The Novelist in downtown Gilbert to close July 1, become Barrel Room

The Novelist, a speakeasy-style restaurant and bar tucked inside OHSO Brewery in downtown Gilbert, will close Monday, July 1.

The space will be converted into Barrel Room, a venue for large private parties.

The Novelist opened in May 2018, a month after the brewery. The literary-themed concept featured colorful paintings of female authors like J.K. Rowling, Mary Shelley, and Charlotte Bronte.

It offered a menu of upscale tavern fare like mushroom ravioli in lobster cream sauce, a seabass fillet with quinoa salad, and a green chile pork burger with parmesan truffle fries.

The Novelist’s sibling restaurant, The Covenant next to OHSO Brewery in Paradise Valley, remains opens.

Barrel Room may not be a permanent replacement for The Novelist. OHSO owner Jon Lane says the space may be transformed into a new concept next summer.