LEWISTON – Of course there are the old mainstays: colorful rooster pitchers, scattered bottles of wine, vintage Vespas and the heavenly scent of fresh-baked garlic knots.

But the new home of DaVinci’s Eatery features some fabulous new additions: floor-to-ceiling windows; sleek, contemporary fixtures; an expanded lounge; outdoor seating that overlooks Fountain Park; and 98 easy-to-maneuver parking spaces right outside the main entrance.

“It’s the location and the amenities … that’s what made me pick this spot,” said owner Jules Patry.

It’s been three weeks since DaVinci’s moved from its former location in the basement of Bates Mill No. 1 to its new, highly visible spot at the corner of Mill and Chestnut streets. The new home – in the first floor of Storehouse and Wing No. 2 – is about 50 percent bigger than its old location, but the difference in atmosphere is astounding.

“Their mouths just drop wide open,” said Rich Brophy, bartender, of customers’ reactions. “They say ‘This is beautiful, it’s so big.'”

Everywhere you look is a reminder of the 1854 building’s industrial heritage. Giant wood beams stud the interior, separated by washed brick walls and accented with granite lintels and iron turnbuckles.

The restaurant is bathed in natural light, courtesy of the windows, some of which were loading docks at the former textile mill. A Toledo floor scale still operates in the main lobby. Once upon a time it weighed bales of fabric; now it weighs patrons curious to see whether they should have forgone that third garlic knot.

“I see a lot of people step on it,” said Patry as he hopped on, “but a lot – especially women – just walk around it.”

The restaurant’s been busy since it reopened July 9, including bookings for an expanded function room off the lounge. The main dining areas still offer table or booth seating, plus there are 12 umbrellaed tables in the courtyard. All together, DaVinci’s has seating for 350 – about 100 more than at its old location.

“We had to increase staff accordingly,” said Patry, who now employs about 60 people.

The menu and prices have remained essentially the same, although there will be a new offering soon. The Verona Cafe, a small kiosk within the main restaurant, will offer Starbucks coffee and espresso, as well as light breakfast fare such as muffins and bagels, grab-and-go salads, soups and sandwiches.

“I hope we’ll have that open soon,” said Patry, who acknowledges he’s been out straight since the move. Also on the agenda: Sunday jazz brunches.

“We should be ready to launch that this fall,” he said.

Patry smiles with satisfaction when he looks over the new restaurant. He was happy in the old location, which he opened in 1996. But the owners of the building wanted to renovate Mill No. 1 and worked with tenants to find new locations.

Patry undertook the renovation of the Storehouse and Wing No. 2 space by tapping a lot of local talent. Dave Rogers designed the interior, while McIntosh and Tuttle Cabinetmakers created the bar and Maine Bucket Co. built the wine bins.

A modified Vespa truck, now the DaVinci salad bar, is a testament to local artisans. The metal surface compartments that hold all the fruit and veggies was made by Lebel’s Sheet Metal, the bordering counters by McIntosh and Tuttle and the overhead canopy by Blackfoot Awning.

“It’s a cool collaboration,” said Patry.

He declined to say how much the renovation and move cost him, but he has sales and volume goals in mind, which he’ll assess in a year. He knows the food service business requires patience and a long-term view of things.

“But so far, we’re exceedingly busy,” he said.

Brophy concurs.

“This has become a destination.”