A new restaurant connected to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Virginia Beach hopes to become the local spot for Oceanfront residents and tourists.

The Cardinal Restaurant & Bar will open in mid-March, said Alan Nelson, corporate director of food and beverage of Harmony Hospitality. The 1900 Pavilion Drive location — near the sports and convention centers — was formerly Max and Erma’s and, most recently, Coach’s Sports Bar.

The gutted and transformed restaurant will offer regional, American food offerings, a big bar program, local specials, happy hours and industry nights as well as live music several days a week.

The menu will feature starters, sandwiches, salads and rotating entree offerings. A few signature dishes include tamarind salmon, seafood nachos and Red Bird Pasta with a saffron butter foundation. The bar will have 12 drafts, signature cocktails, an old-fashioned cocktail list, a wide variety of bourbon, tequila and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans.

Even though the restaurant is on the outskirts of the ViBe Creative District , The Cardinal wanted to tie in with the artistic theme, Nelson said.

“Our interior wall has one of the coolest depictions of a cardinal that you’ve ever seen,” Nelson said of artist Jeff Tarkenton’s mural. “The colors are bright and inviting.”

The exterior lettering was done by artist Mickael Broth, aka The Night Owl, and the bold and multi-colored interior, curated by Francis and Reeve designers, includes a skateboard tile that defines a natural dance floor.

Harmony Hospitality, the local company that owns and manages the The Cardinal, also owns the Surf Club Ocean Grille on 57th Street, The Landing Bar & Bistro inside the DoubleTree by the Norfolk airport as well as several restaurants in Wilmington, North Carolina.

“We felt this space hasn’t realized its potential since the days of the Bayou ,” Nelson said, referring to the nightclub that closed in 1997. “With the location and development of the surrounding area, we are confident that we’ll fit into the neighborhood.”

The Cardinal planned its first art show fundraiser for March 16 with a grand opening celebration with the country band, Buckshot VB, slated for March 21.

“Virginia Beach doesn’t have too many hangout spots that showcase music, food and art,” Nelson said. “We plan to really get the music and art community involved here.”