This week, Seattle restaurants are receiving well-deserved national attention, as Navy Strength wins an award for best cocktail bar in America, Kamonegi is recognized as one of the best new restaurants in the country, and the Red Door gets featured in an episode of Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Find out about these buzz-worthy local spots and more exciting food news and weekend happenings, like the grand opening of South Lake Union's new Flatstick Pub (with free games on Saturday!) and the Hullabamoo Ice Cream Social. For more ideas for things to eat and drink this weekend, check out our July food and drink specials and our complete food and drink calendar.

OPENINGS
Alcove Dining Room
This new Brazilian-Northwest spot, which opens in the former space of Tempero de Brasil on August 2, is run by Mamnoon alum and Cutthroat Kitchen and MasterChef competitor Emme Ribeiro Collins, whose family opened Tempero de Brasil almost 20 years ago when she was 12 and who grew up around the restaurant. Collins, who's also been a personal chef to Eddie Vedder, has lovingly renovated the space and will feature communal tables and a mix of individual and family-style dishes. The restaurant will be open Thursday through Sunday by reservation only to create a more intimate dining atmosphere.
University District


Flatstick Pub
The newest location of the pub, which combines local craft beer on tap with games like mini golf, has opened in South Lake Union. The new location (the chain's largest yet) features an exclusive menu of snacks, salads, plates, and brick-oven pizza developed by Ethan Stowell as well as 36 taps for local beer and cider. At their grand opening Saturday, all games, including mini golf, "duffleboard," "'stick putt," and more, will be free all day, and memberships will be discounted to $30 for the first 100 people to sign up.
South Lake Union

Kin Dee
This Thai restaurant, which soft-opened in Madison Valley around the end of June and had its first Yelp review on June 22, features "good Thai street eats and drinks," like duck noodle soup, kao mun gai, and pad kee mao.
Madison Valley

Marseille
This new natural wine-centric shop, which opened in Capitol Hill's Melrose Market and had its first Yelp review on July 7, serves brunch, lunch, and dinner, with fresh dishes like escabeche of mussels, fava beans, and clams with flatbread and an avocado toast with spring onions and pickled shrimp. Weekend brunch includes natural wine mimosas and bellinis.
Capitol Hill

Locust Cider
According to a press release, the local cider company opened its third taproom in Tacoma this Wednesday, making it the only cider company in Washington with three locations. Like their recently opened Ballard taproom, the Tacoma location offers 12 taps, including favorites like dark cherry and honey pear, seasonal flavors like hibiscus, and limited specials like cilantro jalapeño and mango habanero, as well as custom barrel-aged ciders made by their staff. The new space also features a full pizza menu with regular and gluten-free options provided by neighboring business Pizza Press, as well as an array of video games. Next, the company plans to open a second production facility and taproom in Fort Worth, Texas, recreating their current Woodinville cidery and taproom on a smaller scale.
Tacoma

Oh’s Sandwiches
This inexpensive, family-owned spot, which opened in West Seattle on July 7 according to Yelp, offers banh mi sandwiches, Vietnamese iced coffee, and bubble tea.
West Seattle

Patterson Cellars
Patterson Cellars, a winery specializing in "approachable Washington State wines that reflect the new world style in winemaking," has opened a tasting room with a "modern lofty space" and outdoor seating in Sodo's Urban Works, which is home to nine other Washington wineries. Patterson has three other tasting rooms, two in Woodinville and one in Leavenworth. They'll celebrate their grand opening and the release of their 2015 Syrah at an all weekend.

Pineapple Bistro + Bar
The downtown Hotel FIVE, owned by Staypineapple, has opened a new hotel restaurant called Pineapple Bistro & Bar, which had its first Yelp review on June 10, offering a grab-and-go menu with breakfast items and coffee by day, plus a food menu with salads and entrees like build-your-own mac and cheese and Beecher's cheese tater tots and a cocktail menu by night. The space also features TVs and games like Ms. Pacman, shuffleboard, and a super-sized wall Scrabble board.
Downtown

Sitar Indian Cuisine
This Kirkland Indian restaurant, which had its grand opening on July 12, serves a diverse selection of Indian staples like samosas, soups, tandoori-cooked entrees and breads, and vegetable sides.
Kirkland

CLOSURES
Old Ballard Liquor Co.
The distillery and Scandinavian cafe announced on Facebook that it will close on July 31 and re-open in August as a Nordic bar and restaurant. Until then, its remaining inventory is 50% off. More information about the closure will be announced in a "detailed essay" posted to the distillery's website in coming weeks.

