OPENINGS
Agua Verde Cafe
Travis Rosenthal, the owner of Rumba, Tango, and Sand Point Grill, has re-opened Portage Bay's popular Mexican restaurant with a new chef, updated menu, redesigned interior, a new indoor bar, and the addition of a new patio called Marina Cantina, with seating for 60, cocktails created by Rumba, and an orange food truck. The new patio will be open only seasonally (May 1-October 1).
University District
Bobabucha Cafe
Sporting a sign emblazoned with their corgi logo, this Capitol Hill spot, which, as the name suggests, specializes in both kombucha on tap and bubble tea (not together), opened over Memorial Day weekend. The cafe makes its boba fresh in-house without preservatives or additives, with a selection of 10 different teas and 10 options for add-ins, and also offers other sweets.
Capitol Hill
Cafe Goldinblack
This Korean-influenced, east-meets-west sandwich shop, which was temporarily closed due to construction, has now reopened. The unique menu, which includes pastrami sandwiches alongside kalbi beef and loaded hot dogs as well as pork ramen, remains the same.
Queen Anne
Chick-fil-A
The behemoth fried chicken fast food chain is planning to open its first Seattle location in Bitter Lake on June 26. The Stranger's Katie Herzog notes that Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy is a "notorious hater of gays" who "has given millions to groups that oppose same-sex marriage and has previously said that he supports 'the biblical definition of the family unit.'"
Bitter Lake
Galaxy Rune
This vegan and vegetarian burger joint specializing in convincing house-made fake meats opened in Fremont on June 16. The family-owned business makes their own burger patties, chili, bratwurst, hand-cut fries, and "galaxy sauce." The menu also features root beer floats with five kinds of root beer to choose from and offers some gluten-free food options.
Fremont
Kobrew
The owners of Magnuson Cafe and Brewery will open this family-friendly brewery called Kobrew near the Tacoma waterfront this weekend, featuring 14 rotating taps, soju, and a Korean-inspired food menu with bibimbap, bo ssam, Korean fried chicken, and pork belly. The gastropub offers copious outdoor seating and will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
Tacoma
Pacifica
With Matt Dillon of the London Plane as a silent partner, this new Latin-inspired tavern, a sibling to the upscale Latin American taqueria Copal, opened in the former space of Little London Plane on Wednesday. (Originally, the establishment was set to open as "Chicha," but was forced to change the name after owners learned the name was already a registered trademark.) Guests can avail themselves of cocktails, Latin American beer, and a limited food menu with bites like chorizo sandwiches, tamales, and Brazilian dried beef.
Pioneer Square
Sam Choy's Poke to the Max
Hawaiian chef and "godfather of poke" Sam Choy's Seattle-based chain Poke to the Max opened a new outpost on the waterfront in Kirkland. The restaurant serves poke, loco moco, shoyu chicken, Spam musubi, and other island favorites. Opening hours (11 am-5 pm) are in effect from June 21 until June 23, after which the shop will be open from 11 am-9 pm.
Kirkland
S/T Hooligans
This new bar in the former home of the Leary Traveler slings hearty, Southern-influenced gastropub grub with Northwest ingredients, including chipotle-garlic fries, jalapeño-cheddar hushpuppies, adobo pork sandwiches, gumbo, barbecue brisket sandwiches, and more. Drinks range from local and imported craft beer to spirits and wine.
Frelard
CLOSURES
Crow
This beloved neighborhood bistro will close on June 22 after 15 years of business, due to owners Philip Van Seters and Jesse Thomas choosing not to renew their lease. In 2004, former Stranger contributor Sara Dickerman wrote of Crow, "There is something pleasantly surprising about how good nearly every dish tastes." After the closure, Citizen Six will move into the Crow space with the new name Lazy Susan—read more on the relocation below. Crow's nearby sibling restaurant Betty will remain open.
Queen Anne
Lucia Kitchen + Bar
This Italian restaurant in Greenwood, which opened in the Green Lake Village complex in 2014, announced via Facebook on Monday night that they closed their doors permanently on Sunday, June 16 and thanked patrons for their support. The restaurant will be replaced by chef David Nichol's new venture Eight Row (see below for more details).
Green Lake
Trove
Acclaimed chef Rachel Yang announced in an email that she and her husband Seif Chirchi will be closing their Capitol Hill restaurant Trove after dinner service on June 30, writing, "Those who have watched us closely over the years know how much we have worked to make Trove relevant. This industry is tough and this wasn’t our turn." In its inception, the restaurant was home to a noodle shop, bar, soft serve counter, and Korean barbecue, but transitioned to a more unified concept last fall. Yang and Chirchi still have the lease and will continue to host pop-ups, private dinners, and cooking classes in the space.
