In recent Seattle food scene happenings, Fremont has won an exciting new destination for late-night Thai street food (banana blossom fries, anyone?) from the owners of Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen, and White Claw devotees now have a new spiked-seltzer alternative with the opening of San Juan Seltzery Taproom, Kitchen, and Bar in SoDo. Read on for more food news, like the impending closure of the beloved Sitka and Spruce, and events for this weekend, like Cowabunga! and a Friends 25th Anniversary Celebration, complete with a replica of the famed TV hangout Central Perk. For even more ideas, try our list of unique places to eat pancakes, our list of places to drink fresh hop beer this fall, or our full food and drink calendar.
OPENINGS
Casa del Mariachi
This Mexican restaurant serving posole, chilaquiles, chile relleno, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more has opened in the former space of the recently closed Indian restaurant Mani's Kitchen.
Pinehurst
Kin Len Thai Night Bites
On September 17, the popular Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen, which has locations in Kirkland and Lynnwood, soft-opened a new bar in Fremont called Kin Len, which translates to "eat play" and attempts to evoke the late-night street food of Thailand. Reviews on Yelp are largely positive so far and praise dishes like crispy pad Thai, boat noodles, and khao soi. Other dishes include shrimp chips with dip and banana blossom fries. There are also some ambitious-sounding Thai-inspired cocktails, like a "Tom Yum Fizz" with rye, sweet vermouth, and house amaro, and the "Old Bangkok," with kombucha and green tea-infused gin.
Fremont
The Phoenicia
After it was forced to close its previous location 10 months ago, this West Seattle Lebanese restaurant rose again in a new home on September 24, with a full bar and extravagant new decor that includes a glittering chandelier. Similar to before, the menu includes small plates, artisan pizzas, dishes like braised lamb shank and wild salmon, desserts, and cocktails.
West Seattle
San Juan Seltzery Taproom, Kitchen, and Bar
White Claw who? SoDo-based alcoholic seltzer producer San Juan Seltzer has decided to take advantage of the craze for boozy bubbly water and, according to a press release, opened San Juan Seltzery Taproom, Kitchen, and Bar inside its production space today. The spot focuses on spiked seltzer, of course, but also serves seltzer cocktails, beer, wine, cocktails, espresso, and non-alcoholic drinks. Ethan Stowell Restaurants designed the seafood-centric food menu, which includes cod and chips, Dungeness crab cakes, burgers, clam chowder, and moules frites.
SoDo
Towne Pub
Belltown Pub has reopened with new owners under the name Towne Pub, serving pub grub such as onion rings, nachos, wings, and burgers laden with toppings and sauces and made with meat from Don and Joeâs Meats butcher shop in Pike Place, plus craft beer from local breweries like Georgetown Brewing. The dog-friendly bar, which seats 155, plans to screen NFL games and is open late (2 am daily).
Belltown
Vera's Pizza and Bar
Ballard's homey, old-school breakfast and lunch diner Vera's, which closed abruptly in December, has been reborn as Vera's Pizza and Bar, a 21+ late-night joint serving up pizza by the slice with offbeat options like "chipotle taco" and "bacon cheeseburger." There are six taps featuring local beer from breweries like Stoup and Fremont, with boilermakers and Jello-O shots to follow.
Ballard
CLOSURES
Sitka and Spruce
It's the end of an era: In an emotional email sent out earlier this week, James Beard Award-winning chef Matt Dillon dropped the news that he will close Sitka and Spruce, his famous, locally-sourced restaurant inside Capitol Hill's Melrose Market, after service on New Year's Eve this year. The restaurant, which originally opened in an Eastlake strip mall 14 years ago and quickly received widespread praise and national attention, was an influential establishment in the Pacific Northwest dining scene. Dillon encouraged guests to visit before the closure and wrote, "Sitka & Spruce will always be alive in her energy. We will always participate in the relationship and conversation between our beautiful place in the world and everyone and everything that makes it turn and makes it whole. But at this mesmerizing juncture of our world, continuing Sitkaâs relationship in Seattle, does not make me a better father, partner, activist, employer or friend. And that is the future. To be better. It has to be, and it will."
