#1255 - Le Voyeur, Olympia, WA - 10/14/2010

This place is well summarized by The Stranger:

"Le Voyeur offers vegan-friendly food, drunk-friendly drinks, and punk-friendly entertainment. It's also a good spot for some Olympian people-watching, as college kids and townies mix with K Records royalty and traveling crusties. Check the bathroom graffiti for some of the best radical political dialogue in town."

404 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501-1109 - (360) 943-5710
web site - the stranger - yelp

#1254 #S759 - Jimmy's on Broadway, Seattle - 10/11/2010

At first glance you may assume that this is just a soul-less, cookie cutter hotel bar, with no particular character and no reason for anyone to go, unless they're staying at the hotel and there's a massive downpour outside.  In this case, first glance would be pretty accurate.


1046 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134-1206 - (206) 204-9700
jimmysonbroadway - the stranger - yelp

#1252 #S757 - La Bete, Seattle - 10/8/2010

Update: La Bete closed Aug 16, 2014

1802 Bellevue Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 329-4047
Est. 2010 - Closed Aug 16,2014 - Building constructed 1925
labeteseattle.com - facebook - seattle times - seattle weekly - yelp

#1251 #S756 - Twilight Exit, Seattle - 10/7/2010

I've previously noted my affection for any bar with an alley entrance, and the Twilight Exit builds on that with a funky, retro interior and a large, beach-themed back patio (in the middle of the Central District, no less).  The drinks are very much the basics, but the attraction is the atmosphere, with vintage lamps covering the ceiling, kitschy art on the walls and objects laminated into the table tops.

Owner Stephan Mollman was force to move out of the previous location at 2020 E Madison due to redevelopment plans by new property owners.  He battled with the local school district for a bit over hours, and eventually reached a compromise, which explains why the Twilight opens only at 4:00pm most days.

2514 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 324-7462
twilightexit.com - facebook - seattle weekly - the stranger - yelp

#1250 #S755 - Vince's Italian Restaurant (Rainier Valley), Seattle - 10/7/2010

Update:  Vince's is closing in March 2011.

This is an old school (and just plain old, est. 1957) Italian place with a bar that serves nothing fancy to an interesting mix of neighborhood characters.  I had some spaghetti and gin and tonics and chatted with Roger, who remembers the door man at the Casino checking people through the sliding peephole, and who was at Shelley's Leg the night it burned down.  Roger likes dive bars ("the ones with Christmas lights up in April"), and has some colorful stories based on spending portions of his past life as he dealer.  A few years ago he had part of his tongue removed due to cancer, which leaves him sounding a little drunk when he is not.  If this place was a little closer to me, I'd be coming back now and then.

8824 Renton Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118 - (206) 722-2116
Est. 1957 - Closed 2011
vincesitalian.com - urbanspoon - yelp

#1249 #S754 - Book Bindery, Seattle - 10/6/2010

This old warehouse around the south end of the Fremont Bridge now houses not only an upscale restaurant, but also a craft distillery and winery, with barrels visible through restaurant windows. Chef Shaun McCrain comes with experience "all around the world including Les Elysees du Vernet in Paris, Per Se, Thomas Keller's lovely New York fine dining house, and Michael Mina, a two Michelin starred restaurant in San Francisco." (seattle mag). Manager Patric Gabre-Kidan partnered with Ethan Stowell in the creation of Tavolata and How to Cook a Wolf.

Little wonder then that the food was very good. I wanted to work through every item on the appetizer on the (changing) dinner menu, but we settled for the compressed watermelon and heirloom tomato with bacon lardons, and then followed with the pan-seared halibut entree, all  very tasty. The cocktails were not quite in the creative league with the food, but quite passable. I had a Moscow Mule and an Old Pal (rye, sweet vermouth, campari).

It's hard to find if you don't know exactly what you're looking for, and inside there is a nice sized bar and clean-looking restaurant decor, with that view of the wine barrels as the most striking feature. The service was indulging and nice, and well worth the bit of a hunt it took to find the entrance. It's a very fine choice when you're in the mood for something a little fancy.

198 Nickerson St, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 283-2665
bookbinderyrestaurant.com - seattle met - seattle mag - yelp

#1248 #S753 - Pintxo, Seattle - 10/1/2010

Update: Pintxo moved to 2219 4th in 2017, then closed in March of 2020

Pintxo (Photos are from the 2219 4th location)

Tasty tapas much like previous resident Txori's, with some fairly good drinks and the same somewhat hidden little patio section.

