#1431 - Fall City Roadhouse, Fall City, WA - 4/30/2011

The Fall City Roadhouse is a standard American diner with an open bar area and seven rooms for lodgers on the second floor. The building hast hosted businesses since 1916 (the upper rooms since 1931) and in 1990 the exterior was used for the roadhouse in David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" and "Fire Walk With Me."  The building was the "Colonial Inn" at the time (and since 1966).  Previously it was the "Riverside Tavern."

4200 Preston Fall City Rd SE, Fall City, WA 98024 - (425) 222-4800
Est. 2008 - Building constructed: 1916
fcroadhouse.com - seattletimes - yelp

#1430 - Last Frontier Saloon, Fall City, WA - 4/30/2011

The Last Frontier Saloon is actually a tavern (no hard liquor) with a ton of history and a commensurately large collection of oddball decor and memorabilia. It is on the very location of the town's founding, a trading post established in 1869, and where bars have subsequently been located  since before prohibition. Here's the brief section on it published in Jack Kelley's massive "Jack's History of Fall City" in 2006:

"The Last Frontier Saloon, currently owned by Alan Lind, is a beer parlor rather than a saloon because it doesn't carry hard liquor. This building replaced the Pioneer Saloon (torn down in 1929 when the road was widened) and was constructed by Edna Cheney in 1930. It was leased to Lars Johansen, who later turned it into a beer parlor. In about 1946 it was owned by Harry Read for a number of years; an owner by the name of Talkington called it Talk's Tavern in the mid-50s."

The bar has a small kitchen serving burgers and steaks and a fairly sizable patio out back that sometimes hosts musical events.  For whatever reason, the patio is dominated by a large mural of The Three Stooges, by Evan Jones.   And while it's on a somewhat touristy thoroughfare from Seattle to Snoqualmie Falls, happily the bar is generally full of older locals.


33813 SE Redmond-Fall City Rd, Fall City, WA 98024 - (425) 222-5640
Est. ? - Building constructed: 1930
seattle weekly -  yelp  

#1429 - Pandora Cellars, Carnation, WA - 4/30/2011

32305 NE 8th St, Carnation, WA 98014 - 206-227-5929
pandoracellars.com - facebook

#1428 #S871 - A Pizza Mart (downtown), Seattle - 4/28/2011

Update: This location closed Dec 31, 2017 and relocated across the street at 925 Stewart.

Like the U District version, the downtown A-Pizza Mart has a surprisingly lively little bar scene, with more character than you would guess from the exterior. The pizza and cocktails are not outstanding, but they are a little better than average.

910 Stewart St, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 903-8500

apizzamartseattle.com - yelp

#1427 #S870 - Sambar, Seattle - 4/26/2011

Update: Sambar (and Le Gourmand) closed in 2012.

Sambar is a tiny bar with no discernible sign, and attached to the back of Le Gourmand french restaurant.  The cocktails, crafted by Jay Kuehner are very good (I started with the Nocturne -- scotch, smoked black tea liqueur, caramel water, and orange bitters).  It serves fine food from the associated restaurant, and in summer has a patio that Providence Cicero describes as "like drinking in Monet's garden."

425 NW Market St., Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 781-4883
Est. 2004 (Le Gourmand 1985) - Building constructed: 1926
sambarseattle.com - seattletimes - monappetit - thestranger - seattleweekly - yelp

#1426 - PF Chang, Bellevue, WA - 4/25/2011

525 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 637-3582

#1425 #S869 - La Luna, Seattle - 4/25/2011

Update: La Luna closed in August 2015

---

The former Opal and Flow Lounge space now hosts a romantic Mexican bar and restaurant, with good tapas, including some killer scallops, and fine margaritas.

2 Boston St, Seattle, Washington 98109 - (206) 282-2511
Est. April 2011 - Building constructed: 1906
Previous bars at this location: Opal, Flow Lounge
lalunaseattle.com - chowhound- seattle weekly - yelp

#1424 #S868 - Brave Horse Tavern, Seattle - 4/24/2011

Update: Brave Horse closed temporarily in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, then announced permanent closure as of July 15, 2020.

---

A new tavern in the historic Terry Building by Tom Douglas.  There are 26 good beers on tap, including the house beers brewed by Schooner Exact. There are lots of good food choices, but the emphasis is on the fresh baked pretzels.

310 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 971-0717
Est. 2011 - Building constructed: 1915 - Closed July 15, 2020
bravehorsetavern.com - seattletimes - link

#1423 #S867 - Lunchbox Laboratory, Seattle - 4/22/2011

There is a fairly standard sized bar here, but this place is all about the monstrously-sized burgers.  Yes they do have a number of original drinks "straight from our mad scientists!"  But judging from their cocktail menu output, their team of scientists was apparently comprised primarily of  junior high school girls.

There is the "Kryptonite Shot" (Green Apple Jolly Rancher infused vodka), the "Astronauts Mimoso" (champagne topped with Tang), and you can do a good enough job guessing what goes into the  "Grape Ade" and "Barbie's Bana-tini."

So if it's not a good choice for a cocktail if you are over 16, but if you don't want to have to eat again for a week, or enjoy a real challenge as to how to actually fit your burger into your mouth, it's a fine option.

1253 Thomas St, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 621-1090
Est. Jan 2011 (originally opened in early 2008 at 7302-1/2 15th Avenue N.W)
Previous bars at this location: Southlake Grill
lunchboxlaboratory.com - facebook - seattletimes - seattletimes 2 - seattlemet - thestranger

#1422 #S866 - Chupacabra, Seattle - 4/21/2011

The quirky burrito and margarita joint from Greenwood is a great fit for this funky space across from Alki Beach. There's nothing spectacular about the food or drinks here, but it still feels like a perfect little neighborhood place.

Mind your goats!

2620 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 933-7344
Est. April 8, 2011 - Building constructed: 1916
facebook - westseattleblog - thestranger - yelp

#1421 #S865 - Cafe Flora, Seattle - 4/20/2011

A friendly, garden-like vegetarian restaurant with some inventive cocktails to boot. I enjoyed the Camp Ten Trees (pine infused tequila, St. Germaine, lime, orange twist).   I'm not quite ready to give up the wicked pleasures of seared animal flesh, but places like Cafe Flora, Plum Bistro and Carmelita are leaving me with fewer excuses.

2901 E. Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112 - (206) 325-9100
Est. 1991
cafeflora.com - facebook - seattleweekly - thestranger - seattletimes - yelp

#1420 - Demetri's, Edmonds, WA - 4/18/2011

 In 2010, Sofeea Huffman of Kafe Neo turned the utterly stale Johnny's Sports Bar and Grille hard by the Edmonds ferry dock into Demetri's Woodstone Taverna.  The decor feels a little bit too much like some corporate chain for my tastes (I'd prefer some ramshackle individuality by the dock), but it is certainly a much nicer stop now, with decent cocktails and very good tapas.

101 Main St, Edmonds, WA 98020-3131 - (425) 744-9999
Est. 2010
demetriswoodstonetaverna.com - facebook - heraldnet - yelp

#1419 - Urban Onion, Olympia, WA - 4/17/2011

116 Legion Way SE, Olympia, Washington 98501 - (360) 943-9242
Previous bars at this location: The Village Forge
theurbanonion.com - facebook - yelp - tripadvisor - snoopf

#1418 - The Brotherhood, Olympia, WA - 4/17/2011

The Brotherhood Tavern/Lounge/Cigar Store and Bar dates back to at least the 1930s in this space in the 1887 Labor Temple building. It is now a funky, hip gathering place with a mid-century vintage decor, movies, and live music.

119 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1018 - (360) 352-4153
Building constructed 1887
thebrotherhoodlounge.com - facebook - yelp

#1417 - Mac's Tavern and Cardoom, Aberdeen, WA - 4/17/2011

The bartender at Mac's Tavern and Cardroom told us that the place has been around since the early 1900s, and that they did have a card room before the casinos moved in and a particular game they played just died out. Before that, she says, there would be lines out the door at 6:00am.

210 E Heron St, Aberdeen, WA 98520 - (360) 533-3932

#1416 - Tombstone Wiley's , Raymond, WA - 4/17/2011

Tombstone Wiley's is in an old feed store building in the middle of nowhere outside of Raymond, Washington.  But that doesn't mean it doesn't have some wild times.  Carol, the ex-nurse who has owned the place with her ex-postman husband for the last five years, told us she's keeping a journal of what happens every night, and some day she might turn it into a book.  Since we were there on a lazy Sunday afternoon, we asked her what she wrote about the preceding Saturday night, and she responded "Oh that was a doozy."

She went on to tell us about chasing down patrons for skipping on their bill, driving when they said they weren't, and all sorts of infractions, including one woman hanging from the rafters, after trying to attach a dollar bill, with her bra caught on a bolt and her ample bosom displayed to admirers at the bar.  She told us about "the Tombstone Hooker," who is not a prostitute but rather a woman who liked to dance on the bar and hang a dollar bill on a certain hook after each week she'd lost weight in her Weight Watchers program.  Sometimes, when order needs to be restored, Carol pulls out a wooden baseball bat and slams it on the bar.  "They know it's serious when the bat comes out," she says.

The feed store was constructed in 1972, and in 1978 half of it was converted into the "Willapa Bar."  Carol and her husband lived in the Seattle area, and talked about driving around the country and eventually getting a little bar somewhere.  "We only made it as far as Raymond," Carol noted. 

But business has picked up substantially since they got a license to sell liquor in addition to beer and wine. I don't know when I'll ever be able to make it on a Friday or Saturday night -- my trips through Raymond are strictly daytime drives to the Long Beach peninsula and back -- but I sure would like to make it sometime.
8 Camp One Rd, Raymond, WA 98577 - (360) 942-6177

#1415 - Gepetto's, Montesano, WA - 4/14/2011

A sports bar filled Pittsburgh Steeler and Pirates memorabilia, behind the Italian restaurant portion of Gepetto's.

126 E Pioneer Ave, Montesano, WA 98563 - (360) 249-4445
web site - yelp

#1414 - Katie Downs, Tacoma, WA - 4/14/2011

The modern answer to the mid-century's Harbor Lights, Katie Downs Tavern and Eatery server pizza, seafood, and simple cocktails in a bright location on the bay.  The bar is uninteresting, but the reasonable food and the great setting make it a very pleasant stop, particularly on sunny days.

3211 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402-5334 - (253) 756-0771
Est. 1982
katiedowns.com - facebook - weeklyvolcano - yelp

#1413 - Harbor Lights, Tacoma, WA - 4/14/2011

Founded by Yugoslavian immigrant Anton Barcott 62 years ago, Harbor Lights is owned by the Anthony's chain now, but it preserves its mom and pop individuality, especially in the lounge.  The restaurant and bar hover over Commencement Bay, and caters to old school seafood fans.

The lounge is full of vintage liquor bottles, vintage workers, and vintage patrons, and serves strong, cheap drinks.

2761 North Ruston Way Tacoma, WA 98402 - (253) 752-8600
Est. 1959
web site - tacomanewstribune - tacomanewstribune - seattletimes - yelp - tripadvisor