Nosh Pit

First Look: Hunger Reopens Down the Hill

The former Dad Watson’s space gets a Mediterranean makeover.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on May 24, 2012 at 11:45AM 0 Comments

A fancy new sign is the first indicator that Hunger is all grown up. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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A fancy new sign is the first indicator that Hunger is all grown up. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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The bar, refinished to a brighter hue, is a holdover from the Dad Watson’s days. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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Several tin panels line the back wall just past the kitchen. A friend salvaged an old pressed ceiling from St. Mary’s school in Olympia, stripped off decades of paint, and refinished them as a gift for Jaime and Brian. These panels are the only piece of old restaurant that they brought into this new space. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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Hunger’s new space retains the same atmosphere, thought it’s much more open; “We can walk around the bar while people are still sitting at it,” says Brooks. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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Spherical metal light fixtures decorate the front dining area. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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A larger bar area means more seats, more drafts, and more local spirits. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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Die cut designs in dark metal greet you as you open the door revealing a peek at the tables and colors beyond. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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A tiny wooden bull, dubbed Jack the Yak, was donated to Hunger by its very first bartender back in the old space. He became the restaurant’s unofficial mascot. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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The menu is meant to be shared—with the mighty exception of the Holy Smokes burger, made with a chuck brisket and short rib blend. It’s topped with curry aioli, chipotle gouda and pepper bacon, and paired up with Moroccan-spiced fries and harissa ketchup. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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Seared tuna with a chimichurri crust is accompanied by Turkish curry on black lentils, surrounded by two grilled artichokes with a tomato vinaigrette. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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Chermoula prawn bruschetta with piquillo pepper, picholine olive, harissa and aged balsamic, all on grilled rustic bread. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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Seared scallops with saffron fennel leek jam and romesco verde, topped with microgreens and housemade brown sugar–thyme bacon. Photo: Morgen Schuler

Hunger still has a Fremont Ave address, but the formerly tiny Mediterranean-leaning restaurant now occupies spacious new digs in the heart of the neighborhood. After shuttering the original space earlier this month, owners Brian Brooks and Jaime Mullins-Brooks have reopened in the former Dad Watson’s space. Hunger 2.0 is about three times larger than the original, and couple is still downright giddy about all their newfound space, large enough to house all their ideas and ambitions.

The menu is significantly larger, including a lot more fresh seafood. Mullins-Brooks says the old kitchen setup made it difficult to properly prepare dishes like tuna, scallops, and halibut now available to diners. Brunch will return in a few weeks; right now the couple is busy training all the new staff (larger space = larger staff). A late-night menu is available until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 11 the rest of the week. Happy hour remains 4 to 6, and the new back bar, relatively enormous compared with the old one, is stocked with an expanded array of booze.

Though the space is downright cavernous, it still feels like Hunger. Once Brooks and Mullins-Brooks hired a design team, the couple immediately invited them to dinner at the old Hunger, so everyone could get a feel for the cozy vibe they wanted to translate to the new space.

As for that exciting new staffer? The couple says they have four new cooks in the kitchen, and the couple says they decided “our staff is all equal and we’ve really created a family environment,” hence they’re hesitant to highlight any one person.

As soon as the weather cooperates, Hunger will fire up its spacious new patio,
sure to be prime alfresco real estate all summer long, but particularly during Solstice weekend. Meanwhile, check photographer Morgen Schuler’s slideshow of the space and one seriously come-hither burger.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Revamps, First Look, Hunger, Brian Brooks, Jaime Mullins-Brooks

First Look: Collections Cafe

The restaurant at Chihuly Garden and Glass opens today with notable culinary talent in tow.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on May 21, 2012 at 02:00PM 0 Comments

Accordions hang the length of the space. Chihuly’s father and brother both played the instrument, which spurred him to start this particular collection.

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Accordions hang the length of the space. Chihuly’s father and brother both played the instrument, which spurred him to start this particular collection.

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So much color!

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The wall facing Center House features 36 acrylic Chihuly drawings done on plexiglass.

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Chihuly is reportedly a fan of green, hence the chairs.

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Enclosed in every tabletop are various curios. Pictured here are string dispensers.

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One of the more fetching collections are these old-school and rare radios.

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The food is inspired by Chihuly’s many travels around the world, with a Northwest focus. The wine list includes 36 Washington and Oregon varietals.

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Bottle openers greet guests as they walk in. (Totally I Spy, right?) There’s another stockpile in the bathroom.

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Spruce planks line the walls.

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The patio is situated amongst the garden shrubbery. Not too shabby of a view, either.

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Collections Cafe is open to exhibit goers and passersby alike. Hours are Sun–Thu 11–9; Fri & Sat 11–10.

We’ve got a few days until that Pie spinoff opens at the Armory, so in the meantime here’s something to chew on: Collections Cafe begins service today.

Designers have chosen an exceedingly cheerful palette for the lofty space—frankly, a welcome contrast to this city’s many subdued rooms—while the kitchen is backed by some equally colorful talent. Jason Wilson of Crush helped hone the Northwest-leaning menu that Jeff Maxfield and Ivan Szilak are executing. Szilak’s resume includes a stint as executive chef at The Hunt Club, and Maxfield’s sous cheffing at Canlis.

The restaurant is housed within the mammoth Chihuly exhibition at Seattle Center, and is informed by the glass guy’s rigorous collecting hobby (who knew?). Prominent throughout are vintage radios, accordions of yesteryear, bottle openers, and other tchotchkes reminiscent of those I Spy books, which you can peep in the slideshow.

All photos by Seattlemet.com photographer Lucas Anderson.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, First Look, Seattle Center House, Collections Cafe

Pie Opens This Week at the Armory

It’s the first of many imminent debuts at the renovated Seattle Center food court.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on May 21, 2012 at 08:50AM 0 Comments

Pie at Seattle Center will prepare a dozen kinds of palm-sized pastries. Photo via Facebook.

And the first to the finish line at Seattle Center House is… Pie . 

Jess Whitsitt reports the bakery she and Renee Steen are planting  at the epicly overhauled Armory will get things going this Thursday, May 24. However, eager types can swing by Wednesday between 12:30 and 2:30 to preview the space and sample $2 bites.

The offshoot of the Fremont shop will make on site the duo’s signature hand pies, both sweet and savory. Whitsitt also talks of serving Full Tilt ice cream, soups and salads, Victrola coffee, and local brews. Hours are 11–8 to start. After a few weeks they’ll run 8–8—just as the the rest of those Armory eateries should be up and running.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Pie, Seattle Center House

Restaurant Shifts and Shakeups

This Week: Hot Cakes, a new Green Leaf location, and plans for a third Renee Erickson establishment.

Posted by: Rachel Walls on May 18, 2012 at 11:50AM 0 Comments

Is Din Tai Fung scouting a Seattle location?

OPENINGS

Silver City Brewery Tasting Room
The Bremerton brewery just opened its long-awaited tasting room, which features 17 taps: seven evergreens, a couple seasonals, and a few pilots and small batches. Bottles, growlers, and kegs are all available for purchase, and the more inquisitive beer buffs can take a brewery tour.

Green Leaf
As promised, Vietnamese eatery’s Belltown location debuted Wednesday, and Eater Seattle reports that lion dancers were on hand to rid the space of evil spirits left behind by a series of ill-fated restaurants. Given our love for the original, we hope it’s here to stay.

Blu Grouse
Seattle magazine reports the Georgetown restaurant is now open and will feature flatbread pizzas, a full bar, patio, and fire pit—plus live music once a month.

Benito’s Chicago Eatery
MyBallard reports the Chicagocentric restaurant has opened on 15th Ave NW and serves deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, and sandwiches. There will be plenty of Italian beef, promises chef Benjamin Kulikowski—and, soon, taps.

Luisa Taqueria
The people behind Inay’s have opened a counter-service sister site two doors down. The Filipino establishment seats 11 and dishes up mainstays such as nachos, Mexi-fries, quesadillas, burritos, and tacos.

Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery
Popular local pastry chef Lucy Damkoehler departed MistralKitchen to join Autumn Martin just in time for the debut of the latter’s Hot Cakes shop. The official opening day is Monday, May 21, but keep an eye out for the gooey treats over the weekend, especially during the Sunday farmer’s market, where they’re sure to go like…well, you know.

