SOUTH SOUND NEWS, NIBBLES AND BITES >>>
Tacoma Avenue Hole: JoAnna and Tom Irick quietly opened the SideBar Bistro last summer, and now have quielty closed it – along with their other restaurant Hot Rod Dog next door at 11th and Tacoma Avenue South.
Cicada In Olympia: Chris Cratsenberg and Jen Thornson are the new owners of Cicada Restaurant and Lounge. While they say there will be little changes to the menu, the new owners will change the interior and have added two 50-inch TVs in the lounge for sports games. The new hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Pan-Asain: Cafe Banana will open Sept. 15 in the spot Goodfellas Steakhouse once occupied at Great American Casino in Lakewood. it's been tagged as an upscale Asain bistro.
Adding Land: Sushi rocks next to the cinemas at Capital Mall in Olympia has closed and Land and See Buffet is moving into its spot.
Maxwell's Speakeasy: Maxwell's new owners will roll out a new menu Sept 13 with a grand "red carpet" re-opening in mid October.