#1562 - Goldfish Tavern, Ruston, WA - 9/24/2011

The Defiant Goldfish, Ruston, WA

Later Update: The Defiant Goldfish closed again September 3, 2017.


Update: After apparently being in business since shortly after prohibition, the Goldfish closed in the Fall of 2012, after the then owner, struggling with declining health, a drop in business and a lack of experience (she inherited the bar in a divorce settlement) fell into arears on the lease. While that certainly raised fears for the fans of this great little place right across the street from Point Defiance Park, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as a couple new owners with varied bar experience stepped in, added even more character than the bar had before (a rarity for remodels of old dives), as well as shuffleboard, an improved patio, some very tasty pizza and other food items, and a nice selection of beers and wines. Various financial challenges such as dealing with the ancient underground gas tanks of the one-time gas station were managed with the help of Kickstarter campaign and the city of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department. So congrats to the owners, the locals, and the city government for all helping preserve this historical little gem. The Defiant Goldfish re-opened July 20, 2016.

The Defiant Goldfish, Ruston, WA

Luau Pizza, The Defiant Goldfish, Ruston, WA

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A nifty little dive bar across from Point Defiance Park, with a pretty decent beer selection (no liquor).  The sign says it's been around since right after prohibition, and a lot of the folks who have been there since have carved their names into the wooden bar and tables.

5310 North Pearl Street, Ruston, WA 98407 - (253) 759-7474
Est. 1933 - Constructed 1929
Website: defiantgoldfish.com - facebook
southsoundtalk - weeklyvolcano - yelp - thenewstribune

#1561 - Tanglewood Grill, Gig Harbor, WA - 9/24/2011

3222 56th Street Northwest, Gig Harbor, WA 98335-1359 - (253) 858-5555

tanglewoodgrill.com - yelp - tripadvisor - urbanspoon - patch.com

#1560 - Halftime Sports Saloon, Gig Harbor, WA - 9/24/2011

 So this appears to be the happening hangout on a Saturday night in Gig Harbor, with a sizable crowd and lively karaoke tucked in the corner of a strip mall. It's a fairly typical neighborhood dive, with the expected sort of pub food, pull tabs, and a mixed crowd. The one unique aspect apparent is that many of the ceiling tiles have been personalized over the years by patrons.

(Spell checking is apparently optional as well.)

5114 Pt. Fosdick Dr. NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 - (253) 853-1456
Backwards baseball cap count: 7
Previous bars in this location: Charlie O Ale House
myspace - yelp

#1559 - Hy-Iu-Hee-Hee, Gig Harbor, WA - 9/24/2011

I've been unable to find out what the (Chinook?) phrase Hy-Iu-Hee-Hee means, but judging from appearances it is "big divey sports bar."  An earlier location, a couple miles north of the current venue, apparently burned down sometime during the 70s. 


4309 Burnham Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98332 - (253) 851-7885
Est. 1984 - Constructed: 1984
facebook - gigharbor.patch.com - weeklyvolcano -  yelp - tripadvisor

#1558 - 7 Seas Brewing Taproom, Gig Harbor, WA - 9/24/2011

This microbrew has a nice little taproom and a nicer beer garden area hewn from the surrounding woods.  The beers are nice and the vibe is pleasant.  7 Seas is the first microbrewery in Washington state to can their own beer.  They were founded in 2008, moved after a fire, and the tap room has been open since at least 2009.  To find them, it's better to find the Inn At Gig Harbor, and just drive to the back of the parking lot.

3207 57th Street Court Northwest, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 - (253) 686-3703

7seasbrewing.com - facebook - seattlepi - kbbj - washingtonbeerblog - bainbridgeislandreview - yelp

#1557 - Tides Tavern, Gig Harbor, WA - 9/24/2011

The Tides has been a tavern of various names since prohibition, and was remodeled and renamed into the current incarnation in 1973.  From the tavern's web site:

'The building that now houses the Tides Tavern was built by Axel Uddenburg in 1910 and served the area as a general store. Located next to the "People's Dock", the town's only public ferry landing, it was called the West Side Mercantile. The ferry dock provided a steady stream of customers through the first half-century. With the end of prohibition in the 1930s, a tavern was added, and a tradition of good times began. Beer was sold for 10 cents a glass, and 20 cents a bottle. The tavern never made much money, but no one cared.

Through the years, the building has seen a number of colorful owners, not the least of which was "Three Fingered Jack," a Jerry Garcia look-alike whose tenor voice resonated across the dance floor on Friday and Saturday nights in the late 60s and early 70s.

In 1973, current owner Peter Stanley bought the run-down, but well-known tavern, and began a two-month re-construction project which culminated in the memorable opening of The Tides on the weekend of "Harbor Holidays."'

One of the things I liked about The Tides was that the staff were all running around working hard to serve a full house, but there was much smiling and laughter. It felt like the heart of this small town, for both locals and visitors, and both customers and workers seemed like they were glad to be there.

