#1706 - Hula's Modern Tiki, Phoenix, AZ - 3/18/2012

Hula's is a swank, mid-century place with good tiki drinks and very good food.  We met fellow tiki aficionados Mike M. and his wife, who were very friendly, as tiki people generally are, and compared notes on Phoenix and Tucson (from whence they had just come and we were just heading).

Hula's has some familiar sites for the tiki crowd -- glass cases of Munktiki mugs under the bar, a Tiki Tony carving, a Bosko shield.  It's romantically lit and as full of mid-century shapes and angles as a Shag painting.  The concept is well executed and the people are friendly.  It's a great exception to the strip mall, chain store dreariness of so much of the valley of the sun.

4700 North Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85012 - (602) 265-8454
hulasmoderntiki.com - facebook - critiki - thetikichick - backpage - centralphoenixfood -  phxrailfood - phoenixmag - yelp
Est. 2009

#1705 - Pussycat Lounge, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/17/2012

4426 N Saddlebag Trl Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 481-3100
www.pclaz.com - azcentral - azxclusive - voiceplaces

#1704 - Oasis Hookah Cafe, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/17/2012

4441 North Buckboard Trail Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 751-5362
yelp

#1703 - Rockbar, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/16/2012

"There won't be any pulsating electronica beats or brutal dubstep drops coming from Rockbar Inc. in Scottsdale." -- Phoenix New Times

DubRock Wednesdays at Rockbar.

Filter - Rockbar, Scottsdale - 3/16/2012

Bad Luck (Social Distortion tribute band), Rockbar 3/16/2012

4245 North Craftsman Court Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 331-9190
Est. Nov. 2011 
rockbarscottsdale.com - phoenixnewtimes - yelp

#1702 - Casablanca Lounge, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/16/2012

This place is less frenetic than most of Scottsdale, far better cocktails, an embracing dark decor with fires on the patio, and these fantastic cocktail menus that light up when you open them.

7134 East Stetson Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 970-7888
Est. Oct 1, 2011
Previous bars in this location: Estate House, Napoleon Cigar Lounge
thecasablancalounge.com - facebook - phoenixnewtimes - azcentral - arizonafoothills - yelp

#1701 - The Herb Box!, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/16/2012

7134 E Stetson Dr, Ste 200, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 998-8355
Est. Jan 1, 2011 
theherbbox.com - penandfork - phoenixmag - azcentral - yelp

#1700 - Spanish Fly Mexican Beach Club, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/15/2012

4341 N 75th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 949-8454

Previous bars in this location: Drift
spanishflyscottsdale.com - facebook - yelp

#1699 - El Hefe, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/15/2012

4425 N Saddlebag Trail, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 945-6200
elhefetacos.com - facebook - yelp

#1698 - Shade Lounge, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/15/2012

7277 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (602) 405-0099
web site - facebook

#1697 #S1012 - TRACE, Seattle, WA - 3/12/2012

TRACE is the revamped lounge and restaurant where Earth and Ocean used to be in downtown Seattle's W Hotel. The name represents of a theme of being able trace back (locally sourced) ingredients to the place they were grown.

It is fairly swanky, as you would expect, and it serves fairly good cocktails, with fairly good food, on the slightly pricey end of the scale.

1112 4th Ave, Seattle - (206) 264-6000
Est. March 9, 2012 - Building constructed: 1998
Previous bars in this location: Earth and Ocean
traceseattle.com - eater - seattletimes - thrillist - porttle - seattleite - thestranger - yelp

#1696 - Black Bottle Postern, Bellevue, WA - 3/9/2012

919 Bellevue Way NE (at NE 8th St), Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 223-5143
blackbottlebellevue.com

#1695 #S1011 - Empire Lounge, Seattle, WA - 3/8/2012

Update: The Empire Lounge closed in late 2012. It was replaced by the Ampersand Lounge, run by the Copper Cart team.

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Among the many exciting changes in this place since it was the Copper Cart are ..... er .... um .....

The place says that it is "the ultimate in a sophisticated music lounge. With its modern, sophisticated furnishings complemented by multiple billiard tables, HD projectors and plasma TVs. [sic]." 

113 Bell St., Seattle, WA, 98121 - 206 239-0830
Est. March 9, 2012 - Building constructed: 1930
Previous bars in this location: Copper Cart Cafe
coppercartcafe.com - link - yelp

#1694 #S1010 - Mestizo Tequila Ultra Lounge, Seattle, WA - 3/8/2012

Update: Mestizo closed in Sep 2012

There are many parts of Mestizo that make a good first impression.  There's some interesting art and decor from Mexico, there's the view of the sound, a fireplace, a water feature.  And our bartender was an attractive and friendly marine biologist named Gretchen.  There are 200 types of tequila to choose from, and a changing menu from across Latin America -- Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela.


Neither the food nor the cocktails that we had were particularly outstanding, and it does not yet seem to be attracking a lot of customers.  But it's clear the owners have put a lot of thought into it, so you would like to see it succeed. 

2313 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 535-7985
Est. March 8, 2012 - Closed Sep. 2012 - Building constructed: 1999
Previous bars in this location: Twist, Fandango
mestizogroup.com - facebook - seattlepi - thrillist - elisesaidso - thestranger - yelp

#1693 #S1009 - Fresh Bistro, Seattle, WA - 3/6/2012

Update: Fresh Bistro closed May 20, 2018.

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Fresh Bistro is a new-ish (2009) restaurant from the well regarded catering people at  Herban Feast.  It has an emphasis on local and organic ingredients, serves quite good food, and some fairly good cocktails in bar of a few seats.  I had an Orange Fitzgerald (house infused old Fitzgerald bourbon, Drambouis, Montenegro, orange bitters). 
 

4725 42nd Ave SW Seattle, WA 98136 - (206) 935-3733
Est. May 22, 2009 - Closed May 20, 2018 - Building constructed: 2008
Previous bars in this location: None known
freshbistroseattle.com - facebook - seattlemet - seattletimes - absolutelymonica - gastrolust - seattleweekly - westseattleblog - yelp

#1692 #S1008 - Skelly and the Bean, Seattle, WA - 2/29/2012

Update: Skelly and the Bean closed Dec. 20, 2012

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You want to like Skelly and the Bean.  It has charming stories behind its name and its financing, it was furnished and redecorated with the help of other chefs and supporters, including wood from an old Montana barn and a cigarette burned table from the Soundgarden guys.  And it has a generous program hosting promising new chefs.

But the food was quite inconsistent for our group.  The Maud's Burgers were dry and overcooked, and the "Petit Paquets" seemed no different than well-done standard tater tots, except that they arrived in a tiny bucket.  The cocktails were average, but the cheese plate was quite nice.  But it is the kind of place you root for, and with talented people involved, I am hoping to see it bloom into a long-running neighborhood favorite.

2359 10th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 328-2326
Est. Feb 23, 2012 - Closed Dec. 20, 2012 - Building constructed: 1930
Previous bars in this location: Easy Joe's
skellyandthebean.com - facebook - seattletimes - thestranger -  seattleweekly -  capitolhilltimes -  seattleweekly -  dailycandy -  wallyhood -  yelp

#1691 #S1007 - La Lot Restaurant and Bar, Seattle, WA - 2/28/2012

Update: La Lot changed its name to Pho + Bar in 2016 and then closed in 2018.

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Wow.  I did not expect a lot when I dropped in for dinner here -- I knew nothing about the place, I'm not a fan of bars in bright, modern spaces, and I might not have ever come in at all if I didn't have this hobby of having a drink at every bar in Seattle.  But this turned out to be one of my favorite dining experiences of that last few years.

This was their second day, and they only had a fraction of their cocktail menu ready.  The recipes seemed to lean toward the sweet, beginning drinker ingredients, but the cocktails were original and well balanced -- not overly sweet at all.  It got even better when I tried the food.

 The Betel Leaf Crabmeat appetizer was delicious, and the Claypot Catfish was fantastic.  The service was very friendly, especially Johnny the bartender.  I'm glad I made it in tonight when there were few people there, because while I definitely intend on coming back, it might be hard to find a seat once word gets around.

925 Stewart St, Ste 102, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 682-8812
Est. Feb. 27, 2012 - Closed 2016 - Building constructed: 2008
Previous bars in this location: None
lalotseattle.com - facebook - thestranger

#1690 #S1006 - Ma'Ono Fried Chicken and Whisky, Seattle, WA - 2/27/2012

 Previously Spring Hill, this place has always had terrific food. It's odd to remember that the bar portion was very underwhelming shortly after it opened.  Spring Hill subsequently expanded the tiny (8 seats) bar to a small (18 seats) bar, started serving very fine cocktails, and just last Feb 8, renamed themselves Ma'ono and shifted emphasis to "mid-Pacific" dishes and their very popular fried whole chickens.  They fry 30 chickens per night, and if you plan on having one, you should mention in while making your reservation.

4437 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 935-1075
Est. Feb 8, 2012 - Building constructed: 1941
Previous bars in this location: Spring Hill
maono.springhillnorthwest.com - eater - foodhipster - thrillist - seattleweekly - bizjournals - yelp

#1689 #S1005 - Rogue and Peasant, Seattle, WA - 2/25/2012

A cafe, bar, music performance space, and virtual art gallery -- at least on the bathroom walls.  The Rogue and Peasant has friendly people running it, and injects some old school Fremont quirkiness amidst the condos and gentrification.

3601 Fremont Ave N, Ste 207, Seattle, WA 98103         
Est. Feb 3, 2012 - Building constructed: 1996
Previous bars in this location: None
therogueandpeasant.com - facebook - fremontuniverse -  yelp

#1688 #S1004 - Restaurant Zoe, Seattle, WA - 2/22/2012

Update: Zoe converted from a full-time restaurant to an event space after Feb 14, 2016.













The popular, upscale Belltown restaurant from Scott and Heather Staples (along with the more casual Quinn's and Uneeda Burger) has moved to this new Capitol Hill location, shared with Oola Distillery and Lucky 8.  The menu is a bit more mixed, but it is still full of unusual ingredient names and fancy dishes.  Their is a small bar along the back wall which tends toward somewhat fancy twists on old classics.  The food is excellent and the drinks are good, but it's still the sort of bar where you go for dinner and bring your own company, rather than a quick drink and conversations with other folks there.

1318 E Union St Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 256-2060
Est. Feb 15, 2012 - Building constructed: 1963
Previous bars in this location: None known
restaurantzoe.com - thestranger - seattleweekly - culinaryfool - yelp