Restaurant Opens At Downtown Binghamton Hotel

It turns out here is a Mayor's Lounge in downtown Binghamton -- and it's not inside City Hall.

The lounge actually is located in the historic former City Hall on Collier Street, which now serves as the Grand Royale Hotel.

A new restaurant, The Royale Kitchen, is opening this week. Hotel owner Nirmal Aujla told WNBF News the restaurant menu will feature Amercan and Italian cuisine.

Aujla, a Watertown dentist, has owned the hotel for about two years. He said he was attracted to the property by the impressive architecture of the historic building, which is half-block from the current City Hall.

Aujla said a chef from Boston will be overseeing the new restaurant.

Binghamton mayor Matthew Ryan said he's visited the Mayor's Lounge, which features drinks honoring the city's mayors.

Ryan said there already was a cocktail bearing his name. But he made a suggestion for some revisions for it. He said the new version includes tequila with fresh limes and lemons along with some agave syrup.