#1374 #S832 - Golden Beetle, Seattle - 2/19/2011

Update: Maria Hines closed Golden Beetle in October of 2016 and replaced it with Young American Ale House.

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An excellent new Eastern Mediterranean restaurant from Maria Hines, the chef/owner of Tilth with a fine bar featuring Andy McClellan from Lola and Marley Tomic-Beard from Spur.  From an enticing cocktail menu, I chose "One Good Conundrum" (Old Overholt rye, Cynar, house orange bitters, and Scrappy's celery bitters) and then got a little Turkish with a "Lion's Milk Swizzle" (Efe Raki, lemon, orange-flower honey, and orange flower water) -- both quite fine.  I will be coming back for the cocktails, food, and ambiance.

1744 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 706-2977
Est. Feb 2011
golden-beetle.com - thestranger - seattleweekly - myballard - yelp

#1373 #S831 - Sole Repair, Seattle - 2/16/2011

This is an event space owned by the owners of Quinn's.

1001 E Pike, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 979-7467
solerepairshop.com - facebook - yelp

#1372 #S830 - Fonte Cafe and Wine Bar, Seattle - 2/14/2011

Whether to count this as a bar is a borderline call for me, but since they put "wine bar" right in the name, I guess I will.  It's not a bad place, but it's rather mall-like and I didn't see anything here that would make me ever select it again from the many choices in downtown and Belltown.

1321 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 777-6193
fontecoffee.com - yelp - seattletimes

#1371 #S829 - Locöl Barley and Wine, Seattle - 2/13/2011

This is a great little place with good drinks, good food, and a really fine, funky neighborhood vibe. They display local art and have historical photos on a loop. I had a nice chat about bars with bartender Marcus, from New Orleans and consider this my new favorite bar in West Seattle.

7902 35th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126 - (206) 708-7725
locolseattle.com - westseattleblog - seattleweekly - yelp

#1370 #S828 - Blue C Sushi, Seattle - 2/12/2011

Update: This Blue C location closed in August 2017.

The bar at the Fremont Blue C isn't open most of the time, and it's upstairs and out of reach of the kaiten belt cycling the food.  But we had a nice couple nightcaps and pleasant conversation on this night with the manager Drew from Boston.

3411 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 633-3411
Est. 2003 - Closed Aug 2017
bluecsushi.com - seattletimes - thestranger - yelp

#1369 #S827 - White Rabbit, Seattle - 2/12/2011

Update: The White Rabbit closed Dec 31, 2013

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I've only been there in the afternoon with few people around, so I'll want to go when the music is going to get a feel for the crowd and vibe.  But the folks working there are nice and the decor has a bit more personality than when it was ToST.

They specialize in coffee drinks, but I went for the Mad Hatter Manhattan (Honey Reserve bourbon, sweet vermouth, and bitters).

513 N. 36th St. Seattle, WA 98103 - 588-0155             
Est. Feb 10, 2011 - Closed Dec 31, 2013 - Building constructed: 1928
Previous bars in this location: ToST
fremontwhiterabbit.com - facebook
seattlemusicinsider -  seattleweekly fc - seattleweekly - fremontuniverse - yelp

#1368 - Raven's Nest, Redmond, WA - 2/11/2011

Black Raven Brewing Company taproom

14679 NE 95th St, Redmond, WA 98052 - (425) 881-3020
blackravenbrewing.com - yelp