In this glorious era of hype, it’s a strange feeling when a new place opens up with minimal fanfare. This is the case with Se7en Restaurant and Lounge at 925 Lincoln St., a new hangout that recently sneaked into the Beauvallon building.
It was mysterious from the start. First, it appeared that someone was fixing up the space, the former, short-lived home of a couple of bar/restaurant ventures. A peek through the window showed a bar being set up. Then an “Open” sign glowed at night, though the room often appeared empty and there was no indication of exactly what was going on in there.
Finally, an awning went up announcing the name: Se7en. It’s the second new place to open on the block, a curious dead zone in the midst of a busy nightlife district. Japoix (975 Lincoln St.), an upscale Japanese-fusion restaurant with a large lounge, opened in August and seems to be cruising along. And now there’s Se7en, trying to draw a similar type of traffic: Folks who want to sip cocktails, maybe watch a game, chat and have a meal.
The bar does its job competently. Good deals are on offer at happy hour, like $2 drafts of Coors Light and $3 pints of Stella Artois. The decor isn’t terribly exciting — some flat-screen TVs, highboy tables, a giant Stella Artois clock and mirror — but it’s also not a large bar area, either.
The seating for the restaurant is more lounge-like, with cozy booths lined up along Lincoln Street. It’s fitting, because the star at Se7en is the food. The Chinese-inflected menu is surprisingly tasty. The scallion pancake is a lovely treat to nibble on while enjoying a beer, and a bowl of gingery noodles with chicken was satisfyingly spicy and really quite good.
During a recent visit on a quiet night, a couple came in for dinner and the bartender took a carryout order by phone — perhaps Se7en’s true strengths are as a restaurant, and not so much as a cool place to chill out and drink.
It doesn’t matter. New signs of life on the 900 block of Lincoln always are welcome, especially with the ongoing, off-putting repair work on the Beauvallon. Jazz club Dazzle (930 Lincoln St.) is still going strong, of course, but options are appreciated. Here’s hoping Se7en — and its down-the-street neighbor, Japoix — can hang in there.
Happy B-day.
Bust out the cake and party hats: Tonight is Paulina Szafranski’s birthday celebration.The vice president of marketing for the Lotus Clubs crew is inviting everyone to join the fun at Suite Two Hundred (1427 Larimer St.).
The “Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams” party features hors d’oeuvres, cake and free cocktails for guests. DJ Reflex, a spinner at Los Angeles’s Power 106 hip-hop station and a solo performer in his own right, will provide the tunes.
Make sure to get on the list in order to enjoy all the free stuff Paulina’s providing. Call 720-560-4433 to RSVP.
Chicago export.
Get a Chicago house fix at Beta (1909 Blake St.) when Steve Smooth stops in for a set on Saturday.
A Chicago native, Smooth reps for the Windy City with remixes and original productions, often partnering with fellow DJ JJ Flores. The two hold down a weekly party at Chicago’s SpyBar, aptly dubbed “I Love SpyBar.”
Advance tickets to Saturday’s show are $10 at .
