#1250 #S755 - Vince's Italian Restaurant (Rainier Valley), Seattle - 10/7/2010

Update:  Vince's is closing in March 2011.

This is an old school (and just plain old, est. 1957) Italian place with a bar that serves nothing fancy to an interesting mix of neighborhood characters.  I had some spaghetti and gin and tonics and chatted with Roger, who remembers the door man at the Casino checking people through the sliding peephole, and who was at Shelley's Leg the night it burned down.  Roger likes dive bars ("the ones with Christmas lights up in April"), and has some colorful stories based on spending portions of his past life as he dealer.  A few years ago he had part of his tongue removed due to cancer, which leaves him sounding a little drunk when he is not.  If this place was a little closer to me, I'd be coming back now and then.

8824 Renton Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118 - (206) 722-2116
Est. 1957 - Closed 2011
vincesitalian.com - urbanspoon - yelp

#1249 #S754 - Book Bindery, Seattle - 10/6/2010

This old warehouse around the south end of the Fremont Bridge now houses not only an upscale restaurant, but also a craft distillery and winery, with barrels visible through restaurant windows. Chef Shaun McCrain comes with experience "all around the world including Les Elysees du Vernet in Paris, Per Se, Thomas Keller's lovely New York fine dining house, and Michael Mina, a two Michelin starred restaurant in San Francisco." (seattle mag). Manager Patric Gabre-Kidan partnered with Ethan Stowell in the creation of Tavolata and How to Cook a Wolf.

Little wonder then that the food was very good. I wanted to work through every item on the appetizer on the (changing) dinner menu, but we settled for the compressed watermelon and heirloom tomato with bacon lardons, and then followed with the pan-seared halibut entree, all  very tasty. The cocktails were not quite in the creative league with the food, but quite passable. I had a Moscow Mule and an Old Pal (rye, sweet vermouth, campari).

It's hard to find if you don't know exactly what you're looking for, and inside there is a nice sized bar and clean-looking restaurant decor, with that view of the wine barrels as the most striking feature. The service was indulging and nice, and well worth the bit of a hunt it took to find the entrance. It's a very fine choice when you're in the mood for something a little fancy.

198 Nickerson St, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 283-2665
bookbinderyrestaurant.com - seattle met - seattle mag - yelp

#1248 #S753 - Pintxo, Seattle - 10/1/2010

Update: Pintxo moved to 2219 4th in 2017, then closed in March of 2020

Pintxo (Photos are from the 2219 4th location)

Tasty tapas much like previous resident Txori's, with some fairly good drinks and the same somewhat hidden little patio section.

Est. 2010 - Moved 2017 - Closed March 2020 - Building constructed 1910
2207 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 441-4042
pintxoseattle.com - facebook - seattle times - yelp