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Restaurant Roundup: James Beard Finalists and Speedy Steak
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
Drumroll please… The finalists for the James Beard Awards were announced this week, and two Seattle chefs made the cut for the Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific category — Atoma’s Johnny Courtney and Surrell’s Aaron Tekulve. For them, culinary glory remains on the table, but we’re still planning on giving the other restaurants and bars on the chopping block plenty of love. Winners will be announced June 15.
Blotto is back-o, sort of
The Seattle pizzeria burned bright for close to three years, but when the Capitol Hill building closed, two out of three owners moved the restaurant to Bellingham under a new name, Starla’s. Now, Jordan Koplowitz (a James Beard semifinalist) and co-owner Christy Wyble are searching for a spot to bring Starla’s back to Seattle, with a target opening of late this year or early next year.
Cold off the press…
It’s a double scoop of ice cream news. First, Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream will open its 12th location in the Puget Sound region, bringing its always and seasonal flavors to Kirkland. Portland-based Salt & Straw will celebrate Earth Month with its “Waste Less” series, highlighting the importance of reducing the amount of food that gets tossed in the bin. Get in line to sample Peanut Butter & Jelly Pound Cake, Chocolate Malted Potato Chip Cupcake, and others starting Friday, April 3, in Ballard, Capitol Hill, across from Pike Place Market, and Queen Anne.
Meat us on the Eastside
Kurt Beecher Dammeier, the man behind Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, also knows his beef, and he’ll put that expertise on display at a new restaurant opening in the Redmond Rail District Building. Yukon Standup Steakhouse will emphasize quality American wagyu served in a casual, quick-serve environment, inspired by similar concepts in Japan. More information should become available this summer ahead of a September debut.
Cars to cuisine
A former dealership and the site of a new mixed-use development on Bellevue’s Auto Row has attracted two leading figures in the local culinary scene, who will open a food and beverage hall called Willie Burton’s. James Beard Award winner Brady Ishiwata Williams and restaurateur Marcus Lalario will design the space, which will include spots like Lil Woody’s, a bar, and other walk-up options to go with 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor seating. There will also be a playground for kids, summer concerts, and large art installations.
Sparkling in the Sound
The shine of star power from the nation’s capital is coming to Whidbey Island. Chef Johnny Spero, who earned a Michelin star at Reverie in Washington, D.C., four years ago, will head up a new restaurant, Passage, at the Inn at Langley. The hotel is currently closed for renovations, but when it welcomes guests back this summer, they will be able to enjoy “a fine-dining tasting menu rooted in the Pacific Northwest and the wider West Coast.”
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Restaurant Roundup: 3 Pearls and Restaurant Week Redux
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
When something tastes good, you gotta go back for seconds—and that’s exactly what we’re doing for this fall’s Seattle Restaurant Week, Oct. 18-31. Building off a successful spring spread, this edition brings back curated menus at various price points ($20, $35, $50, and $65) at restaurants, bars, cafes, and pop-ups across the greater Seattle area….
House Special: A Taste of Ecuador at Bad Chancla
Chef José Garzón brings a coastal Ecuadorian classic to his 335-square-foot Capitol Hill kitchen, where he hopes to introduce more dishes from home.
There is not much room at Bad Chancla. The bright pink walk-up on East Olive Way seats a handful of people elbow to elbow, mostly outside, and the kitchen behind the counter is small enough that chef and co-owner José Garzón can talk to you while he cooks. Garzón grew up between Guayaquil and the…
Opening Night: GoodMart Makes Lunch Feel Like Luxury
Victor Steinbrueck, owner of Fremont’s acclaimed Local Tide, opens his second seafood-centric restaurant in the heart of Ballard.
On a Thursday afternoon I was able to walk right up to the counter at GoodMart on Ballard Avenue and order lunch, which surprised me. GoodMart is owned by Victor Steinbrueck, who opened Local Tide in Fremont during the height of the pandemic (August 2020) and built it into one of Seattle’s most acclaimed seafood…
Where to Warm Up With a Drink This Fall and Winter in Seattle
From swanky speakeasies to a cozy literary bar, these spots serve inventive cocktails and zero-proof options.
Seattle’s drearier days are slowly arriving, but it’s not all gray and gloom from here. Finding a cozy spot to warm up is part of the trick to enjoying the darker, colder months. The right place lets you bring a friend, a book, a journal, or simply yourself, and let time pass by. Whether you…