Dillinger’s Expanding

by Jennifer Crain for OLY ARTS

In November, Dillinger’s Cocktails & Kitchen will open an expanded dining room and bar. The cocktail lounge, modeled after the Prohibition-era speakeasy, has become a popular destination downtown.

The new space will almost double the establishment’s footprint and capacity. Owner Sandy Hall says the business has outgrown the original space, which seats about 40 guests. The 800-square-foot addition will hold another 30 to 40 seats and accommodate single parties of up to 20 guests, but Hall said they won’t sacrifice charm: “We’re still looking to maintain that small and intimate feeling.”

Lela Cross, co-owner and chef, says designs are consistent with the Old Havana-inspired décor of the original restaurant. Guests can expect a dark mahogany bar with copper highlights and details that reflect the original architectural style of the 1927 building.

The bar will specialize in rum, a nod to the rumrunners who smuggled the booze from the Bahamas and other islands off the coast of Florida in the 1920s. The bar will categorize rum by age, country and distillation method. They plan to offer rum-based drinks and tasting flights.

The menu is still under consideration but will likely include island-influenced dishes, incorporating plantains, pineapples and other tropical ingredients.

Cross has operated a number of restaurants in downtown Olympia over the past 25 years, and said Dillinger’s is grateful to be able to give back.

“We’ve had an amazing reception,” she said. “We’re just really honored to be a part of downtown.”

What: kitchen expansion

Where: Dillinger’s Cocktails,
404 Washington St. SE, Olympia

When: November
Restaurant hours:
Monday-Wednesday, 3 p.m. -10 p.m.
Thursday, 3 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Closed Sunday

Learn more: 360-515-0650 | Dillinger’s Cocktails

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