Wine bar and photo gallery The Dark Room opens today in Grand Center. The adults-only venue at 615 N. Grand Blvd., looks to be a destination in its own right among other Midtown cultural spots as photography, fine wine and casual noshes come together under one roof, as The Scoop first reported in January.
“The energy of the space is more than a typical wine bar,” said managing partner Chris Hansen. The 1,800-square-foot space offers ample space for patrons to walk around the gallery and enjoy the inaugural exhibit, “New on the Scene,” which features the works of eight recent graduates of Webster University’s photography program.
Beverages at The Dark Room include wines curated by Bill Kniep of Pinnacle Imports. Six whites and six reds are available by the glass; 10 whites and 10 reds are on the bottle list. All 15 beers on the menu are local brews.
The food menu, developed by Hansen and with recipes from Cafe Osage‘s chef David Kirkland, includes bar snacks, small plates, cheese and meat boards, flatbreads and desserts. Although not a large menu, every item is either prepared in-house or sourced locally. “We’re not trying to be a full-service restaurant, but we wanted to have options,” Hansen said.
Initially, The Dark Room will be open Tuesday through Saturday with limited hours. In a few weeks, it will expand to regular operating hours: open daily (except Monday) from 4 p.m. until midnight, and until 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Here’s what’s in store at The Dark Room:
-photos by Michelle Volansky
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2014.