Even before a bomb cyclone blew through town on Tuesday, the food news was aswirl with big closings and rumors of exciting new spots opening.

It’s been a rough spell for restaurants, and many had unexpected closures and wasted food because of power outages due to the storms. Pinehurst deli Zylberschtein’s laid bare what a recent broken oven combined with losing a day meant for them, writing on Facebook: “We are about $20k in the hole. I am concerned for my staff and ability to stay open.” Their recommendations for how to support them go for any restaurant you love: buy gift cards, buy food, spend money.

Spots where the lights remained on showed us why local restaurants are so important, giving away free hot drinks to those impacted by the storm (Spice Waala) and inviting folks in to charge their devices (The Station).

Green Lake’s on the Move

One neighborhood really dominated the food news this week, kicking off with the Seattle Times report that mercurial pizza popup My Friend Derek’s will take over the former MKT space in Tangletown. Expect the square Detroit-style pies and slices to start coming out of the oven mid-December.

Just a few blocks away, the northern outpost of Marcus Lalario’s Pioneer Square Italian spot Darkalino’s (one of Seattle Met’s best new restaurants of 2023) has gone dark after just five months, per Puget Sound Business Journal. The Lil Woody’s with which it shares the building will remain open.

Then, on the northeast side of the lake, the owners of Kin Len Thai Night Bites (one of Seattle Met’s 50 best restaurants) and Isarn Soul Kitchen filed a liquor license application for the former Eight Row Space for something called Gao Lao Bangkok Noodle Shop. They did not respond to inquiries about what that might be or when it will open.

Greenwood, Too

Last month we brought you the deets on Greenwood American Bistro, and now you can check it out yourself, as it has opened its doors—and reservations.

Nearby, Sichuanese restaurant Chef King has closed. The sign is up and work is in progress for its replacement, Magic Masala Indian Cuisine.

And Elsewhere…

In a devastating blow to the local restaurant scene as a whole, the Spice Bridge Global Food Hall is closing its doors after this weekend. In an email to supporters, the nonprofit behind it explained that rising costs and lack of consistent funding led them to shut Spice Bridge, as well as the Food Innovation Network and Food Business Incubator, among with other programs. The incubator helped launch Seatango Foods, an Argentine bakery in Lake City; Theary Cambodian Foods in Federal Way; Naija Buka, whose sauces now sell at PCC; and a handful of other businesses and catering companies.

In better news, Mercer Island favorite Vivienne’s Bistro is soft-opening its downtown location this weekend. The upscale modern Chinese restaurant’s new home is inside the Sheraton Grand, in what was formerly Loulay. Stay tuned to their Instagram for details and reservations.

Oh, BTW, here’s what you missed last week.