COMING SOON

The Whale Wins
Renee Erickson of Boat Street Cafe and Kitchen and The Walrus and the Carpenter continues her oceanic theme with the upcoming The Whale Wins, which will arrive in Fremont in late summer. Like Walrus, it will feature an open kitchen, but unlike Walrus, its focus will lean away from raw seafood and towards veggiecentric offerings from its wood-fired oven.

Philly Boys Cheesesteaks
Food trucker John Schofield is transforming his underused storage room off of A.C. Automotive into what might turn out to be the largest commissary in the city: fellow food truckers, caterers, and bakers can use the 3,500-square-foot area for food prep and storage. Schofield hopes to have the site completed by early June, along with a takeout counter for his cheesesteaks.

Taco Time Traveler
The Mexican fast-food chain first opened in White Center, and now it’s joining the ranks in Seattle’s ever-growing food truck industry. The four-wheeled addition will begin truckin’ through Seattle in mid-June, an apt tribute to Taco Time’s 50th anniversary in the Emerald City.

SHIFT CHANGES

Marjorie
Josh Davenport is now the new chef at the Capitol Hill restaurant—he initially came over with Lauri Carter to provide a helping hand, but word is he’s in for the long haul.

REVAMPS

Bouteloua Bakery
As of next week, Bouteloua Bakery will be known as Wild Prairie Bakery due to its difficulty to pronounce. Not changing: the bakery’s staple vegan and gluten-free treats.

Munchbar
The Bellevue restaurant-slash-club is now known as Munch Sports Grill, and, at night, M-Lounge, which will feature “nonstop beats from famed DJs and appearances from special celebrity guests.”

Manhattan Drugs
Hot on the heels of the former owners’ departures, the Capitol Hill steak destination is now known simply as Manhattan.

EXPANSION MODE

Din Tai Fung
Seattle Times writer Tan Vinh dropped an intriguing rumor yesterday: he claims that not only will the Taiwanese chain remain at its Bellevue location, but there are plans to open another outpost in Seattle. Nothing’s confirmed, but we’ll never say no to more dumplings.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Coming Soon, Shifts and Shakeups

First Look: Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery

Brace yourself for salted pretzels with chocolate sauce, s’more cookies, salted caramel cinnamon rolls and Laphroaig milkshakes.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on May 18, 2012 at 09:15AM 1 Comments

The space at 5427 Ballard Ave NW is now home to two cozy seating areas and a counter surfaced in wood from an old Oregon dairy farm.

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The space at 5427 Ballard Ave NW is now home to two cozy seating areas and a counter surfaced in wood from an old Oregon dairy farm.

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Hot Cakes is the first place in the city to brew Blue Star Coffee Roasters out of Twisp. Martin worked with owner Dan Donohue at Theo Chocolate.

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Martin’s father and brother built the large sliding door that separates the shop and kitchen. Her brother hand-carved the Hot Cakes newsboy logo on the lower corner, and her dad also built a custom smoker for cold smoking chocolate.

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It’s helpful to have woodworkers in the family. Martin’s brother also carved the sign that hangs in front of the shop. Perched inside in the seating area is a smaller, simpler sign he made when she started her business back in 2008.

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Martin says the inspector declared her two-seat cocktail space “the smallest lounge in Seattle.” This is not a place for vodka Red Bulls; Hot Cakes will serve boozy milkshakes, a selection of 25-odd bottles of whiskey and bourbon, and some simple, sweet concoctions.

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A little menu porn.

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The retail section at the front of the store will house take-and-bake cakes, Martin’s caramel sauces, and bags of toffee.

Over on Ballard Ave, the nexus of all that is edible right now, Autumn Martin is readying her Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery for its opening. And even her construction detritus is adorable. Old-timey wooden clothes pins, a box of vintage photographs, and scads of diminutive glass jars and bottles are scattered around the dessert shop’s brick-and-wood interior.

