#1439 #S877 - Paratii Craft Bar, Seattle - 5/14/2011

Update: Paratii Craft Bar closed Feb 15, 2013

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A new Brazilian bar and restaurant from Samir Hassan, who previously established All Nations Sports Bar and Samba.  Of course that means cachaca and caipirinhas, but in this case it also means a good range of well-executed cocktails.  I had a tasty "Flirting With Spring" (gin, blanc vermouth, vanilla liqueur, blood orange liqueur, mint, cinnamon, , Chamomile citrust bitters) and"Sam's Cuba Libre."

There are some quite good traditional Brazilian dishes (the chef is Kal Gellein, previously of Kallaloo in Columbia City), but the emphasis is on the cocktails. The decor has multiple nods to Ballard's shipping traditions, items crafted or refurbished by the owner.  

5463 Leary Ave NW, Seattle, Washington 98107 - (206) 420-7406
Est. May 4, 2011 - Building constructed: 1950 - Closed Sep 15, 2013
paratiicraftbar.com - seattleweekly - seattlemet - urbanspoon - yelp

#1438 #S876 - Cure, Seattle - 5/11/2011

A nice little wine and cheese joint tucked across the alley from the tennis courts at Cal Anderson park.  We had some nice combinations of Prosciutto di Parma, Piave cheese, tomato jam, speck, Carmody cheese, spicy pickled vegetables, pepper jelly and cream cheese.


1641 Nagle Pl, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 568-5475
Est. May 11, 2011
cureseattle.com - eater - thestranger - yelp

#1437 #S875 - Little Water Cantina, Seattle - 5/10/2011

Quite good Mexican food and tasty cocktails in a LEED-certified location with a sunny patio overlooking Lake Union. The retail spaces in these big condo developments along Eastlake leave me a bit cold, but the Little Water manages to establish some quirky personality inside.

2865 Eastlake Ave. E, Seattle, WA - (206) 397-4940
Est. 2011 - Building constructed: 2008 (greater condo bldg)
littlewatercantina.com - facebook - seattleweekly - seattletimes - seattleweekly - eater - seattlemet - thestranger - yelp

#1436 #S874 - Le Bon Ton Roule, Seattle - 5/9/2011

Update: Le Bon Ton Roule closed on Dec 2 and was re-opened as El Borracho Del Norte.

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This is a great addition to the neighborhood and city.  It's a New Orleans style roadhouse themed restaurant, with a nice patio, and on most days has styles of music that you can't hear many places.  BTW, the phonetic spelling (Bon "Ton" rather than "Temps") is intended to stress that they are cajun and creole, not French.

This was recently "Claudio's," "Bourbon and Barbeque" and then "The Treehouse."  I'm not aware of what it was before recent times but King County records say the structure is remarkably old -- built in 1900 (which means 1900 or earlier, since records usually listed that year for any stucture built up to and including that year).

Le Bon Ton Roule, Seattle

4332 Leary Way NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 297-8888
Est. 2011 - Building constructed: 1900
lebontonroule.com - facebook - dishtip - thestranger - seattle weekly - thrillist - yelp

#1435 #S873 - Maya's Mexican Cantina, Seattle - 5/7/2011

You have to like an American Mexican joint with a huge menu and a small subsection titled "Mexican dishes."

9447 Rainier Ave. S Seattle, WA. 98178 - 206-725-5510
Est. 1979 - Building constructed: 1947
mayasrestaurant.com - seattletimes - yelp - urbanspoon  

#1434 - Sky Ultra Lounge, Bellevue, WA - 5/5/2011

Update: The Sky Ultra Lounge closed in April 2012

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Oh sweet jeeziz, no. Nothing personal or anything, but if you look at the pictures on this place's web site and have even the slightest urge to go here, we probably just won't be hanging out together much.

550 106th Ave NE, Ste 300, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 453-4300
skyultralounge.com - facebook - yelp

#1433 #S872 - Urban Enoteca, Seattle - 5/3/2011

Update: Urban Enoteca closed Jan 3, 2013

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A huge place one would expect to find in the rolling hills of central Washington rather than tucked under a bridge amidst the warehouses of the SoDo area.  Urban Enoteca has a fine restaurant, a very large tasting room, and a couple grand, additional rooms for special events.  I had the Lamb Crudo (Chimichurri, red onion, Castelventrano olives), the Nuts and Cheese (Candied walnut and blue cheese spread crostini) and a syrah that I forget.

4130 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134 - (206) 467-9463
Est. December 2010 - Closed Jan 3, 2012
urbanenoteca.com - seattlemet - winepeeps - komonews - yelp - seattlemag