On June 22nd, the Pelican Room, a new café, restaurant and speakeasy located at 148 Fifth Ave., opened its doors for a soft opening this past weekend and officially opened to the public June 25.

More than just a place to eat, the space is designed to offer something different for Pelham: a spot where people can meet up, celebrate, or simply enjoy a change of scenery

Owner Kalkin Narvilas has lived in Pelham for eight years and has worked in the restaurant business for 22 years. The Pelican Room will be his eighth restaurant, but it’s the first one in the town he now calls home. After getting through the pandemic and continuing to raise his family in town, he came across this space and decided to create something that felt right for himself and the town. 

Narvilas said, “We wanted to make something that people would want to use in all different parts of their day. Whether it’s grabbing coffee, celebrating something special, or meeting up for cocktails – we want to be part of that.”

The name of the restaurant, The Pelican Room, is inspired by town history. Narvilas found that the pelican was adopted as Pelham’s mascot during World War I. But what really stuck with him was the deeper meaning behind the bird.

He said, “It’s a symbol of sacrifice and protection which was something that really resonated with us.” Narvilas also pointed out how pelicans are often seen as silly cartoon birds, which made the name even more appealing to him. The contrast between something meaningful and playful, matched the tone of what the restaurant is like: stylish, but also fun and not too serious.

The Pelican Room was built to be more than a typical restaurant. Inside, nearly every piece of furniture and décor was custom-made specifically for the restaurant. The space is divided into three main sections: a café area for day time coffee and meetings, a dining room designed for full-service meals and family outings and a lounge with a speakeasy-style bar for late-night cocktails. 

Each section has its own aesthetic but was designed to flow together. There are nooks and cozy crannies, meant to make people feel at home. The aesthetic leans toward a 1920s-style supper club with an old New York twist that’s timeless and detailed. The goal is to make the space feel inviting. 

Although the full menu hasn’t been released yet, Narvilas describes the food as “New American,” with influence from different kinds of cultures. The menu will focus on small plates, spreads, dips, salads, sandwiches, and entrees, including beef, chicken, fish, and options for vegetarians or vegans. He said the menu will evolve based on what customers enjoy most. “Good restaurants adapt. We’ll listen to what people want and adjust from there.” He also hinted that there will  be seasonal specials throughout the year.

Opening a restaurant, even for someone with experience, comes with pressure. The owner described it as a process that always finds your weak spot. Whether it’s budgeting or hiring, things go wrong, and it’s important to be flexible. He believes that what makes the difference is building a team that supports your strengths and weaknesses and staying focused on the long term instead of every little setback. 

Looking ahead, he hopes The Pelican Room will grow into a place that the community feels proud of. He wants the restaurant to be a long-lasting part of Pelham’s daily life. “Some of the best moments in life happen inside restaurants,” he said. “People propose, reconnect with friends, celebrate birthdays-it all happens in places like this.”

There are also plans to open the restaurant’s event space to the public, like offering community gatherings, private parties, or collaborations with other local businesses. The owner emphasized that while they can’t accommodate everything, the goal is to make the space as useful to the community as possible.

The team focused on making sure every detail was ready before letting people in. Until then, sneak peeks were shared on Instagram (@thepelicanroom.ny), showing textures, colors, and design details without giving too much away. Narvilas stated that once they open, they never want to close. 

For Narvilas, The Pelican Room isn’t just about serving food. It’s about creating a community that brings people together, “A good restaurant is more than just a place to eat,” he said. “It’s a community space. That’s what we’re trying to create here.”