Capitol Hill
OTHER FOOD NEWS
Canlis launches new poolside pop-up for the summer
The Seattle fine-dining institution Canlis, which has been known to host extravagant New Year's Eve blowouts and hot-ticket pop-up collaborations with big names like Shake Shack and Milk Bar, has unveiled their latest event series, a poolside pop-up in their Parking Lot called Hawaiian Nights, running on Fridays and Saturdays from July 12 until August 3. The restaurant will transform their parking lot into an island oasis with a real pool, thatched tiki huts with a bar and a pig roast inside, and casual food like pizza, kalbi ribs, shishito peppers, and mac salad available for purchase a la carte. Unlike other Canlis events, no reservations or ticket purchase is necessary.
Edgewater Hotel paying tribute to Anthony Bourdain for Bourdain Day
On Tuesday, June 25, which was recently declared "Bourdain Day," the Edgewater Hotel, one of Anthony Bourdain's favorite haunts, will honor the life of the intrepid chef and travel documentarian with a free block party that includes a free cochina pig roast and appetizers and the "Hey Tony" Negroni (a take on one of Bourdain's preferred cocktails). Proceeds benefit Big Table, a local nonprofit that provides support for "restaurant and hospitality industry who are finding themselves in crisis, transition or falling through the cracks."
Citizen Six moving to lower Queen Anne
The Interbay bar Citizen Six, which specializes in comforting Korean-Mexican fusion fare such as bulgogi fries and fish tacos glazed with Korean wing sauce, plans to move into the former space of the Queen Anne neighborhood bistro Crow on June 23, the day after Crow closes. With the move, the restaurant will be renamed Lazy Susan, a nod to owner Suzana Olmos's childhood nickname, to avoid confusion with her nearby Queen Anne restaurant Citizen. Lazy Susan will retain its menu but add a few new items for dinner, dessert, and cocktails, and is set to open the first week of August.
Dave Meinert reportedly buying Mecca
Queen Anne's beloved 90-year-old diner and dive bar Mecca has been sold to Seattle nightlife entrepreneur Dave Meinert, who was accused of sexual misconduct, including allegations of rape, by 11 women last year. The Stranger's Lester Black spoke to owner Karon Hanke on her decision to sell the historic institution to Meinert.
Eight Row coming to Green Lake
According to a press release, chef David Nichols, who has previously worked as the executive chef at Queen Anne Beer Hall and Rider, will open Eight Row, his debut solo venture, in the former location of Lucia in Green Lake this August. The restaurant, named in tribute to Nichols's family's cherry orchard in Wenatchee, will serve "Pan American" cuisine with a menu centered around the tree fruit seasons and food cultures of Central Washington. A weekend brunch service will be available from 10-2 pm, with dishes like porchetta with hominy, fried egg, and salsa verde; crispy sweetbreads, waffles, and spiced honey; and a Dungeness crab and avocado salad with béarnaise. There will also be "a thoughtful bar program" with cocktails and a lengthy wine list.
Farmhouse brewery opening this summer
The long-awaited farmhouse brewery Fair Isle Brewing, which was announced in 2016 and originally planned to open last year, is preparing to open in Ballard this summer and is hiring staff. The brewery will join a host of others in Ballard, including Stoup Brewing and Reuben's Brews, and will produce farmhouse and wild beers such as tart Saisons and American Wild Ales.
EVENTS
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Artisan Friday: Pickling with PRIDE
Learn how to transfigure just about any veggie (and even some fruits) into a tangy, crunchy snack.
Little Neon Taco x Juice Club: FWB Summer Solstice Edition
Little Neon Taco chef and owner Monica Dimas will prepare a five-course menu inspired by and paired with natural wines from Juice Club, a "nomadic" (but Seattle-based) natural wine party.
Pig and Pink 2019
The bright, airy Fremont cafe will greet summer with their annual pig roast and some picnic-perfect side dishes, accompanied by a selection of rosé available by the glass or bottle.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Per Se Alumni Dinner Series at Copine: Chef Aaron Grosskopf
In Copine chef Shaun McCrain's ongoing Alumni Dinner series, he reunites with various colleagues from his days cooking at Thomas Keller's prestigious Per Se. This edition will feature chef Aaron Grosskopf, who worked for such illustrious chefs as Thomas Keller, Laurent Gras, and Pierre Orsi before discovering a passion for healthy food as a personal chef in San Francisco and subsequently became an integrative nutrition health coach. Guests can look forward to an upscale yet nutritious meal that includes a dip with geoduck clam and house-made potato chips; grass-fed skirt steak with Japanese sweet potatoes, green strawberries, and fermented ramps; and a dark chocolate bombe for dessert.
Seattle Night Market: Asia
Sample "hyper-local, globally inspired" fare like kimchi-smothered fries and bubble tea at this Asian-themed curbside night market. Plus, enjoy a beer garden and moonlight movie viewing.
