#2130 #S1131 - Peddler Brewing, Seattle - 4/12/2013

Another Ballard microbrewery and tasting room (10 breweries within 2 square miles at least count), this one with a range of their brews on 12 taps, and niceties for bikers such as a bike hanger and community bike repair stand.

1514 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107 - (360) 362-0002
Est. March 8, 2013 - Building constructed: year
Previous bars in this location: None known (former brewing space for Maritime Pacific Brewing)
Web site: peddlerbrewing.com - facebook
Reviews: thestranger - wedrinkyourbeer - thrillist - untappd - beeradvocate - seattlemet - myballard

#2129 - Lake Trail Taproom (192 Brewing), Kenmore, WA - 4/12/2013

Settings for bars do not come much more thoroughly unique than this. The Lake Trail Taproom is a couple small rooms carved out of a large warehouse, serving microbrews from 14 taps including a couple brewed by the owners, who run 192 Brewing. Their beers (first licensed in 2009) are brewed in a 12x16 shed behind the owner's house, its 192 square feet leading to the company name. The taproom location has fashioned a funky beer garden and live music venue from the warehouse and surrounding grounds it shares with a topsoil supplier and koi pond supply company. Their Facebook page includes announcements like "What's new? A mirror in the bathroom!"

The beers are pretty good, the people are friendly, and the setting feels like more of some small town in the Cascade mountains than a suburb of Seattle. I need to go back on a warm day to get some better photos, including the outside grounds.

7324 NE 175th St, Ste F Kenmore, WA 98028 - 425-424-2337
Est. May 22, 2012 - Building constructed: 1956
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: 192brewing.com - facebook
Reviews: ratebeer - yelp

#2128 #S1130 - The Lost Pelican, Seattle - 4/12/2013

Update: The Lost Pelican closed in mid 2016.

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In this space that once hosted a fancy pants Lampreia and the slightly less fancy pants Bisato, Michael Forte of The Lookout has now created a Creole themed place that serves some fairly good craft cocktails and pretty good Cajun food.  I liked the Bensonhurst (bourbon, vermouth, Cynar and maraschino liqueur). It's definitely worth a stop, but the building, decor and overall vibe are a little aloof for a bar -- and especially a New Orleans style bar.

2400 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 - (206) 441-5132 
Est. April 8, 2013 - Building constructed: 1994
Previous bars in this location: Lampreia, Bisato
Web site: thelostpelican.com - facebook
Best articles: cornichon - seattletimes - yelp - seattlemag - thestranger - thrillist

#2127 #S1129 - Bar Cotto, Seattle - 4/9/2013

pork belly bruschetta, Bar Cotto, Seattle

For folks outside of Seattle and celebrity chefdom, Ethan Stowell is a celebrated local chef who has been establishing a mini empire of restaurants across Seattle (e.g. his Anchovies And Olives next door was picked by Bon Apetit as one top ten restaurants in America). So you can count on some interesting food when he opens up a salumeria and cocktail bar. And indeed I had a very nice Salame pizza and pork belly bruschetta, accompanied by a cocktail that I liked pretty much as much as any I've ever had. This was the Old Loathsome Bastard (oak cask aged Old Overholt and Averna, Strega, Pur Blood orange, and each bitters), which some might say seems almost named with me in mind.

The space is narrow and the bar is small, but it's a nicely dark at the bar, and if not entirely unfussy, it's about as homey as one could expect an Ethan Stowell salumeria to be.

1546 15th Ave Seattle, Washington 98122 - (206) 838-8081                  
Est. Feb 15, 2013 - Building constructed: 2008
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: ethanstowellrestaurants.com - facebook
Reviews: seattlemag - capitolhillseattle - thrillist - thestranger - yelp

#2126 #S1128 - Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar, Seattle - 4/7/2013

Yes, yet another combination Ethiopian restaurant, coffee shop, sports bar, dessert shop, live jazz venue. The decor is curious, the menu idiosyncratic, the people friendly and the vibe very comfortable.

Huh?  -- Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar, Seattle

1800 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144 - (206) 538-0044
Est. Feb 3, 2013 - Building constructed: 2008
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: wondersportsbar.com
Reviews: thestranger - centraldistrictnews - thrillist - yelp - capitolhillseattle - eater

#2125 #S1127 - Stir, Seattle - 4/6/2013

Simone and Emily at Stir nightclub, Seattle

"Stir" was the last, floundering attempt to make a go at this building across from Key Arena that seemed to change identities every couple years. That will be the final attempt though -- this time they razed the 1970 building. It had a few brief dying moments though -- lingerie parties and ladies nights, drink specials on Jack and Coke and Long Island Ice Teas, appeals to Madonna and Bob Dylan fans on their way to the shows. The one night I went there was a gothy sort of event called Wicked, with people rubbing gun oil on each other's latex outfits. "I realize why they don't put pockets in latex clothing," a friend told me, "It's because they collect sweat and water and destroy electronic devices."

Telesedrin and Pete at Wicked, Stir Nightclub

When this place was Skybox, when it was Kwatay, when it was Chicago's or Nico's or Mr. Lucky -- it was never a place I thought to go to often. Still, it's a pretty damn good bet that whatever condos or retail mix replaces it is going to be considerably less interesting.

315 N 1st Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (425) 266-9396                 
Est. Aug 3, 2012 - Building constructed: 1970 - Building demolished: 2013
Previous bars in this location: Skybox, KwaTay, Chicago's, Mr. Lucky, Nico's, Joy's 21, Mainstage, Popeye's Tavern
Web site: facebook

#2124 #S1126 - Fountain Wine Bar, Seattle - 4/4/2013

So I love hotel bars, but this new version from the Sheraton is pretty underwhelming. It has a few nice pieces of art -- taking it's name from the George Tsutakawa fountain in the middle of the room -- but it is overly bright, lacking in any kind of charm or intimacy, and the cocktail menu is a juvenile mess of flavored vodka drinks. Thankfully for hotel guests, Loulay has recently opened in the same building.

1400 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 (Sheraton Hotel) - (206) 621-9000
Est. Jan 2013 - Building constructed: 1982
Previous bars in this location: Fullers, Sheraton Lobby Lounge
Web site: sheratonseattle.com - facebook
Reviews: bizjournals - seattleweekly - thestranger - yelp

#2123 #S1125 - Sebi's Bistro, Seattle - 4/2/2013

At the south end of the University Bridge, across the street from the long abandoned original Red Robin, there's a funky little castle of a building that has hosted a wide range of businesses and several bars. These include the Llahngaelhyn jazz and coffee house in the 60s, Rapunzel's Tavern in the 70s, and 80s alternative music venue the Scoundrel's Lair (e.g. Soundgarden, The Melvins, Cowboy Junkies, the Dead Milkmen). Today two brothers now run Sebi's in the space, with their Polish-born mother doing the cooking. The menu includes several familiar Polish staples -- schnitzel, kielbasa, pierogies and pyzy -- along with pizzas and sandwiches not that much different from when the place was Romio's. Big Daniel, who once played football for the Huskies just across Portage Bay, works as bartender and amiable host, behind a very modest bar that includes a nice selection of Polish beers.

Schnitzel from Sebi's Bistro, Seattle

3242 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 420-2199
Est. Feb 2013 - Building constructed: 1928
Previous bars in this location: The Town House, Rapunzel's Tavern, Scoundrel's Lair, Borsalino's
Web site: sebisbistro.com - facebook
Reviews: link - thrillist - yelp - eater - thestranger

#2122 #S1124 - Chabela's, Seattle - 3/30/2013

Update: Chabela's closed in June 2013

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Well, now I'm so far behind on completing my bar posts that new bars are closing before I get my post up. I can't say I was particularly surprised in this case -- not that there was anything terribly wrong with it, just that it was very slow when I was there and it was difficult to see what would pull people in over the many other choices in Wallingford with its mediocre Mexican food. Oh well, I guess at least that ends the big Chabela's/Cabela's feud.

