Belltown Messenger

Del Rey, a new lounge, opened in mid April below the Catholic Seamen's Club on First and Battery and owners Richard Hemsley and Charlie Bucy say business is booming.
Richard told me that Del Rey is designed to be an affordable lounge, with good food. That's a good niche in Belltown when the price for a night out at certain spots can be astronomical when you start adding drinks to the tab.
Del Rey has a back room that's available for meetings and functions of all kinds (an Ivy League alumni event of some kind was happening during one of my visits). Sounds like a nice alternative to sitting in some boardroom in an office building all afternoon huh?
Chef Kurtis Wilsey's (formerly of Vivanda and BluWater Bistro) "Northwest style tasting menu" is in reality some really good unpretentious bar comfort food. Pesto Pilsener steamed clams struck my fancy, the oysters were nicely presented. For Del Rey's House-Cured Pearl Vodka Salmon, Wilsey takes a fresh salmon fillet, infuses it with premium vodka and fresh dill, and serves it with a small mound of fresh spinach leaves and shaved fennel. In his signature Steamed Clams, the bivalves are steamed in Pilsner and dressed up with basil pesto, lemon and butter.
Richard Hemsley opened Capital Hill's Barca with partner John Bigley in 2000, and the club's five year anniversary is coming up on August sixth. Richard's accent betrays the fact that he's originally from Yorkshire, England.
Some might remember Bigley from his days at Belltown's Lava Lounge, and also as the singer for the U-Men, a legendarily influential band from Seattle's pre-hype "grunge" scene. Bigley also started the Capital Club with "Linda," the silent investors being Seattle music scene godfathers Jonathan Poneman and Bruce Pavitt of Belltown's (yes, they're located below a condo now) Sub Pop records.
The extensive remodeling of the Del Rey space was done by the owners. Charley's former career was building multimillion dollar high-end custom homes. Richard is a former contractor who built the Capital Club for Linda (of Linda's and Belltown's Vicerory), and also built the interiors for Belltown's Ohana, Toi, and Lush Life (before Marjorie moved in). I would highly reccomend the happy hour, where you can share plates with friends from the afforable menu. Del Rey is open daily from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., with the kitchen serving until 1 a.m.
Del Rey
2332 First Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98121
(206) 770-3228

2318 2nd Ave. PMB #1081
Seattle, WA 98121
editor@belltownmessenger.com