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Bars where Pete has had a Drink (5,608 bars; 1,754 bars in Seattle) - Click titles below for Lists:


Bars where Pete has had a drink

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

#2248 #S1157 - RockCreek, Seattle - 8/1/2013

This is an airy, woody, two-story building named after the favorite Montana fishing hole of owner/chef Eric Donnelly (Sazerac, Oceanaire, Toulouse Petit), and serving upscale seafood dishes made from ingredients from around the world. I was not overwhelmed by either my dishes or cocktails, but lots of people love the place and I do see some great pictures of their dishes online, so I will need to give it another go.



4300 Fremont Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98103 - 206 557-7532
Est. July 31, 2013 - Building constructed: 1966
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: rockcreekseattle.com - facebook
Ranked Articles: thestranger - seattleweekly - seattletimes - seattlemetyelp

#2247 - The Hideaway Cardroom, Shoreline, WA - 7/27/2013

Update: The Hideway is now closed, and was replaced by The Hidden Door in 2020.

This modest, ordinary place is one of the older locations for a bar in the Seattle area. There was a Hideaway Beer Parlor listed at 12505 Aurora in 1934 and it appears to have moved to this address by 1935. It appears to have been established in its current form of bar and cardroom in 1976, sitting conveniently just across the street from the Seattle city limits and regulations. It is now dominated by the 7 poker tables, filled with men of all ages and a few little old ladies. The American-Chinese food values are quite good -- e.g. you can get a massive bowl of soup for $3.

14525 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133 - (206) 361-9393
Est. 1935 - Building constructed: 1917
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: hideawaycasino.com
Reviews: yelp - themogh

#2246 - Maddox Grill and Bar, Lynnwood, WA - 7/27/2013

Update: Maddox Grill closed in May 2014

Previously in a small space in Richmond Beach, this version of the Maddox Grill opened in 2014, server American comfort food in a Denny's-like setting along Highway 99.


18411 Washington 99, Lynnwood, WA 98037 - (425) 778-2223
Est. 2004 - Closed May 2014
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: maddoxgrill.com - facebook
Reviews: link - yelp - tripadvisor - urbanspoon

Saturday, September 06, 2014

#2245 - Shots n Scores, Lynnwood, WA - 7/27/2013

Lynnwood, north of Seattle, is the 30th largest city in the state of Washington, and I consider it to be the largest city in the state without a single interesting bar. I'm referring to the physical places, food, and drinks, and lots of very boring bar locations can be quite enjoyable because of the fun and interesting people who come there, so I am not ruling that out. But I prefer a  place with character -- ANY kind of character -- that adds some kind of personal touch and distinguishes it from hundreds of other bars across the country.

Lynnwood's bars are mostly chains and seems determined to squeeze out what little remaining character there is -- e.g. minimizing the nautical theme of Daverthumps and at least the interesting name of "None Of Your Business" and replacing them with cookie cutter BSSBs (Banal Suburban Sports Bars). The most remarkable feature of BSSBs is that they have no remarkable feature. Like hundreds of other BSSBs, they generally include the following:

  • All or virtually all decorations and wall hangings are corporate paraphernalia -- Budweiser, NASCAR, etc.  No personal items, local photos, etc.
  • Pulltab bins
  • Standard bar food - fried foods, burgers, salads, maybe pizzas and tacos.
  • Lots of televisions and beer company sports decor.
  • Regular karaoke
  • A good selection of beers
  • Cocktails that appear to be designed for sorority girls - flavored vodkas, super sweet, Fireball shots, jello shots
  • A Facebook page dominated by photos from Halloween
  • A majority of customers wearing baseball caps, often backwards
  • A hastily carved out smoking area in back, with plastic furniture
  • Usually in the outer parts of cities, or in medium-sized towns, often in a strip mall
Again, the most important part of a bar is probably the people there, so bar settings with no personality can sometimes be a great bar stop if they attract a fun and unusual crowd. I went at the wrong time of day to know if that's the case with Shots and Scores, so maybe I'd be surprised.


17711 Washington 99, Lynnwood, WA 98037 - (425) 742-0861
Est. 2012 or 2013 - Building constructed: 1945
Previous bars in this location: None of Your Business, Inn Tavern
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp

Friday, September 05, 2014

#2244 #S1156 - Alibi Room Greenwood, Seattle - 7/26/2013

This new instance of the Alibi Room in a small Greenwood strip mall does not have the sexy space of the original off a cobblestone alley under Pike Place Market, but it's definitely a nice addition for people like me who live nearby. They have decent cocktails, good wood-fired pizzas and some simple but very tasty appetizers, including their apple and brie plate.