2925 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 - (253) 858-3982
Est. 1973 - Building constructed: 1910
Previous bars in this location: Ferry Tavern, Three-Fingered Jack's
tidestavern.com (history) - acoupleoffoodiesintacoma -  yelp

#1556 #S922 - Benihana, Seattle - 9/22/2011

1200 Fifth Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 - 206-682-4686Update: Benihana closed in April 2016

benihanaseattle.com - facebook - thestranger - urbanspoon - yelp

#1555 #S921 - Origin, Seattle -9/22/2011

I don't understand why they have a bar at all. Origin is a mediocre Vietnamese restaurant hidden from street view in the middle of a small shopping mall.  Does anybody really go to this bar?  You couldn't tell it from the bartender they hunted down for me, who served me a limp gin and soda when I ordered a gin and tonic.  Unless you have your own project to have a drink at every bar in Seattle, I don't know why you'd bother with the bar here.


1333 5th Ave, Ste 510, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 317-2979
Est. Sept. 4, 2011 - Building constructed: 1976
Other bars at this location: Navya Lounge
facebook - yelp

#1554 #S920 - Orcas Landing, Seattle -9/20/2011

Update: Orcas Landing closed in July 2012

This is a new Hillman City bar from Laurie Lusko, the displaced owner of the Beacon Hill Pub (now Bar del Corso).  This night was a slow one and I ate bruschetta and chatted about bars of Seattle past with Mary Lou, who has owned area restaurants and on this night was working for tips for her friend the owner.  There's nothing particularly remarkable about this place, the drinks, or the food, but it seems like a reasonably nice neighborhood joint.

5609 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118 - (206) 402-4034
Est. 2011 - Closed: July 2012 - Building constructed: 1915
Other bars at this address:  None known
facebook - seattlemag - seattleweekly - newpubbistro - yelp

#1553 #S919 - Velvet, Seattle -9/14/2011

Velvet is an event space in a 100-year-old wooden warehouse just south of the ballparks.  It is decorated in the style of a 19th century bordello and has a nice big bar and some basic cocktails.  This was the first night of the "Velvet stage," which I think means it was the first night for the Velvet bar (this night featuring the dark neo-cabaret of the Blackmoor Travelling Picture Show).

1701 1st Ave S., Seattle, WA - 206 380-9576           
Est. Sep. 14, 2011 - Building constructed: 1910
velvetstage.com - facebook

#1552 - Hollywood Tavern, Woodinville, WA - 9/17/2011

Update: Alas, the atavistic and almost bewildering joy of turning the bend from the lavish lawns of contemporary Woodinville wineries and stumbling upon this ramshackle dive with the beat up "Tavern" sign turned out to be just too incongruent to last. The sign remains, but the cabin-like space where Mabel Niemen served up Olys to a blue collar crowd is remodeled almost beyond recognition, into an upscale home of modern cuisine served up by Josh Henderson, who first made a name for himself with his Skillet food truck. Beside it stretches a large, new warehouse hosting the Woodinville Whiskey distillery.

To be sure, the drinks and food are light years better, and the space, said to be modeled on Napa Valley's "Taylor’s Refresher" has some nice, quirky touches, including horseshoe throwing in front, and a fire pit patio in back. In addition to the old Tavern sign, there are some references here and there to the old place -- paint-by-number paintings, and a framed tavern token collection. I quite enjoyed my Oil Change (Woodinville Whiskey Rye, Meletti amaro, root beer bitters), and I'm sure there are more nice options among the drinks designed by Maggie Savarino (Madison Park Conservatory). And looking at the dishes of various updated comfort foods being served to folks around us, I looked forward to coming back when I have not just had dinner, and having some Ancho Chile Tots, with their braised pork bits, cilantro, ancho lime crema and toasted pepitas.

If it had to go, I'm glad they preserved as much of it as they did, and that they replaced it with a joint that I want to go to repeatedly. But I will miss the pure impertinence of the old dive around the corner from Chateau St. Michelle.

14508 Woodinville Redmond Rd, Woodinville, WA 98072-9092 - 425 610-7730
Est. Late 1947 - Upscale version est. Nov 12, 2013 - Building constructed: Late 1923
Web site: thehollywoodtavern.com - facebook
Articles: seattletimes - seattlemag - 425magazine - eatinseattle - thestranger - prnewswire - yelp - seattlemet - seattlemet - woodinvillewhiskeyco - woodinvillepatch

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Just around the corner from the courtly wine country of Woodinville, WA is a tiny old bar with a small neon sign reading simply "Tavern."  The place is inexplicably named the Hollywood Tavern, although until the early 90s it was "Mabel's Tavern" and the latter name is still commonly used to clarify the location.  The building opened as The Homestead Grocery (and gas station) in the early 1920s, and in the 40s was sold to Mabel Newman, who converted into a tavern.
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 There's a parking lot where Mabel's house used to be, and the bar itself contains many pieces of paraphernalia from Olympia Beer, the current owner's favorite.  It is a true tavern (no liquor, just beer and wine) and has a pleasant set of old regulars on the stools

