First Look: Revel
Joule’s husband-wife team put down roots in Fremont.
Yang says the rehabbed space on North 36th Street once housed a catering business. The build-out commenced in September, and though it required a complete overhaul Yang and company sought to “keep that warehouse feel.”
View Slideshow » Illustration:Chances are you’ll spot either Yang (second from the left) or Chirchi in the kitchen as they cook alongside three other chefs on any given day. Both were quick to reassure that they’d split their time evenly between Revel and Joule. “We won’t be neglecting Joule,” Chirchi promised. Sous chefs are Michael Wisenhunt and Pat Chang.
View Slideshow » Illustration:Yang says the menu is built on comfort food items that are “vessels” for carrying all sorts of flavor. Consider the rice bowl made up of charred brazen winter beans, seven-spice walnuts, shiitake mushrooms, and soy-cured chicken egg yolk. Or the salad of corned lamb, arugula, nuoc cham, and mint.
View Slideshow » Illustration:A 24-foot maple cooking station extends the entire length of Revel’s dining room. Diners can get up close and personal with the chefs—bar stools will line the side opposite of where they cook.
View Slideshow » Illustration:Revel will seat 45 people and is open for lunch Monday-Friday 11-2 and dinner Sunday-Thursday 5-10; Friday and Saturday 5-11. Brunch service begins January 8. Among the AM offerings: a $7 pumpkin porridge with rum raisin and brown sugar, and a $12 Korean “hangover soup” of noodles, black pudding, and swisschard.
View Slideshow » Illustration:Three condiments, such as spicy Korean chili paste or salty garlic and ginger, will sit on each table.
View Slideshow » Illustration:Unlike Joule, where the menu rotates often, offerings at Revel only will change with the seasons, says Chirchi. Still, expect big things: “We have a million ideas,” he adds, “and we’re ready to unleash them all.”
View Slideshow » Illustration:The still-to-be-completed Quoin, with a capacity of 20 people. The bar sits separate from the dining room and will serve beer, wine, and cocktails, including house-infused Soju libations. (Soju is a liquor popular in Korea.) Revel’s full menu should be available to Quoin patrons.
View Slideshow » Illustration:Revel and Quoin combined will seat 35 outside on an 800-square-foot deck looking toward the Fremont Canal.
View Slideshow » Illustration:A mural by Seattle graffiti artist Pubs flanks the exterior of Revel. The wood-lined building to the right is Quoin. The duo is opening Revel with Evo founders Chad Dale and Bryce Philips, and Ira Gerlich; the latter three are part owners of the Kolstrand Building in Ballard. Jim Graham of Graham Baba Architects designed the spaces.
On Friday, December 17, Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi of Wallingford’s celebrated Joule will open their second restaurant, Revel.
Nosh Pit got a sneak peek of the Fremont eatery on Monday. When we stopped in, Yang and Chirchi were saddled alongside their toques rolling dumplings in the stunningly open, long kitchen. You’ll find three varieties of those dough balls on the menu, which Yang and Chirchi say is crafted around Asian street food and intended as a more casual counterpoint to Joule.
The offerings top out at $15 and are separated into five base categories—besides dumplings, there’s salad, mung bean pancakes, and rice and noodle bowls. Within each subset are several different dishes. For dessert, expect homemade ice cream sandwiches.
For more menu specifics, hours, and a tour of the eye pleaser of a restaurant, click through the slideshow.
All photos by Kat Wertzler.
Tags: New Seattle Restaurants, Seattle Restaurant Openings, Fremont



Yum, can’t wait. What’s the address?
Hi Lysa,
The address is 403 N 36 St (on the corner of Phinney Ave). Report back if you try it soon!