The locations are the same, but three downtown bars/eateries have had extreme makeovers.

At 808 Kanawha Blvd., there's a white baby grand piano in the window of Dak-a-Reez, the former site of Julie J's and, before that, Crawdaddy's bar.

Around the corner on Capitol Street, the Boom Boom Room has opened in the building where The Edge used to be.

Over on Hale or Dickinson Street (depending what entrance you use), Virgil Sadorra has reopened Vandalia Lounge as the Vandalia Grille, replacing the leather couches with an attractive assortment of tables and chairs.

It's fair to say the where-to-go options in town have become more interesting.

Neil Patel says Dak-a-Reez is going after a crowd that hasn't had a reason to come downtown for a while. "People say they've been waiting for a place like this," he said.

The establishment is part piano lounge, offering music four nights a week. Still, there are five big-screen TVs and a pool table upstairs.

Behind the bar is a bank of daiquiri machines offering drinks with names like Shock and Awe and Cheap Date. There's an appetizer menu with the usual choices of buffalo wings, fries and onion rings.

The menu is more extensive at the Vandalia Grille, although the wine and beer offerings are limited to the popular-brand beers. As for wine, it's a choice of a white, red or a traditional Spanish Sangria.

Wings and fries also are on the menu at Vandalia Grille, along with gourmet burgers of ground beef, pork or turkey, as well as grilled pizzas - and not one is topped with pepperoni, sausage or mozzarella cheese.

The tapas selections include such offerings as "Blacken Scallops served with candied walnuts and blue cheese on a bed or raspberry sweet and sour sauce" - the most expensive item, at $8.99. For $5.99, the least expensive option, there's "Risotto Croquettes stuffed with gouda cheese and sautéed mushrooms."

 The menu explains, "We offer portions designed for sharing..."

 In the long, narrow space that was once Vandalia Lounge, Sadorra has managed to provide seating for 105. Eight televisions, most on different channels, hang from the wall. Instead of staring at silent sets and reading closed captions, customers will be able to tune into their station of choice, thanks to a small Soundbox on their table.

In one section of the grille, patrons can even enjoy dinner and a movie. They can bring their own DVD to watch or view the house selection.

Sadorra hasn't ruled out live music on occasion, but nothing bigger than a trio.

A disc jockey plays music for the dance crowd at the Boom Boom Room on Fridays and Saturdays. Owner Adrian Cunningham says the balcony space can accommodate 40 to 50 people.

The locations are the same, but three downtown bars/eateries have had extreme makeovers.

At 808 Kanawha Blvd., there's a white baby grand piano in the window of Dak-a-Reez, the former site of Julie J's and, before that, Crawdaddy's bar.

Around the corner on Capitol Street, the Boom Boom Room has opened in the building where The Edge used to be.

Over on Hale or Dickinson Street (depending what entrance you use), Virgil Sadorra has reopened Vandalia Lounge as the Vandalia Grille, replacing the leather couches with an attractive assortment of tables and chairs.

It's fair to say the where-to-go options in town have become more interesting.

Neil Patel says Dak-a-Reez is going after a crowd that hasn't had a reason to come downtown for a while. "People say they've been waiting for a place like this," he said.

The establishment is part piano lounge, offering music four nights a week. Still, there are five big-screen TVs and a pool table upstairs.

Behind the bar is a bank of daiquiri machines offering drinks with names like Shock and Awe and Cheap Date. There's an appetizer menu with the usual choices of buffalo wings, fries and onion rings.

The menu is more extensive at the Vandalia Grille, although the wine and beer offerings are limited to the popular-brand beers. As for wine, it's a choice of a white, red or a traditional Spanish Sangria.

Wings and fries also are on the menu at Vandalia Grille, along with gourmet burgers of ground beef, pork or turkey, as well as grilled pizzas - and not one is topped with pepperoni, sausage or mozzarella cheese.

The tapas selections include such offerings as "Blacken Scallops served with candied walnuts and blue cheese on a bed or raspberry sweet and sour sauce" - the most expensive item, at $8.99. For $5.99, the least expensive option, there's "Risotto Croquettes stuffed with gouda cheese and sautéed mushrooms."

 The menu explains, "We offer portions designed for sharing..."

 In the long, narrow space that was once Vandalia Lounge, Sadorra has managed to provide seating for 105. Eight televisions, most on different channels, hang from the wall. Instead of staring at silent sets and reading closed captions, customers will be able to tune into their station of choice, thanks to a small Soundbox on their table.

In one section of the grille, patrons can even enjoy dinner and a movie. They can bring their own DVD to watch or view the house selection.

Sadorra hasn't ruled out live music on occasion, but nothing bigger than a trio.

A disc jockey plays music for the dance crowd at the Boom Boom Room on Fridays and Saturdays. Owner Adrian Cunningham says the balcony space can accommodate 40 to 50 people.

Cunningham wants his patrons to "dress up to come out." No T-shirts, no baggy pants. Casual attire is the dress code. "You dress better, you feel better," he said.

At Dak-a-Reez on the Boulevard, there will be no acoustic guitar players. It's all piano. Jazz pianist Bob Thompson plays on Wednesday evenings, and a rotating roster of musicians will entertain on the other three nights.

On opening night, Patel said Mark Bates took requests and led a sing-along. Mark Scarpelli and Michelle Melton also have performed regularly since the opening, and will continue to do so.

Dak-a-Reez is open from 4 p.m. to midnight weekdays and to 2 a.m. on weekends.

The establishment seats 80 to 100 people, including 40 in the balcony section. Already, Patel has booked private parties for the balcony, where there's a pool table plus big-screen TVs.

The 42-year-old Patel moved from Arizona to Charleston three months ago with his wife, Stephanie, an interior decorator, and their 7-year-old daughter, Zoe. His partners, Barry Brasseur of Charleston and Brian Wright of Arizona, went to high school together. 

The three, all with years of restaurant experience, came up with the concept of a piano bar specializing in daiquiris, and decided to test their idea in Charleston.    

They wanted an establishment with a neighborhood atmosphere in a small city. The hope, Patel said, is to work out the kinks here and then expand to other similarly sized cities.

The décor has a southwestern feel, with its bright colors of yellows and red. "We kept the character," Patel said, referring to the space's exposed brick walls, wide plank wood floors and wood railing. "It was 90 percent a cosmetic cleaning."

At the Vandalia Grille, there's an open view of the grill where there used to be mirrors and liquor bottles behind the 40-foot-long concrete bar. The lighting above the bar is a row of upside down lamps.

 The walls hold an eclectic assortment of arrangements - including clocks and empty picture frames. The large windows on both sides of the grille are topped with interior café-style awnings.

Sodarro said the hours for Vandalia Grille are 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to closing on weekdays. During football season, the grille will open at noon on weekends.

Cunningham has done little remodeling at his place on Capitol Street, just a thorough cleaning. Still, the area has the essentials, with its exposed brick walls and well-worn wood floors. There's even an antique iron spiral staircase.

The Boom Boom Room is open from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Down the road, Cunningham said he might offer a karaoke night on Sundays and a working women's night on Wednesdays.

One thing is certain, though. The mural of eyeballs painted on one wall is coming off.

Reach Rosalie Earle at 348-5115 or ea...@wvgazette.com.