Rotgut.org Blog

Saturday, February 12, 2011

#1334 #S799 - Bing's, Seattle - 1/3/2011

Update: Bing's closed in August 2019

Since 1999, Bing's Bar and Grill, AKA Bing's Bodacious Burgers, has been selling somewhat upscaled diner food (or "comfort food," if you prefer) in Magnolia. It's a pleasant, casual place to have a drink and some dinner, particularly -- as was not the case on this visit -- on a warm afternoon when the patio is open.

4200 East Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112-3237

4200 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112 - (206) 323-8623
bingsbarandgrill.com - dogjaunt - yelp

#1333 #S798 - Needle and Thread, Seattle - 12/31/2010

If you pick up a phone at Tavern Law, you can be admitted into the "secret" bar upstairs, Needle and Thread. You go through the bank vault, wind up the narrow, woody stairs, past old photographs of naughty ladies, and enter into a sort of lavish, 19th century den of iniquity. The food is from the kitchen downstairs, which is to say, it is as good as anywhere in the city, and the cocktails, as below, are marvelous (although it was the upstairs bar that made GQ's list of best cocktail bars in the country).

Best not to order a particular drink here, but rather give your bartender some basic parameters and let him create something lovely. Tavern Law and its sister restaurant Spur are my favorite Seattle dining experiences and cocktail bars, and the cozy N&T is the best space to enjoy them.

1406 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 322-9734
seattle weekly - gq - yelp

#1332 #S797 - Local Vine (Capitol Hill), Seattle - 12/31/2010

The new Capitol Hill location of the award-winning Bellevue wine bar, with some nice food and cocktails. I had a Blueberry Tea (ammaretto, Grand Marnier, Earl Gray tea).

1410 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 257-5653

thelocalvine.com - seattlepi - thestranger - yelp

#1331 #S796 - Seastar, Seattle - 12/28/2010

2121 Terry Ave Ste 108, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 462-4364
seastarrestaurant.com - seattletimes - seattlepi - yelp

#1330 #S795 - Pau Hana, Seattle - 12/27/2010

Update: Pau Hana closed in late August 2012, with plans to move to Pioneer Square, which apparently did not work out.

Hawaiians like some disgusting foods. As lovely as the islands are, it's hard for me to identify with people who treasure poi and spam. But there are some very tasty items on the menu at Pau Hana. I had the very good Kalua pig and excellent sweet chili chicken wings.

Pau Hana (Hawaiian for "After Work" or "After Work Drink") was opened by one-time Hawaiian residents Peter Duane, Derrick Rowland and Bruce Wilson in November, in the former location of Huiyona (and Galerias and Cellar Bistro and Ortegas and Spaghetti Red's). As the litany of recent owners attests, it will be tough to make a go of it in this location off the beaten path (around the corner for the also new Easy Joe's).

It probably won't be the tiny bar that makes the difference, and while I like the food much more than the overly sweet cocktails, I think the place would have a better shot if it was more of a bar that served food, rather than a restaurant that has a bar. But in any case it is nice to have another different option for good food, and I wish them the best.

2355-1/2 10th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 323-4262
pauhanaseattle.com - facebook - the stranger - yelp

Thursday, February 10, 2011

#1329 #S794 - The Highliner Pub, Seattle - 12/26/2010

Update: The Highliner closed in 2011

This is a serious fisherman's bar, nestled in the too-modern building at Fisherman's Terminal. It has photos of customers and their vessels, massive burgers, and somewhat grumpy staff.

3909 18th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119-1659 - (206) 283-2233
highlinerpub.com - the stranger - seattle weekly - seattleweekly - yelp

#1328 - The Inn Sports Bar, Lynnwood, WA - 12/25/2010

16716 Highway 99 # D, Lynnwood, WA 98037 - (425) 743-0700
yelp - uptake.com

#1327 - Foxy's Steak and Spirits, Everett WA - 12/25/2010

9601 Evergreen Way, Everett, WA 98204 - (425) 513-0960
yelp

#1326 - Shotze's, Everett WA - 12/25/2010

9602 Evergreen Way, Everett, WA 98204 - (425) 355-5766
yelp

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

#1325 - Barking Frog, Woodinville, WA - 12/25/2010

14580 NE 145th St, Woodinville, WA 98072 - (425) 424-2999
willowslodge.com - seattle times - the stranger - yelp

#1324 - Pearl, Bellevue, WA - 12/22/2010

Pearl is nothing special in terms of cocktails, but its food offerings give it a reputation as the best happy hour in Bellevue.

700 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 50, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 455-0181
pearlbellevue.com - seattle times - komo

#1323 #S793 - Bottleneck Lounge, Seattle - 12/21/2010

A hodgepodge of a neighborhood bar that seems like a lonely last stand among the French cafes of Madison. A nifty little place.

2328 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98138 - (206) 323-1098
bottlenecklounge.com - seattle weekly - yelp

#1320 - Bis on Main, Bellevue, WA - 12/17/2010

10213 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 455-2033
bisonmain.com - the stranger - yelp

#1319 - Wild Ginger, Bellevue, WA - 12/14/2010

11020 NE 6th St Ste 90, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 495-8889
wildginger.net - seattle times - yelp

#1318 - The Pumphouse, Bellevue, WA - 12/14/2010

Just across 405 from downtown Bellevue you step into the Pumphouse and it's like suddenly you're nowhere near Bellevue. The decor isn't Bellevue, the staff isn't Bellevue and the clientelle are not Bellevue.

No augmented breasts and white striped shirts, just a blue collar crowd eating burgers and drinking big steins of beer. It's as if you stepped over the highway and into Sequim.

11802 NE 8th St, Bellevue, WA 98005 - (425) 455-4110
Previous bars in this location: Lon's Place (1950s)
pumphousebellevue.com - yelp

Monday, February 07, 2011

#1317 #S791 - Harlow's Saloon, Seattle - 12/13/2010

Update: Harlow's closed in Sep. 2011

A new divey bar from the owners of Moshi Moshi and Bricco. It's in a great space and successfully feels like regulars have been hanging in it for 50 years.

5200 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 327-9804
Est. Dec 2010 - Closed Sep 2011
facebook - seattle weekly - yelp - seattleballard

#1316 #S790 - Five Corner Market, Seattle - 12/13/2010

Update: Five Corner Market closed April 12, 2011

With the old Lombardi's location and chef Sam Crannell from Quinn’s and Oddfellows, the 5 Corner Market brings offers some reasonable cocktails and quite good food. They were still working on a cocktail menu when we dropped in, and they are supposed to be heavy on bourbon-based drinks, so I'll definitely have to give the bar (which has moved downstairs) another try soon.

2200 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 816-3310
Est. Dec. 2010; closed April 12, 2011
5cornermarket.com - thrillist - myballard - gastrolust - yelp