The Cottage restaurant, which temporarily closed early January while it underwent an interior makeover, is ready to re-open its doors on Friday, January 19 at 5pm. I had the chance to peek in and see the popular Linden Square location’s new look. Gone are the fake pillar-candle chandeliers and the Southern California vibe. Instead there’s more of a warm New England style, local artists and revamped menu included.

It’s cozy as can be and clean as a whistle, but there’s no question that they would have to be up all night pulling it together. Imagine your house on the final day of a major renovation, and your entire family is coming over for dinner the second the contractors leave. That’s what The Cottage looked like when I stopped by. The artwork was being hung, the food photographer was snapping shots of the latest dishes that the kitchen had just whipped up, and there were tools and delivery boxes and staff everywhere. All hands were on deck and were singleminded in one pursuit: be ready to open on D-day and make it look like they did it all with the back of their hand. No problem. They’re ready for you.

Here are some pics: