Looking to arrange your weekend for maximum deliciousness? We've got your back. Might we suggest grand openings for Korean fried chicken spot Bok a Bok or wood-fired pizzeria The Masonry, bubbly tastings at Cone and Steiner or Downtown Spirits, or National Fritter Day with Rodeo Donut at Cupcake Royale? You'll find all that and more ideas below. Plus, check out seven buzz-worthy vegetarian burgers to try right now.
RESTAURANT OPENINGS
Bok a Bok
The White Center Korean fried chicken joint opens their much-anticipated new location on Capitol Hill today! Best of all, their menu will also be available at Neumos, Barboza, and the Runaway. Be the first to try it all at their grand opening today, which is sure to summon a line stretching around the block.
Capitol Hill
Opens December 1
Chavez
The team previously behind Italian restaurant Cantinetta opens a second location of Capitol Hillâs Chavez downtown today, with a menu that includes authentic Northern Mexican fare like pork cheeks in mole and chef Gabriel Chavezâs motherâs award-winning Chile en Nogada recipe, plus a bar with a wide selection of mezcals and tequilas.
Downtown
Opens December 1
Mercato Stellina
The former Cantinetta crew is also launching a new location of their Bellevue brick-oven pizzeria Mercato Stellina adjacent to Chavez on the same day, with the addition of fresh handmade pasta and a retail space to offer pasta, olive oil, and wine coming soon.
Downtown
Opens December 1
Fremont Bowl
From the owners of Lake Unionâs I Love Sushi, this homestyle Japanese comfort food spot serves heaping donburi-style rice bowls with fresh tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and poke.
Fremont
Opened November 29
Rider
Housed within Hotel Theodore, with wine bottle-lined windows and a roaring wood-fired grill as its centerpiece, this rugged, open space's menu revolves around locally sourced meat, seafood, and produce. They also have a happy hour from 3-6 pm daily with oysters starting at $1.50. Brunch starts this weekend and runs from 8 am-3 pm, Saturday-Sunday.
Downtown
Opened November 27
Juice Press
The first West Coast location of this sleek, Russell Wilson-approved juice bar offers healthy smoothies, salads, soups, and snacks in addition to cold-pressed juices.
University District
Opened November 27
The Masonry
Queen Anneâs wood-fired pizzeria opens a second location in Fremont, with craft beers, ciders, and cocktails and glowing repurposed-bottle lights hanging over the full bar. At their grand opening this Saturday, theyâll have special kegsâplus skee-ball and pinball.
Fremont
Opened November 24
Ittoâs
The West Seattle-based tapas bar and cocktail lounge brings its Spanish- and Moroccan-inspired small plates, like dolmas, boquerones, and stuffed dates, to Capitol Hill, in the space that was formerly home to Toscana.
Capitol Hill
Opened November 21
Jerk Shack
Trey Lamont of the Caribbean-Asian fusion Papa Bois Food Truck opens a brick-and-mortar establishment in the Innkeeper, claiming to serve the best Jamaican jerk fried chicken around. Everything comes sized for two or more people to share, and there are also options like Cuban pork belly and a refreshing cucumber mango king crab salad.
Belltown
Opened November 13
SPECIALS
Ellenos Yogurt
Until December 6th, the Greek yogurt purveyors are offering their dreamy medium natural yogurt for the price of a small at any of their yogurt bars.
General Porpoise Doughnuts
General Porpoise, Renee Ericksonâs dream of a doughnut shop, has rolled out some super-covetable holiday flavors like Peppermint Bark Cream and Apple Cinnamon Jam.
Lâil Woodyâs
Lâil Woodyâs latest burger special is a decadent number with smoky chipotle ranch sauce, mayo, Monterey Jack cheese, fried onion rings, Hills bacon, and Painted Hills grass-fed beef.
Mighty-O Donuts
Mighty-O Donutâs December ginger spice flavor returns today, available at all of their cafes.
Molly Moonâs
The seasonal sundae at Molly Moonâs is a horchata plum crisp sundae, consisting of the regional chainâs seasonal cinnamony, coconut-milk-based horchata ice cream topped with a fruity gluten-free plum crisp made with Collins Family Orchard plums. Itâs vegan if ordered with their coconut whipped cream on top. Theyâre also doing a limited trial run of a new salty chocolate waffle cone at their U Village location available this Friday through Sundayâget your hands on it before itâs gone this weekend. If itâs a success, they plan to make the cone available at all of their locations.
