Celebrated pastry chef Kristen Murray (Paley's Place, New York's Aquavit, Boston's No. 9 Park) is a few steps away from opening Maurice, her first solo restaurant project in the former Reading Frenzy space at 921 SW Oak Street near the flagship Powell's Books.

According to Murray, Maurice will be a "pastry luncheonette" by day and a destination for "dessert cuisine" by night.

By day, the 580-square-foot spot will feature sweet and savory pastries, soups, salads, lefse wraps and Murray's buzzed-about phyllo-wrapped goat bisteeya meat pies unveiled at a recent pop up dinner. Nights will showcase the composed whimsal desserts that put Murray on the map.

Tenative plans are to open by October, after funds are secured via a crowd-sourced Kickstarter campaign. Early savory and sweet menu items are set to include:

• Walnut gateau with saffron candied quince
• Composed pickled fish salad with rye crisps
• Flaky, duck fat-laden pastries
• Eggs en cocotte 
• Lefse wraps (a nod to Murray's grandmother Nora)
• Cocoa puff palmier and lady fingers
• Ice cream, sorbet, and popsicles