click to enlarge Nectar downtown is now serving lunch from 11 am to 2 pm.

When owner Josh Wade converted his downtown Nectar Tasting Room into the base for his catering and events operation, it was just the beginning of some dramatic changes for the space on the busy corner of Stevens and Main.

Gone is the regular rotation of five wineries and the tasting room vibe, replaced by a featured Washington "wine of the month," expanded wine options by the glass, and the addition of regional craft beer and ciders. Most recently, Wade has introduced a weekday lunch menu, available from 11 am to 2 pm, that's dedicated to fast, fresh and healthy options delivered three ways: as a salad, sandwich or wrap.

"I wanted it to be something different than you'd normally get around town," Wade says. "The salad/sandwich/wrap idea allowed it to be [flexible]; if you're trying to live healthy, the salads tend to be on the healthier side. And those people who lean more toward a sandwich and fries, it appeals to them as well."

Wade gave the triple-option idea to Chef Steven Swanson, who created some dramatically diverse flavor profiles for diners. There are traditional-leaning sandwiches like the BBLT (the extra "B" is for "twice the bacon") and California Dreamin' (turkey, bacon, Swiss, avocado, lettuce and tomato) alongside intriguing, flavor-packed options like the Indian City (roasted chicken in a tandoori curry), the Argentinian Tango (chimichurri roast beef) and the Asian (pickled veggies, Asian-style pork, slaw and Sriracha). All are available for $8.50, and there are a number of sides available for $2.50 — fruit cups, soup of the day, fries — as well as shareable appetizers like the cheese board ($11) and salmon terrine ($8). Wade says Nectar is aiming to capitalize on the business crowd by getting people seated and eating within 10 or so minutes of arrival.

Eventually, Nectar might experiment with serving food on weekends when there are special events like Hoopfest. In the meantime, Wade is focused on the slow and steady growth that marked Nectar's successful wine-and-beer outpost in Kendall Yards.

Nectar Catering & Events • 120 N. Stevens • 290-5182