#1539 - Riviera Supper Club & Turquoise Room, La Mesa, CA - 8/20/2011

When the Turf Supper Club closed, the owners moved to this larger, swankier location, formerly the Habana Cuban Restaurant. It retains the grill-it-yourself steaks, and the Turquoise Room lounge makes full use of the swanky old mid-century lights and decor from when it was a steak house in the 40s. The food is good, ample, and quite affordable, and the drinks are serviceable. The aesthetics are not to be missed.

7777 University Ave., La Mesa, CA 91942 - (619) 713-6777
Est. 2008 - Building constructed: year
rivierasupperclub.com - facebook - patch.com - yelp - thefeast

#1538 - Grand Cru Mixologie Lounge, Bellevue, WA - 8/17/2011

Update: Grand Cru closed in November 2012; later replaced by 1 Hundred Bistro and later Bar Code.

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The name includes "mixology" and they've published wistful claims of a "Bellevue's Hottest Cocktail Lounge: and "full service cocktail bar with the best drink list in Bellevue." Thankfully, there are much better cocktails to be had in Bellevue (try Naga Lounge in Chantanee or Lot #3).  Some of their text also claims a "selection of dishes inspired by culinary traditions."  What exactly does that exclude?

But while there is little art to their cocktails, it is the "cru" part of the name that is operative here, as it is really much more of a wine bar. In the past they have even offered free meals on certain nights of the week.  It is very Bellevue-ish -- modern commercial decor at the base of a condo building. It is not long on personality, but it is not a bad stop for a glass of wine and upscale American dishes (inspired by culinary traditions).
1020 108th Ave NE, Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98004 - 425-455-4278
Est. 2009 ("Mixologie" added Aug 2010) - Building constructed: 2009
grandcrulounge.com - facebook - urbanspoon - yelp - komonews - gayot - bellevuebusinessjournal

#1537 #S912 - Taverna Mazi, Seattle - 8/16/2011

Update: Taverna Mazi closed in late 2013 or early 2014

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A new Greek restaurant and bar from Demetri Georgakopoulos, previously from Porta Greek Taverna and Porta by the Market.  Mazi serves some reasonably good cocktails and some of the better Greek food in the city, in a romantic yet neighborly setting.

3426 NE 55th St, Seattle, WA 98105 - 206-829-9440
Est. Aug 4, 2011
Other bars at this location:  None known
tavernamazi.com - facebook - seattleweekly - yelp

#1536 #S911 - Wing Central, Seattle - 8/6/2011

4524 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 - (206) 634-9464
Est. Jan 5, 2011 - Building constructed: 1953
wingcentral.net - facebook - udistrictdaily - seattleweekly - thestranger - yelp

#1535 #S910 - Detention, Seattle - 8/6/2011

Update: Detention closed in December 2011

This is a new bar from the owners of Po' Dog (and Grim's, Auto Battery).  It has a limited menu -- it started out as another Po' Dog, but reduced the food menu to focus on the drinks.  It is designed for students and the cocktail menu shows it, with a list of terrible drinks, for people who just want some candy taste to overwhelm the spirits.  If you're over 23 years-old and/or have much experience drinking outside of frat parties, I'd move on.

4736 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98107 - 206-525-0366
Est. Aug 4, 2011- Closed Dec. 2011 - Building constructed: 1929
Other bars at this location:  None known
uwdetention.com - facebook - thrillist - eater - yelp

#1534 #S909 - Trago Cocina and Lounge, Seattle - 8/5/2011

Azteca, slightly updated for the striped shirt frat boy crowd.

701 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 623-2949
Est. July 2011
Previous bars at this location:  The Green Tavern, Outback Steakhouse
tragoseattle.com - facebook - thrillist - thestranger - yelp

#1533 #S908 - Splash Lounge, Seattle - 8/4/2011

Update:  Splash Lounge closed in January 2012

This near lounge and restaurant from Brian Fetty and Frank Leung in the old V Bar space has good Mediterranean and Asian fusion plates and decent cocktails.  It's a little too Belltown/Amber/Vegas/DList Magazine for my personal tastes, but still an improvement.

2122 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 269-2122
Est. Sep 29, 2011 - Building constructed: 1926
Other bars in this location:  V Bar, Saito's Japanese Cafe & Bar
splashseattle.com - facebook - seattlepi - belltownpeople - thestranger - seattlelite - yelp