National Fritter Day at Rodeo Donut
Apparently, December 2 is National Fritter Dayâwho knew? Rodeo Donut, Cupcake Royaleâs donut counterpart, has risen to the occasion with an exclusive limited-supply menu of fritter flavors made with their brioche dough. The menu includes Cranberry White Chocolate, a white chocolate glazed rendition with orange zest and fresh cranberries, and Brandied Pear Ginger, with candied ginger and pear chunks and a brandied pear and Jacobsen Bee Local honey glaze. In addition, there will be a National Fritter Day Surprise Flavor, and Rodeo Donut Operations Manager Alyson Stoner assures that theyâll be frying up customer favorites like Maple Sweet Potato, Apple Bourbon Bacon, Salted Caramel Apple, and Huckleberry Vanilla Bean. Head to Cupcake Royale in Ballard or Capitol Hill to observe the holiday properly.
FOOD NEWS
Cafe Racer
Some dearly needed good news: Jeff Ramsey will re-open the beloved Ravenna Cafe Racer, which folded earlier this year. In the interest of retaining the spirit of the original establishment, Ramsey pledges to make no major changes but will instead issue a gentle makeunder with âsome paint, Spackle, some deep cleaning love and menu developmentâ to revitalize the quality of their food and service, as he recently did for burlesque and cabaret venue Can Can, and plans to work with homeless youth arts program Sanctuary Art Center. You can read Jake Uittiâs full interview with Ramsey here.
Realfine Coffee
West Seattleâs Realfine Coffee is slated to open a second location in early 2018 in Capitol Hillâs previous Stumptown location. As with the West Seattle store, the location will offer Herkimer coffee, with baked goods from Standard Bakery and sandwiches and wraps from Mollyâs.
Le Messe
Brian Clevenger, chef and owner of Madronaâs Vendemmia, plans to open his new restaurant Le Messe in Eastlake sometime in January. Diners can look forward to plenty of freshly extruded pasta and local seafood and produce.
FOOD EVENTS
Brewery Premiere: Mirage Beer Co.
Washington's newest brewery Mirage, which follows in the footsteps of Holy Mountain or E9 with a mix of classic and unconventional brews and wild saison and farmhouse ales, makes its debut at Chuck's Hop Shop. Chuck's will pour Mirage's Palo Duro NE-Style Pale and First Day Out Czech-Style Pilsner, and a selection of new barrel fermented saisons will hit the shelves for the first time.
December 1
Bubbly Tasting
Sample a selection of bubbles at any Cone & Steiner location.
December 1
Coffee Across Cultures: An Evening with Mokhtar Al-Khanshali
Mokhtar Al-Khanshali, a star of the specialty coffee industry and the main subject and inspiration of Dave Eggers' upcoming book The Monk of Mokha, will give a talk about the power of coffee across various cultures. Food and drink specials will be available.
December 1
Founders CBS Release Party
The crew at Chuck's will be tapping a keg of Founders CBS, an Imperial Stout-style ale brewed with chocolate and coffee and aged in maple-syrup bourbon barrels, and will have other Founders Brewing Co. beers available. They'll also have "a limited Crappy Chuck's Brunch special menu."
December 1
GF Pie Crust with Kate McDermott: Author Talk and Demonstration
Kate McDermott's legendary Art of the Pie workshops and Pie Camps at her famed Pie Cottage in Port Angeles have been attended by culinary stars like Ruth Reichl and by thousands of students looking to perfect a golden, flaky crust and luscious filling. In her new book, she's distilled her wisdom from years of pie-making practice for all of us. At this event, she'll demonstrate the recipe and technique for her tried-and-true gluten free pie crust, answer questions, and sign books.
December 1
Locust Cider Night
Try delicious, distinctive flavors like smoked blueberry and chili pineapple on tap from Locust Cider and take packages home.
December 1
St Nick's Taste the Season
The East and West Coasts merge at this annual holiday food and wine experience. This year, Chef Justin SeverinoâJames Beard Award nominee and owner of Pittsburgh's Cure restaurantâteams up with Novelty Hill Januik winery's Chef Seth Fernald for a âcureâatedâ dinner. The menu features lardo crostini with radish and olive oil, nduja crostini with lemon and celery, smoked beets, roasted mushroom soup, and more.
December 1
Brunch with Santa at Sugar Factory
Hobnob with Kris Kringle at this festive prix-fixe brunch, which includes "elfies," Santa photos, gift bags, and complimentary valet parking. The Sugar Factory will be all dressed up as the "Christmas Factory" (as it was christened by Christmas queen Mariah Carey at their recent grand opening).