Phinney Market Pub and Eatery
The classy-cozy, family-friendly pub and eatery announced on Facebook that they will close on July 30 after "seven wonderful years" of business, giving fans one last chance to come in and share a meal.

OTHER FOOD NEWS
The Red Door featured in Guy Fieri episode
The mayor of Flavor Town will make a stop in Seattle in an episode entitled "On the Hook and In the Bun" on the Food Network at 9 pm tonight, in which he pays a visit to Fremont standby the Red Door to try their fish and chips and beef dip. Interested parties can swing by the Red Door for their viewing party starting at 7 pm.

Navy Strength awarded Best New American Cocktail Bar in the country
At the 12th annual Tales of the Cocktail conference and festival in New Orleans this weekend, Belltown's Navy Strength took home the coveted award for Best New American Bar, which recognizes "the American bar that sets the highest of standards in the industry and has influenced national cocktail trends." Other Seattle bars that took home awards include Rumba (named one of the top ten Best Cocktail Bars in the West), Zig Zag Cafe (one of the top ten Best High Volume Cocktail Bars in the West), and Heartwood Provisions (one of the top ten Best Restaurant Bars in the West).

Rumba hires chef
Speaking of Rumba, the Capitol Hill cocktail bar has hired its first exclusive chef (previously, it shared a chef with its sibling restaurant Tango next door). Jed Lutge, who also designed the menu at South Park's Uncle Eddie's and has spent time at Bottlehouse and Latona Pub, says he hopes to elevate the food offerings to be on par with the bar's celebrated rum selection and will introduce a Caribbean and Latin-inspired menu with a local and seasonal influence.

Pike Place Fish Market sold to employees
An iconic fixture of Pike Place Market, the Fish Market has been sold by owner John Yokoyama to four of its veteran fish-tossing employees, Anders Miller, Samuel Samson, Jaison Scott, and Ryan Reese.

Cloud Nine Creamery considering expanding into a chain
The liquid nitrogen ice cream shop Cloud Nine Creamery, which opened in Southcenter Mall in February, appears to be eyeing expansion into a chain, with a section for franchise opportunities on its website.

Mayor Jenny Durkan proclaims Saturday “Hale’s Ales Day”
According to a press release, the City of Seattle has proclaimed this Saturday, July 28, to be "Hale's Ale's Day." The brewery, which was started in 1983 and is the oldest independent brewery in Washington, as well as one of the oldest breweries in the country, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a special party this Saturday.

Kamonegi, chef Mutsuko Somas Wallingford restaurant, has been named one of the best new restaurants in the country by Eater.
Kamonegi, chef Mutsuko Soma's Wallingford restaurant, has been named one of the best new restaurants in the country by Eater. Kamonegi via Facebook

Kamonegi recognized by Eater as one of the best new restaurants in the country
Chef Mutsuko Soma's Wallingford restaurant Kamonegi, where she painstakingly crafts soba noodles from scratch, has been named one of the 18 best restaurants in the country by Eater critic Bill Addison. Read Naomi Tomky's profile of the restaurant for The Stranger here.

Rhein Haus expanding to Leavenworth
Rhein Haus, the German bier hall with locations in the Central District, Tacoma, and Denver, will open a fourth location in Leavenworth, with the same selection of German beer, pretzels, schnitzel, and sausage. The spot is a natural fit for the Bavarian-themed town and will seat over 300 guests with two levels, an upper deck, fire pits, and a full bar. The opening date is still to be determined.

EVENTS
FRIDAY, JULY 27
Red, White & Brew 2018
The sheer abundance of Washington’s wine and beer options can feel overwhelming at times, but at this summer tasting event in its seventh year—which showcases the wine featured in Seattle magazine’s Washington Wine Awards and the winners from their second annual Beer Awards—community connoisseurs have already separated the wheat from the chaff. Get to know the wineries that local sommeliers and wine professionals have appointed as the apotheosis of Washington wines, and find out what breweries have been declared the best by local beer experts. This year’s event will feature more than 60 wineries and breweries, including Woodinville’s DeLille Cellars, Wapato-based vineyard and sparkling winery Treveri, Kirkland’s Chainline Brewing Company, and Fremont Brewing.

SATURDAY, JULY 28
Coffee + Donuts: Campos Coffee x the Flour Box
Honor the classic pairing of java and doughnuts with a specialty coffee tasting with Campos Coffee representative Bo Thunell, then partake in an exclusive run of brioche creations from the Flour Box.

