#1972 - Jo Jo's Harbor Light Tavern, Oak Harbor, WA - 11/18/2012

Patrons: 7 middle-aged to old guys, 7 baseball caps. We were only 50% middle aged male and had no baseball caps, so we immediately stood out. But we had a nice chat with customer Yogi, who is one of the regulars who has his own mug at Jo Jo's, some of them a little worse for the wear.

650 SE Pioneer Way Oak Harbor, WA 98277 - (360) 679-1388
Est. 1994 - Building constructed: 1926
Reviews: urbanspoon 

#1971 - Toby's Tavern, Coupville, WA - 11/17/2012

Toby's Tavern is a nice little joint for a beer and some pub food, in a historic space in Coupeville, the second oldest town in the state of Washington, founded in 1852 by Captain Thomas Coupe. It's a fine place to sample the Penn Cove mussels, or just grab some halibut fish and chips or a bowl of clam chowder. A decent selection of beers includes their own  Toby’s Parrot Red Ale. It gets a fair amount of tourists but still feels like a primarily local place, with the servers calling people by name and giving them grief. The walls are pleasantly cluttered with artifacts and old photos.

The place has been "Toby's" since sometime between the mid 70s and late 80s (1988?), but it has been a bar since 1938. The construction date of the building is unknown, but at least a portion of it goes back to at least 1890, with various estimates ranging from 1869 to 1875. It is one of a handful of buildings built by John Alexander S. Robertson in the 19th century which are still in use today. The back bar dates back to the 19th century, and was moved to its current location in 1943, when Vique Sealey purchased the place and moved the bar there from his Central Hotel location across the street, which had been seriously damaged by fire. The back bar had been used in the Ft. Casey Officers Club in the early 20th century, and stored at Ft. Worden during prohibition. The business was Sealey's Tavern until at least in the early 70s.

8 Front Street Northwest Coupeville, WA 98239 (360) 678-4222
Est. 1988? - Building constructed: c. 1875 - Bar since 1938
Previous bars in this location: Sealey's Tavern
Web site: tobysuds.com
Reviews: jeepspubstaverns - examiner - shalinigujavarty - beeradvocate - yelp

#1970 - Cinebarre, Seattle - 11/11/2012

One of a number of nice things about Portland that are lacking in Seattle is the movie pub. We don't really have cozy little pubs with a theater attached where you can catch a film while enjoying a microbrew or cocktail. The Big Picture is an exception, but it is as much a rented event space as a public theater, and you can't count on it being available when you want it.

Another approximation is Cinebarre, in the north Seattle suburb of Mountlake Terrace. It is part of a small national chain, and the decor, remodeled from a 90s multiplex, is arid and mall-like. But despite the lack of charm, it does feature very comfortable seating and servers who deliver mediocre food and drinks to your seats. It's not fine dining or craft cocktails, but for the same price as other theaters, it is quite pleasant to have the service, food, and liquor options.



6009 244th St SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 - (425) 672-7501
Est. May 28, 2009 - Building constructed 1994
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: cinebarre.com - facebook  
Reviews: thestranger - seattletimes - cinematour - yelp - urbanspoon

#1969 - Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant, Mountlake Terrace - 11/11/2012

This small chain's ownership has a nice story about founder Andrés  Cárdenas Guitrón immigrating to America, working his way up from dishwasher to owner of 16 restaurants, and giving back to charitable interests in both the U.S. and Mexico. So congratulations and best wishes for further success. However, if there's a way to distinguish this place from any Azteca or hundreds of  other apparently identical American Mexican restaurant across the country, someone is going to have to explain it to me. So it is not a bad stop -- you know what you're getting and you get a good quantity of reasonable food for your money. But if you aren't already nearby just seeking an average place, there aren't any distinguishing features to attract you.

6003 244th St SW Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 - (425) 409-9867
Web site: mazatlanwa.com - facebook  
Reviews: yelp

#1968 #S1080 - Pestle Rock, Seattle - 11/9/2012

Pestle Rock Isan Thai Cuisine is name for the rocking pestle used to grind the spices of the northeast region (Isan) of Thailand. This is apparently the first restaurant in Seattle to focus on Isan dishes. They have added a bar at the back (it used to be the original Snoose Junction location), though the bar is fairly forgettable. But it's nice to be able to get a cocktail while enjoying the food.

2305 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 466-6671
Est. 2012 - Building constructed: 1928 
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: pestlerock.com - facebook
Best articles: ballardnewstribune - seattleweekly - eater - thrillist - urbanspoon - thestranger - yelp

#1967 #S1079 - Elemental Pizza, Seattle - 11/5/2012

So I will confess at the outset that you have to be something pretty special to bring me out to a mall, and especially the crazy, no-parking space U Village Mall, more than once. Elemental Pizza is not quite that. The pizza was pretty good, the cocktails okay, the bar not much of a bar. They do now have a star chef, and it seems like a reasonable option if you are in walking distance and craving wood-fired pizza, or have to stop by the Apple Store. So particularly as bar, which is what this project/blog is about, there's not enough at Elemental Pizza to pull you there if you are not already in the mall; but of course lots of people are already in the mall ...

2630 NE University Village St., Seattle, Washington 98105 - (206) 524-4930
Est. Oct 25, 2012

Web site: elementalpizza.com - facebook
Reviews: seattleweekly - seattlemet - eater - yelp

#1966 #S1078 - Corner Bar, Seattle - 11/4/2012

Update: This new location of the Corner Bar closed in mid 2013

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The former Whisky Bar space is now named the Corner Bar, as it was earlier, and now run by the Buenos Aires Grill people. It has its own menu, but is a bit spare, and seems to be feeling its way as far as what kind of place it wants to be.

2000 2nd Ave, Suite 103, Seattle, WA - (206) 448-3352
Est. Oct 31, 2012 - Closed 2013 - Building constructed: 1910
Previous bars in this location: DT Cooper Saloon, Mickey Flynn's, Whisky Bar
Web site: cornerbarseattle.com - facebook
Reviews: thrillist - seattleweekly - eater - yelp