Farmers market regulars know Martin and her Hot Cakes brand as purveyors of take-and-bake chocolate cakes that come in wee mason jars, and cookies in killer combinations like salted peanut butter and oatmeal, raisin, and bacon. Now the former head chocolatier at Theo (and before that lead pastry cook at Canlis) is about to give her creations a permanent home. On the menu: her signature cakes with custom toppings, s’more cookies, salted caramel cinnamon rolls, and pocket pies with fillings both sweet and savory.

There will also be booze—think milkshakes made with Laphroaig, smoked chocolate, smoked cocoa powder, and chocolate ice cream. Nonbooze versions come in flavors like blackberry lavender, salted caramel with dark chocolate, or malted vanilla sweet cream. Fend off sugar overload with a grilled cheese or broccoli salad from the small savory menu.

Hot Cakes opens officially on Monday, though if you’re wandering Ballard over the weekend—particularly during the Sunday farmers market—don’t be surprised if some sweets are for sale at the shop. Incidentally, Martin is taking a hiatus of six weeks or so from the farmers markets so all her employees can help the new space get off to a smooth start.

The kitchen, which also serves as the production headquarters for all things Hot Cakes, looks like one of those unrealistically quaint kitchens in movies where female chefs wander around with perfectly coiffed hair and wear lipstick all day. But instead of Catherine Zeta-Jones, Martin has Lucy Damkoehler, whose unofficial title is kitchen manager, and her job duties include staying up late at night with her boss, geeking out about dessert possibilities. The two met years ago, when Martin was at Theo and Damkoehler was at Taste. The doughnuts that made her famous in that job won’t appear at Hot Cakes (there’s no fryer here) but Damkoehler will be making her freaking awesome salted pretzels, along with some sweet dipping sauces (salted caramel, chocolate, jam, and peanut butter milk chocolate sauce).

Once the shop finds its legs, Martin plans to resume her chocolate work, teaching classes and holding events square in the middle of that kitchen. Meanwhile, hit up the slideshow above for more details, a glimpse at the space, the charm, and the smallest lounge in Seattle.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, First Look, Autumn Martin, Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery

The Belltown Green Leaf Opens on May 16

With a full bar.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on May 14, 2012 at 10:10AM 0 Comments

Dig in, Belltown.

Since first reporting on the Green Leaf going in near Olympic Sculpture Park, Nosh has fielded many an anxious inquiry from Belltowners awaiting the opportunity to binge on banh xeo.

It’s time to dig in, folks.

Owner Ridgley Kuang says the restaurant at 2800 First Avenue will open its door on May 16 at noon. The menu is the same as at the revered ID original—so in addition to those banh xeo pancakes, expect vermicelli bowls and plenty of phos and rice dishes. What won’t be the same: the long waits. The new spot, located inside the Seattle Labor Temple Association, is apparently roomier than its cozy hole-in-the-wall sibling. Kuang says it seats 120 patrons and boasts a full bar.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Vietnamese, Green Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant

Restaurant Shifts and Shakeups

This Week: Crumble and Flake debuts and sells out quickly, A BIG Vij’s announcment, Volterra to open a 2.0 on the Eastside, and more.

Posted by: Brandon L. Bye on May 11, 2012 at 10:45AM 0 Comments

Walk up. Knock a few back. Walk on. Elliott’s Seafood Cafe. This summer. Yum.

OPENINGS
Athena’s
West Seatte blog reports Nick Parisi, owner of the mural-ified Athena’s food truck, has finally opened his brick-and mortar on 16th and Holden in West Seattle. Athena’s is open daily from 11 to 8, serving Greek cuisine.

Crumble and Flake
Overheard at the desk adjacent to mine, Crumble and Flake is selling out of pastries by noon. You’ll have to rise early, like a baker, to enjoy Neil Robertson’s pastry creations. Hours are Tuesday thru Friday 7 to 5 and Saturday and Sunday 9 to 4– closed on Mondays.

COMING SOON
Shanik
Meeru Dhalwala, wife of chef Vikram Vij and overseer of the kitchens at their insanely popular Vancouver restaurants, has signed a lease on a space at Terry and Republican. The long-awaited Indian-inspired destination is in its early stages, but Dhalwala hopes to open in November.

