The restaurant and piano bar are the very picture of class and refinement - two things that are in short supply in Gray Harbor. To the left when one walks in is the expanse of the restaurant proper, decorated in deep red, with accents of crisp white and a very fine metallic silver. It treads the line between opulent and garish without dipping too far into either camp. The menu is very local ingredient-forward, but prepared with French-inspired elegance and techniques.

To the right, is a piano bar and cocktail lounge called Eighty-Eight at Sitka. The colours in the lounge are slightly deeper, the atmosphere more intimate and warm than the restaurant half. The bar looks like it's been there for an age, even though the building itself is brand-new. It has the feel of something out of the 1950s, with its worn brass finishes and lacquered bartop. Small bites are on offer, as well as expertly crafted cocktails and an extensive wine cellar it shares with Sitka. There are a mix of bar seats, high top seats and two booths for more intimate conversations. A shiny black grand piano sits off to one side, present and visible but not intrusive.

The centerpiece of both sides of the space are the expansive windows overlooking the water and a replica of a spruce tree with its fractal branches that reaches skyward, jutting out with silver branches. It's really quite an impressive art piece of its own, and it really carries the message of an elegant space steeped in local food and drink.

NOTES: Sitka is classy but not priced out of range for some of the residents of Gray Harbor. It's meant to appeal to locals as much as visitors to the casino. The restaurant is a place where people would come for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions,. Eighty-Eight is a nice place to come for a date, enjoy some well-crafted cocktails, bar bites and piano music. The menu for both is locally-focused and well-crafted while not being overly stuffy or adventurous.

Staff

Sitka has an interim head chef who doesn't want to be with the restaurant long-term, but is willing to stay until a suitable replacement is found. They are also seeking bartenders with advanced mixology training in fine cocktails, a sommelier, various servers, a host/ess, as well as musicians to play at the piano bar.