#1247 - 520 Bar & Grill, Bellevue, WA - 10/1/2010

This is a standard modern sports bar with standard modern sports bar food and populated by standard Bellevue  type people.  But one thing that does give the place a little character is the substantial and pleasant patio to one side of place.

10146 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 450-0520
520barandgrill.com -  facebook - yelp

#1246 - Monsoon East, Bellevue, WA - 10/1/2010

Sister restaurant to Seattle's Monsoon, this place has pretty good drinks, pretty good food, and judging from the reviews, though not my own experience, often absurdly slow service.

10245 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 635-1112
monsoonrestaurants.com - facebook - seattle times - the stranger - yelp

#1245 #S752 - Hunger, Seattle - 9/17/2010

Update:  This location closed May 12, 2012, and Hunger moved to the former location of Dad Watson's in Fremont.

Wow, this was one of the best cocktail experiences I've ever had. I stumbled into this place as a little break from the crowd during the last night of the Buckaroo Tavern, and what a great surprise it was.  With it's cozy, almost hidden location and distinct lack of PR, I don't know when I would have otherwise found the place, but I'm delighted that I did.

The (Mediterranean) tapas are very good (I had the prawn bruschetta and the boar sliders) and the cocktails were pretty nigh perfect. My drinks were a Velvet Bullfighter (agave tequila, cucumber, raspberry honey) and a Bartoloni (green Chartreuse, habenero blended bitters), which were both excellent. But Bartender Cory also gave me a small sample of each of their other featured cocktails as he made them for other customers.  Like any really good bartender, Cory quickly got a read on my tastes (and based on them went so far as to serve me something other than what I ordered, to my considerable gratitude).  But the small samples throughout the night demonstrated that entire cocktail menu is very strong, and Hunger has immediately leaped into my top choices for a fine drink or two.

4256 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 402-4854
hungerseattle.com - facebook - seattleweekly - seattle weekly - seattlemag.com - yelp

#1244 #S751- Royal Booze & Burritos, Seattle - 9/27/2010

I hadn't heard about this place until I started reading about the noise complaints.  I mentioned this in a pleasant chat with bartender Sonya and she described having to reassure some concerned customers that publicity about too much noise is hardly a threat to a bar's well-being.

Sonya said that the place doesn't usually start to get busy until about 9:30 and I was there around dinner time, so I can't really speak for the crowd or vibe yet.  But the food is better than average Mexican food, the drinks have some pretty decent options (try the Mango Margarita, which has a little more kick than it sounds like), and the decor and big patio give it the feel of a bar you might find in Scottsdale or Miami, but not Seattle's University Ave.

5211 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
facebook - yelp - the stranger -

#1243 - Dockside Grill, Suquamish, WA - 9/26/2010

Not be confused with the upscale "Dockside Grill" on Sequim Bay, this "Dockside" is a much more blue collar bar and restaurant.  Despite certain references to it as the "Darkside" by locals, this apparently represents a step up from the previous Troller Tavern.  The owners (who also own the Main Street Ale House in Kingston and the Olympic Timberhouse in Quilcene) were inspired to make the changes by a fine and 80-day suspension of the Troller's liquor license.

The location is now more of a family restaurant, though still featuring a bar and smoking patio.  The drinks are pretty much the standards and the food has a bit more variety than the average pub.

7234 NE Parkway, Suquamish, WA 98392
pnwlocalnews - kitsap sun

#1242 #S750 - Thirsty Fish, Seattle - 9/25/2010

"It's usually not like this," the bartender volunteered with no prompting from me, "It's usually mellow."  That would be a nice change from the screaming 22-year-olds with sideways baseball caps, apparently assembled for a birthday party.  The liquor choices and decor are both pretty limited and spartan, but this is positioned as a sports bar, which appears to simply mean that it has several TVs and mediocre food.  But the bartenders are friendly and likable, which can go a long way, so I plan to keep an eye on how it develops and come back when there's not a group of beginning drinkers trying too hard to leave an impression of being cool partiers.

Historical Notes:  This is the new bar in the location of the recently closed Acorn Eatery. The building was constructed in 1927 and it's hosted a bar since at least 1948.  Then and for many years afterward, including at least until 1980, it was known as Nicky's Holman Road Tavern or simply Nicky's Tavern.  By 1994 it was Atlantic Street Pizza and Comedy Stop, by 1999 it was the Ridge Pub and re-opened in 2001 as the Acorn Eatery, which closed in 2010.





9041 Holman Rd NW, Seattle, WA 98117 - (206) 782-1999   
Est. 2010 - Building constructed: 1927           
Previous bars at this location: Nicky's Tavern, Atlantic Street Pizza & Comedy, The Ridge Pub, Acorn Eatery
thethirstyfish.net - myballard - yelp - thrillist

#1253 #S758 - Gaudi, Seattle - 10/10/2010

Update: Gaudi closed Oct 1, 2016

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Gaudi is a very pleasant neighborhood Spanish tapas restaurant and bar, run by the husband and wife team who previously ran a restaurant in Barcelona.  Wife Jo works the front and bar, and created the stained glass pieces on the wall between bar and front room.  Husband Joan is the chef and created the drawings that adorn the menu.

Unfortunately I misplaced my notes and waited way too long to write up this summary of my experience to recall the specific dishes I had.  But I do recall being very pleased with each of the tapas, and having a very pleasant conversation with Jo. The vibe is relaxed and unhurried, with Jo letting you taste various Spanish wines, unless you prefer sangria or a classic cocktail.  It is definitely on my list of places to re-visit.

3410 NE 55th St, Seattle, WA 98105 - (206) 527-3400
Est. Jan 2007 - Building constructed: 1931
gaudiseattle.com - seattle times - seattle weekly - yelp