Tea-Infused Ice Cream Pop Up at Friday Afternoon Tea
Get scoops of tea-infused ice cream from the Milk and Leaf Collective in solstice-appropriate flavors like Strawberry Butterfly (a blend of black tea, lemongrass, and strawberries).
Third Annual Pour
Kick off summer by sipping offerings from over 20 Seattle wineries and filling up on street food at Seattle Urban Wineries' third annual event.
JUNE 22-23
Bacon Eggs & Kegs
This festival revolving around the combination of savory, gut-busting breakfast foods and heady booze promises concoctions like fried chicken waffle nuggets, cornbread bacon Benedict, biscuits with bacon-fat gravy, and beer-battered pancakes. Day drinking is encouraged with more than 80 brews from 40 breweries and cideries, plus mimosas, boozy root-beer floats, Irish coffee, and a 30-foot Bloody Mary bar with dozens upon dozens of toppings (including tater tots, mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, veggies, herbs, pickles, puffed Cheetos, bacon, and pork rinds). You’re probably going to want to clear your schedule for that requisite post-brunch nap.
SUNDAY, JUNE 23
Author Jill Lightner Cooks At The West Seattle Farmers Market
Learn thrifty and resourceful methods for maximizing your kitchen scraps, like regrowing leftover veggie odds and ends and quick-pickling stems, from local author Jill Lightner. Even better, snack on meringue cookies and mixed berry freezer jam snacks from her book.
Author Talk: Bottom of the Pot by Naz Deravian
Author Naz Deravian was just eight when she left Iran with her family during the Iranian Revolution. In the process of bouncing from Rome to Vancouver over the following decade, the family sought comfort in Persian meals that conjured memories of home, including aash (a soul-warming soup made with herbs, legumes, and grains), pomegranate and walnut chicken, and tahdig (the prized crunchy crust that forms on the bottom of the rice pot). Later, as an aspiring actress in Los Angeles, Deravian would call her mother to walk her through re-creating the dishes at home. Deravian went on to create an award-winning Persian cooking blog called Bottom of the Pot and recently published her debut cookbook of the same name. She’ll share stories and cooking secrets (perhaps how to achieve that perfectly crisp rice crust?) at Book Larder.
Bar Har BQ
Savor smoked meats from the upcoming restaurant Lady Jaye before they open this summer, alongside dishes like lobster rolls from Bar Harbor.
Midsommar Seattle
In celebration of the ancient Scandinavian festival of fertility, frolic to live traditional Scandinavian music and sip an elderflower cocktail special and exclusive beer, mead, and cider releases made with seasonal fruit and flowers. Plus, taste food pairings and hobnob with the crews from Slippery Pig Brewery, Valhöll Brewing, and the "modern-day Vikings of Poulsbo."
MONDAY, JUNE 24
Chef Shota's 4 Year Anniversary Party!
Commemorate James Beard-nominated Adana chef Shota Nakajima's first restaurant opening four years ago with free food, DJ tunes, a photo booth, and beer, bubbly, and cocktails available for purchase.
Pride Pop-Up Dinner: Southern BBQ Deluxe!
The Tin Table invites LGBTQ community members and allies to tuck into in a hearty, down-home barbecue supper with gator bites, blackened steak salad, buffalo shrimp pasta, pork belly, collard greens, and more.
JUNE 24-30
Negroni Week
The refreshingly bitter, glowing-crimson aperitif—made with equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth and garnished with an orange peel—is so beloved, it now has its own week. Bars all over Seattle will be shaking up their own variations of the cocktail to benefit charitable organizations. If the concept of gulping Negronis to combat the world’s ills sounds too good to be true, you’re probably right: As former Stranger food writer Angela Garbes wrote in 2016, “Started in 2013 by Campari and Imbibe magazine, Negroni Week is most definitely a marketing ploy benefitting a global corporation. Feel free to plot the overthrow of our corporate power regime as you throw back another Negroni.”
TUESDAY, JUNE 25
Author Talk: Cooking in Iran by Najmieh Batmanglij
When she was 32, Najmieh Batmanglij was exiled from Iran after the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and fled with her husband to France, where she discovered a passion for cooking. The couple then relocated to Washington, DC, where Batmanglij built a career as a chef and award-winning, world-renowned cookbook author. Chef Yotam Ottolenghi has called her the “goddess of Iranian cooking.” In the early aughts, she started yearning to visit her homeland and returned for the first time in 2015, more than 35 years after she left. That experience led to her latest book, Cooking in Iran: Regional Recipes & Kitchen Secrets, in which she imparts the findings from her journey and uncovers traditional regional recipes. At Book Larder, she'll demonstrate a dish from the book and share stories from her travels.
Bourbon Battle Featuring Lux Row Distillers
Seattle bartenders will vie to concoct the best bourbon-based libations, while you sample their efforts and nosh on small bites for free.