10406 Holman Rd NW, Seattle, WA 98133 - (206) 783-4880
Est. July 24, 2013 - Building constructed: 1988
Previous bars in this location: Snoose Junction (Part Dieu)
Web site: greenwoodalibi.com - facebook
Reviews: seattletimes - yelp - phinneywood

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

#2243 - Bake's Place, Bellevue, WA - 7/25/2013

Downtown Bellevue seems like an odd place for a jazz club, and Bake's is in an odd part of downtown Bellevue.  It's away from any considerable foot traffic and away from the malls, but still in the business core at the foot of a pedestrian 8-floor office building. It's not the sort of space that attracts people who don't know where they are going, but that doesn't appear to be a major problem for Craig Baker, who's been pulling fairly large crowds in for music performances in various other unlikely venues, including his basement and the Washougal, WA Grange Hall.

It's pretty sedate when the music is not playing, but that may not be a problem as virtually every evening it morphs into a swanky, relaxed yet formal jazz club, or sometimes blues, R&B or Latin music. It quite intentionally has a vibe similar to Seattle's Jazz Alley, with a crowd and space that emphasize listening to the musicians rather than a steady road of chit chat. The food and cocktails are better than average, and after much negotiation they've become able to use the patio of the building, which is one of the nicer lunch spots in the area on sunny afternoons.

155 108th Ave NE #110, Bellevue, WA 98004 - (425) 454-2776
Est. May 11, 2012 - Building constructed 1986
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: bakesplacebellevue.com - facebook
Reviews: seattletimes - seattletimes - thebellevuescene - yelp

Monday, August 18, 2014

#2242 - Rendezvous Tavern, Port Orchard, WA - 7/25/2013

The Rendezvous is a pretty prosaic bar in a small town shopping center, in a space that's held a number of restaurants and bars over the last 46 years. It opened in 2011, replacing the Voodoo Lounge and removing the VIP section and stripper pole.  They serve standard American pub food -- salads, burgers, hot wings, etc. -- have a reasonable selection of beers, and serve their share of jello shots and candy drinks. It's a medium-sized place that hosts both live bands and, of course, karaoke.  Among the positive elements, one local yelps, "... its never over crowded, or filled with tweakers. so that's a mega bonus in Port Orchard."

There are a couple uncommon touches in the place, and as I was taking a picture of one -- a kegerator with some nice pinstriping, the bartender approached me. "I see you taking pictures," she said, "What are your pictures for?  You should really ask before taking pictures." I told her about my blog, and also asked what she thought could have been a bad intention or unwanted outcome of someone taking a pictures of the bar. She told me that "People sometimes use our name to represent things that it's not." I mentioned that I was surprised that this was a big problem for a bar in the South Park Village Shopping Center, but she affirmed that it was. Go figure.


1750 Village Ln SE, Port Orchard, Washington - (360) 443-2545
Est. 2011 - Building constructed: 1968
Previous bars in this location: Shooterz, Voodoo Lounge, Captain K's, Giotto's
Web site: facebook - westsoundnightout
Reviews: yelp

Sunday, August 17, 2014

#2241 - Pine Tree Inn, Shelton, WA - 7/25/2013

The Pine Tree Inn was established in 1957 and is said to be the oldest restaurant in Shelton, an old logging town near the southeast corner of the Olympic Peninsula. "It used to be Wilson's, going back to the 20s, I was told by Mel, a regular who has been coming here since about 1960. The bar portion of the Pine Tree is the sort of dive that attracts bikers and elderly locals during the day, eating diner food, drinking coffee and beer, then a younger crowd at night drinking fireball shots and candy-flavored cocktails. Behind the bar, hidden by pulltab bins, caked in dust, and long neglected, is what once was a fine diorama scene with a working waterfall and a model train circling the tracks.  I'd presume this was installed by Alfred Munoz, who I believe founded the place in '57, and it remained working at least into the 60s. A TripAdvisor reviewer who grew up in the area describes the earlier days:


"It is located on the corner of 1st and Railroad. Highway 101, before the Shelton bypass was built, ran right along 1st Street, so this place was ready to serve up the traveler's meals. In addition, it is located only a few blocks from the big sawmill plant in town, so lots of loggers came in here. When I was a child, we were not permitted to go there due to the rough logger crowd. Later, in the late 60's they had GoGo dancers in the bar (which my brother peeked in the window to see)." (rubbertgator, tripadvisor)



The place can still be rough around the edges, and some of the locals are decidedly not fans of the current ownership, as can be seen in some detail at the BoycottThePineTree facebook page, e.g. a former owner posting 'You must be proud of the business you run, as Alfred and I did for many years..we cleaned the place up, run off most of the ''riff-raff'' and ran a good business after that..what happened makes me sick to my stomach!! You have to be there to make sure it runs right, and not let the help run it into the ''DUMP''..'


