New Jazz and Blues Restaurant Opens in Crystal City

The Melody Tavern, a new jazz and blues restaurant and lounge in Crystal City, is holding a grand opening party from 7 to 10 p.m. today to kick off its line-up of live entertainment.

Co-owners Michel Daley and Jordan Cappolla launched the restaurant in late January at 3650 S. Glebe Road, Suite 170. They've since obtained a live music permit from Arlington County.

“We think of ourselves as a ‘hidden jewel,’ ” Daley stated in a news release. “We are definitely a destination place and people are being drawn in by our excellent, reasonably-priced food. We offer plenty of free parking for our guests. There is no other venue quite like us in this area.”

The Melody Tavern bills itself as offering contemporary American cuisine with New Orleans-style jazz and blues entertainment. 

Upcoming acts feature a wide range of blues and jazz acts, including jazz saxophone performances for Sunday brunch and Washington-based jazz vocalist Lena Seikaly on Fridays all February. Seikaly will be on tap for tonight's party.

Daley, a New Orleans native, also stated he is poised to bring artists from Louisiana.

The Melody Tavern is a 6,700-square-foot restaurant with a 148-seat main dining area, an enclosed VIP Red Room that seats 32 people for private parties and an outdoor patio that can accommodate another 80.

The restaurant is Wi-Fi accessible and features a drop-down projection screen and six large high-definition televisions, according to a news release.