#2429 #S1225 - Plaza Garibaldi, Seattle - 3/9/2014

A few years ago this was Jalisco, which was curiously right across the street from Jalisco. Just as it was difficult for me to tell the difference between the double Jaliscos, it's difficult for me to spot the difference between this new place in the Jalisco west-side-of-the-street space, as it seems to be mostly the standard, Azteca-style, American Mexican plates and magaritas. So even if you didn't realize Jalisco closed, you will know what to expect, and Garibaldi reliably delivers.

Historical notes: This space, constructed in 1926, was the home of the Footlight Tavern from the 40s into the 80s. In the mid-80s it was briefly the Sea Otter Saloon, and then Taqueria Jalisco from 2007-2012.

129 1st Ave, N Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 397-4088
Est. Aug 9, 2012 - Building constructed: 1926
Previous bars in this location: Footlight Tavern, Sea Otter Saloon, Taqueria Jalisco
Web site: pgaribaldi.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor - queenannereview - thestranger

#2428 #S1224 - Serious Pie, Seattle (South Lake Union) - 3/3/2014

Sweet fennel sausage pie - Serious Pie, Seattle, WA

The drinks are fairly good at the bar they've added this instance of Tom Douglas's mini gourmet pizza chain. But of course the focus remains the pizza -- one of my favorite meals in the city. Have the sweet fennel sausage choice.

401 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 436-0050
Est. Dec 1, 2014 (date bar added) - Building constructed: 1948
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: seriouspieseattle - facebook
Articles ranked: seattlemet - seattleite - seattletimes - yelp - gastronomyblog - absolutelymonica - seattlepi

#2427 - Russian River Brewing, Santa Rosa, CA - 3/3/2014

You can't visit Santa Rosa without visiting Russian River, but the locals advise not to simply dive into the Pliny. So at the advice of bartender Jeff and customer Gary, I started with a "Row 2 / Hill 56," before moving to the inevitable Pliny the Elder. They were both my kind of beers, and had some pleasant chats with various folks at the bar. Russian River sells over 50% of its beer in this one pub, which was the main reason cited for ceasing shipments to my hometown Washington state in 2013, thus putting an end to the annual Pliny the Younger frenzy here in our thirsty town.  E.g. from the Seattle Times 2011:

"It causes lines around the block and packed houses that would violate most cities’ fire codes. Last year, Naked City Brewery & Taphouse in Greenwood blew its Pliny the Younger keg in six minutes."

'Last year, Jamie Butler, co-owner of The Dray in Ballard, nonchalantly noted on Facebook one night that he would tap Pliny the Younger at 3 p.m. the next day. He ran some errands and strolled in at 3 to find a full house with “people slamming their hands on the bar,” he said.'

"The Whisky Bar in downtown won’t announce when it will release Pliny the Younger because, the bartender said, the place would just go nuts." (seattle times)

Of course the delta between Pliny and many other fine, more readily available beers doesn't merit the mania unless you are fairly devoted. But it does add to the gratification of a northwesterner casually sipping Russian River's goods while in town.


725 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 - (707) 545-2337
Est. April 3, 2004
Web site: russianriverbrewing.com - facebook
Articles: sfchronicle - wikipedia - yelp - sfgate - craftbrewingbusiness

#2426 - Tradition, San Francisco, CA - 3/1/2014

I only stopped in for a quick drink at this place from the people behind Bourbon and Branch, etc. It was packed, and I had not made a reservation for any of the "snugs" -- reservation-only booths decorated in various bar themes (tiki bar, speakeasy, English pub, etc.). The drinks are nice and were I living or working in the area I might be tempted to work my way through each of the booth areas.

441 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94102 - (415) 474-2284
Est. June 2012
Previous bars in this location: Club 441, Mister Lew's Win-Win Bar & Grand Sazerac Emporium
Web site: tradbar.com - facebook
Reviews: 7x7 - seriouseats - thrillist - yelp

#2425 - Rainbow Cattle Co, Guerneville, CA - 3/1/2014

Rainbow Cattle Co, Guernville, CA

My cousin made fun of me (she is often cruel to me in this way) for being well into my drink and examination of the Rainbow Cattle Co. premises before opining that it may be a gay bar. But really, how was I to know? I was not informed of the cultural history I've now noted in the entry for McT's Bullpen. Of course there was the prominent rainbow on the sign and in the name. And there were the bear-ish patrons around and behind the bar. And there was the flyer for Musical Sundays. And the ones with people who looked like members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. And an unusual number of leather hats. And all the other rainbow pennants and flags. But really, what am I, psychic? Stupid cousin.

