Dempsey’s really heating up, with a slew of new concepts launching at the hip lifestyle hub: There’s 1920s-style Chinese lounge Jiu Zhuang, The Prive Group’s newest project The Green Door, party venue the Chameleon Club and rebranded Asian tapas restaurant Tigerlily.
Inspired by 1920s Shanghai, restaurant-lounge Jiu Zhuang serves haute dim sum including crystal dumpling with lobster ($12), and small plates like drunken chicken roulade ($12). There are also a list of high end Old World wines (from $60), sake (from $90) and whisky ($200).
Surrounded by nature, The Green Door is a new bar by The Prive Group, serving snacks like crispy corn and shrimp fritters ($15) and Mexican catfish salad ($14) plus, cocktails such as Starry Starry Night ($19)—rum, triple sec and sweet basil, a decent selection of wines (from $60) and spirits (from $12/glass, $180/bottle).
The Chameleon Club plays R&B beats and is housed on the second floor of 22 Dempsey. Drinks go from $18 for housepours and mainstays like Belvedere going at $280. Signature cocktails include the Nectar Margarita ($22), a blend of cointreau, tequila, agave nectar, lemon and lime. There are light bites too, like truffle fries ($16), gazpacho shooters ($28) and mushrooms with chorizo ($18).
Tigerlily is an Asian tapas food spot in the space formerly occupied by Dempsey Brasserie. Offerings include Singapore chilli crab dip with fried mantou buns ($12), chicken satay with peanut sauce ($11) and Bombay Chicken mini burgers ($14), with beers such as San Miguel ($13), a list of mainly New World wines (from $13/glass, $50/bottle) as well as classic cocktails including the Singapore Sling ($15). Alistair Christie, co-owner of Tigerlily says, “Response to the new concept has been very encouraging, as they [customers] prefer the space and warmer ambience of Tigerlily compared to the raw industrial charm of the Brasserie. They are definitely taking a liking to the change into a bar—arriving early for after-work drinks and staying well past midnight.”
As the competition intensifies, denizens of Dempsey will get to enjoy new steals and deals in the coming months. For a start, there’s The Disgruntled Chef‘s new ladies’ night with a list of fun, frisky cocktails (Sneaky Snickers, anyone?). Trust us, there’ll be more.
