Rotgut.org Blog

Monday, January 02, 2012

#1635 #S969 - The Innkeeper, Seattle - 12/2/2011

Update: The Innkeeper closed in November 2017 and replaced by The Jerk Shack later that month.

The Innkeeper looks much the same as Marco's Supperclub, but manages to have both a little more personality and a little less attitude. The menu is focused on Latin American and Caribbean dishes, with a few good cocktails to boot. I had the Penn Cove Manila Clams and Chorizo, which were spicy and tasty and had me ordering extra bread to sop up every drop of the broth. I also had a cup of the Ham Hock White Bean soup which was also very fine.

The cocktails were fairly good, though not quite as well balanced as one would expect at, say, Spur or Canon. I had a fairly good "Fleur de Lys" and an okay Corn n'Oil, while my friend had a slightly sweet but enjoyable Dark and Stormy.

The Innkeeper is run by the folks behind Black Bottle and here they provide the same sort of affordable, quality food in perhaps a slightly more casual atmosphere. I'm eager to go back, particularly if the back patio is open on warm evenings.

2510 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 718-7817
Est. Nov. 28, 2010 - Building constructed: 1954
Previous bars at this location: Tokyo West Tavern (70s), Seoul Tavern (80s), Wheelhouse Suds (80-90s), Marco's Supperclub (1994-2011)
innkeeperseattle.com - seattletimes - seattlemag - thestranger - eater - yelp

#1634 #S968 - Lost River Winery, Seattle - 12/2/2011

The Lost River Tasting Room, just north of Pike Place Market, offers glasses of the selections from the Mazama, Washington winery.

2003 Western Ave Ste 100 Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 448-2124
Est. Oct. 1, 2011 - Building constructed: 1981
lostriverwinery.com - facebook - yelp

#1633 #S967 - Cactus (South Lake Union), Seattle - 11/30/2011

The new Cactus in South Lake Union shares the menu of the other three Seattle are restaurants, which means quite good southwestern and Tex-Mex food and some good margaritas with fresh lime and citrus juices. My personal favorite is the Baja (El Jimador Blanco with cilantro, jalapeño and fresh citrus juices).

Like the Alki location, the SLU space has a more open and modern decor than the original Madison Park location (est. 1990), and it tends to have a younger crowd, including staff from nearby Amazon.com.