OPENINGS
i5 Pho
This pho restaurant, which also has a location in Tacoma, opened a second location in Pioneer Square and had its grand opening on September 23. Popular menu items besides pho include the banh mi dip (a banh mi sandwich with a side of broth for dunking), chicken wings, and the "Bruce Lee sauce."
Pioneer Square
Petoskey's Pizza
Named for the Michigan town, this new Midwestern-themed pizzeria, which opened in Fremont and had its first Yelp review on September 27, serves a menu of reimagined Midwest classics, including Wisconsin fried cheese curds, tater-tot hot-dish (for the uninitiated, that's a Midwestern-style casserole), a Juicy Lucy (a burger with a cheese-stuffed patty), and other hearty fried comfort food—there's even a macaroni and cheese pizza that Leslie Knope would surely approve of. To drink, there's wine, beer, and themed cocktails with names like "The Superior" and the "Minnesota Martini."
Fremont
Tasty
This Chinese restaurant, which opened in U-District and had its first Yelp review on September 19, has a very Instagrammable wall proclaiming "TASTY" in floral letters on an ivy-covered background and a menu of authentic dishes like dandan noodles, hot pots, and pork belly. You get complimentary herbal soup and peanuts to snack on before your meal.
University District
CLOSURES
Ada’s Restaurant and Bar
The restaurant and bar (not to be confused with Ada's Technical Books on Capitol Hill), which closed temporarily for "technical issues" this spring, has shut down permanently and has a "for lease" sign in the window.
Phinney
Sport Restaurant and Bar
Restaurateur John Howie's sports bar across the street from the Space Needle is closing on Saturday, October 27. According to Howie, who also owns Seastar, John Howie Steakhouse, Beardslee Public House, and Wildwood Spirits Co., the place was still popular, but rising costs and the size of the establishment made the bar difficult to maintain.
Queen Anne
OTHER FOOD NEWS
Shake Shack opening delayed
The popular Danny Meyers burger chain was set to open on Saturday, October 6, in South Lake Union but has pushed back their opening. A new opening date has not yet been announced, but they say they will be open "very soon." The Seattle Times hints that a soft opening could happen any day now, so if you're in the area, it might be worth stopping by just in case.
Walrus and the Carpenter on Jeopardy!
Renee Erickson's celebrated Ballard oyster bar the Walrus and the Carpenter was briefly featured in a Jeopardy! question this week.
Renee Erickson recognized by Puget Sound Business Journal and Inc Magazine
Speaking of Erickson, she was named an honoree of the 2018 Women of Influence award by Puget Sound Business Journal and recognized in Inc Magazine's The Female Founders 100.
Edouardo Jordan continues to receive media attention
James Beard Award-winning chef Edouardo Jordan of the acclaimed JuneBaby and Salare was featured in the business section of the Root 100 (The Root's "annual list of the most influential African Americans, ages 25 to 45"), and his restaurant Junebaby made Time's list of Greatest Places in 2018.
Feed Co. Burgers in Redmond sold
Feed Co. Burgers has sold its Redmond location, which will continue to operate as a burger restaurant under a new name. Owner Scott Staples will focus on running the Central District location of Feed Co. and Uneeda Burger in Fremont.
Flying Apron coming to West Seattle
Gluten-free and vegan bakery Flying Apron plans to open a West Seattle location in the former space of the recently closed Great Harvest Baking Company, with an expanded menu featuring soups, pasta, and pizza. The new location is slated to open no later than January.
Washington breweries win awards at Great American Beer Festival
San Juan Island Brewing Co., Figurehead Brewing Co., Cloudburst Brewing, Silver City Brewing, and other Washington breweries took home awards at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado.
Sam Choy's Poke to the Max coming to Sea-Tac
Soon you'll be able to get your raw-fish fix at the airport: the Seattle and Hillman City poke purveyors Sam Choy's Poke to the Max will open a location at SeaTac with a bar, breakfast, lunch, and dinner in January 2019. The new location will join an abundance of other local options, such as Cafe Flora's Floret and an upcoming location of Sunset Fried Chicken.
Vios Cafe and Marketplace for sale
After 15 years of business, Capitol Hill's Greek restaurant Vios Cafe and Marketplace is for sale. Owner Thomas Soukakos, who sold the Vios Cafe and Pub (now renamed Cafe Arta Bistro and Pub) inside the Ravenna Third Place Books in March, hopes to spend more time in Greece and focusing on his other restaurant Omega Ouzeri.
