Broad Ripple residents aren't hurting for dining options.

But that doesn't mean that certain locations aren't hurting for business. Following the departure of Thai One On, Chef Neal Brown saw an opportunity to bring something new to the table at the 6523 Ferguson St. building. His concept: L'Explorateur, scheduled to open June 1.

Brown said that L'Explorateur's contemporary, eclectic menu (which will change weekly or bi-weekly) will focus on seafood.

He's also intent on bringing "exciting local ingredients" and "food of the moment" to patrons.

"I'm going to work very closely with vendors, and they will let us know a week in advance when certain vegetables are going to come out," he said.

So it should come as no surprise that someone so concerned with freshness is also including a raw bar.

"We will do things like ceviches, different takes on raw fish and vegetables, light salads in the Latin-American and Japanese styles and carpaccios of fish," he said.

Expect to also find contemporary decor at L'Explorateur as well as two patios -- one of which will serve as the "wine terrace" and another as a waiting area.

Brown, an Indiana native, plans to use objects familiar to Indiana, such as wine and champagne buckets designed to look like milk buckets, and bottled water served in milk bottles, in his table service.

"I think sometimes people forget that this is the land of bounty," Brown said. "We (chefs) have so much at our disposal, but because of transportation and creativity on the chef's part, we get away from that."