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By Lois Thomson

If you're looking for a place to grab a quick bite then get home in time to watch the game, you probably don't want to go to Latitude 48 for dinner. If, on the other hand, you're seeking a nice venue to spend an evening — a "destination place" — then Latitude 48, the new restaurant in Finleyville, may just be the spot to go.

Brandon Skorvan, executive chef, and David Galiffa, garde manger, handle the kitchen responsibilities at Latitude 48, the newly opened restaurant in Finleyville.

Located at 2103 Rankintown Road, Latitude 48 is so named by the five pilots who purchased the Peters Creek Pub in October 2019. Greg Terpin, one of the owners, said he and his friends used to frequent the former pub, and when the owner passed away and it was up for sale, they decided to buy it.

The owners completely renovated the building and everything is new; and Brandon Skorvan, who was hired as executive chef, helped with the layout of the kitchen. Skorvan then brought in David Galiffa as garde manger, or pantry chef; and Renee Allen as front of house manager. Galiffa said Skorvan "recognized me for my artistic plating of food, and I was honored to come to such an elegant place." All three had extensive experience, and with everything in place, the restaurant was ready to open for business in August.
Latitude 48 is designed to be a European-style restaurant — one not looking for a quick turnaround, but rather one where patrons can enjoy a relaxing dinner and spend two or three hours. Having traveled all over the world, the owners are focusing on an international-style menu that will change on a regular basis. "We didn't want it to be a typical American/Italian restaurant," Terpin said. Skorvan also pointed out that clientele "can enjoy a nice rural ride, in a pristine setting, with the same fine dining, rather than combatting city traffic."

Despite the number of restaurants that have recently closed — either temporarily or permanently —because of the Covid-19 virus, Terpin said it was the perfect time to open. "It gave us the ability to move into it slowly, with the limited seating, rather than trying to serve a huge crowd. It was really a blessing, it gave us an opportunity to polish our skills." As a result, Galiffa said business is growing, and Skorvan said the restaurant has already had repeat customers.

The interior of Latitude 48

Latitude 48 is open Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m. Reservations are recommended, with the last one taken at 8:30. The dress code is business casual.

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