Capitol Hill
Sugar Plum
Plum Bistro chef and owner Makini Howell's vegan sweet shop Sugar Plum, known for its plant-based soft-serve and other treats, closed suddenly earlier this month after posting a notice on its doors. According to Capitol Hill Seattle, Howell says the shop is moving, but did not provide further details.
Capitol Hill
OTHER FOOD NEWS
New doughnut shop opening soon in Capitol Hill
According to a paper sign posted on the door, the doughnut shop Half and Half Doughnut Co., an upcoming project from Michael Klebeck (who's known for creating the Top Pot Doughnuts brand with his brother Mark) will open in the former home of Sun Liquor Distillery (which Klebeck also owned) on October 4. The shop will join a slew of other nearby doughnut options on the Hill, like Mighty-O, General Porpoise, and Cupcake Royale's Rodeo Donuts.
Beth's Cafe for sale
Beth's Cafe, the beloved 24-hour greasy spoon famous for its crayon-scribbled drawings and enormous 12-egg omelets, is up for sale along with neighboring Duck Island Ale House for $685,000, with a 10-year lease. The listing says that owner Chris Dalton is selling the restaurant due to health issues. Dalton also told Eater Seattle that although the property housing the diner went up for sale in February, it did not sell due to the plot's relatively small size.
Vitality Bowls opening in South Lake Union
Amazon employees and other South Lake Union workers will get yet another lunchtime option with the opening of Vitality Bowls, a California-based chain offering health-focused fuel like juice, smoothies, acai bowls, sandwiches, and salads, coming this fall.
NĂșodle opening nine more stores
The wildly popular and rapidly growing Chinese chain NĂșodle, which is known for its comforting hand-pulled beef noodle soup and recently opened a location near Bellevue's Asian Family Market, plans to open nine more outposts in Lynnwood, Kirkland, Sammamish, Renton, Kent, Everett, Tacoma, and University District, with the University District location expected to open in October. Following that, the chain has its sights set on New York and Los Angeles.
EVENTS
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
"Taste of Italy"âą Wine Tasting at Seattle's Italian Festival 2019
Transport yourself to the Mediterranean with over sixty Italian wines to try, and snack on bread, antipasti and cruditÚs from Big John's PFI. In between sips, wander over to see live music by Danny Quintero and his band, a mixed-media exhibition about Italian art, and the Festa Italiana Historical Photo Exhibit.
Bubble Ball: Champagne Tasting & Disco Dance
You'll leave this champagne tasting and disco dance party feeling sparkly. Tickets include bubbly sips from Dom PĂ©rignon, Veuve Clicquot, MoĂ«t & Chandon Champagne, Treveri Cellars, and many others. If your moves are rusty, learn the Hustle before DJ Dana Dub cues up the smooth grooves.Â
Farm to Table Harvest Dinner
Chef Kyle Bopes, who's previously spent time at the award-winning Junebaby and Salare, will create a farm-fresh meal with seasonal produce and natural wine pairings.
SEPTEMBER 27-28
2019 Everett Sausage Fest
This family-oriented Bavarian-themed fall festival will offer heaps of German sausages (in addition to banh mi sandwiches, egg rolls, Mexican food, and more to keep you sated), carnival rides, live music, kids' activities, a raffle, and plenty of beer and wine.
SEPTEMBER 27-29
Seattle Cowabunga
Seattle Met's Cowabunga festival devotes four whole events to an all-you-can-eat beefy bacchanalia. Fridayâs Surf ânâ Turf fest kicks things off with seafood alongside slabs o' meat and a bourbon cocktail battle. Next, Saturday brings smoky brisket and craft brews with the Beer ânâ BBQ event, followed by Seared, a night of âsteak and cakeâ that will evoke a swanky steak house with Snake River Farms Wagyu and a baking competition. Finally, things wrap up on Sunday with the Burger Bash, a smorgasbord of bun-wrapped patties from favorites like Liâl Woodyâs and Little Big Burger. This yearâs lineup of red-meat maestros includes Jack Timmons of Jackâs BBQ, Melissa Miranda of Musang, Eric Rivera of Addo, and Jay Blackinton of Hogstone and Ălder, among (many) others.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Around the World Whiskey Tasting
Brush up on your basics with a whiskey specialist and sample fine whiskeys from all over the globe, plus a special barrel-aged "bonus" whiskey.