Hale's Ales 35th Anniversary
Seattle beer stalwart Hale's Ales is celebrating a whopping 35 years of business with a bash that includes live music from local musicians, vintage and rare beer samplings, raffles, food, and shout-outs to their "many long-standing industry friends." $1 per pint sold will go to Seattle nonprofit City Fruit, which "promotes the cultivation of urban fruit in order to nourish people, build community, and protect the climate."

Hullabamoo Ice Cream Social
Seattle’s burgeoning ice-cream scene continues to grow at a breakneck pace, with no signs of slowing down. It’s fitting, then, that this event presented by the Dairy Farmers of Washington will perform a paean to milk’s highest calling at the South Lake Union Saturday Market with a curbside selection of some of the city’s favorite ice-cream vendors, including Full Tilt, Bluebird, ice-cream-sandwich shiller Street Treats, and former Poppy pastry chef Matt Bumpas’s pop-up Sweet Bumpas (whose ice cream was once described by The Stranger’s Angela Garbes as "so profound, it’s almost transcendent"). Don’t miss a prime chance to scoop up all their wares in one place.

Locus Wines Summer Party 2018
Taste current releases and two new wines from the award-winning Madrona wine producer.

Scout PNW Beer Garden Social
The beer mania of Oktoberfest will make a special July appearance at this tasting party. Courtyard Grill will be on site serving up savory bites while you use up your 10 tasting tokens.

The Donut Lab Pop-Up
Doughnut pop-up the Donut Lab will sling their signature puffy, sugar malasadas alongside frosty seasonal treats from Seattle Pops.

JULY 28-29
CoffeeCon Seattle 2018
Billing itself as the “enthusiast’s coffee festival,” this comprehensive convention for caffeine fiends honors java in all of its forms with a tasting floor, panels, guest coffee experts, and labs in nearly every brewing method under the sun, from Aeropress to Chemex to espresso. Whether you’re a seasoned barista or just an amateur coffee freak, you can choose from more than 30 classes each day and learn about tasting, developing your senses, brewing better coffee, sustainability, and the future of the industry.

SUNDAY, JULY 29
Backyard Pig Roast and Source of the Sound IPA Release
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act with the release of the Source of the Sound IPA, a collaboration brew between Hellbent and Stoup Brewing. $1 from every pint sold will go to Washington Wild to support their conservation efforts, and Hellbent will convert their parking lot into a spacious beer garden with a backyard BBQ pig roast and side dishes, games, kiddie pools, and a cook-off.

Comadre PanaderĂ­a Pop-Up
Beat the heat with cherry agua frescas, iced coffee from Dorothea Coffee, and pan dulce delights from Mariela Camacho's wonderful Mexican bakery pop-up. (Rumor has it there may be tres leches cake with local blueberries.)

Making Marshmallows
The squishy, pillowy treats are undeniably better when made from scratch. Put down the bag of Jet-Puffed and head to this saccharine class taught by Mackenzie Schieck.

Matcha Man Pop-Up
"Matcha Man" Don Gacilo makes magical soft-serve in flavors like ube, cereal milk, Thai tea, black sesame, and (duh) matcha, with adorable taiyaki fish-shaped cones and stunning midnight-black activated charcoal cones. He'll bring his confections to 20 OZ Tea for his first pop-up of the summer, featuring a new "taiyaki version 2.0."

Molly's at the Market
In celebration of National Ice Cream Month, start with two scoops of ice cream from Molly Moon's and load up on toppings that run the gamut from cacao nibs to toasted marshmallows to dark chocolate drizzle to assemble the ultimate ice cream sundae.

OKO Pop-Up: The Third Coming
This Japanese pop-up slinging "okonomiyaki, kewpie and fun" comes courtesy of chef Josh Nebe, who previously engineered poutine-like chowder fries for White Swan Public House, crafted sausages at Radiator Whiskey, and developed the madcap carnival-themed menu of items like corn dogs and “narwhal balls” at Unicorn. Now he's whipping up savory Japanese pancakes and other snacks. Wash them down with TsingTao beer specials from Screwdriver Bar and take home new OKO stickers.

Summer Crush
Swoon over drink specials from Ketel One Botanical and enjoy complimentary mini spa services from Recoop Spa. A live DJ will set a relaxing tone.

Summer Drink Workshop
Resident mixologist Tony James will teach you the secrets to perfect summer cocktails with which to impress all your friends and enemies.

Summer Soif
At Seattle's biggest domestic natural wine tasting, sample offbeat wines made with minimal intervention from producers in Washington, Oregon, California, as well as some Italian and imported wines, and meet the winemakers. There will also be food for sale and bottles available for purchase.