Dining
BY RACHEL LELAND
Chelsea Wine Bar pours Old World charm After walking up the bar’s wooden steps, patrons at Chelsea Wine Bar open the door to an Old World ambiance, displaying storied antiques and knick-knacks Owner John Devereux collected over the years, such as the hanging pendant light from Rice Hotel and the wooden bar top sourced from the Port Authority o ce of Galveston, dating back to the early 1900s. Mural scenes painted by artist Shelley Shanks cover the walls and ceilings, including warm scenes Manager Bill LeMay said were inspired by Paul Gauguin’s depictions of Tahiti and Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s famous painting Lun- cheon of the Boating Party, a colorful impression of friends enjoying wine along the Seine. Approaching the counter, guests can place their order, where they can also choose from an assortment of cakes through a refrigerated glass case. Cakes include red velvet, Italian cream and Oreo cheesecake, along with a food menu, with favorites such as baked goat cheese. In July, Chelsea Wine Bar in El Lago will cele- brate 19 years of pouring and creating a gathering space for people to connect and enjoy wine in a space sta said is unlike any other in the area. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere Located o Nasa Parkway, the two-story bar and its attached patios overlook Taylor Lake, where guests can catch a sunset while enjoy- ing a glass of wine with over 100 options to choose from. Wine tender Susanna Martinez said the bar expands and rotates its wine list monthly, and recently added rarer nds, such as Lebanese blends, a white Pinot Noir and the “king of the reds,” an Amarone della Valpolicella from Northern Italy. The bar’s draft wall has 24 beers and serves 25 bottled beers. “The more interesting wines that you have that are not within your speci c palette, the more your palette expands, and it gives you the opportunity to really hone in and nd what you actually like,” LeMay said. Also of note The bar hosts wine tastings on the rst Wednesday of every month, except for December and January when champagne is served instead. The bar also hosts steak nights on Sunday, serving a 6 oz. Chateaubriand with a side of Demi glaze, mashed potatoes and green beans. Celtic ddlers perform upstairs while the bar pours
The bar hosts wine tastings on the rst Wednesday of every month and a supper club on Tuesday, wine tender Susanna Martinez said.
RACHEL LELAND COMMUNITY IMPACT
Guests can rent the bar’s upper room and adjacent patio for parties.
The bar hosts Sunday steak nights.
Guinness and serves shepherd’s pie in a cast-iron skillet for $10 on Mondays. Going forward LeMay lamented that many wine bars began replacing physical menus with QR codes, a practice he believes turns the intimate, social nature of wine service into an experience that’s akin to fast food. “Technology has its place, but hopefully it will never have a major role here,” Martinez said. “QR codes and Old World charm just really don’t mix.”
KIRBY BLVD.
E . N A S
CLEAR LAKE
N
4106 E. NASA Parkway, Ste. F, El Lago chelseawinebartexas.com
13
BAY AREA EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook