#2128 #S1130 - The Lost Pelican, Seattle - 4/12/2013

Update: The Lost Pelican closed in mid 2016.

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In this space that once hosted a fancy pants Lampreia and the slightly less fancy pants Bisato, Michael Forte of The Lookout has now created a Creole themed place that serves some fairly good craft cocktails and pretty good Cajun food.  I liked the Bensonhurst (bourbon, vermouth, Cynar and maraschino liqueur). It's definitely worth a stop, but the building, decor and overall vibe are a little aloof for a bar -- and especially a New Orleans style bar.

2400 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 441-5132 
Est. April 8, 2013 - Building constructed: 1994
Previous bars in this location: Lampreia, Bisato
Web site: thelostpelican.com - facebook
Best articles: cornichon - seattletimes - yelp - seattlemag - thestranger - thrillist

#2127 #S1129 - Bar Cotto, Seattle - 4/9/2013

pork belly bruschetta, Bar Cotto, Seattle

For folks outside of Seattle and celebrity chefdom, Ethan Stowell is a celebrated local chef who has been establishing a mini empire of restaurants across Seattle (e.g. his Anchovies And Olives next door was picked by Bon Apetit as one top ten restaurants in America). So you can count on some interesting food when he opens up a salumeria and cocktail bar. And indeed I had a very nice Salame pizza and pork belly bruschetta, accompanied by a cocktail that I liked pretty much as much as any I've ever had. This was the Old Loathsome Bastard (oak cask aged Old Overholt and Averna, Strega, Pur Blood orange, and each bitters), which some might say seems almost named with me in mind.

The space is narrow and the bar is small, but it's a nicely dark at the bar, and if not entirely unfussy, it's about as homey as one could expect an Ethan Stowell salumeria to be.

1546 15th Ave Seattle, Washington 98122 - (206) 838-8081                  
Est. Feb 15, 2013 - Building constructed: 2008
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: ethanstowellrestaurants.com - facebook
Reviews: seattlemag - capitolhillseattle - thrillist - thestranger - yelp

#2126 #S1128 - Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar, Seattle - 4/7/2013

Yes, yet another combination Ethiopian restaurant, coffee shop, sports bar, dessert shop, live jazz venue. The decor is curious, the menu idiosyncratic, the people friendly and the vibe very comfortable.

Huh?  -- Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar, Seattle

1800 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144 - (206) 538-0044
Est. Feb 3, 2013 - Building constructed: 2008
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: wondersportsbar.com
Reviews: thestranger - centraldistrictnews - thrillist - yelp - capitolhillseattle - eater

#2125 #S1127 - Stir, Seattle - 4/6/2013

Simone and Emily at Stir nightclub, Seattle

"Stir" was the last, floundering attempt to make a go at this building across from Key Arena that seemed to change identities every couple years. That will be the final attempt though -- this time they razed the 1970 building. It had a few brief dying moments though -- lingerie parties and ladies nights, drink specials on Jack and Coke and Long Island Ice Teas, appeals to Madonna and Bob Dylan fans on their way to the shows. The one night I went there was a gothy sort of event called Wicked, with people rubbing gun oil on each other's latex outfits. "I realize why they don't put pockets in latex clothing," a friend told me, "It's because they collect sweat and water and destroy electronic devices."

Telesedrin and Pete at Wicked, Stir Nightclub

When this place was Skybox, when it was Kwatay, when it was Chicago's or Nico's or Mr. Lucky -- it was never a place I thought to go to often. Still, it's a pretty damn good bet that whatever condos or retail mix replaces it is going to be considerably less interesting.

315 N 1st Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (425) 266-9396                 
Est. Aug 3, 2012 - Building constructed: 1970 - Building demolished: 2013
Previous bars in this location: Skybox, KwaTay, Chicago's, Mr. Lucky, Nico's, Joy's 21, Mainstage, Popeye's Tavern
Web site: facebook

#2124 #S1126 - Fountain Wine Bar, Seattle - 4/4/2013

So I love hotel bars, but this new version from the Sheraton is pretty underwhelming. It has a few nice pieces of art -- taking it's name from the George Tsutakawa fountain in the middle of the room -- but it is overly bright, lacking in any kind of charm or intimacy, and the cocktail menu is a juvenile mess of flavored vodka drinks. Thankfully for hotel guests, Loulay has recently opened in the same building.

1400 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 (Sheraton Hotel) - (206) 621-9000
Est. Jan 2013 - Building constructed: 1982
Previous bars in this location: Fullers, Sheraton Lobby Lounge
Web site: sheratonseattle.com - facebook
Reviews: bizjournals - seattleweekly - thestranger - yelp

#2123 #S1125 - Sebi's Bistro, Seattle - 4/2/2013

At the south end of the University Bridge, across the street from the long abandoned original Red Robin, there's a funky little castle of a building that has hosted a wide range of businesses and several bars. These include the Llahngaelhyn jazz and coffee house in the 60s, Rapunzel's Tavern in the 70s, and 80s alternative music venue the Scoundrel's Lair (e.g. Soundgarden, The Melvins, Cowboy Junkies, the Dead Milkmen). Today two brothers now run Sebi's in the space, with their Polish-born mother doing the cooking. The menu includes several familiar Polish staples -- schnitzel, kielbasa, pierogies and pyzy -- along with pizzas and sandwiches not that much different from when the place was Romio's. Big Daniel, who once played football for the Huskies just across Portage Bay, works as bartender and amiable host, behind a very modest bar that includes a nice selection of Polish beers.

Schnitzel from Sebi's Bistro, Seattle

3242 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 420-2199
Est. Feb 2013 - Building constructed: 1928
Previous bars in this location: The Town House, Rapunzel's Tavern, Scoundrel's Lair, Borsalino's
Web site: sebisbistro.com - facebook
Reviews: link - thrillist - yelp - eater - thestranger

#2122 #S1124 - Chabela's, Seattle - 3/30/2013

Update: Chabela's closed in June 2013

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Well, now I'm so far behind on completing my bar posts that new bars are closing before I get my post up. I can't say I was particularly surprised in this case -- not that there was anything terribly wrong with it, just that it was very slow when I was there and it was difficult to see what would pull people in over the many other choices in Wallingford with its mediocre Mexican food. Oh well, I guess at least that ends the big Chabela's/Cabela's feud.

1715 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Est. Feb 2013 (Official opening March 3) - Building constructed: 1929 - Closed June 2013
Previous bars in this location: None known (Casa Azul restaurant before this)
Reviews: wallyhood - yelp - urbanspoon

#2121 - All Star Sports Bar, Des Moines, WA - 3/29/2013

This place has slightly more character than most the suburban sports bars. It is very popular, has pretty girl servers, an ethnically diverse crowd, and lots of backwards baseball caps.

22303 Marine View Dr S, Des Moines, WA 98198 - (206) 212-6740
Est. May 26, 2010 - Building constructed: 1945
Previous bars in this location: China Sea Restaurant
Web site: theall-starsportsbar.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp

#2120 - Lighthouse Bar, Des Moines, WA - 3/29/2013

22239 Marine View Dr S, Des Moines, WA 98198 - (206) 824-4920
Building constructed: 1931
Previous bars at this location: Dugout Tavern 
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - catmorley - seattlesouthside