Salumi moving to new location
The Pioneer Square cured-meat sandwich shop with a cult following is moving into the nearby former space of the recently closed Rain Shadow Meats Squared next month. In honor of the space's previous life, Salumi will feature a Rain Shadow Meats sandwich collaboration as a special for a few months when they re-open. The new location will have more space and will feature a communal table, a retail area, and a private dining area.
Nutty Squirrel and Fainting Goat Gelato come together to offer pastries
Local gelaterias Nutty Squirrel and Fainting Goat have teamed up and enlisted former Bakery Nouveau employee Kim Nguyen to develop a line of European pastries, including tiramisu, croissants, panna cotta, and more, to be sold at all of their stores. (Nutty Squirrel is owned by Alev Seymen, the daughter of Fainting Goat owners Yalcin and Sevim Ataman, and her husband Tolga.)
Aerlume coming to Pike Place Market
Chef Jason Wilson and the El Gaucho team, who have joined forces to form a group called Fire & Vine, will open a restaurant called Aerlume (like "heirloom," as in the Washington State produce they'll serve) in Pike Place Market, with a full bar, a dining room with a live bonfire, two chef's tables, and an outdoor seating area for 50 guests, with a seasonally inspired menu by executive chef Maggie Trujillo. The restaurant is set to open for happy hour and dinner later this year, with a lunch and weekend service to come in early 2019.
Cannabis gummies soon to be prohibited
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board will soon prohibit cannabis-infused gummies and candies that look "especially appealing to children," a rule that will go into effect beginning January 1.
Lowrider Baking coming to Georgetown Trailer Park Mall
Baker and pastry chef Emily Allport's cookie pop-up Lowrider Baking Company will join the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall, with a grand opening currently planned for October 27. The trailer will have a cookie counter and will feature a menu of signature cookies and rotating seasonal flavors like pumpkin dark chocolate or dark chocolate walnut fig.
Grand Central Baking Company coming to Wedgwood
A new Wedgwood location of Grand Central Baking Company is set to open in Wedgwood by mid-October. The new space will have the company's full line of artisan breads as well as salads, sandwiches, and pastries in a "bright, beautiful space with clean lines, white tile and natural wood where customers can enjoy delicious food and a sense of community" and a dedicated parking lot for customers.
Mbar names new chef de cuisine
The Mediterranean-inspired New American restaurant Mbar from Mamnoon owners Wassef and Racha Haroun has named Tana Mielke, a Western Washington native who lived in Greece for two years, its new chef de cuisine.
EVENTS
FRIDAY, OCT 5
Belltown Brewing Fresh Hop IPA Release
Toast to Belltown Brewing's new Carpenter Ranches Fresh Hop IPA, an "ode to the hardworking hop growers at Carpenter Ranches, who have been an integral part of the Yakima Valley hop industry since 1868" and made with fresh Mosaic hops.
Celebrate Oktoberfest with Ayingerbrau!
Twenty dollars will get you an entire liter of Ayinger bier, and you can keep the mug.
Chocolate Book Signing & Tasting with Dr. Kristy Leissle
Dr. Kristy Leissle will talk about the "politics of cocoa" in Africa outlined in her new book, Cocoa, and she'll sign copies. After that, she'll lead a chocolate tasting of offerings that are only sold in Ghana.
Taste of Seattle Made
Seattle Made Week kicks off with Central Co-op's Taste of Seattle Made, which showcases over 40 local purveyors of everything from spicy sausage pizza to ice cream sandwiches to boozy treats.
Viking Disco & Feast
Don your horned helmet and party like it's 1066 at this Viking disco with LUSHY and DJ Jonasson. Prizes will be awarded for best costume, and dancers will be replenished with a hearty feast by Chef James Bushell.
Wine Food: New Adventures in Eating and Drinking
Portland-based natural wine bar and winery owner Dana Frank and author and stylist Andrea Slonecker partnered up to share 75 recipes that pair well with affordable wines. This dinner at the Seattle natural wine bar will offer a meal inspired by the book. The authors will be there to sign your copies.
OCT 5-6
Seattle Blind Café
Dine in the dark with the Blind Cafe, a traveling pop-up experience that hosts sensory tasting dinners in 100% darkness to raise awareness for social issues. For this event, they've partnered with Airbnb to hold the event at a secret location and will greet guests with dark chocolate and red wine by candlelight before they are engulfed in darkness for a vegetarian meal and music from Rosh & the Blind Cafe Orchestra.
OCT 5-7
Cowabunga
Lauding itself as "America's largest festival of beef," Seattle Met's Cowabunga festival presents an all-you-can-eat weekend full of cook-offs and cow meat tastings (with some attention paid to seafood, cake, and booze, too).
Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival
Port Angeles's nationally recognized crab extravaganza, whose claim to fame is apparently having been featured in a question on Jeopardy!, offers copious crustaceans, as well as a chowder cook-off, a "grab-a-crab" derby, local beer and wine, craft vendors, live music, art, Native American activities, and more.
SATURDAY, OCT 6
3rd Annual Single Malt Saturday
Snack on appetizers and sample from the largest collection of single malts on the West Coast, with over a hundred options and a small collection of unique scotches, single malt Irish whiskey, and Japanese single malts.
Beveridge Place Pub 2nd Annual Fresh Hop Festival
The homey neighborhood alehouse will close off the parking lot for a festival with over 30 local fresh hop beers, plus outdoor games and nosh.
Bothell Underground Beer Festival
Huddle in a cozy garage to taste local brews and ciders from spots like 20 Corners Brewing, Decibel Brewing Company, and Avid Cider Co. There will also be plenty of food offerings, as well as live music from Parlor Swing, the Marina Christopher Trio, and others.
Brew Your Own Kombucha
Learn how to brew and bottle your own tart, fizzy fermented elixir with fresh fruit, ginger, herbs, and spices, and go home with your own SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast) equipped to start a new brewing habit at home.
Harvest Oyster Party
Gulp briny Hama Hama oysters and sip crisp sparkling wine and cider from around the globe as you take in live music.
“Lucy” Grape Stomp!
Channel your inner Lucille Ball (in honor of her 100th birthday) and stomp some grapes the old fashioned way. Wear your best Lucy costume for the chance to win a prize, and enjoy lots of fall activities while you're there.
SUNDAY, OCT 7
Mad Scientist Cocktail + Mocktail Lab
Get creative with your cocktails and mocktails in these workshops.
Osteria La Spiga 20th Anniversary
The Capitol Hill restaurant will celebrate 20 years of serving their delicious Northern Italian fare with a signature birthday menu and live music from local funk-jazz jammers West Seattle Soul.
Three Sacks Full Pop-Up
Driven by his curiosity to discover what a “real carrot” tasted like, chef Michael Tsai took a sabbatical to work on Green String Farm in California and eventually moved to the Snoqualmie River Valley’s Goose and Gander Farm, where he works now. He will bring that same farm-to-table sensibility to Three Sacks Full, his pop-up with sommelier and partner Matthew Curtis, who favors wine pairings from smaller producers and family-run wineries. Naturally, their menus are locally sourced, ever-changing, and hyper-seasonal. They say: "We return to this great old Rainier Ave. location just a few doors down from Columbia City Bakery. Expect to find a menu filled with late summer vegetables and maybe a touch of autumn. September and October are great produce months here in the PNW."
MONDAY, OCT 8
Author Dinner at Delancey Seattle: Let's Stay In by Ashley Rodriguez
In her debut cookbook, Date Night In, Seattle author and Not Without Salt food blogger Ashley Rodriguez shared the story of her relationship with her husband and extolled the virtues of a weekly dinner for two. (Her internet-famous salted chocolate-chip cookies, riddled with melty pools of chocolate, rank among the best I’ve ever tried.) Now she’s releasing her follow-up, Let’s Stay In, an ode to the pleasures of sharing cozy meals at home with family and friends. At this dinner brought to you by the adorable Fremont cookbook store Book Larder, Ballard wood-fired pizzeria Delancey will serve a three-course meal inspired by the book with dessert and wine, and you’ll go home with a signed copy of Rodriguez’s new book.
Booktoberfest: Bookish Happy Hour
Booze with bibliophiles at this Booktoberfest bash, where you can chat with new friends about favorite books and authors.
Lunar Harvest + Simcoe Fresh Hop Special Release
Gluten-free drinkers need not be left out of the fresh hop and fall beer fun: Ghostfish Brewing, which makes its gluten-free brews with millet, buckwheat, and brown rice, will release two special beers: Lunar Harvest—a Belgian tripel-style spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, allspice, and coriander—and their second Fresh Hop Release, made with Simcoe Hops from Yakima Chief Ranches.
OCT 9-12
Fresh Hop Fiesta Grande
Head to the Pine Box to taste 20 of the freshest, hoppiest beers around from select local breweries who get their hops from Yakima Valley.
