Seven-3," which is topped with Taylor Ham, provolone and egg for $14.

Marcus B&P's New Jersey-themed pizza, "The Nine Seven-3," which is topped with Taylor Ham, provolone and egg for $14. (Courtesy photo)

As for the name Marcus B&P, Samuelsson said the B stands for bar, bodega and beer, and the P stands for parlor, patisserie and provisions, but he is also sticking to his roots, and wants it to be a place where people can pop in without a reservation. Born in Ethiopia, but raised in Sweden, BP refers to the Swedish concept "back pocket," meaning reservations are not always needed.

But reservations surely won't hurt because the new restaurant, which will seat 55 patrons in a 3,000-square-foot space, will certainly be a destination for foodies across the region.

Samuelsson's names carries heavy weight in the culinary world. A multiple James Beard Winner and Bravo's "Top Chef Masters" champion, he blazed through New York's high-end food scene in the 1990s. His current flagship restaurant is Red Rooster in Harlem, which specializes in soul food.

But now Samuelsson wants to take a crack at Newark, which is undergoing a downtown development boom, with his newest restaurant. The home of Marcus B&P, Hahne & Co. Building, is a mixed-use complex that features luxury apartments and the city's first Whole Foods.

He told NJ Advance Media this summer it is up to him and his staff to "earn" the people of Newark's time.

"We're spending a lot of time in Newark and learning about Newark as a place and how we can fit into the community," he said. "The hours are something that we have to earn ... People are going to tell us when they want us to be open. The locals, Audible, Rutgers, the person who works down the street, it's a very diverse community with different hours. It's up to us to earn it."

The restaurant will have various items catering towards the three meals of the day.

When the restaurant opens at 11 a.m. daily, there will be coffee, tea and fresh juice, bread, pastries, and quick breakfast options, and a cafe menu featuring lunch options. At night, there will be a craft cocktail menu and an assortment of entrees, including homemade pasta dishes, pizza, fried chicken and waffles, and fresh fish.

Samuelsson also said Marcus B&P will put an emphasis on hiring local workers, and he hopes the spot will become "a breeding ground" for aspiring chefs in Newark.

The grand opening of the restaurant will be on Friday, Nov. 17, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Regular restaurant hours, which will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, begin on Monday, Nov. 20.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jatmonavageNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook