#1906 #S1075 - La Carta De Oaxaca, Seattle - OOO

This is to add the little bar in Oaxaca -- the original one, in Ballard -- which I somehow missed getting on the list before.

Oaxaca is perhaps the best Mexican food in the city and at most times you are bound to face a line before you get a seat at one of the communal tables. If you're lucky, there will be room in the tiny bar to catch a margarita while you wait. It is not a bar you would go to just to go to bar, but they do have pretty good margaritas while you are waiting for the excellent food. The food is served in small, tapas form, so you will want to select about three items, and make sure that you include the mole. (For the same great food with a bit more emphasis on the bar, see its sister restaurant on upper Queen Anne.)

Historical notes:  Oaxaca is in a building that is at least 112 years old and has hosted bars since at least shortly after prohibition. A bar owned by Joseph Brown is listed here in 1935. By the 40s, it was Chet's Log Cabin and by the late 40s and into the 60s the Alaska Log Cabin. In the late 60s and early 70s it was Fisherman's Inn, and by the late 70s and into the 80s it was Bebop, then the Barge Inn by 1985.

5431 Ballard Ave NW Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 782-8722
Est. Nov 2003 - Building constructed: 1900 or earlier
Previous bars in this location: Barge Inn, Bebop's, Chet's Log Cabin, Alaska Log Cabin, Fisherman's Inn
Web site: lacartadeoaxaca.com - facebook
Best articles: natashareed - absolutelymonica - seattleweekly - thestranger - yelp  

#1905 #S1074 - Cal's Classic American, Seattle - 10/4/2012

Update: Cal's Lake Union closed on June 25, 2013

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Cal's Classic American Kitchen is a bit like an updated Applebees. That's not all bad -- the vintage clutter here is rugged, mid-century industrial and modern additions include a pour-your-own table tap where customers pay per ounce. It serves basically traditional American comfort food with a slight spin, plus a few good beers and whiskeys and a fairly straight-forward cocktail menu (but with lots of egg white).

The place, and it's predecessor in Kent, were name for Cal Chandler, the father of one of the owners (ex-Husky center Jeff Chandler) and founder of The Ram brewpubs. The ownership team also includes Shannon Galusha, former chef at Bastille, Veil, Campagne, etc., and ex-Boise State Bronco Matthew Schweitzer.

404 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - 206.209.3000                    
Est. Oct 22, 2012 - Closed June 25, 2013
Web site: calsclassic.com
Best articles: eater - bizjournals - seattlemet - thrillist (loud/sound) -  yelp

#1904 #S1073 - Rione XIII, Seattle - 9/26/2012

Another Seattle fine restaurant from Ethan Stowell, this one focused on classic Italian food and named for the "trendy" Trastevere area, or the 8th rione (district) of Rome.  The bar at Rione (ree-OH-nay) VIII is not one you would typically visit if you were not going in to eat, but does have some pretty good quality cocktails (I had a Boulevardier).

401 15th Avenue East Seattle, WA 98112 - (206) 838-2878
Est. Aug 22, 2012 - Building constructed: year
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: ethanstowellrestaurants.com - facebook   
Best articles: cornichon - seattleweekly - seattleite - seattletimes - seattlemag - seattlemag - eater - thestranger -  dailycandy - yelp

#1903 #S1072 - Soban Restaurant and Lounge, Seattle - 9/26/2012

In recent years, this spot across the street from the Convention Center has offered pan-Asian menus centered around first Vietnamese and now Korean dishes. As it evolved from "Bambuza" and "820 Pike Street" to Soban, they've put in a lot of work to attract an evening crowd. The place now has an actual bar, it DJ loft, karaoke, and the NFL package. Bartender Phi-Du was a friendly and enthusiastic host.

But the cocktails? Well, let's just say that it wasn't my demographic. To impress me with the bar, Phi-Du showed me what he thought might be the largest selection of flavored vodkas in the city. Good luck, but not a place for me.

820 Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 219-5555             
Est. Sep 14, 2012 - Building constructed: 2003
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: so-ban.com - facebook
Reviews: thestranger - seattletimes - seattlepi - thrillist - yelp

#1902 #S1071 - Bambino's Pizzeria, Seattle - 9/23/2012

Bambino's has been selling very good, Neapolitan-style pizzas just up Cedar Street from the Five Point since 2005. But it did not have an actual bar until September 2012. Now you can sit at the gleaming pine bar and sample Bambino's large craft beer selection, including Pliny the Elder, along with their interesting range of pizzas.

401 Cedar Street Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 269-2222             
Est. Sep. 20, 2012 (bar), 2005 (restaurant) - Building constructed: 1927
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: bambinosseattle.com - facebook  
Reviews: seattletimes - eater - seattlefoodster - seattlepi - thestranger - urbanspoon - yelp

#1901 - Royal Bear Pub, Algona - 9/22/2012

A quite large place, popular with the bikers, hosting live bands, and featuring 15 taps.

35731 W Valley Highway South Algona, WA 98001 - (253) 833-6686
Previous bars in this location: The Algona Tavern
Web site: theroyalbear.com
Reviews: bikerfriendlybars - yelp 

#1900 - Peterson Bros. 1111, Tacoma - 9/22/2012

Peterson Brothers' Eleven Eleven is a new bar and sandwich shop in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. It was created and is run by twin brothers Robby and Justin Peterson, whose father is one of the owners of The Swiss, and who have learned the business through jobs there, at Hell's Kitchen, the Hotel Bar and Grill, Jazzbones, other Tacoma institutions. It is named for the address at 1111 11th -- and I felt a little foolish calling to see what time they opened -- 11am of course.

Robby and Justin are friendly and funny, and make you feel like you want to hang out there often. The bar was decorated to look like an old dive that feels like it has been in the neighborhood for decades. It includes a bar made by the brothers from wood salvaged from the old Nalley Pickle Factory, in "Nalley Valley." It attracts a pretty young and hipster-heavy crowd. In addition to a good selection of beers and spirits, the 1111 serves some excellent sandwiches and good soups.

One warning -- you may feel out of place if you do not have a substantial beard. The only person working there who did not have a big beard was the one female, and one of the guys told me they were working on how to get her one.







Historical Notes:  There has been a bar in this space off and on since at least soon after prohibition. City guides list a bar owned by Andrew Molberg in 1935. By 1960 it was Abe's Tavern, and by 1970 it was Michael Eleven Eleven Tavern (or a close variation on that).

1111 S 11th St, Tacoma, WA 98405 - (253) 284-1111
Est. June 27, 2012
Previous bars at this location: Michael's 1111, Abe's Tavern
Web site: facebook
Best Articles: tnt - weeklyvolcano - examiner - yelp