Food & Drink
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Food We Love: The Most Beautiful Tacos in Seattle
A change in chefs breathes new life into the menu at a neighborhood favorite
This article originally appeared in the September 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the September 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.
We first fell in love with Brimmer & Heeltap (Ballard) when the light-filled corner spot, with its shareable dishes and excellent drinks, opened in 2014. The best flavors on the original menu were decidedly Asian, courtesy of then chef Mike Whisenhunt. But since Angela Ortez-Davis took over the kitchen last year, she’s slowly rolled out an all-new menu inspired by her California roots and the Mexican recipes of her mom (who is also a chef). Ortez-Davis’ hibiscus tacos ($14), with ginger-poached shrimp cooked with hibiscus flowers, and masa colored by hibiscus water, are the very embodiment of this new direction—as flavorful as they are beautiful, and best enjoyed on the restaurant’s perfect side patio.
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The Burger That Saved My Marriage
When a closure on I-405 derails date night, Great State Burger comes to the rescue.
The plan was flawless, which, as every married person knows, meant it was immediately in danger. In an earnest attempt to be a good husband, I had arranged a Saturday night date in Bellevue: dinner at Fogo de Chao, followed by a movie at Cinemark in Lincoln Square. I made the reservation and bought tickets….
Industry Entrées
Seattle’s newest spots to eat, drink, and gather with friends.
Roma Roma Capitol Hill It seems like roman-style pizza keeps trying to catch on in this town, then disappearing, then popping back up in a fresh incarnation. (See also: Pizza by Ruffin, the recently departed Sacro Bosco, and the long-departed Bar Taglio.) At 12th and Olive, Roma Roma is the latest attempt. The skipped-over element…
Bloom Thai: Turning Tables into Friends
This hidden Thai food gem started as a pandemic pop-up. Now, in its permanent home in Lakewood, the restaurant has quietly amassed a following thanks to its fusion of flavors and gregarious chef.
For months before I went to Bloom Thai, I was regaled by Instagram reels about the tiny Lakewood restaurant. “The owner is so nice!” people exclaimed. “She came out and sat with us,” one influencer said, while another announced that “Auntie gave us free Thai tea!” and so on. The food looked legendary, too, and…
Industry Entrées: New Restaurants Around the Sound
Seattle’s newest spots to eat, drink, and gather with friends.
Balandra Fremont Taking over the legendary former Art of the Table space on Stone Way—following a brief stint as Robin’s—is Balandra, a chef-driven tapas and wine bar. Named for a Spanish sailing ship, it’s the debut from first-time owner Anna Bennett, who hails from the Eastside, with veteran chef Ivan Barraza at the helm. Along…