La Bodega is now called Manu’s Bodega. Owner Manu Alfau is changing the menu, too (but don’t worry—the puerco asado sandwich isn’t going anywhere).
Lionhead Opening Any Day Now
• Chef Jerry Traunfeld (Poppy, the Herbfarm) is famous for his masterful use of herbs, spices, and Northwest ingredients. At Lionhead, located right next door to his Indian-inspired restaurant Poppy on the north end of Broadway on Capitol Hill, Traunfeld offers his take on the fiery Sichuanese cuisine he’s been a fan of for many years. Here you’ll find traditional dishes such as the large Lion’s Head pork meatballs, ma po tofu, and dan dan noodles, as well as cocktails with Chinese ingredients like ginseng and five spice. According to Seattle Met, Lionhead’s “soft opening” is this week; the restaurant will be officially open for regular dinner hours any day now.
Of note: Lionhead will not be accepting tips. Traunfeld, who in 2013 told Capitol Hill Seattle that moving to $15 an hour without a tip credit “would certainly jeopardize the health of my business,” is instead building the cost of higher wages into menu prices. According to Seattle Met, the restaurant’s menus carry this simple explanation: “Our menu pricing allows us to pay an equitable wage to all our employees. You pay only what you see (plus tax).”
La Bodega Is Now Manu’s Bodega
• Manu Alfau has officially changed the name of La Bodega, his tiny, vibrant (and excellent) Pioneer Square restaurant, to Manu’s Bodega. Alfau plans to expand his menu beyond specialties from the Dominican Republic to other Latin American flavors from “Cuba, Peru, Bolivia, and more.” While no menu details are available yet, a rep for Alfau writes that “newer specials will be added soon, and gradually.” Those who hate change, fear not: Bodega’s most popular items—the puerco asado sandwich and yucca empanadas—will still be available.
It’s not just the menu that’s growing. This Thursday, August 6, at 6 p.m., Alfau is hosting a party to officially open Bodega’s outdoor patio, which will double the restaurant’s seating capacity. There will be beer, wine, and food specials, as well as a raffle drawing for a free four-day trip to the Dominican Republic.
Manu’s Bodega will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, with weekend hours to come.
Smart Catch Dining Out Runs Through August 8
• To celebrate national Sustainable Seafood Week (and billionaire Paul Allen’s new Smart Catch program), through August 8 restaurants around Seattle are offering specials featuring fish and shellfish that are responsibly raised and harvested. In Seattle, the list of participating restaurants includes all Tom Douglas and Ethan Stowell restaurants, as well as Cafe Barjot, Hitchcock, Salted Sea, and Single Shot. While it would be nice to see the Smart Catch program reach a more diverse array of businesses and include labor standards as part of their sustainability requirements, it’s a start.
Salted Sea Adds Lunch and Brunch
• Speaking of Salted Sea, the Columbia City restaurant has just added weekday lunch service from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The menu includes shrimp toast, oyster banh mi, and crab-and-sweet-corn soup. The restaurant will also add weekend brunch starting Saturday, August 15.
