Revel Opens in Amazonia (For Now) and Yes, It’s Still Delicious
While permanent changes are being made to its building, Revel moved into the former Vestal space in South Lake Union and is now open for lunch.
By Leslie Kelly February 14, 2018
Revel has been changing the way Seattle thinks about Korean food since 2009 in its rocking spot in Fremont, but that’s all changed.
The building’s being torn down and rebuilt and Revel has temporarily relocated to the heart of Amazonia, at 513 Westlake Avenue N. It’s not exactly a pop-up because it’s going to be a couple of years before husband and wife dynamic duo Rachel Yang (pictured below) and Seif Chirchi get back to the restaurant’s original home. Until then, the team will occupy the space that used to be Josh Henderson’s Vestal while its original venue is under construction.
Like the slightly smaller space it now occupies, Revel’s new menu has tightened up, too. But just a bit. So, now, there are two choices of salad (always go for the corned lamb!), a couple of savory pancakes (pork belly, and for plant-based fans, the chickpea with muhammara…so good!), two pan-fried dumplings, a single hot pot and two noodle bowls, including the way popular Dungeness crab tangled up in a mess of seaweed noodles and red curry.
Rice bowl fans are gonna be pumped to learn that there are three options, including Revel’s all-time best sellers: short ribs with mustard greens and the seared albacore with fennel kimchi and escarole, the best tender greens you’ve never eaten. Not yet, anyway. Go get you some!
The popular Grill Shack — a summer time fixture on the menu — has moved inside, with cooks tending meats and fish over fiery coals. Get up close to the flames and you’re likely to spy the whole trout, blistering broccoli and the dripping-down-your-chin juicy kalbi burger. That bad boy is $9 during the daily happy hour, from 4 to 6 p.m.
There are just four seats at the bar, but there’s a huge community table in the center of the room, so you can pull up a stool and get to know your neighbors. (What Seattle Freeze? That all melts after a couple rounds, right?)
One super fun bonus at this new, temporary location is the availablity of the awesome ice cream from sister restaurant, Trove. Those sweet treats come with the best dessert names in the city: Tropic Like It’s Hot, You Had Me at Jell-O, The Fudging Best.
Follow Us
Restaurant Roundup: Christmas Dining and Copine Closing
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
Sometimes the best gift you can receive (or even treat yourself to) is to not have to cook during the holidays, so why not take advantage of the restaurants that are staying open? From Blue Water Bistro in Leschi to Ben Paris downtown and Maximilien in Pike Place Market, there are plenty of options on…
Counter Culture: Road Trip Edition—Sea J’s Cafe
A winter drive to Port Townsend reveals a humble spot that’s worth the miles for its cod and chips.
Winter in Seattle has a way of convincing you to stay home, to hunker down and forget the gems just beyond the city limits. But winter is exactly when Port Townsend shines its most authentic light. Gone are the summer crowds—what remains is a charming, windswept seaside town that feels like it’s yours alone. Before…
Neighbors helping neighbors: The door-to-door fight against hunger
Photos by United Way of King County Donate: Our neighborhood Fund If you see fresh produce or hot meals being delivered in your neighborhood, don’t be surprised to learn that the order came from a local food bank, not a pizza parlor or supermarket. Nonprofits are changing the way they make food available to people…
Restaurant Roundup: Remembering Legends and Late-Night Tacos
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
A lot of Seattle stories seem to be coming to a close as we near the year’s end, with some iconic eateries going out on their own terms and others fighting to survive. Sadly, we’ve also lost some truly outsized figures on the culinary scene, including Ms. Helen Coleman, the “Queen of Seattle Soul Food,”…