1715 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Est. Feb 2013 (Official opening March 3) - Building constructed: 1929 - Closed June 2013
Previous bars in this location: None known (Casa Azul restaurant before this)
Reviews: wallyhood - yelp - urbanspoon

#2121 - All Star Sports Bar, Des Moines, WA - 3/29/2013

This place has slightly more character than most the suburban sports bars. It is very popular, has pretty girl servers, an ethnically diverse crowd, and lots of backwards baseball caps.

22303 Marine View Dr S, Des Moines, WA 98198 - (206) 212-6740
Est. May 26, 2010 - Building constructed: 1945
Previous bars in this location: China Sea Restaurant
Web site: theall-starsportsbar.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp

#2120 - Lighthouse Bar, Des Moines, WA - 3/29/2013

22239 Marine View Dr S, Des Moines, WA 98198 - (206) 824-4920
Building constructed: 1931
Previous bars at this location: Dugout Tavern 
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - catmorley - seattlesouthside

#2119 - Unicorn Room, Tacoma, WA - 3/29/2013

At least in the case of this restaurant and lounge, when you hear "Pegasus" and "Unicorn," you should picture sparkly art you might see in your aunt's double-wide. The Unicorn Room in Pegasus Restaurant along what used to be the old highway 99 is a classic behind-the-cafe, formica and cheap paneling dive.

1320 Puyallup Ave, Tacoma,WA 98409-4319 - (253) 572-5300
Reviews:  yelp - waymarking - northwestmilitary

#2118 - Cockatoo's Chicken Restaurant, Federal Way, WA - 3/29/2013

One of the few Korean Fried Chicken joints in the Seattle area, Cockatoo's Chicken Restaurant is also the only bar I've been in that serves everyone complementary popcorn and a fried egg, cooked on a hot plate at your seat. It's a divey, karaoke bar, set in a strip mall, dark with Christmas lights up year round, Korean music videos playing on the TVs, an odd hodgepodge of decorations, and serving cheap, strong drinks.

"Unlike the Colonel’s KFC, Korean fried chicken does not rely on a heavy batter. Just a light dredging of corn starch or rice flour will do. Typically, Korean fried chicken is coated in a thick, sweet, spicy sauce." (Crosscut)

For food beyond the free egg and popcorn, the more adventurous might go with the Seasoning Pupa, but I stuck to the chicken wings. I liked the wings better than most, and thought they indeed had a very nice balance of sweetness and spiciness. For drinks, I stuck with a safe dive bar order (Jack and Coke). If you go, it's nice to have it on your GPS, as despite the distinctive name, it's not easy to pick out from the highway. For me, the wings were not distinctive enough themselves to frequently justify a drive to Federal Way, but the atmosphere -- and the egg, which for some reason tastes much better than a normal fried egg -- make it worth at least checking out.

"Typically found in Korean bars, not restaurants, the succulent dish is sold throughout South Korea but relegated mostly to suburban strip-mall hangouts in the Seattle area." (Ibid)

33130 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way, WA 98003 - (253) 661-2960
Est. ? - Building constructed: 1974
Previous bars in this location: None known
Reviews: gastrolust - chowhound - crosscut - yelp

#2117 #S1123 - Bar Sajor, Seattle - 3/28/2013

Update: Bar Sajor closed July 9, 2016

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In early 2013, at the corner of the Occidental Avenue pedestrian mall in Pioneer Square, Bar Sajor ("sigh-YOR") was opened by Herbfarm alumnus and James Beard winner Matt Dillon, who has a considerable reputation from his Corson Building, Sitka and Spruce, and Bar Ferd'nand. Dillon positions the new place as "a bar in the Spanish sense," with all food prepared on wood-fired oven and grill. He described the food as "casual and simple," and perhaps it will seem that way if you are the sort of person who, before heading out for a movie, might whip up a quick warm halloumi with charred Virginia ramps and cardoons and wash it down with whey soda with lime.

In brief, you will have some nice wines or cocktails here (I quite liked my concoction of rye, Byrrh, Dry Curucao and bitters) and some very good food prepared as you have not had anywhere else. If you arrive hungry, you should be prepared to invest in the experience, as the tiny plates will not make for an inexpensive dinner. The space is bright and airy, and may make long-time residents double check that they are actually in Pioneer Square. I guess it remains to be seen whether this and the growing number of other upscale places in the neighborhood (including Dillon's London Plane) will lead future generations to associate the neighborhood more with charcuterie and pate than MD 20/20. But in any case it is very pleasing to see the old neighborhood revitalized with must-visit places.

323 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 - (206) 682-1117 &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp
Est. Feb 21, 2013 - Closed July 9, 2016 - Building constructed: 1920
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: barsajor.com
Best articles: thestranger - seattlemag - remodelista - seattlemet - seattletimes - nytimes - designsponge - yelp - bizjournals - eater

#2116 #S1122 - Ballard Annex Oyster House, Seattle - 3/24/2013

Zak Melang and Nathan Opper are the owners of a number of quite successful Tex-Mex restaurants called "The Matador." I don't know if I'm able to keep track of them all, but they have been established in Ballard, West Seattle, Redmond, Tacoma, Boise, Denver, and two in Portland. Recently they have branched out to create a couple barbecue restaurants, and with the Ballard Annex, to fresh seafood. Some of their common themes are taking historic old buildings, putting a ton of money and work into remodeling, and using local artisans and materials to create a woody, themed decor. Melang himself, while not playing base for the Super Sonic Soul Pimps, creates most of the iron work and woodwork himself. Opper takes the lead on finding chefs and developing the menu.

The Ballard Annex (named for the 1907 annexation of the fishing community by the city of Seattle), has a nautical theme, and a cocktail menu heavy on rum drinks. I had a Willy's Negroni, which I thought was pretty good, and an Anniversary, which I felt was a little overwhelmed by the champagne (but then I think this about many cocktails featuring champagne). The food is fresh seafood and it is presented in a way that resembles a seafood market counter, with big steel pots of chowders and bisques in front of bins of oysters. I do not eat oysters, so I can't really comment there, but I do consider Dungeness crab with cocktail sauce to be pretty much the acme of human foodstuffs. My crab cocktail was leggy and fairly good (although it does not pose any challenge to my favorite crab cocktail in town, from The Met) and they offer a nice range of sauces mango habanero, spicy cocktail, classic cocktail, and shallot mignonette. (The others were pleasant to sample, but it's classic cocktail for me.)

The restaurant is housed in a 1908 building near the junction of Ballard Avenue and Market, the two major restaurant and retail thoroughfares in a neighborhood booming with great places to eat and drink. The building has housed a department store, car dealership, the Ballard News Tribune printing press, and a few restaurants, most recently Thaiku (now in Greenwood). Subsequent to this visit, the area that hosted Fu Kun Wu, the apothecary-themed bar of Thaiku, was opened as "Grog."

5410 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 783-5410
Est. March 21, 2013 - Building constructed: 1908
Previous bars in this location: None known (Thaiku Restaurant featured Fu Kun Wu in Grog space)
Web site: ballardannex.com - facebook
Articles: thestranger - seattlemag - bizjournals - eatinseattle - king5 (video) - seattlemet  -thrillist - ballardnewstribune - yelp - tripadvisor

#2115 - Lakepointe Bar and Grill, Kenmore, WA - 3/23/2013

A big, lazy, suburban bar. I like the bartenders, and I like the crowd. I would like to see what the vibe is like later on a Friday or Saturday night.

18018 61st Ave NE, Kenmore, WA 98028 - (425) 486-8021
Previous bars in this location: Lake Forest Inn
Reviews: yelp