This week, read about the return of South Park’s beloved Asian-Tex Mex fusion counter Phorale in its new life as a food truck; Korean-inspired chicken and waffles, poutine, and other comfort food from the new Ballard restaurant Watson’s Counter; a new all-day cafe called Bar Hitchcock on Bainbridge Island from chef Brendan McGill; and news of two upcoming Shake Shack locations for Washington. You’ll find all that, plus events for this weekend (like Plate of Nations and the 20th Annual Washington Cask Beer Festival) below. For more ideas, try our list of food and drink specials to try in March, our list of places to pick up food for a picnic, and our full food and drink calendar.
OPENINGS
Bar Hitchcock
Chef Brendan McGill’s cozy new all-day cafe Bar Hitchcock, located next door to Hitchcock and Hitchcock Deli on Bainbridge Island, opens today, according to a press release. The space seats 50 guests and includes a 30-foot bar as well as a lounge area with a communal table, fireplace, books, board games, and vinyl records. In addition, there’s a bar program created by Erik Hakkinen of Zig Zag Cafe, with options for “spritz,” “restorative,” and “boozy” cocktails that will rotate seasonally. For breakfast, there will be dishes like shakshuka, a lox plate, and avocado toast with fermented chilis and radish, as well as espresso and pastries, followed by items like sandwiches (including porchetta, pastrami, and Carolina BBQ), harissa lentils, and wood-fired kabocha squash for lunch. From 4-10 pm, the bar menu includes charcuterie, steamed mussels, baked oysters, barbecue pork cheeks, fish sauce wings, and more. In the press release, McGill said, “The beauty of an all day cafe and bar is that our guests can eat, drink, and play with zero pretension. From brunch with your crew, laptop coffee shop time, a drink and snack at the bar, or a place to drink wine, play cards and listen to music…we’ll be open at least 14 hours a day, which creates a great deal of opportunity.”
Bainbridge Island