Rainbow Cattle Co., Guernville, CA

Anyway, the Cattle Co. seems like a pretty fun place, and I regret I wasn't there to see it on a busy Saturday night. The woody, rustic decor contains various western icons -- painted saws, steer skulls, etc. -- and is only better for multiple pieces being broken. They offer a fairly typical set of dive-bar style cocktails and craft beer selections, with a signature Long Island Ice Tea that comes in a 32oz Mason jar.

16220 Main St, Guerneville, CA 95446 - (707) 869-0206
Est. 1979
Web site: queersteer.com - facebook
Reviews: about - tripadvisor

#2424 - McT's Bullpen, Guerneville, CA - 3/1/2014

Many years ago I proposed a business named something along the lines of Rent-a-Gay-Population. The idea was that desperate, dying towns around the country could, well, rent a gay population, who would live there for a year, open boutiques and bars and antique shops and generally make the place a fun and interesting place, then move along to the next rehabilitation case. Guerneville California seems like it beat me to the punch.

Hard by the Russian River, Guerneville was established as a logging town in the 1850s and has been a vacation spot for residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area since the 1870s. It's a very pretty area, now, of course, in the midst of wine country, and apparently during the 1970s "San Francisco was the gay Mecca and Guerneville was the gay escape from gay Mecca." (sonomacounty.com)

Anyway, it is a charming place and McT's Bullpen seems like one of the more pedestrian bars there, drawing a mixed crowd -- gay/straight, tourist/local, hippy/redneck or whatever you call the modern-day versions of those two. There doesn't seem to be much remarkable about the bar on this slow Saturday afternoon, but who knows what secrets are bubbling under the surface in this community just five miles from the macabre machinations of secretive and powerful Bohemian Grove rituals, where various world leaders practice arcane rituals at the behest of a 30-foot owl, a prequel to either secretly ruling the world or possibly just blowing off steam and trolling Alex Jones.

McT's seems like the kind of unremarkable setting where the character of the place is determined entirely by the people, and I couldn't get much of a sense for that on the lazy Saturday afternoon when I visited. I did, however, have a very pleasant conversation with John, a retired British meteorologist, who is happy to live within walking distance of the bar, and let slip absolutely no hints of what the giant owl has in store for humanity.


16246 First St, Guerneville, CA 95446 - (707) 869-3377
Web site: mctsbullpen.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp

#2423 - Alpine Inn, Portola Valley, CA - 2/28/2014

Alpine Inn, Portola Valley, CA

There are fine old dive bars, and then there are great old dives. The Alpine is one of the coolest and oldest in the country, serving drinks since the 1850s, on the National Register of Historic Places, and steeped in history from the gold rush to the invention of the internet. 49ners drank in this bar -- not football players, actual 49ners. The exact founding date is uncertain, but it was sometime during the 1850s and commonly placed at 1852, two years after California became a state. And some patrons still arrive on horseback. Nestled in the Portola Valley trees hovering over Los Trancos Creek, seemingly a thousand miles from civilization -- but actually only seven from Stanford University -- it's easy to get the impression that little has changed such then. (Indeed, stepping inside and glancing at the taxidermy heads and bric-a-brac on the walls, one might wonder if it has been dusted since the 1850s.)

"Beginning of the Internet Age" marker, Alpine Inn, CA

The Casa de Tabletla ("house of cards") drinking, dancing, and gambling roadhouse was built and run by Felix Buelna, former mayor of San Jose, catering to Spanish-speaking Californios and their horses along the Old Spanish Trail to the coast. In 1868 Felix relinquished the place to Scotch-Irishman William Stanton, apparently losing it in a poker game, and under Stanton it becomes an English-speaking joint. Over the years the joint had many owners and many names -- it was  and "Chapete's Place" under Rodriguez "Black Chapete" Crovello, and later "The Wunder" under Charles Schenkel in the early 1900s. It's most abiding name dates back to 1940, when Enrico and Teresa Rossotti purchased it and renamed it "Rossotti's." Officially Rossotti's last only about a decade, but after half a century, locals still refer to it as "Zott's," and the sign out front still says "Formerly Rossotti's."

