#2023 #1107 - Shanik, Seattle - 1/21/2013

Shanik, Seattle

Update: Shanik closed March 21, 2015

Shanik ("SHAW-nuk") is a new Indian restaurant in South Lake Union from Meeru Dhalwala, the owner of Vancouver BC's much celebrated Vij's. The food is very good -- a shift further from traditional preparations than Vij's, from what I have heard. However, the pretty bar at the rear is wine and beer only and basically just a waiting area for the restaurant. I would like to see it grow into something more -- I liked the food quite a bit, but this is a bar blog, and it's almost to be expected now that any high reputation restaurant with a bar at all is going to have to feature some pretty solid craft cocktail options. At least for now it is a good place for dinner, but you'll want to slip over to Re:public for a nightcap.

Shanik, Seattle

Shanik, Seattle

500 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 486-6884              
Est. Dec 5, 2012 - Closed Mar 21, 2015 - Building constructed 2011
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: shanikrestaurant.com
Best Reviews: thestranger - seattlemet - seattlemag - seattleweekly - seattletimes - nytimes - seattlemag - gastrolust - bizjournals - seriouseats - seattleweekly - yelp

#2022 - Fiesta Del Mar, Burien, WA - 1/20/2013

This bar location does not have genial history. Over the years as the Bull Pen Tavern II, the Flame Tavern, and various sports bars it has been known for drunkeness and violence, including the murder of a bouncer with an assault rifle, and, most notoriously, as the last place one Brenda Ball was seen before she died at the hands of Ted Bundy. So perhaps one should admire anyone with the chutzpah to try and clean it up and make a decent go of it here.

Sal Hernandez and Jose Baries are giving it a go -- commissioning ocean-themed murals around the exterior and interior of the building, and serving Mexican seafood, along with margaritas, mariachi bands, and salsa dancing. On this lazy Sunday evening it was not possible to tell how they are doing -- with Mexican karaoke blasting in the nearly empty, cavernous space. The lackluster food and margaritas are not likely to draw me back soon, but it may be a hopping place on a Friday or Saturday night, and I wish them good luck.

12803 Ambaum Boulevard Southwest Burien, WA 98146 - (206) 466-5251
Est. October 2011 - Building constructed: 1928
Previous bars in this location: Bull Pen Tavern II, Flame Inn Tavern, Mario's Sports Bar, MVP Sports Club, Twigg's Sports Bar
Web site: facebook
Reviews: b-townblog - yelp

#2021 - Elmer's Pub, Burien, WA - 1/20/2013

Elmer's is large and bright and has a rock stage, but on this Sunday evening I believe I was the only customer under the age of 70. The location appears to have hosted the Burien Tavern from at least the 40s to 80s, and become Elmer's sometime around 1990? It is purportedly cleaned-up by new owners who took over last year, and is said to be popular with bikers -- though the crowd I saw were more likely to have rolled up on their Rascal scooters.

15027 Ambaum Blvd SW, Burien, WA 98166 - (206) 439-1007
Previous bars at this location: The Burien Tavern (listed at 15029), Bartenetti Burien Tavern and Pizza
Web site:  facebook
Reviews: seattleweekly - thestranger - yelp

#2020 - Poker Pete's Pizza, Kalama, WA - 1/20/2013

Had a nice chat  here with Bob, a local who commutes to Portland.

168 North 1st Street Kalama, WA 98625 - (360) 673-3240
Reviews: urbanspoon  - yelp

#2019 - Chinook Room, Columbia Inn, Kalama, WA - 1/20/2013

Overheard in the Chinook Room:

"He falls down and gets a 15-yard penalty. I don't think that boy should even be playing ball. Tom Brady is the biggest, little sissy."
"Bill, sometimes you are the biggest dumbshit."

The Columbia Inn and Chinook Room sports bar in back are more interesting on the outside than the inside. The food, drinks, and decor are bland, but you tend to stop for the cool signage and the charming little town.

The population of Kalama peaked in 1874, booming and then declining as the Northern Pacific Railroad created a terminus there, then moved their headquarters to Tacoma. From the 1880s to 1908, the second largest ferry in the world took train cars across the Columbia River from Kalama to Oregon. The ferry is gone but port-related businesses still employ about 1,000 people from the area (the current population of Kalama is around 2,500).

 In 1962, Elvis stayed at the adjacent motel, while driving from L.A. to Seattle to film "It Happened at the World's Fair." A sign on the side of the restaurant notes this and a visit from Jack Benny.

698 Northeast Frontage Road, Kalama, WA - (360) 673-7600
Reviews: yelp - elvishistory

#2018 - Icehouse, Vancouver, WA - 1/19/2013

For a description see Three Monkeys Pub.

7804 Northeast Highway 99 Vancouver, WA 98665 - (360) 573-0454

#2017 - Three Monkeys Pub, Vancouver, WA - 1/19/2013

Just over the river from hipster Portland, Vancouver, Washington bars seem like they are lost in time. There are hair bands on the big screen, and The Macarena is still huge. This is very evident in the classic suburban strip mall pub the Three Monkeys. The space has no particular personality, but a lively crowd is there doing Jaegar bombs, jello shots, and whip cream in flavored vodkas.

7917 Northeast Highway 99 Vancouver, WA 98665 - (360) 828-7006

#2016 - The Florida Room, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

For Seattlelites, you might envision Portland's Florida Room as something midway between Unicorn and the Blue Moon. It has the colors of Unicorn, the carnival scenes painted on the tables, mid-century modern signage, the diveyness of the Blue Moon, condiments in six pack cartons, and various paintings with the Hamms Bear painted into them.

435 North Killingsworth Street Portland, OR 97217 - (503) 287-5658
Est. 2006

Web site: facebook
Reviews:  portlandmercury - eater - wweek - portlandhamburgers - barfly - portlandmonthly - urbanspoon - yelp

#2015 - The Tardis Room, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

A funky, nerd magnet, Dr. Who-themed bar inside "The Fish and Chip Shop"

1218 N Killingsworth St Portland, OR 97217 - (503) 232-3344
Est. Dec. 2010 (restaurant in Nov. 2008)
Previous bars in this location:
Web site: thefishandchipshop.com - facebook 
Reviews: pechluck1 - oregonlive - thrillist - barfly - yelp

#2014 - The Woodsman Tavern, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

Try the: Kentucky Special

It was interesting to hear the bartender at this upscale restaurant and craft cocktail bar tell of various locals poking their head in expecting to grab a Bud in the new neighborhood dive. Instead the Woodsman usually has a line for dinner and drinks, and was recently celebrated by GQ Magazine as one of the best new restaurants in the country. I had some very nice cocktails on this evening, including a "Hunting Vest" (basically and Old Pal with Cedar-steeped Campari) and an even better "Kentucky Special" (12yo bourbon, Lapsang souchong, cherry heering, and Angostoga bitters). I'm no fan of oysters, so I stuck to the burger, which was pretty good, and came with fried potatoes with mayo and Saracha sauce.

4537 Southeast Division Street Portland, OR 97206 - (971) 373-8264
Est. Fall 2011

Web site: woodsmantavern.com -
Reviews: eater - nytimes - wweek - eatiuppdx - seriouseats - portlandmonthly -  yelp

#2013 - Funhouse Lounge, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

Portland's Funhouse does not have great drinks or food, but it does have a stage hosting music and improv, a carnival on acid retro decor, and a number of fairly isolated rooms, crowned by the happily creepy "Clown Room"

2432 Southeast 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97214 - (503) 841-6734
Web site: funhouselounge.com - facebook
Reviews: barfly - yelp - portlandmercury

#2012 - Reel M Inn, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

This is a swell example of the sort of places that make Portland such a good bar town. There's chalk graffiti on exposed wood, a door handle made from an oar, and an upside down umbrella that collects a surprising amount of cash for the Make A Wish foundation. It's an unassuming neighborhood dive, with a nice mix of ages, and enough ramshackle personality that you can easily feel as if it were on the side of a small lake in the mountains.

2430 Southeast Division Street Portland, OR 97202 - (503) 231-3880

Reviews: barfly

#2011 - Dockside Saloon, Portland, OR - 1/19/2013

The Dockside  is a blue collar restaurant across the street from an industrial area on the banks of the Willamette River. It's been around sine 1986 but there's been a restaurant in the building for 90 years or so. It's more of a diner than a bar (it closed at 3pm on Saturdays), but the woody interior, hodge-podge of wall decorations, and the friendly staff make it a pleasant place to grab an early cocktail.

The Dockside's brush with fame came courtesy of Tonya Harding, when they inspected several bags of trash someone had thrown in their dumpster and found various bits of evidence connecting to the clubbing of Nancy Kerrigan (including Nancy's practice schedule in Tonya's handwriting).

2047 Northwest Front Avenue Portland, OR 97209 - (503) 241-6433
Est. Sep 15, 1986 - Building constructed: c.1925
Previous bars in this location: Doc's Sternwheeler, What's Up Doc?
Web site: docksidesaloon.com - facebook
Reviews: barfly - portlandmercury - yelp