Total Wine and More
The Delaware-based chain is opening a superstore in Bellevue. The 30,000-square-foot space will be selling to Eastsiders in late June.

Volterra
Don Curtiss and Michelle Quisenberry of Ballard Ave Volterra are planting a second restaurant on the Eastside. Volterra 2.0 will debut at 121 Kirkland Avenue in early fall.

Elliott’s Seafood Cafe
Seattle Weekly‘s Hanna Raskin reports the opening of a sidewalk oyster bar on Alaskan Way. In addition to the walk-up oyster bar, the Elliott’s Oyster House offshoot will have patio seating near the boat dock and an indoor dining room. Elliott’s Oyster House’s Robert Spaulding will helm the cafe kitchen, while maintaining his current post.

Fogon Cuisine of Mexico
According to Capitol Hill Seattle blog, the people behind a popular set of Eastside Mexican restaurants are stepping into the shuttered Kiki to give Capitol Hill a go. The proprietors are aiming to open in June.

Rumba
The former Capitol Hill fashion dealer space will turn into a rum bar, reports CHS. The new project, an offshoot of Tango will feature tons of rums and rum cocktails paired with Caribbean-style food like empanadas. It will open in “late summer” 2012.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Coming Soon

Crumble and Flake: Go Early

The diminutive patisserie is selling out before lunchtime.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on May 10, 2012 at 01:30PM 0 Comments

Neil Robertson’s creations are worth setting an alarm clock. Photo via Crumble and Flake.

Crumble and Flake opened this past Sunday, and Neil Robertson’s diminutive pastry shop on Olive Way has been busy. Really busy. “Selling out of everything by noon” busy.

The woman who rang up my purchase this morning suggested coming in before 10am to ensure a decent selection. The patisserie opens at 7 on weekdays and 9 on weekends; it’s likely to be packed this upcoming Saturday and Sunday. The handful of items I’ve tried thus far have all been pastry perfection. Especially the croissants, which are are, as advertised, both crumbly and flaky (and well worth a trip across town).

Robertson and his small staff run a tiny operation, and it’s likely that his salted peanut butter cookies, dainty scones, and cinnamon rolls wouldn’t be this incredible if he were churning out Franz-sized batches. During my visit, the pastry chef was too busy to chat as he pulled trays from ovens and replenished his glass cases.

Crumble and Flake has taken to Facebook and Twitter this week to announce when everything is sold out, and apologize for the scarce supply. But no apology necessary, as far as I’m concerned—part of supporting small-batch artisans is contending with those small batches. So, pastry fans, set your alarm clocks if you want to sample Crumble and Flake. And if you’re biding your time until the frenzy abates slightly, there are plenty of destination-worthy bakeries in this city to feed your pastry cravings.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Bakeries, Crumble and Flake, Pastry Frenzies

Volterra Comes to Kirkland

The Ballard Ave mainstay will open on the other side of Lake Washington this fall.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on May 07, 2012 at 10:05AM 1 Comments

A Volterra offshoot is coming to Kirkland.

Expansionary news to kick off your week: Don Curtiss and Michelle Quisenberry of Ballard Ave mainstay Volterra are planting a second restaurant on the other side of the lake.

According to Quisenberry, Volterra 2.0 will debut at 121 Kirkland Avenue in early fall. “It’s always been in the back of our mind to open something on the Eastside,” she added, and not for nothing—in its seven years the restaurant has a accrued a decent amount of regulars hailing from there.

At 2,500 square feet the sibling restaurant is about the same size as the celebrity-swooning original. It will maintain a similar look and feel but with some more modern flourishes, since the offshoot is going in a newly constructed building. Quisenberry describes the aesthetic as a cross between Volterra and its neighboring Volterra Drawing Room, a catering and event space. No alfresco options at the moment, but the idea of building a patio isn’t off the table, says Quisenberry.