It's dirty, with patrons who can be gruff to outsiders, and the scent of pot continually wafting in from the smoking tent out back. But at least it's still there. For fans of old dives, it might be regrettable that no one has bothered to even dust the old train layout for many years. But then again, if someone had aggressively cleaned the place up, the faux mountains and waterfalls that take up space more conveniently occupied by pulltabs and cigarettes, the place probably wouldn't have much character, and I would never have had this glimpse of what the old place used to be.

102 S 1st St Shelton, WA 98584 - (360) 426-2604              
Est. 1957
Web site: pinetreeshelton.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor - urbanspoon

#2240 - Bull Pen, Seatac, WA - 7/23/2013

Update: After a fire in August 2016, the Bull Pen Facebook page announced that they would be closed for "3 to 8 months" for repairs. However it has remained closed several months longer than that.

The Spanish style building and various references to bulls make this feel like a Mexican restaurant, but inside it is one of those medium-sized, suburban, neighborhood bars that caters to desires to the desires of the locals.  That means American bar food (steaks, burgers, fried food, breakfast), dive bar drinks, a nice selection of beers along with crappy ones, and above all, sports on TVs and karaoke every night.


City guide records of these suburban areas are spotty, but at least briefly a bar called The Camel Rider operated here in the mid 60s.

Don Liberty established the Bull Pen in 1981 and has owned the place ever since. He and wife Margaret previously owned Liberto's restaurant in Tukwila, and briefly expanded into the Bull Pen II in the old Flame Tavern location in Burien (now Fiesta del Mar).



20011 International Blvd SeaTac, WA 98198 - (206) 824-4070
Est. 1981 - Building constructed: 1938
Previous bars in this location: The Camel Rider
Web site: bullpenseattlefacebook
Reviews: seattletimes - yelp - urbanspoon - seattlesouthside

Saturday, August 16, 2014

#2239 #1155 - Star Brass Lounge, Seattle - 7/20/2013

Scott Horrell, who already has given the area 9lb Hammer, Loretta's, and Square Knot, has added another classic Georgetown bar.  A great old building across from the old Rainier Brewery, lots of exposed brick, collections of mid-century decor (e.g. lamps, ashtrays), good quality American comfort food, and a relaxed, hip clientele all seem to perfectly reiterate the spirit of the neighborhood.

Some history of the building from the owner:  "From 1904 to 1964 it was the Airport Way Hotel. Downstairs, it housed the Palace Tavern. It was for some time the Volunteers of America Industrial Store and the Wallace Transfer. And of course, it was the home of Star Brass Works, which now lends its name to the lounge downstairs! We have named our main gallery the Palace Gallery in honor of the old tavern."



5813A Airport Way South, Seattle, Washington 98108                
Est. April 2013 - Building constructed: 1905
Previous bars in this location: Palace Tavern
Web site: facebook
Reviews: link - yelp - tripadvisor -  talktothemanager - thestranger


#2238 #1154 - Stoneburner, Seattle - 7/19/2013

Stoneburner is on the ground floor of new, fancy "Hotel Ballard" constructed by the owners of the Ballard Inn and the Olympic Athletic Club. The facade of the new hotel was designed by local architects Gordon Lagerquist and Gene Morris and it is said that they "included a handmade stucco and sandstone and wood panels to ensure that the hotel’s façade featured a similar feel to that of the historic Ballard Avenue buildings surrounding it." (MyBallard If this is an accurate and sincere description of their intention, one can hardly imagine a more unmitigated failure. Not that it doesn't look nice or luxurious, but some folks who love both the history and the current revitalization of this great old avenue wish that they had indeed created something that fit in with the surrounding buildings and looked a little less like a French embassy.

The restaurant too, is very non-old-Ballard, but in a much more pleasant way. You seem to be entering through a massive wine barrel, and the art deco bar seems like it's been around for a hundred years. It is the latest, instantly popular restaurant from James Weiman and Deming Maclise, who have already establish large and constantly packed Seattle restaurants with pronounced thematic designs: "Bastille" (French) and "Macleod's (Scottish) in Ballard, and "Poquitos" (Mexican) and Von Trapps / Rhein Haus (Bavarian) on Capitol Hill. The bar includes a pressed tin ceiling reclaimed from an old schoolhouse and wood reclaimed from an Italian Embassy in Buenos Aires. It includes cocktails from the estimable Erik Carlson, and an Italian themed menu from the chef who gives it its name.  I had a couple excellent cocktails improvised by bartender Tyler. It is airy and especially nice during warm days when the large windows are open. It is yet another of an exploding number of great places to eat and drink in what is increasingly difficult to discern as an old Scandinavian shipping town.

