Rotgut.org Blog

Sunday, December 13, 2015

#2415 - Oddfellas, Auburn, WA - 2/16/2014

Oddfellas Pub, Auburn, WA

Someone has obviously put some loving attention into Oddfellas Pub and Eatery in Auburn. Replacing The Pit, a fairly cookie-cutter, suburban sports bar closed in 2009, Oddfellas glows with custom woodwork, done by the owners themselves. and featuring their monocled, bowler-hatted logo.

Located in the bottom floor of the Truitt building in downtown Auburn, the hometown of Sir Mix-A-Lot some 28 miles south of Seattle, Oddfellas is part of a substantial downtown revival of the former Slaughter, WA. 'Auburn was originally incorporated as Slaughter, Washington after Lt. William Slaughter, who died in a skirmish fighting Native Americans which are now apart of the modern day Muckleshoot tribe in 1855. At the time, the main hotel in town was called the "Slaughter House." In 1893, a large group of settlers from Auburn, New York, moved to Slaughter, and renamed the town to "Auburn."' (wikipedia)

The Pastime Tavern, Auburn, WA, c. 1933
Property of White River Valley Museum via University of
Washington Digital Archives

Tax records list the Truitt building as constructed in 2003, but sitting in a location that hosted an Oddfellows fraternity a century ago, and from the early 1930s into the 2000s hosting the Pastime Tavern and Card Room. The current Oddfellas is a large, brick space which serves a broad menu of modern pub food with hints of English and European themes, with a selection of 25 craft brews on tap.

Oddfellas Pub, Auburn, WA

102 W Main St, Auburn, WA 98001 - (253) 939-7278
Est. Dec 31, 2010 - Building constructed: 2003
Previous bars in this location: The Pit, Pastime Tavern / Card Room
Web site: oddfellaspub.com (warning: super obnoxious audio) - facebook
Reviews: auburn-reporter - bestcraftbeer - foodspotting - yelp

Saturday, December 12, 2015

#2414 - Rainbow Cafe Lounge, Auburn, WA - 2/16/2014

There isn't anything particularly attractive about the bar potion of the Rainbow Cafe, which was created in the mid 1980s as the Rainbow expanded into an adjacent business. It is overly bright for a bar, has little personality in the decor, closes early, and serves standard dive-bar style drinks. A previous bar existed in the current meeting room before that, but I have been unable to find opening or closing dates. Little signs hanging from the ceiling direct customers to their desired section of the establishment.

It is the cafe portion, established 1929, which is the focus of the Rainbow. It is a historic landmark and said to be the "longest running restaurant in the state with the same name." Here they serve classic American diner food, surrounded by historical photos and western artifacts on the walls.

112 E Main St, Auburn, WA 98002 - (253) 833-1880
Est. 1980s (current bar, restaurant in 1929)
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: web site - facebook
Reviews: auburn-reporter - yelp - auburntourism

Saturday, December 05, 2015

#2413 - Schooner Pub and Galley, Lakewood, WA - 2/16/2014

The Schooner, Lakewood, WA

Update: The Schooner Pub closed July 26, 2017.

I like pretty much any bar that seriously embraces an elaborate theme, and the more kitch the better, particularly when the has been sitting in some bland suburbs for a few decades. The Schooner in Lakewood is all in for its antique sailing vessel concept (although apparently the current level of dedication doesn't extend quite so far as getting around to dusting). Entering the establishment via a gangplank over a small pool in a suburban parking lot, you walk into a fairly sizable space of glowing, brown wood, rigging, and nautical knickknacks. From above the bar, life-sized and somewhat unnerving ship's officers gaze down at you, while a rigger reaches toward lanyards over a crow's nest and a maniacal cook reaches out a ship window extending a skillet containing a dusty blob. A prow and figurehead rise above a fireplace at the back of small dance floor, surrounding by sailing ship railings, pins and cordage. In a slightly lowered dining area classic black vinyl seats surround rope framed, thickly-lacquered tables in an area resembling a forecastle.

The Schooner Pub, Lakewood, WA

In the early 70s, Donald Dean Kitchen left the construction business to build and run a bar and restaurant, opening the doors to the Schooner in 1972. Vestiges of the 70s include a coin-operated cologne plunger in the men's room. The bar provides the sort of wide range of functions that suburban bars often do -- comfort food restaurant, nightclub, sportsbar, karaoke joint, etc. Don passed away in 2013 and the place is now run by his children Mike and Rita, but may have little time left as the owners appear to be negotiating with people looking to replace the 43 year institution with a Chick-fil-A drive-thru (newstribune). If you're in western Washington and haven't been there, you should probably go while you still can.