Curtiss’s Tuscan-leaning menu also will reflect that of its predecessor, and the plan is to serve lunch on weekdays, dinner nightly, lunch again on Saturdays, and Sunday brunch. Be on the lookout for happy hour offerings, too. Curtiss and Quisenberry, who will split their time between the two locations, will cross-utilize staff members. That way diners will “feel like they’re going to Ballard” minus the trek.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Coming Soon, Volterra

Hot Cakes Comes to Ballard in May

The farmers market favorite is opening a dessert shop. With booze.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on May 01, 2012 at 01:30PM 1 Comments

Coming soon to Ballard Ave: This, plus loads of toppings. Photo via Hot Cakes Facebook.

Chocolatier Autumn Martin has released a few more details about her Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery (consider this an addendum to our list of exciting May openings). The shop, slated to open at 5427 Ballard Ave in middle of the month, will sweeten up the ‘hood with cocktails and confections.

The vibe will be akin to a retro-ish soda fountain. A soda fountain with a license to booze up milkshakes and serve cocktails. Martin built her business at local farmers markets, selling dense molten chocolate cakes in tiny mason jars, as well as some seriously addictive salty-sweet cookie combinations. These favorites will proliferate here alongside bread pudding, creme brulee, milkshakes, hand-rolled truffles, chocolate sandwiches done on a flatiron grill, and the occasional savory menu item. The dessert shop will also be the home base for Hot Cakes production, and Martin is promising chocolate-making classes and event space.

Hot Cakes is part of a burst of cool new places on Ballard Ave, which we have thoughtfully mapped out for you in the May issue. The recipe for her bacon, oatmeal, and raisin cookie also made an appearance in the March issue of Bon Appetit.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Coming Soon, Ballard Ave Boom, Autumn Martin, Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery

Five Restaurant Openings to Watch in May

Coming this month: Vessel returns, dining amongst Chihulys, and modern Korean at Pike Place Market.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on May 01, 2012 at 10:15AM 0 Comments

Braised short rib with pearl onions, fingerling potatoes, and a fried rice cake at Cha:n, which opens today in Pike Place Market. Photo via Facebook.

Two of our most-wanted April openings have rolled into May, so we still hunger for the arrival of Crumble and Flake patisserie on May 5, as well as Cafe con Leche, which unleashes its Cuban menu today. Meanwhile, here are five more places to anticipate in the coming weeks.

Cha:n
The owner of Bacco Cafe in Pike Place Market has turned the restaurant’s lower level into a separate restaurant that blends his native Korean food with Western techniques and market produce. The 38-seat space opens onto the same charming courtyard as Marché and Inn at the Market and the menu is split between more traditional small plates (say, bulgogi with grilled mushrooms and scallions) and modern (ooh, kimchee bacon paella). The opening? Why that would be today, May 1, at 5pm.

Collections Cafe
The new Chihuly exhibit going in at Seattle Center will have a companion restaurant with some solid culinary credentials. James Beard–winning chef Jason Wilson of Crush helped develop the menu. In the kitchen, a Canlis vet and the former executive chef at The Hunt Club are running the show. The name, of course, refers to the restaurant’s proximity to all things Chihuly, even housing some of the glass artist’s personal collections of old-school radios, cameras, accordions and other acquisitions. The opening date is set for May 21.

Benito’s Chicago Eatery
Chicago native Ben Kulikowski is bringing his native cuisine—Italian beef, deep-dish pizza, and the Chicago-style dog—to Ballard, along with a rotating seasonal menu. Right now he’s in the thick of training cooks, but plans to open his doors in the middle of the month. Delivery throughout the neighborhood comes later this year.

Seattle Center House
It seems that each passing week day brings word of a new occupant in the Armory’s turbo-charged food court. Many of these arrivals are food trucks making their first brick-and-mortar forays, others are new outposts of well-known local establishments. Most Seattle Center House occupants will open their doors in June, but look for a few organized folks to be up and running by the end of May.

