A TOAST TO ELEGANT TASTE
The newest 1933 Lounge brings speakeasy-style glamour to Carmel. Written by Neil Charles / Photographed by Dave Pluimer Step into the new 1933 Lounge in Carmel and you might momentarily forget where you are. The glow of chandeliers, the gleam of rich materials, and the layered elegance evoke scenes of a bigger, more bustling metropolis. Think Paris, perhaps, or a sleek brasserie tucked into a corner of Chicago’s Gold Coast. I’m immediately reminded of a grand old ocean liner, with its riveted metal panels, elaborate cornices and deco-inspired fixtures. There’s a touch of Alice in Wonderland, too: the fantastical, even audacious armchairs and wall coverings tell us we’re going on a little voyage of discovery. “This restaurant is unlike anything else in the metro area—or the state, really,” says Craig Huse, co-owner of Huse Culinary and the force behind some of Indiana’s most distinctive dining destinations. “We want guests to feel transported, like they’re dining out on vacation in San Francisco, Paris, or Manhattan.” But no need to hop a flight for a dining experience of this caliber; the lounge is located in downtown Carmel’s Arts & Design District (and within irresistible proximity to our Indiana Design Center offices). Huse and his father, Steve, are best known for helming the legendary St. Elmo Steak House in downtown Indianapolis, from whence they have built a culinary empire rooted in high standards and guest experience. On a cool but sunny day in April, while our editor-inchief and photographer extraordinaire were capturing images for this story, I sat down with Craig for a few minutes to discuss his past accomplishments and his vision for the future. The new 1933 Lounge in Carmel represents the next evolution in that vision: a refined, elevated destination for cocktails, conversation, and cuisine, all with lashings of cosmopolitan flair.
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