After what seemed to be eternity, yesterday at 5pm was the grand opening of Station 4. There was some initial confusion about whether reservations were needed to eat at the restaurant. In fact, some people left when they were initially told they couldn't eat unless they made a reservation ahead of time. It turns out that those who decided to eat at the bar area didn't need reservations and could order food in addition to drinks. Service was a bit slow, which was expected since it was opening night and the restaurant was packed. However, the food (once it did arrive) was very good. I asked several people how their food was and the sweet & sour pizza, cioppino, crab cakes, and spicy tuna cubes received high marks. I had the duck spring rolls (see above) and they were also good. The menu by Spanish chef Orlando Amaro is now on their website.
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| Welcome to the newest restaurant in Southwest! |
It seems that the general consensus from patrons last night was they were glad a new restaurant is in the neighborhood; however, they weren't sure what kind of vibe or audience Station 4 is going after. Jazz and Sinatra was playing in the sound system, and along with the decor, gave an aura of swankiness. I found the restroom area to be a bit odd - several people were confused about whether the restrooms were unisex since there were no visible signs of which side was for men vs. women. The paper towel dispensers by the sinks are positioned very low and the astroturf on the walls in that area were curious.
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| The outdoor terrace has several tables available for people-watching. |
Will Station 4 be primarily a "before the show" dinner spot for Arena Stage patrons? Will locals adopt it as the neighborhood bar, despite not having happy hour specials? Only time will tell, but I'm sure the operators of Station 4 hope there will be a full house every night as it was on Sunday evening. The Southwest Playground Project folks must be pleased about the turnout last night too, since 20% of proceeds went to their efforts to build a playground in Southwest. |
| Several Southwesters turned out for opening night at Station 4 |
Here's a reminder that my 3rd Anniversary happy hour has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 6th from 5:30-8:30pm at Station 4. We will be located in the lounge area to the right of the main entrance by the bar - just look for a balloon. I hope you can make it and there will be cake!