Alpine Inn, Portola Valley, CA

When Stanford University was founded a few miles away in 1885, it became popular with the students, who have helped sustain it ever since. This was not necessarily with the approval of the university provosts: '1908 - 'Stanford president David S. Jordan writes San Mateo County supervisors complaining that "The Wunder has a reputation for being vile, even for a roadhouse, a great injury to the university, and a disgrace to San Mateo County." The county, however, does not close the saloon.' (unknown article posted in the bar)  Over the years it benefitted from various prohibition measures. Palo Alto went dry in the 1890s; nearby Mayfield closed 23 saloons in 1903; and one can safely assume that the owners did not complain when a state law prohibiting the sale of alcohol within a mile and half of Stanford University was put in effect from 1909 to 1970.

And then there is the start of the internet. The event most commonly considered as the first internet message is when UCLA professor Leonard Kleinrock and student Charley Kline sent a two-letter message from UCLA to the Stanford Research Institute (the two letters being "l" and "o," since the system crashed while trying to send "login." But a key to the "internet" is the ability to link dissimilar networks. Thus when SRI researchers parked the SRI Packet Radio Van next to a picnic table behind the Alpine Inn on August 27, 1976 and transferred a message from the table via the van's equipment to SRI and then on to Boston via ARPANET, it is natural that Computer Science Division Vice-President Don Nielson called it “the first internet transmission" and that many people mark it as "the beginning of the internet age."

Today the bar hosts a broad variety of patrons from Hells Angels to Stanford physics professors. The Mercury News notes "It's one of the few places where landscapers and technology CEOs, Little Leaguers and retirees, Stanford students and bikers -- of both kinds -- brush up against one another." I chatted with customer John, who fondly remembered when there lines out the door in the 70s and 80s, and girls from Stanford in bikinis. The food is old school bar grub -- cheeseburgers and basic sandwiches -- and there are 17 beers on tap. Virtually every wood surface has many decades of names carved into it, and outside is a large, shady beer garden. "Are you going to buy the place?" John asked me out of the blue. Well, I'm not in a position in life where I'm ready to buy a bar. But if I was, I can't think of any that would be more fun to own.

3915 Alpine Rd, Portola Valley, CA 94028 - (650) 854-4004
Est. 1959 (1852 under different name) - Building constructed: 1852
Previous bars in this location: Casa de Tableta (1852-1868), Fernando's, Philpott's (1870-1875), Stanton's Saloon (1875-?), Chapete's Place, The Wunder (1904-?), Rossotti's (1940-1959)
Web site: alpineinnbeergarden.com - facebook
Articles ranked: paloaltoonline - beaucamera - atigerinthekitchen - sutromedia - mv-voice - yelp - tripadvisor - findery

#2422 - Harry's Hofbrau, Redwood City, CA - 2/28/2014

Harry's Hofbrau, Redwood City, CA

Harry's in Redwood City is the senior of three family-run classic mid-century hofbrau style cafeteria carveries, where you slide your plastic tray along the rails collecting heaping helpings of American comfort foods deluged in boatloads of gravy. Their featured item remains the whole roasted turkey, as one guesses it was then they opened this location in 1954. But a few years ago one of the younger family members returned from college and added a new attraction, converting their large, 70s fern bar style lounges into mini Meccas of craft beer. The bar at the Redwood City location has 28 taps featuring very nice choices, sometimes including both Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. One can only assume that young adults all over the city are suddenly much more content to let Grandpa choose where to eat.

Harry's Hoffbrau, Redwood City, CA

Oddly soiled Charles Schulz characters at Harry's Hofbrau
Redwood City, CA

1909 El Camino Real, Redwood City, California 94063 - (650) 366-3733
Est. 1954
Web site: harryshofbrau.com - facebook
Reviews: sfgate - sanleandrotimes - examiner - yelp

#2421 - The Saddle Room, Redwood City, CA - 2/28/2014

A fine, old, neighborhood dive.

