Gold Standard Officially Opens in Downtown Olympia

If you’re in downtown Olympia, there’s a new restaurant officially open, and it’s a familiar name behind it.

Gold Standard has opened its doors on Capitol Way, led by Elise Landry, the former chef behind Chicory.

After months of transition, the space now enters its next chapter with a completely new concept.

🍗 A Shift to Fast-Casual Dining

Unlike Chicory’s full-service, fine-dining format, Gold Standard is built around a fast-casual model, designed to be more accessible for everyday dining.

The menu centers on:

  • Fried chicken

  • Sandwiches

  • Fresh salads

  • Americana-style desserts

There are also vegetarian and gluten-free options, giving the restaurant a broader appeal across different dietary preferences.

The goal is to create a place people can visit regularly, whether for lunch, dinner, or a quick stop downtown.

🏙️ A New Chapter for a Familiar Space

The opening marks a clear evolution for the location.

Instead of remaining vacant after Chicory’s closure, the space has been reimagined into something more casual, more flexible, and easier to integrate into daily routines.

At the same time, having the same chef at the helm means there’s still a connection to the creativity and quality that made the previous concept stand out.

🕒 Hours & Location

📍 Capitol Way, Downtown Olympia
🗓️ Wednesday–Sunday
⏰ 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

📈 Why It Matters

Downtown Olympia’s restaurant scene continues to evolve, with a noticeable shift toward:

  • More casual dining concepts

  • Flexible formats that work for both lunch and dinner

  • Restaurants designed for repeat visits rather than special occasions only

Gold Standard fits directly into that trend, balancing approachability with a chef-driven foundation.

🌱 A Growing Downtown Food Scene

As new restaurants continue to open and older ones transition, Olympia’s core is gradually becoming more active and diverse.

Each new concept adds another layer, giving residents and visitors more reasons to spend time downtown.

Gold Standard is one more step in that direction.

📬 Want more updates like this every week?

We publish the South Sound Report every Friday, covering restaurant openings, business changes, development projects, and major community updates across Olympia, Tacoma, Lacey, DuPont, Yelm, and beyond.

If you’d like it delivered straight to your inbox, just comment “report” on any of our Instagram posts and we’ll DM you the link to subscribe.