Ballard Oktoberfest
Knock back eight-ounce pours of German-style beers at this Ballard Oktoberfest celebration, which also promises food and music.
Beast & Cleaver Presents: Medieval England Hog Breakdown
Butcher Kevin Smith of the highly anticipated butcher shop Beast and Cleaver will teach you how to process an entire hog, medieval England-style.
Chino: Latino Nite Part II at Barkada
Ecuadorian chef Jose Garzon of the pop-up Garzon will team up with Filipinx chef Brian Madayag of the Edmonds restaurant Barkada for a night of "Filipinx/Latinx heritage and community," with nosh and cocktails.
End of Summer Party featuring Fresh Hop & Oktoberfestbier!
Counterbalance will debut the new Counterbalance Fresh Hop Ale and Oktoberfestbier for 2019, along with additional surprise beers. Plus, play games and scarf franks from Chavoya's Hot Dogs.
New Cider Making Class
Pick up the skills you need to DIY your own fermented fruit beverages at home, and take home a growler of your own custom cider.
Seattle Cucina Cooking School: Free Grand Opening Celebration!
Greet the newly opened Seattle Cucina Cooking School with hands-on cooking demos (including demonstrations for Indian food, fermentation, breadmaking, wild salmon, and more), snacks, and games throughout the day.
Wild Ginger's 30th Anniversary Dinner Series
To celebrate 30 years of business, Seattle's Southeast Asian mainstay Wild Ginger will throw a multi-course meal with favorite dishes from over the years, vintage wine pairings, and tales from their past.
Wink Doughnuts Pop-Up Shop at Ghost Note Coffee
Start off your Saturday with gluten-free, organic, and plant-based doughnuts from Wink and hot coffee from Ghost Note.
SEPTEMBER 28-29
The 2019 Northwest Tea Festival
Learn about tea-drinking traditions around the world and sip warm steeped beverages for yourself at this two-day festival.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Brothers & Co x Julia Child @ The Rendezvous
Chef Zachary Pacleb of Brothers & Co will pay homage to the jovial TV chef and television personality Julia Child herself with a pop-up dinner before Bon Appetit! The Julia Child Operetta.
Friends 25th Anniversary Celebration
In celebration of National Coffee Day and the 25th anniversary of the enduringly popular '90s sitcom that launched a million copycat haircuts, the Lounge by AT&T will temporarily transform into a life-size replica of the famed TV hangout Central Perkâlegendary orange couch included. The Rembrandts will be on hand to perform their theme song (you know the one) and other "Friends-related songs," and James Michel Tyler, who played the Central Perk manager Gunther, will host trivia. There's also "Phoebeâs Yellow Cab Escape Room" in a "fully functional taxicab," a Friends-themed karaoke booth, an interactive technology timeline tracking the changes in technology since the show, and coffee from the Lounge, managed by 2018 US Barista Champion Cole McBride.
Samsoom
Enjoy "perfectly baked goods, both savory and sweet, with Levantine flavors you know and love," including baklava morning buns and za'atar BLTs with cured lamb bacon, at this new pop-up from Sam Gainsbourg, who recently took over as pastry chef at the Middle Eastern spot Mamnoon on Capitol Hill after previous pastry chef Carrie Mashaney was promoted to executive chef.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Dinner & a DJ Volume 31: South by Southeast
Chef Young Cho of the Mexican-Asian fusion food truck Phorale and Instagram personality Ken of feedthepudge will join forces for this dinner blending "traditional and fusion" and "Korean and Vietnamese cuisines," with dishes like fried chicken "lollipops," crispy suckling pig spring rolls, and bingsu (Korean shaved ice) with Vietnamese dessert toppings. DJ Grizz provides the soundtrack.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1
Feast at the Market
This progressive meal/self-guided tour lets you eat your way through Pike Place Market, tasting dishes from Aerlume, Honest Biscuits, Matt's in the Market, The Pike Brewery Company, Red Cedar and Sage, Seatown Market Diner, and other restaurants, capped off with desserts at Pike Place Market Atrium Kitchen. Proceeds benefit Neighborcare Health at Pike Place Market Clinic, which provides comprehensive primary healthcare to low-income and uninsured people in downtown Seattle.