Est. 2010 - Moved 2017 - Closed March 2020 - Building constructed 1910
2207 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 441-4042
pintxoseattle.com - facebook - seattle times - yelp

#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

#1241 #S749 - Venom, Seattle - 9/24/2010

Update: Venom closed Sep. 2, 2011.

Not that I stood out as an old white guy with no striped shirt and no product in my hair, but a young black woman who was a total stranger stepped up to me and told me she was "really proud of me" for showing up in the place.

As one yelper put it, "This place is about as close as it gets to the Jersey Shore here in the Pacific Northwest.  At least the Asian version."

2218 Western Ave #100, Seattle, WA 98121-3629 - (206) 448-8887
Previous bars at this location: Baccano, Club Medusa
venomseattle.com (warning: sound) - facebook - the stranger - yelp

#1240 #S748 - The Bourbon Bar - 9/24/2010

The Bourbon Bar just opened in August 2010 in conjunction with the refurbished Columbia City Theater, and the owners managed to snag Kim Warnick (of the Fastbacks and Visqueen) from the Cha Cha.  One might expect that a bar opened in the midst a cocktail boom and named "Bourbon Bar" would have a mind-blowing array of whiskeys, and some of the city's leading mixologists devoted to them.  The Bourbon Bar is not that, although they do have a moderate selection of whiskeys and whiskey-based cocktails, which may not be particularly well made, esp. if you are in the middle of a surge of customers waiting to get into a neighboring show.  But while the drinks are only average, it does have a pleasantly dark and woody decor and usually a pleasant crowd.

4916 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118 - (206) 420-8285
columbiacitytheater.com - seattle weekly - yelp

#1239 #S747 - Columbia City Theater - 9/24/2010

The drinks are extremely limited here, but it's a very fine place for hearing music.  (Fortunately you can also bring in drinks from the adjacent Bourbon Bar.)  The recently remodeled and re-opened, historic space was constructed in 1920 (though it is often described as dating to 1917), and is said to have the first stage that Jimi Hendrix played on (while playing blues for Garfield High School).

It also shared action with the big Seattle swing and jazz scenes that once centered around Jackson St, hosting the likes of Fats Waller, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington.  The acoustics are quite pleasant and it has a quite interesting lineup of bands put together by Kevin Sur.

4916 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98127 - (206) 723-0088
columbiacitytheater.com - facebook - seattle historical sites - seattle pi - seattle weekly - the stranger - yelp

#1238 #S746 - Tutta Bella (Columbia City) - 9/24/2010

4918 Rainier Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98118 - 206.721.3501
tuttabella.com - yelp

#1237 #S745 - Last Stop Lounge (Endolyne Joe's) - 9/21/2010

Endolyne Joe's is the West Seattle operation of the Chow Foods group, which also operates the Five Spot in Queen Anne and the Hi-Life in Ballard.  If you've been to either of those, you have a basic idea of what you'll get with Joe's and the Last Stop Lounge inside -- good food and a comfortable bar, with undistinguished drinks. 

After trying their Dark and Stormy and a Manhattan, I would recommend you go there for breakfast or dinner, but save your cocktail money for someplace like the Feedback Lounge.

9261 45th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136 - (206) 937-5637
chowfoods.com - seattle weekly - the stranger - yelp

#1236 #S744 - Big Mario's - 9/15/2010

Most the interest that Mario's holds is from the vibe of the relatively low-key Capitol Hill crowd it attracts with its nothing-fancy, New York style pizza and bar.  Mario himself brings carries the cred for a such a joint, having migrated from Naples and slung pizza in the various burroughs of New York.  But the place is actually owned by Mike McConnell, who also owns Via Tribunali and Caffe Vita.

The place looks and feels like it's been operating in a college neighborhood for 50 or 60 years (they have jager on tap and sell 40-ounce bottles of Olde English).  The cocktails are nothing special, but they have a good selection of beers and sell tasty slices until 4am Thursdays through Saturdays.

1009 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 922-3875
bigmariosnewyorkpizza.com - facebook - all consuming - seattle weekly - the stranger - seattle met - seattle times - yelp