#1998 #S1098 - Cafe Pettirosso, Seattle - 1/3/2013

Update: Cafe Pettirosso closed Feb 6, 2022

A personable little cafe and bar almost hidden on Capitol Hill, Cafe Pettirosso actually shut down in 2011, but re-opened in 2012, now owned by former employee Yuki Sodos and her sister Miki. The Sodos also run Bang Bang Cafe in Belltown, and they expanded the Pettirosso space and added a full bar, and some funky ceiling lights from an old Seattle gym. It's still more of a cafe in spirit than a bar, catering to expresso lovers and featuring many vegan lunch options, but they also serve some fairly nice drinks. I had a pleasant chat with Nick the cook and Briand the bartender.

1101 E Pike St Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 324-2233
Est. Oct 30, 2012 (bar) - Building constructed: 1911
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: pettirossoseattle.com - facebook 
Best articles: capitolhillseattle - seattletimes - seattlespectator - thestranger - veganscore - thrillist - yelp

#1997 #S1097 - Sam's Tavern, Seattle - 1/3/2013

Sam's Tavern is immediately comfortable in a woody, lodge-y, taxidermy, Linda Derschang-y sort of way, offering very average cocktails and some pretty good burgers. The name is an homage to the original tavern on the edge of Lake Union, which became Sam's Red Robin and eventually the Red Robin chain. The burgers made Eater's 25 Hottest Hamburgers in American Right Now -- which presumably was instantly out of date.

Sam's Tavern, Seattle, WA

1024 E Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 860-4238
Est. Dec 31, 2012 - Building constructed: 1913
Previous bars in this location: Chino's
Web site:  samstavernseattle.com - facebook
Reviews: thrillist - seattlemet - seattlemag - eater - thestranger - yelp

#1996 #S1096 - Metropole, Seattle - 1/2/2013

 

The Metropole American Kitchen and Bar replaces the shortlived Soban, the last of three pan-Asian restaurants with hit and miss food and some comically bad cocktails from the bar, to have tried to make a go in this space since it was built in 2003. It seems like a difficult location, benefiting from the sporadic crowds walking to the Paramount, but cut over the highway from Capitol Hill and off the beaten track from the heart of downtown. Perhaps the updated American comfort foods from chef Michael Bruno (Tango, Il Terrazo) will have a broader appear to the random gatherings marching home from Soundgarden and "The Book of Mormon."

 I had a quite pleasant baked ziti with lamb bolognese and a nice corn and crab bisque. The bar also seems somewhat upgraded. My "Fremont Old Fashioned" was watery from too much soda, but the "Metropole Manhattan" was considerably better balanced. Both bar and restaurant feature a lot of local products (e.g. Mischief Rye in my Old Fashioned), with several organic and vegetarian options. The name was chosen at least partially for the old Metropole Tavern, which was run by the owner's grandfather. (thestranger)

I had a quite pleasant baked ziti with lamb bolognese and a nice corn and crab bisque. The bar also seems somewhat upgraded. My "Fremont Old Fashioned" was watery from too much soda, but the "Metropole Manhattan" was considerably better balanced. Both bar and restaurant feature a lot of local products (e.g. Mischief Rye in my Old Fashioned), with several organic and vegetarian options. The name was chosen at least partially for the old Metropole Tavern, which was run by the owner's grandfather. (thestranger)

820 Pike Street Seattle, Wa 98101 - 206-832-5555
Est. Dec 27, 2012 - Building constructed: 2003
Previous bars in this location: Soban Restaurant and Lounge, 820 Pike, Bambuza
Web site: metropoleseattle.com - facebook
Reviews: thestranger - thrillist - yelp

#1995 #S1095 - The Whale Wins, Seattle - 12/29/2012

After spending my last "Project K-Bar" visit at Agrodolce, my visit to The Whale Wins featured quite a few parallel experiences: Dinners at restaurants opened in late 2012 by highly regarded chefs (Renee Erickson/Maria Hines), whose homey first efforts (Boat Street Cafe/Tilth) and more splashy second restaurants (Walrus and Carpenter/Golden Beetle) I like a great deal, but after quite enjoying the cocktails in the new places, the food left me disappointed.

Now it seems like everybody loves the food at the Whale Wins, so you should not take me experience to heart, and I certainly plan on returning (if I can avoid being tempted into Joule next door, whose food was a much more thorough hit for me). But I started with the roasted radicchio with hazelnets, buttermilk poppyseed vinaigrette and buttery crumbs, which was far to drenched in the dressing and far too rich for me (that is not a complaint you often hear from me). Then the roasted Emerald Acre clams with thyme, lemon peel, chili flakes, and cream were surprisingly bland.