1607 Woodside Rd, Redwood City, CA 94061 - (650) 361-9756
Previous bars in this location: The Green Frog (50s)
Web site: Nope!
Reviews: almanacnews - yelp - indulgery

#2420 #S1223 - Flying Fish, Seattle - 2/25/2011

After 15 years in Belltown, James Beard award winning chef Christine Keff moved her highly regarded seafood and Asian themed restaurant to South Lake Union -- one of the early upscale restaurateurs to settle in the area as it was just starting to a massive makeover driven by Paul Allen and Amazon.com. In 2013 she sold the business to Xiao Ming Liu, who had moved to Seattle after running several high end restaurants in China.

300 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 728-8595
Est. 2010 (this location) - Building constructed: 2006
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: flyingfishseattle.com - facebook
Articles ranked: seattletimes - bizjournals - seattleweekly - thestranger - yelp - tripadvisor - seattlemag - thrillist 

#2419 #S1222 - Nacho Borracho, Seattle - 2/22/2014

Nacho Borracho, Seattle

I really like Nacho Borracho. Gray days or not, for a long time I've felt Seattle is lack one of those bars one finds in New Orleans or Miami with rows and rows of slushy adult drink choices. Nacho Borracho is not one of those, but they do have a small selection of slushy drink choices that are substantially better than such places -- e.g. the passion fruit margarita, avocado margarita and pink guava moscow mule. It is run by Rachel Marshall and Kate Opatz of "Montana" and Rachel's Ginger Beer, so you know it has a funky personality. This one also delivers quite tasty "Mexican street food" from the Neon Taco kitchen in back, with a menu by Monica Dimas, who comes from such highfalutin kitchens as Spinasse and Mkt.

209 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 466-2434                   
Est. Feb 20, 2014 - Building constructed: 1911
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: nachoborrachoseattle.com - facebook
Articles ranked: seattletimes - capitolhillseattle - eater - seattlemag - seattlemet  - seattleglobalist - yelp - eatinseattle - thestranger

#2418 #S1221 - Vidiot, Seattle - 2/22/2014

Update: Vidiot has moved from this to a new location with the same street number, leaving the suite that once hosted to the Shipwreck Tavern for the space that recently hosted the epic Benbow Room.

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Vidiot Seattle (original location)

I'm old, never liked video games much, and don't drink beer as often as I used to. So I'm about as far away from the demographic of this "barcade" as one could be, even with the nod toward older games. But it looks like a fairly cool neighborhood joint if you are NOT old, you DO like video games, and you DO quite like your beer. So you probably won't run into me there, but have fun.

Vidiot, Seattle (original location)

4210 SW Admiral Way, Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 280-8190
Est. Jan 3, 2014 (first location) - Building constructed: 1926
Previous bars in first location: Happy Hour Tavern, Ye Olde Hour, Luther's Pub, TNT's Place, Shipwreck Tavern
Previous bars in current (Suite A) location: Benbow Room
Web site: facebook
Reviews: westseattleherald - westseattleblog - yelp

#2417 #S1220 - Cassis Bistro, Seattle - 2/22/2014

Update: Cassis closed on Dec 19, 2015.

Cassis was a highly regarded French restaurant on Capitol Hill from 1997 through 2004. Now owner Jef Fike is opening a version of it across from Alki Beach and next door to The Cactus. It seems a bit of an odd location for the delicate French dishes, with the Alki Ave vibe being more like a college part of town, and sunlight streaming through the large, garage door windows of the newish building. But then again, perhaps this is not so unlike the touristy seaside French commune for which it is named. For this version Fike has recruited Chef Andy Dekle from their days together at The Ruins. The food and cocktails are both quite nice, and it certain provides a change of pace from neighbors like The Cactus and Fatburger.

2820 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116 - (206) 743-8531
Est. Feb 19, 2014 - Building constructed: 2003
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: cassisalki.com - facebook
Articles ranked: seattlemet - seattletimes - seattlemag - yelp - tripadvisor - seattlemag - eater - thestranger 

#2416 #S1219 - Bar Cantinetta, Seattle - 2/19/2014

This is the newest, smallest and most intimate of the four locations of this Seattle area group of Tuscan-style restaurants. This version seems if anything a bit more wine centric, and features the same very fine and creative Italian themed dishes.

2811 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112 - (206) 329-1501                    
Est. Aug 30, 2013 - Building constructed: 1984
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: barcantinetta - facebook 
Articles ranked: culinaryfool - seattlemag - madisonparkblogger - madisonvalley.org - eater - seattlemet -  yelp - tripadvisor - thestranger - seattleweekly