The Schooner Pub, Lakewood, WA

5429 100th St SW, Lakewood, WA 98499 - (253) 584-1919
Est. 1972
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: theschoonerpub.com - facebook
Reviews: northwestmilitary - tripadvisor - yelp

#2412 #1218 - Cask and Trotter, Seattle - 2/13/2014

There's nothing particularly outstanding about the bar at this new barbecue joint in South Lake Union, but they do have some good whiskey choices and fairly good barbecue and comfort foods to go with your drinks.

711 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 453-4756
Est. 2013 - Building constructed: 1914
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: caskandtrotter.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor

#2411 #1217 - Tallulah's, Seattle - 2/1/2014

Tallulah's ("a neighborhood cafe") is one of my favorite new restaurants in the Seattle area. It is the first brand new space designed by Linda Derschang, who is better known around the neighborhood for transforming existing spaces with funky, hipster-friendly, rustic decor. This place is more sleek and elegant than most of her earlier places, and is said to be "inspired by a recent trip to Morocco and Spain, a love of mid-century design and the feeling of Big Sur in the 1970’s." (aneighborhoodcafe.com)

They describe the menu of chef Walter Edwards (Crush, Tilth, Golden Beetle) as "vegetable-driven without being vegetarian." I tried the grilled Halloumi cheese with roasted pears, which I thought was excellent, and a very nice lamb burger with zucchini, Harissa and fries. For cocktails I had a "Lost Acre" (rye, Dolin Blanc, Amaro Meletti, Peychauds), which I found excellent, and a "Benchmark" (rye, sweet vermouth, Campari, grapefruit) which was also quite good, and had pleasant conversation with various folks at the bar.

550 19th Ave E, Seattle, Washington 98112 - (206) 860-0077
Est. Dec 26, 2013 - Building constructed: 2014
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: aneighborhoodcafe.com - facebook
Reviews: seattletimes - seattlemet - eater - capitolhillseattle - seattlemag - thestranger - yelp - tripadvisor

Saturday, October 17, 2015

#2410 #1216 - NW Peaks Brewery, Seattle - 2/9/2014

NW Peaks is a nano-brewery in Ballard churning out less than a barrel per batch, but releasing two new beers per month, which they serve up in this tasting room, as well as the Bergschrund, in the former 2-Bit Saloon location, and several other local bars.

4912 17th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 853-0525
Est. 2012 - Building constructed: 1951
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: nwpeaksbrewery.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp - beeradvocate - ratebeer - thestranger - ballardbeerblog

#2409 #1215 - Miyabi, Seattle - 2/8/2014

Miyabi, Seattle (Wallingford)

Miyabi describe themselves as a Japanese gastropub and claim to be the only restaurant on the west coast specializing in handmade soba noodles. This Wallingford Miyabi is a sister to restaurants to the south of Seattle in Tukwila and Tacoma, which have more of an emphasis on sushi. In addition to executive chef Masaaki Ishikura and his wife Hisako, the ownership group includes major league pitcher Masao Kida, who had a brief stint with the Mariners. For this location the ownership team added artisan soba chef Mutsuko Soma (Chez Shea, Saito's).

In addition to sake and shochu, they have a nice selection of infusions and well crafted, fruit based variations on classic cocktails. I did not try the soba this time, but much enjoyed a "Bad Date" (date-infused bourbon, black walnut liqueur, xococatl mole bitters), an infusion sampler and a cheese plate. (You can get an idea of the range of tempting food offerings from the over 500 photos with their yelp reviews.)

2208 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 632-4545
Est. 2013 - Building constructed: 1946
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: miyabi45th.com - facebook
Articles ranked: seattlemet - seattlemag - seattletimes - eater - thestranger - yelp - tripadvisor

Friday, October 16, 2015

#2408 #1214 - Octopus Bar, Seattle - 1/26/2014

Update: The Octopus bar at this location closed November 18, 2019, and is relocating a bit east at 2121 N 45th, i.e. the old Iron Bull and Goldies location.

Octopus Bar, I'm not going to try and deny that you had me at the sign. In fact, you had me mostly hooked as soon as I heard about a nautically themed bar from the people behind A-Pizza Mart and Royal Booze and Burritos -- those people know how to have fun and light up an otherwise mostly humdrum University District bar scene. Your flatbreads and margaritas are surely satisfactory, and your staff are fun and friendly, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I loved you for your looks.

2109 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 547-3663
Est. Jan 25, 2014 - Building constructed: 1915
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: theoctopusbar.com - facebook
Articles ranked: seattlemet - seattletimes - yelp - wallyhood - komonews - sosh - thestranger

#2407 #1213 - El Borracho del Norte, Seattle - 1/25/2014

Not that I don't enjoy the yummy tacos at Kittie Davidovich's El Borracho establishments in Pike Place Market and Ballard, but we were sadly disappointed when she also converted the cajun and creole cuisine of Le Bon Ton Roule into yet another Borracho. The food, the drinks, and the breezy New Orleans roadhouse feel were unique in the Seattle area. It was even more sad when this version of Borracho closed shop a year later. C'est la vie.