14508 Woodinville Redmond Rd, Woodinville, WA 98072-9092 - (425) 488-0630
Articles on old version: woodinville.patch - woodinville.patch - kcls (woodinville history) - yelp

#1551 #S918 - Coterie, Seattle -9/14/2011

Update: On the evening of Sep 29, 2013, Coterie closed as a public bar and was used only for special events for a few years until Cursed Oak opened in its space in November 2016

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There was not a lot of tension over whether I'd like to food or cocktails in this new restaurant in the old location of Restaurant Zoe.  It's another place by Brian McCracken and Dana Tough, after Spur and Tavern Law, my favorite stop for cocktails or fine food in Seattle.  The emphasis is on the bar in those other two, but it's a smaller part of this one.  We had some tasty cod fritters and mac & cheese to go with a Seelback, a sazerac, and a third drink of no name with aquavit and celery bitters (the third came as a challenge to bartender Jerry to make a nice drink with an aquavit base).

It was all very tasty, as I expected.  However if you are looking primarily for a bar, this space is less intimate and darkly comfortable than Spur and Tavern Law, despite an intriguing wall of live ferns.  But it's great to have more options from these two guys.

2137 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 956-8000
Est. Sep 13, 2011 - Building constructed: 1927
Other bars at this location: Restaurant Zoe
thecoterieroom.com - facebook - tossedsaladsandscrambledeggs - seattletimes - seattletimes - eater.com - thestranger - yelp

#1550 #S917 - Bar Del Corso, Seattle - 9/10/2011

I was sad to see the long-running Beacon Hill Pub close before I could ever make it (the owner moved to open Orcas Landing).  But holy smokes, Jerry Corso has turned this into one of the city's best neighborhood pizzerias and restaurants. We sat at the end of the bar and watched delicious looking dish after delicious looking dish coming out.  It's no secret either -- though it is a reasonably sized place, you can expect to have a fairly long wait any day of the week if you go anywhere close to the dinner hour.

But it's worth it.

I put BDC in my personal top 4 pizza stops in Seattle (along with downtown's Serious Pie, Wallingford's Delancey, and West Seattle's Phoenicia).  We had the Salame Piccante pizza (tomato, salame, mozzarella, roasted peppers and grana).  But the salads and appetizers are as good or better.  We enjoyed the Suppli al Telefono (Roman street food: fried risotto balls and mozzarella) and I had the best heirloom tomato / Caprese salad I've ever had in my life (heirloom tomatoes and burrata with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic must, basic and coarse see salt).

The bar is good as well.  I had an Old Perry Manhattan Redux (sweet vermouth, rye whiskey, Angostura bitters), but it is the food that will make you lust to return.



3057 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144 - (206) 395-2069
Est. July 12, 2011 - Building constructed: 1926
Other bars at this location: There have been bars her since at least 1939,  and it was the Beacon Hill Pub from at least 1948 until 2010
bardelcorso.com - facebook - seattletimes - seattletimes - seattleweekly - thestranger - eater.com - yelp

#1549 - East Side Bar and Grill, Bellevue, WA - 9/6/2011

Um, no.

625 116th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, WA 98004-5207 - (425) 455-9444
coasthotels.com - yelp

#1548 #S916 - Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium, Seattle -9/5/2011

Update: Canon was named as having the "world's best drink selection" at the 2013 Tales of the Cocktail.

After a sunny day at Bumbershoot we just thought we'd give dropping by the new place a shot, and as luck would have it, Jamie had decided to open for the night, with little advance warning, to test things out.  The place is a very cozy place to have a cocktail with all the dark wood, impressive selections of spirits, punch bowl, and various cocktail accoutrements.

I had a "Canon Cocktail" (rye and Ramazotti with Cointreau foam) which was excellent, followed by another great rye-based drink that I forget from the "Roulette" selection (name your spirit and let the bartender improvise -- something I would have done in any case, but is now formalized on the menu). My companion, not quite the fan of whiskey-based drinks as I, opted for a peach Rickey, and was happy to find a well-balanced, not too sweet option, as you might fear from lesser hands.

We also tried the pork burgers, which come on Asian style buns and are bookended by a little toy cannon.  The 100-item menu was not yet available, but I am very much looking forward to going back often and working my way through it.

After this visit we learned that, in addition to the talented bartenders already working there, Jamie has recruited the legendary Murray Stenson to the bar -- which seems like the perfect balance of interested drinkers and limited size that would be perfect for him.  In any case, this has to already be considered one of the top cocktail destinations in Seattle, and indeed, in the cocktail world, while at the same time retaining the intimate, specialist, offbeat sort of vibe such that it is not over-run by boring people.  It's obviously not much of an insight to discover that this is great bar, but experience confirms that there's no denying that for lovers of bourbon and finely balanced cocktails, it doesn't get any better than this.

928 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Est. Sep 2011 - Building constructred: 1920
Other bars at this location:  Licorous
canonseattle.com - facebook - seattlemet - thestranger - eater - seattleweekly - yelp