Ballard, Meet Chase Lounge, Your New Seafood Spot

Rob Milliron, who formerly held down the kitchen at Pioneer Square's Radici and has worked under the likes of the prince of pasta himself, Mike Easton of Il Corvo, is someone well-versed in the ways of seafood and sustainably sourced ingredients. Now he's got his own restaurant poised at the corner of 56th and 17th in Ballard, Chase Lounge, which soft opened for the public April 11. It's now closed again so Milliron can "retune" in preparation for a grand opening April 23, when the eatery will focus on decidedly approachable seafood paired with thoughtful spirits and cocktails.

Dubbed Chase Lounge after his grandparents, whose surname was Chase and who, yes, owned a literal chaise lounge, the restaurant is an homage to his elders, "Who taught me to cook at an early age and had me eating raw oysters at four years old," says Milliron.

Fittingly, the restaurant will serve local oysters. Milliron's brought on Kevin Bartlett, formerly of Taylor Shellfish, to curate a selection of Washington oysters to appease Seattle's bivalve needs, and Travers Romann, a master mixologist from New Orleans' Primitivo, to run the bar. Also on the menu: fresh crab cocktail, scallop and shrimp ceviche, ahi crudo with a green onion slaw and avocado puree, lemon verbena honey glazed salmon, cioppino, and more. See the full list online.

Milliron describes the space as "laid back and accessible, but fancy enough for a date night." As for the layout, there's plenty of window-side seating, a full bar, large TVs (reserved for occasional big games), and a mezzanine full of pinball machines and arcade games: Marvel vs. Capcom 2, NBA Jam, and Ms. Pacman, to name a few.

Milliron says after some kinks are worked out, Chase Lounge will host its grand opening on April 23. There will be a happy hour served daily from 3 to 6 p.m. and dinner service after that, with lunch launching this summer; there's also talk of forthcoming brunch pop-ups.

This post has been updated to reflect a last-minute change by Milliron, who moved the grand opening back to April 23 and decided to close in the meantime to "retune."

1556 NW 56th Street, (206) 829-8255, website. Open Friday and Saturday 3 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 3 to 11 p.m.

—Rosin Saez