Skip to content

Where to Eat Now: Taurus Ox, Olmste(a)d, Rondo and Fat Shack

In today’s dining scene, it’s hard to keep up with restaurant openings. But it’s our job (and our pleasure) to do just that. Here are a few new places worth checking out

By Chelsea Lin April 6, 2020

83549782_142443110567888_2897252790327836672_o

This article originally appeared in the April 2020 issue of Seattle magazine.

This article appears in print in the April 2020 issue. Click here to subscribeDue to evolving public health concerns related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, be sure to check with all restaurants for updates on hours, to-go ordering and possible closures. 

Taurus Ox
Capitol Hill
Beloved Thai restaurant Little Uncle is out. In its place, this Lao restaurant boasts some of the same funky, spicy, herbaceous flavors in the form of house-made sausages and fresh salads, along with a dinner-only burger that has the town’s food-loving community buzzing already.

Olmste(a)d
Capitol Hill
Named after both a famous local bootlegger and the landscape-architect brothers responsible for some of the city’s best parks (no relation), Olmste(a)d has big shoes to fill. Because it’s replacing revered hangout Broadway Grill, the restaurant also has those expectations to live up to. But we’re hopeful: The team behind Witness has a solid menu of classic American eats, plus creative cocktails for brunch through dinner.

Rondo Japanese Kitchen
Capitol Hill
This new izakaya, a third sibling to Japanese restaurants Suika and Tamari Bar, features bentos, rice bowls, and expertly made whisky and sodas from a Suntory Toki highball machine.

Fat Shack
Pioneer Square
Curious about what goes into the signature Fat Sandwiches? Imagine the foods you’d guiltily binge-eat after a long night of drinking—mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, cheesesteaks, fries—all on a roll, each combo with its own trademarked name.

Follow Us

Bloom Thai: Turning Tables into Friends

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

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…

Seattle’s Vietnamese Coffee Wave

Seattle’s Vietnamese Coffee Wave

Rooted in history, evolution, and flavor, the city’s current bean boom is more than a caffeine fix.

While the number of Vietnamese coffee shops in Seattle has risen in the past few years, the beverage itself is not a new phenomenon in the region. Many Vietnamese restaurants in South Seattle have long served the beverage alongside other traditional dishes, such as bánh mì and pho. In fact, Bao Nguyen, shopkeeper of the…

Where to Get Vietnamese Coffee in Seattle

Where to Get Vietnamese Coffee in Seattle

Eight spots we love across the city.

Vietnamese coffee has long been part of Seattle’s Vietnamese restaurant scene, and a new wave of cafés is now building on that foundation with fresh takes and flavors. Here are eight places to try. 1. Aroom Coffee Aroom Coffee serves classic Vietnamese coffee drinks, including egg coffee, coconut coffee, and cà phê đen (traditional phin-brewed…