December 2
Champagne Showcase
Sample a symphony of sparklers at this tasting, which will feature over 60 different kinds of champagne, crĂ©mant, prosecco, cava and sekt from all over the globeâincluding "high-end labels from the worldâs most renowned Champagne houses."
December 2
Darkness 2017
Indulge your dark side by checking out the best dark ales Outlander brewed this year.
December 1-2
Coffee, Beer & Doughnuts
Indulge in the ultimate breakfast of champions with four coffee-infused beers (including a Barrel-Aged Breakfast Stout) paired with four mini doughnuts from Mighty-O.
December 2
Midnight Mecca: Ottoman Empire
Let pop-up pro Chef Tarik Abdullah whisk you away to the Ottoman Empire with a five-course menu full of Turkish delights, like lamb and octopus with pul biber, yogurt, aleppo, and quince. Damon Bomar of Brown Liquor Co. will provide some dreamy cocktail pairings, such as mulled wine and a Savoy toddy.
December 2
Seattle Caviar Annual Holiday Open House
Sip 'Seattle Caviar Cuveé,' a Washington sparkling wine bottled exclusively for Seattle Caviar Company by Treveri Cellars, and try an array of delicious bites.
December 2
Serving the Broccoli Gods: Book Release
Registered dietitian Mary Purdy reads from her new book Serving the Broccoli Gods: True Tales and Tips from a Nutritionist on a Quest, a frank, funny account of her eventful odyssey from from "gritty New York City actor to kale lovinâ Seattleite nutrition professional" and the evolution of her relationship with food, interspersed with sidebars of nutrition advice. Chef and food writer Nicole Aloni will also read an excerpt from her one woman show "Le Grand Fromage."
December 2
Tea of Thrones: Winter is Coming!
Come dressed in the garb of your favorite Game of Thrones character, and join the table of the house you're affiliated with for tea and pastries. A Taste of Sin Catering will provide light refreshments like appetizers, sweets, and finger sandwiches (though it really feels like a missed opportunity that they didn't call them "Little Finger sandwiches").
December 2
Washington Brewers Guild 2017 Winter Beer Festival
The bright side to long, gray, wet winters is all the time you get to savor the seasonal offerings from local craft breweriesâ"dark malty stouts, robust winter warmers, and barrel-aged gems." This event features beers from over 50 Washington Brewers Guild member breweries.
December 1-2
Winter Farm Dinner
Eating oysters at the very farm that they were harvested, in the peak of their season? It doesn't get much fresher than that. Dine on the beach at low tide at Hama Hama's oyster farm beside roaring bonfires, with a five-course family-style meal prepared by Chef Luke Reyes, wine pairings by Elk Cove, and local beer and cider. After you've stuffed yourself with all the oysters you can shuck, make like Lewis Carroll's Walrus and the Carpenter and go for "a pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, along the briny beach" beneath the light of the full moon.
December 2
Doorway Project's First Pop-Up Cafe
The premiere pop-up event for the Doorway Project, which aims to build a cafe in the University District that will provide resources for homeless youth, will feature live music from acoustic singer-songwriter Aaron Shay and Tacoma garage band Moody, complimentary coffee and hot cocoa, and two food trucks, including shawarma and falafel from Green Tree Food Truck. There will be a "Pay-It-Forward" model, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
December 3
Founders Barrel Aged Beer Brunch
This five-course brunch incorporates barrel-aged beers in unexpected ways, ranging from stout-braised bacon to spent grain bread to a decadent dessert with maple bourbon syrup.
December 3
Pidot: A Fun Night of Eating Filipino Food with Your Hands!
Forget the flatware and dig in with your hands the Filipino way at this fun communal pop-up, named for the Ilocano word for "pick-up" in reference to the motion of scooping up food.
December 3
Sea Shepherd Seattle Dinner
This curated buffet dinner of organic vegan Thai food from Kati Vegan Thai benefits Sea Shepherd, which aims to conserve ocean habitats, protect marine animals, and crack down on illegal poaching.
December 3
Speed Rack Season 7 Northwest
Prepare to witness Cocktail-like feats of shaking and stirring at a breakneck pace at this all-female speed bartending competition, which will award one swift mixologist the title of Miss Speed Rack North West. Your ticket buys you samples of punch and grub from local eateries. All proceeds will go to breast cancer research, education, and prevention.
December 3
See more food events in our Things to Do calendar.