5214 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, Washington 98107 - (206) 695-2051
Est. 2013 - Building constructed: 2012
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: stoneburnerseattle.comfacebook
Articles Ranked: seattlemet - eaterseattletimes - seattlemag - seattleweekly - eatinseattle - thrillist - thestranger - yelp

Friday, August 15, 2014

#2237 #1153 - Asgard Tavern, Seattle - 7/18/2013

Update: Odin Brewing closed the Asgard Tavern as of Jan 1, 2015 (a new taproom was opened in Tukwila, WA the previous year).



A relaxed little tasting room for the Odin Brewing microbrews, in the Fremont area, just off the Burke-Gilman trail.



1300 N Northlake Way, Seattle, Washington 98103 - (206) 762-3909
Est. June 20, 2013 - Building constructed: 1999
Previous bars in this location: None
Web site: blog - facebook
Reviews: thestranger - yelp - thrillist - washingtonbeerblog - tripadvisor

Thursday, August 14, 2014

#2236 - Aloha Tavern, Pacific Beach, WA - 7/15/2013

Aloha Tavern, Pacific Beach, Washington
Fairly often I get tips on good bars to visit from chatting with the locals at other good bars, and when a couple at the Green Lantern at Copalis Beach told us about the Aloha Tavern, it seemed like it would be worth a bit of a detour. And indeed, as you round a bend on North Beach Road, about three miles south of Moclips and a mile east of the ocean, and see the old sign and the weathered beach house decor suddenly pop into view, you instantly know it was well worth it.


Buzz, the Aloha Tavern, Pacific Beach, WA
It's hard to say for sure how old the place is. We were told the building was constructed in 1903, served as a bunk house for workers at the Aloha Shake Mill that used be across the road, and was moved across the street in the 1920s. But an old real estate listing describes it as being built in 1937, and that's what the county tax records say as well. In any case it's plenty old, and it now looks just like you would want a beach house or an ocean coast bar to look, with lots of old wood and years of eccentric objects collected around the place.

When we arrived, we were greeted by Lloyd the owner, and served by Buzz, who was there with his dog Josie. It's the sort of place and time where Lloyd will go to his house to get you a cigarette, and Buzz will inform you that they're all out of Corona "because Jim's sister was here the other night." It's also the sort of area where the local "shake rats" celebrate Kelper's Day each Labor Day weekend, and where everyone seems to have a nickname. Local "Hippie Bruce" once explained to Seattle Times writer that 'Nobody has a last name. There's a guy who just wanted to be Bob, but even he is "Ordinary Bob."'

I happened to be wandering around outside when two dowdy Jehovah's Witnesses had just dropped by Buzz's trailer around back of the bar, but they had no interest in saving him, or any of the rest of us, if it meant stepping inside the bar. I could try to tell you more about the bar, but if the photos alone don't make you want to visit the place yourself, like the Jehovah's Witness ladies, we probably don't have a lot of common interests anyway.



2990 Ocean Beach Rd, Pacific Beach, WA 98571 - (360) 276-4723
Building constructed: 1937
Links: nerdseyeview - sale (cached)

Friday, August 01, 2014

#2235 - Green Lantern Tavern, Copalis Beach, WA - 7/15/2013

Green Lantern Pub, Copalis Beach, WA
The Green Lantern Tavern/Pub lies across the street from the southernmost point of the Copalis River, and about 2,000 feet from the Pacific Ocean, and the southwest coast of the Olympic Peninsula. In 1805, Lewis and Clark estimated the population of Copalis Indians here at 200 in 10 houses. It is now home to about 350 people, but swells to 1,500 during the few days a year when people can legally dig for its famous razor clams.

The Green Lantern is a homey, medium-sized bar filled mostly with locals and long-time regulars, mixed with tourists during the summer months. I haven't much narrowed down how old the bar is -- I've seen a comment that it's been around since the 1930s (the building was constructed during prohibition) -- but one of the locals told me that this was not always the current name, and in fact the building was previously red. It's a nice bar serving diner comfort food, and the feeling that it seems to pop up in the middle of nowhere adds to the attraction.

Green Lantern Pub, Copalis Beach, WA

Green Lantern Pub, Copalis Beach, WA

3119 Washington 109, Copalis Beach, WA 98535 - (360) 289-2297
Est. ? - Building constructed: 1916
Web site: facebook
Reviews: fodors - tripadvisor - walkaboutwithwheels