Cicada in Olympia is making some changes.
First, and perhaps most importantly, is the name. Starting this Sunday, when the new sign goes up, Cicada will officially be Oly Rockfish Grill.
“Since we bought the place 14 months ago, people always ask what Cicada is, and it’s a southern bug,” says owner Chris Cratsenberg “I’ve thought about it – are we a southern restaurant? Do I want to try and embrace that? We have two southern items, everything else is local. We are local people who grew up here and we use local suppliers, so I definitely wanted Oly in the name.”
The breakfast and lunch menus will be virtually the same, and the dinner menu will still have staples like duck and lamb, but Cratsenberg says he wants to cut the average ticket price of $28 down to $18, and to establish a more family-friendly environment, complete with kid’s menu.
Sandwiches, meatloaf and macaroni and cheese will be on the kid’s menu. “It’s all comfort food that kid’s like,” says Cratsenberg.
Rockfish is part of the name to represent the menu that has plenty of the indigenous¸ year-round fish, like blackened rockfish tacos and rockfish and chips.
And the last part of the name, Grill, tones it down a bit, explains Cratsenberg.
“The philosophy behind the cooking hasn’t changed” he says. “It’s the same quality – it’s just not fine dining – I don’t want people to think they can’t come because they’re wearing jeans.”
Cicada re-opens as Oly Rockfish Grill Wednesday, October 3. 700 4th Ave E, Olympia. (360) 753-5700.