4332 Leary Way NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 297-8888
Est. Dec 7, 2013 - Building constructed: 1900 or earlier
Previous bars in this location: Le Bon Ton Roule, Treehouse, Claudio's
Web site: elborrachoseattle.com - facebook
Reviews: seattlemet - foursquare - myballard

#2406 #1212 - Bad Jimmy's, Seattle - 1/25/2014

I have to confess that there are so many of these microbreweries, and so many with virtually identical tasting rooms spilling out on to the patio from the warehouse -- and all serving good beers, all run and populated by nice people, all offering a chill environment to drink in -- that I really wouldn't know how to contrast them. (As long as we're talking about microbrews, my tasting experience ranges much more from beer to beer than it does from brewery to brewery.) Anyway, I'd recommend this one, just like I'd recommend every one of the ten microbreweries in the surrounding five square miles. Here's to beer and here's to Ballard.

4358 Leary Way NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 789-1548
Est. Dec 27, 2013 - Building constructed: 1928
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: badjimmysbrewingco.com
Articles ranked: fremontuniverse - beeradvocate - seattleweekly - twobrewreview - ratebeer - washingtonbeerblog - craftbeermonger - brewerydb - myballard - yelp - tripadvisor - ballardnewstribune - thestranger - eatballard

#2405 #1211 - Bourbon and Bones, Seattle - 1/25/2014

Update: Bourbon & Bones closed in Jan 2017.

“I noticed there is nothing here that stands up to barbecue in North Carolina or the south, and I’m hoping to bring that here and make it in a very rustic way,” says co-owner Michael Law. Law left that state to work in New Orleans for 10 years, then northern Italy, France and Spain, before coming to Seattle for stints at El Gaucho, Flying Fish, and Wandering Goose. [ballardnewstribune] Then at the beginning of 2014 he started serving up Lexington style barbecue in his own place (co-owned with Michael McConnell of Via Tribulani), after smoking it with apple and cherry wood in a custom made smoker, with a whiskey themed cocktail program from Nate Quiroga (Liberty).

In September of 2015 came word that Law was leaving B&B, while two new local chefs with high reputations -- William Belickis of Mistral Kitchen and Scott Carsberg of Lampriea/Bisato -- were coming in, an interesting shuffle of star chefs in the tiny, faux rustic space. While I have not been there since these changes, I'm sure you can continue to count on this being one of the better BBQs out of the explosion of barbecue joints in the Ballard area, or in the rest of the city for that matter. And while it's clearly about the meat (purchased by weight from a deli sort of display), and it's not always easy to find a seat in the limited bar area, it's not a bad choice to just grab a drink or two, as they have a good if not huge selection of spirits and make a nice Sazerac.

4350 Leary Way NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 582-2241
Est. Jan 20, 2014 - Building constructed: 1928 - Closed Jan 2017
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: bourbonandbones.com - facebook
Articles ranked: ballardnewstribune - seattlemet - chowhounds - seattlemag - yelp - thestranger - zomato

#2404 #1210 - Retro Restaurant and Lounge, Seattle - 1/22/2014

Retro seems like a small town bar that somehow plopped down into downtown Seattle. Owner Jeff is friendly and serves the unpretentious food you might imagine his mother making for you at the house, and in a setting that seems like it could have been decorated with spare items from his bedroom. The sparse and random items include a group of Lou Gehrig clippings that look like a treasured personal collection, along with the garden-variety family-restaurant James Dean and Marilyn Monroe stuff. Beside and beyond the bar room, there is a spare area with a stage and a back room that feels like a den, making the joint seem more like an after hours club. And yet the whole thing seems so unaffected that you can't help but root for the place.

216 Stewart St, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 441-7374
Est. June 17, 2013 - Building constructed: 1916
Previous bars in this location: Entres Nous, Night Kitchen
Web site: theretroseattle.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor - zomato

#2403 #1209 - E. Smith Mercantile, Seattle - 1/22/2014

Update: This lovely bar closed June 30, 2018.

The web site says:

"E. Smith Back Bar is an extension of the artful life we promote with our mercantile goods. Inspired by the history of using alcohol as a vessel for the medicinal qualities of plants, we create seasonal herbal, fruit and floral infusions in combination with classic cocktail recipes. Not only are they a great cure for sobriety, but they taste damn fine."

E.Smith Mercantile, Seattle, WA

I think that pretty much nails it. The little 15-seat bar in the back of the funky 19th century style general store is probably my favorite bar in the mid to south downtown area. A few years ago that would not have been saying much in this area, but it remains my favorite despite some considerable competition now. In addition to the charmingly dark decor and the very nice cocktails, I especially like the sort of (small) crowd the bar attracts. Owner Jessie Poole named it after her Southern Idaho gold miner grandfather, has her mother do interior design, make the perfumes, and make the bitters and infusions for the bar, had her father do the build out, and has her sister run the kitchen. I like every bit of the results.