#1597 #S953 - The Terrace Lounge (Fairmont Hotel) , Seattle - 11/2/2011

While the "Terrace Plaza bar" may evoke images of rooftop patios and ornate gardening, the location in the Fairmont is simply a small, elegant bar off the main lobby.  The Fairmont Olympic is Seattle's grandest hotel, hosting celebrities, world leaders, and every U.S. president since Herbert Hoover.  For several years I walked past it on my way from bus stop to office, and it was a fairly common event to see motorcades and security guards swarming the back entrance.

The hotel was specifically designed by the community to be just that sort of grand hotel, with the construction in 1924 funded by public bonds.  It sits on the original location of the University of Washington, in a place known as Denny's Knoll when Arthur Denny donated it 1861 to the Territorial University.  The UW, which moved northward to its current location in 1895, retains a large chunk of ownership of the land and building, although it sold 64% in the mid 90s.  The hotel was built around the Metropolitan Theater, which was demolished in 1956 (and eulogized by Helen Hayes, after a final night performance), providing the current entrance area.


I don't know how long the Terrace Plaza bar has been open in this location, but if you enjoy genteel hotel bars, this is a nice, intimate one, with capable bartenders and a small number of interesting patrons passing through.  The lounge area extends into the lobby, but if you like bars, you'll want to be in the elegant room around the bar itself, with it's welcoming wood and lowered lights.  And from 3:30 to 6:00pm Sundays through Thursdays the bar features all-you-can-eat appetizers or cheeses for $12 each.

411 University St, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 621-1700
Building constructed: 1924
fairmont.com - facebook - historylink.org - thestranger - fairmont.com - seattleweekly -

#1596 #S952 - New York Pizza and Bar, Seattle - 11/2/2011

Update: The last 5 of 7 New York Pizza restaurants closed May 12, 2017 during bankruptcy proceedings.

New York Pizza and Bar explains on their web site that they serve New York style pizza with a nice picture of a family eating Chicago style pizza.  In the next sentence they explain that they also have "extraordinary service and unsurpassable food and drink quality," which also doesn't quite square with reality.  Perhaps they are aiming for a New York style of overstatement.

But it's not a bad place.  There is pretty good, nice-sportsbar sorts of food (think Fox Sports Grill quality), many televisions to catch games, decent cocktails, and a vibrant decor in a style that recently graduated frat boys would describe as elegant and classy.

It seems like a comfortable choice to catch a game or bring the family.

500 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98104-7097 - (206) 587-0381    
Est. Nov 7, 2011
newyorkpizzaandbar.com - facebook - seattleweekly -  thestranger - yelp

#1595 #S951 - Spinasse, Seattle - 10/31/2011

Based on the Piedmont region, highly regarded upscale northern Italian cuisine, which lives up to it's reputation.  I had the tajarin, a long-standing favorite (delicate egg pasta with butter and sage).

1531 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122-4023 - (206) 251-7673
Est. Aug 2008 - Building constructed: 1910
Previous bars in this location: None known

spinasse.com - thestranger - seattlemet - seattletimes - komonews - seattleweekly - gourmet - yelp

#1594 #S950 - Cafe Lago, Seattle - 10/30/2011

A very good Italian restaurant (Peter Reinhart's “American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza" called it the best pizza in America in 2003).  It also has a small bar with limited cocktail options.  It serves thin crust pizza and a terrific looking antipasti plate that I will certainly order next time.

2305 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112 - (206) 329-8005
Est. Oct 10, 1990 - Building constructed: 1922
Previous bars at this location: None known
cafelago.com - seattletimes - bonappetit - seattlepi - yelp

#1593 #S949 - Electric Tea Garden, Seattle - 10/28/2011

 A small-ish club that caters to DJs and electronica, with an "infusion lounge that specializes in tea based cocktails and elixirs," hidden around the corner and upstairs from an artificial limb store.

1402 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 568-3972   
Est. March 10, 2007 - Building constructed: 1909
Previous bars in this location: None known
electricteagarden.com - facebook - yelp

#1592 #S948 - Pecado Bueno, Seattle - 10/27/2011

Pecado Bueno ("Sin Well") serves pretty standard American Mexican dishes, with a bit more quality than average and a good deal more personality.  They have a salsa bar, but to taste the Diablo sauce you need to sign their "Unconditional Waiver and Hold-Harmless Stipulation" where the customer agrees to "hold the ownership, management and employees of Pecado Bueno utterly without blame for any discomfort, pain, first, second or third degree burns, ruined mascara, and/or loss of self-esteem and/or respect from one's peers resulting from ingestion"

The owner is one of the founders of Taco del Mar, the margaritas are affordable and drinkable, and the food stresses local, organic, sustainable ingredients.

  
4307 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 457-8837
Est. Oct 2011 - Building constructed: 1952
pecadobueno.com - facebook - seattleweekly - thrillist - williamson.ws - fremontuniverse - eater - yelp

#1591 - Afriq, Skyway WA - 10/25/2011

Afriq is a night time place.  It opens at 9pm.  It's a Kenyan-owned dance club, with food and drinks from across Africa.  The best nights to go are Saturdays, which are reggae nights.

12619 Renton Ave S, Skyway, WA 98178-3712 - (206) 772-6300
Est. Feb 2008
thedjpeter.com