Remember Tipsy Piano Bar? Uptown Grill has filled that vacant space on Capitol Way
Uptown Grill, a new restaurant and bar, has filled a vacancy on Capitol Way South in downtown Olympia that wasn’t vacant for very long.
The space used to be a New Orleans-style restaurant called Tipsy Piano Bar, which closed in early March.
Michelle Nurmi of Olympia heard the business was for sale, and went back and forth about whether she should take on a new venture. However, her decision was made easier when business partner, friend and longtime chef Pedro Gallegos joined her to open what has become Uptown Grill.
Both Nurmi and Gallegos have extensive restaurant experience in Seattle, she said.
The business opened at 514 Capitol Way S. on June 30. Nurmi said Uptown Grill still has the piano left over from Tipsy, but the interior has been brightened with a chandelier. They also opened up the kitchen so that customers can “see the action,” she said.
Uptown Grill is open for lunch and dinner. The lunch menu features wraps, burgers, salads, chicken pot pie, fish tacos and clam chowder. For dinner, guests can get steak, chicken marsala and pasta dishes, as well as craft cocktails from the bar.
“We are starting with the basics and we will tweak the menu as we get feedback from customers,” Nurmi said.
And Uptown Grill is serving “happy hour” all day, every day, she said. That menu has nine food items and four drinks to choose from.
Uptown Grill is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Customers are expected to wear a mask when they enter the restaurant, but not at the table. Wait staff are wearing masks and gloves, she said.
Nurmi said Uptown Grill’s website and social media presence is under development.
If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
