(Image: Chandelier Lounge)
(Image: Chandelier Lounge)
The Chandelier Lounge opened softly last week on Broadway proving two things. One, Broadway is resilient and always changing. Two, people love things that are shiny and bright.
The new bar offers a vibrant, fresh take on the glamor that its name implies, complete with jewel tones, gold accents, and lots and lots of chandeliers. The cocktail menu is polished and interesting. But what really sets Chandelier Lounge apart is its unique kitchen program: completely sustainable and locally sourced, and powered by an in-house whole carcass butchery.
“There’s a flavor of bar for everybody on this block. This is definitely a flavor that’s new,” said Alix Merritt, front-end manager of Chandelier.
CHS first broke the news on the Chandelier Lounge project in May. Chandelier Lounge is spearheaded by the folks behind 15th Ave E’s Bites of Bangkok, owners Pranesh Sharma and Jansri Parichat.
Sharma was the architect of the Chandelier cocktail menu, featuring fun takes on a variety of classic drinks. Mirroring the glitzy atmosphere, several cocktails include edible glitter.
In the kitchen, Chandelier Lounge offers elevated bar food with menu prices on par with its neighbors, demonstrating that sustainable cuisine doesn’t have to break the bank. “A big drive for me was to prove that you can source small and local and still be profitable,” said Tom Coss, head chef of Chandelier Lounge.
The kitchen brings in a whole hog and a few full birds a week, butcher and process everything in-house, and utilize as much of each animal as possible in creative (and delicious) ways.
All protein is sourced from local and sustainable small businesses. Coss can tell you exactly where each dish is sourced, who owns the farm, and what that farm’s ethics standards are. Chandelier Lounge also sources their produce from within Washington State, keeping the menu seasonal to reflect what fruits and vegetables are available.
“We want to be an example of how restaurants can be stewards of the land,” said Coss.
A couple guests enjoying the “soft opening” at the shiny new new Broadway joint (Image: Chandelier Lounge)
Chandelier Lounge comes to Broadway in the wake of the sad passing of Marco Casas-Beaux, local business owner who founded the pair of Argentine eateries, Boca Restobar and Grill, and the Boca Pizzeria and Bakery.
The lounge is located in the 400 block of Broadway E in the space formerly home to Boca Restobar and Grill, and combined with the neighboring space, formerly Infinity Nails.
Capitale Pizzeria plans to open soon in the other Boca location, also on Broadway.
Other new openings are coming. A few blocks north, the finishing touches are being put on Cheers! Hong Kong, a new bar taking over the former Lionhead restaurant space.
This new endeavor at Chandelier is proud of the legacy of local businesses that have previously filled its address and “is full of unique easter eggs of Capitol Hill history,” said Merritt. They still have the waxing room sign from Infinity Nails, and the two chandeliers that hung above the bar in Boca were the inspiration for the concept of Chandelier Lounge.
Chandelier is now poised to make an impact on the Broadway nightlife scene. An event space as well as lounge, the lounge plans to host live music from jazz performers to local DJs.
“The neighborhood has been so supportive, and we’re excited to see more new faces coming in. The food is so good and we’ve got such a story to tell,” said Merritt.
Chandelier Lounge is located at 416 Broadway E. Learn more at chandelierloungeseattle.com.
HELP KEEP CHS PAYWALL-FREE
Subscribe to CHS to help us hire writers and photographers to cover the neighborhood. CHS is a pay what you can community news site with no required sign-in or paywall. To stay that way, we need you.
Become a subscriber to help us cover the neighborhood for as little as $5 a month.
Wishing them well. Foot traffic especially after dark is down due to the challenges that Broadway is facing; reduced public safety and more people experiencing mental health or drug crisis. Which means fewer people out to enjoy dinner and a cocktail.
Remember before the Internet when you just had to go home and shut up with your vapid commentary. Toughen up and go have the chicken sandwich. It’s amazing.
With my own eyes I see and feel changes in safety to Broadway’s pedestrian scene. I’m out in the neighborhood daily.
Gaslighting that it doesn’t exist doesn’t work. You’re denying my lived experience.
In my world “before the internet” was the 1970s. I may have helped build the technology you now use to denigrate me. How ironic.
It’s definitely not pleasant and sometimes gets sketchier than I’d hope for, but I do wish more of these young people moving into the neighborhood would actually go out on Broadway, as it would do a lot to help reduce the overwhelming people in drug crisis vibe and make the rest of us feel like we aren’t alone. I find it odd that I’m a middle aged lady out on a Friday night walking past all these empty restaurants when we have so many new residents. Is it because young people don’t socialize or drink like we used to? It’s so strangely empty, at least before 11pm, even on the weekends. It’s sad to see new restaurants opening up that you can just tell aren’t going to last based on how few people are supporting them.
That’s not ironic…
Toughen up? Do I really need a black eye with my side of fries? Some customers are 60+ and have fear of unacceptable consequences.
Below Broadway’s comment is quite accurate. Anyone who walks on Broadway regularly would agree. But you can bury your head in the sand if you wish.
You can have the chicken sandwich while still admitting some of the sights, sounds, and smells on Broadway are possible deterrents from spending time and money on Broadway.
I can tell by your childish choice of name that you are someone to take advice about society from 🥴
Welcome to the neighborhood! So glad we have another open storefront on Broadway!
best of luck to them! i’ll be stopping by, I don’t mind spending a little extra for the ethical kitchen. hoping this and the other few spots here help reinvigorate this stretch of NoBro.
let’s not even try to make “NoBro” a thing. Please?
It’s the driving crooner!
Does anybody remember that one effete lounge that was on Pike that I think is now either Casablanca Express or Capitol Lounge?
This reminds me of that lounge but much brighter and open.
It’s funny, we walked by here last night and I said the same thing. I can’t remember the name, either, but we used to go there before shows at The Comet (R.I.P. old Comet).
Oh, it was The Lobby Bar. https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2014/11/after-five-years-on-e-pike-lobby-bar-looking-for-new-home-on-capitol-hill/
It closed amidst…*checks notes*…rising rents.
Sounds so familiar.
Nobody on the city council ever calls out the landlords except in campaign speeches.
The landlords didn’t set up the property tax increases and other levies that are ladled on top of the businesses’ basic operating costs.
I stopped by during their soft opening! Booths were super cozy and I loved the vibes. Was pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the food prices were. Excited to see them join the neighborhood!
Odd that the new pizza place is where pagliaci closed down a while back. If they couldn’t make it work, I wonder….
I miss Pagliacci tons for a slice or two to-go on my way to home for dinner. If the new place does not gouge price-wise, slices to-go, fantastic (Belltown menu seems not likely.). If I’m going to pay $25+ for a just enough to share with a friend, and make your own salad so that you are just enough happy stuffed, I’ll just continue with Cornelly as an occasional $$$ treat. Otherwise, I’m rocking the Totinos cheese from QFC to bake myself.
I could be wrong, but I think Paggliacci had left that location to move into their new location near Pike and Summit. So there may be hope for a new pizza business in the same spot!