Whether I should really count this as a bar was a difficult call for me. The physical bar itself seemed more of a counter, and it seemed doubtful that there are any regulars who drop in just for a cocktail. But perhaps I was persuaded by how much I enjoyed the drinks, starting with a Normandy Old Fashioned (Calvados, black tea syrup, bitters). While it lacks any hint of the darkness I prefer in a bar, the staff and overall vibe were both very friendly. And I repeat that everyone else in the city seems delighted with their meals here ("To eat The Whale Wins' roasted chicken is to ask: Is this the best restaurant in Seattle?"), and I myself really enjoy Walrus; so either my particular visit or perhaps my particular tastebuds would appear to be the outlier here.

3506 Stone Way North Seattle, Washington 98103 - (206) 632-9425
Est. Oct 17, 2012 - Building constructed: 1964
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: thewhalewins.com - facebook
Best articles: thestranger - seattleweekly - seattletimes - seattlebusinessmag - seriouseats - seattlemet - yelp

#1994 #S1094 - Agrodolce, Seattle - 12/26/2012

Arancini, Agrodolce, Seattle

Agrodolce is an organic Sicilian restaurant from James Beard winning Seattle chef Maria Hines, in the space that locals remember as the old Still Life in Fremont. This latest incarnation preserves the small bar area created by previous residents "35th St. Bistro." I enjoyed my cocktails through the evening, starting with "The Thief" (Apple jack, Benedictine, peach bitters, lemon cava). The food, however, left me a little disappointed.

The Arancini and spaghetti were both fine, but when I'm paying for microscopic tapas plates at an upscale restaurant, I'm hoping for something delicious and remarkable. This was my only dinner here, so I have fairly little to judge upon at this point (although I noticed that the Seattle Times and Stranger critics had a similar reaction). With Sicilian cuisine and Maria Hines combined, my guess is that future meals here will be a bit more enjoyable.


709 North 35th Street Seattle, Washington 98103 - (206) 547-9707
Est. Dec 21, 2012 - Building constructed: 1909
Previous bars in this location: 35th St. Bistro
Web site: agrodolcerestaurant.net - facebook
Reviews: seattletimes - thestranger - seattlemag - yelp

#1993 #1093 - The Augustus, Seattle - 12/16/2012

Update: Augustus closed Feb 28, 2014

Augustus is a new bar and restaurant from Robb Sheldon (Liberty, Whisky Bar) and Sarah Sheldon (Zoe), with support from Brian Brooks and Jaime Mullins-Brooks of Hunger, next door. Augustus serves well-made cocktails with an emphasis on the recipes and styles of the late 19th and early 20th century. The name "Augustus" is a nod to David Augustus Embury, author of The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. I started with a nice Dragon Toe, which Robb described as a sort of "gateway drug for women to brown liquors." Moving drinkers to more spirit-focused cocktails and brown liquors in particular is another focus of the bar. We also discussed my superstition about never having a bad cocktail with cucumber, and Robb observed that he may have started the cucumber trend back at the Bada Lounge 11 years ago. In addition to the very pleasant cocktail offerings, August serves food with an emphasis on house-made sausages.

Seattle Met's Allecia Vermillion describes how the bar came about:

"Robb and Sarah Sheldon were on their honeymoon when they got a call from two old friends. Sarah met Jaime Mullins-Brooks when the two worked at Restaurant Zoe; now Jaime and husband Brian Brooks run Fremont restaurant Hunger. And they had intel they promised was worth interrupting the couple’s newly wedded bliss: The former Rogue and Peasant space next to Hunger was suddenly available. The Sheldons had been looking for a place to open a bar, and here was an available space adjacent to their friends’ restaurant. From the beaches of Hawaii, the Sheldons green-lighted the plan."  (SeattleMet)

My one complaint about Augustus is that it is not open Sundays. I can certainly understand that from a small, family run, specialist restaurant, but Sunday is my favorite bar day, so I hope there is enough demand and staffing that I don't continue dropping buy mostly when it is closed.


3601 Fremont Ave N, Ste 207, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 588-0891
Est. Dec 10, 2012 - Closed Feb 28, 2014 - Building constructed: 1996
Previous bars in this location: Rogue and Peasant
Web site: theaugustusseattle.com - facebook
Reviews: seattlemet - seattlemet - yelp

#1992 - Horseshoe Saloon, Woodinville - 12/15/2012

The popular blue collar cousin to the tony wineries up the road, "the Shoe" is popular with the locals and the parking lot is usually full of pickups and SUVs. Basic bar food, basic cockails, basic beer selection, mix of ages, leaning toward older.

12461 NE Woodinville Dr, Woodinville, WA 98072 - (425) 488-2888
Est. 1982

Web site: facebook
Reviews: activerain - patch.com - king5 - yelp