Vessel
No, seriously. Vessel is totally reopening this month. Unless I just jinxed it by writing that sentence. After suffering through some of the setbacks that are all too common on bar and restaurant projects, construction is moving along, and owner Jim Romdall hopes to reunite Seattle with one of its most impressive cocktail bars in the coming weeks if all goes well. The impending Olive Way location (lease issues shuttered the Fifth Avenue original in December) will offer lunch and dinner service, much to the delight of nearby Nordstrom employees.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Vessel, Crumble and Flake, 5 Openings This Month, Benito's, Collections Cafe, Chan

First Look: Evo Tapas Kitchen and Cabaret Opens May 4

The Social-adjacent space will offer small plates and big sound.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Apr 27, 2012 at 02:00PM 0 Comments

The sleek exterior (designed to rust over time) at Capitol Hill’s new one-stop nightlife spot. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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The sleek exterior (designed to rust over time) at Capitol Hill’s new one-stop nightlife spot. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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A hallway of open-pattern concrete blocks leads straight to the Social, while offering a glimpse inside Evo. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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A three-well bar will pour white and red sangria, mojitos, and a list of signature martini-based cocktails. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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The elevated stage in the corner is ready for burlesque, cabaret, and karaoke, while the front doors lead to a wood-walled patio. Owner Todd Nordahl plans to fill the space with couches and loungey outdoor furniture, all of which is sure to be packed in nice weather. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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The 125-seat dining area sports some on-trend ornate wallpaper. This version is deeply red and flocked. Photo: Morgen Schuler

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The speakers mounted at intervals across the beams are just one sign that this place has a serious sound system. Another hint: the control booth in the corner behind the bar. Photo: Morgen Schuler

Capitol Hill: brace yourself. On Friday, May 4, the space at 1715 Olive Way ends more than a year of construction to unleash upon the neighborhood a huge new nightclub (or whatever the kids are calling it these days) from Chris Pardo and Laura Olson, as well as an adjacent tapas restaurant and lounge with a killer performance space (and patio) from Todd Nordahl, longtime owner of the dearly departed Rosebud on Pike Street.

Today Nordahl, chef David Leopoldo, and event manager Colby Barnes let us in for a preview of what’s to come when Evo Tapas Kitchen and Cabaret opens its doors at 3pm that Friday. Nordahl says the space has the same convivial, live entertainment–fueled spirit as Rosebud, but in sleek new digs that reflects his new partnership with Pardo and Olson, the couple behind Grim’s and the opening of Manhattan Drugs.

Evo and sprawling ultra lounge The Social want to offer an entire night’s worth of entertainment in one place. Enter beneath the metal-wrapped signage and a hallway leads to the Social, while Evo is on the right. The interior boasts the soaring ceiling, aged wood, and ornate wallpaper one would expect from a stylish Capitol Hill establishment. Add to that a compact elevated stage, projection screens, and an extreme sound system, and you’ve got a place that reflects Nordahl’s love of supporting local performers, in a space much better suited to house them than Rosebud was. The screens will also show some time-lapse footage of Olive Way traffic that sounds like it could be seriously hypnotic.

Evo’s menu is entirely tapas, drawing from countries all around the Mediterranean, including Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Italy’s Tuscany region. Leopoldo, a Hawaii native whose resume includes culinary study in Barcelona and, most recently, cooking at Barrio, says he’s particularly excited about his mussels with chorizo. The wine list will also hew Mediterranean, with some Washington shout-outs for local-leaning drinkers.

As the “cabaret” part of its name suggests, Evo will also be a place for music, karaoke, burlesque shoes and DJs. The joint ownership means Evo can coordinate its musical offerings with the Social, so live jazz won’t be fighting with hip-hop. Come to Evo for dinner and your cover charge to the Social gets waived; a wristband will let you roam between the two. A former parking area in front of the building is now a wood-wrapped patio that Nordahl calls his Mediterranean oasis, its high walls providing some separation from busy Olive Way traffic below.

Evo will be open from 3pm to 2am daily. Happy hour will run from 3 to 5, when the full dinner menu kicks in. At 11pm dinner service ends and late-night happy hour fires up, lasting until 2am. Expect the event calendar to fill up in the coming weeks, and Barnes has already promised “a full cast” for Pride weekend.

Right now the space is in the final throes of construction. It’s the stage that involves lots of boxes and detritus; hit up the slideshow for an in-progress peek at Evo’s dining room, stage, bar, and patio.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Bar Openings, Chris Pardo, Laura Olson, First Look, Evo Tapas Kitchen and Cabaret, Todd Nordahl, David Leopoldo, The Social