Fire damages Chapel Hill restaurant 411 West

CHAPEL HILL -- An upscale restaurant on Franklin Street had to evacuate dinnertime customers Saturday and cancel Easter brunch reservations after a kitchen fire shut down the eatery.

The fire at 411 West broke out about 6:45 p.m. Saturday behind a wall near the cooking equipment. Restaurant staff called the Chapel Hill Fire Department when they saw smoke billowing from the wall, said Pete Dorrance, one of the owners.

The restaurant will be closed for at least several days to make repairs, Dorrance said.

There was no damage to the dining room. Dorrance said the cause of the fire likely will be listed in the official report, which is due to be released today.

Fire authorities could not be reached Sunday.

411 West is owned by The Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, which also owns 518 West in Raleigh, MEZ in Morrisville, and Spanky's and Squid's in Chapel Hill.