#2527 - Tikis Bar and Grill, Quincy, WA - 5/23/2014

Ashley, Tikis Bar & Grill, Quincy, WA

Quincy Washington's "Tiki's Bar and Grill," AKA "Tikis Family Restaurant & Sports Bar," is not about to impress anyone who cares about tiki or tiki bars. But it's a fun place if you just let it be -- consider it something like a buddy's basement, with loud and laughing people, Mexicans singing to the jukebox, and Ashley the friendly bartender making sure your liquid requirements are not ignored.

Tikis Bar and Grill, AKA Tikis Family Restaurant & Sports Bar
Quincy, WA

812 Ctrl Ave S, Quincy, WA 98848 - (509) 797-7362
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor

#2526 - Idle Hour Cafe, Quincy, WA - 5/23/2014

The Idle Hour, Quincy, WA

The building hosting the Idle Hour Eatery and Spirits AKA "Idle Hour Cafe and Steakhouse" was constructed in 1906 a block west of its current location. "John Heuther purchased the building in 1906 and in 1910 he moved it a block down the street. In 1917, E.A. Niblack converted it to Bob Seale's Pastime Pool. He added an ice cream parlor in 1919 because of Prohibition. After that era, it became known as the Spud Shed. Today it is the Idle Hour Cafe and Steakhouse, owned by Gene and Rhonda Rosenberger." (Elizabeth Gibson, Grant County, Images of America)

In the 1960s it was listed as "Cliff's Tavern," and it appears to have been named the "Spud Shed" when Henry and Louise Grant purchased it in 1977. In 1985 it appears to have been renamed back to the "Idle Hour" by the owners who retain it today, Gene "Rosy" Rosenberger and Rhonda Rosenberger, and was heavily remodeled in 2014. Although the interior shows few vestiges of its antiquity, the modern version offers a strong wine list, steaks, and American comfort foods.

The Idle Hour Saloon, 1910, in process of being moved up the street
(Photo via Wenatchee World)

Remolded in 2014 for a more causal atmosphere for people to enjoy fine food and beverages. We feature Northwest Ales on Tap and wines from our local wineries. Hand made burgers, special sandwiches created for your pleasure, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, soup, creative salads and more


18 B St SE, Quincy, WA 98848 - (509) 787-3714                 
Est. 1985 - Building constructed: 1906 (moved to current location 1910)
Previous bars in this location: Idle Hour Saloon (pre-prohibition); Cliff's Tavern (1960s), Spud Shed Tavern (70s-80s)
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor

#2525 - Timeout Saloon, Kittatas, WA - 5/23/2014

The TimeOut Saloon, Kittitas, WA

The TimeOut Saloon was founded in 1987 by Bob and Rochelle McCollum, who ran it for about 20 years. They sold the place in 2010, Bob passed away that same year, and Rochelle died two years later. However shortly after it was sold it returned to the ownership of the family, whereupon it was run by Bob and Rochell's daughter Jennifer Johnson, along with a number of family members.

We were told by Hannah that the building is about 33 years old, but Jennifer has said that there have been bars in this location since immediately after prohibition -- "“It was the Tumbleweed, before that it was Kelly’s Bar."

The current exterior of rustic wood with a hatchet door handle is quite different from the brick and stucco appearance in Michael Caldwell's 1994 "Watering Holes of the Northwest." It's a large, clean place, with a sizable gravel patio out back and cable spool tables. The menu is mostly traditional American comfort foods, with prime rib and taco specials. The inner decor doesn't adhere to one theme, but includes homey touches like an old standup piano, pool trophies, and a quilt featuring photos of vintage cars. It feels like the family-owned place that it is, and like a substantial social locus for people of the area.

101 Main St, Kittitas, WA 98934 - (509) 968-9111
Est. 1987
Previous bars in this location: Tumbleweed, Kelly's Bar
Web site: facebook
Reviews: dailyrecordnews - yelp - tripadvisor

#2524 - Bill's Place, Yakima, WA - 5/23/2014

Bill's Place, Yakima, WA

Bill's Place is said to have been established in 1933, soon after prohibition, and to have been in the current building since 1943. I spoke with Steve, the current owner's son, who explained that the original building was in the current parking lot until a boiler explosion in 1942. For some reason the bar does not appear in Polk guides of the 30s in 40s that I have data for, and tax records indicate that the current building was constructed in 1948.

Today Bill's calls itself "Yakima's favorite dive bar," although it is less divey than it is a typical, contemporary, neighborhood bar, with 20 rotating brews on tap, sports on the TVs, a fairly standard pub menu, live music, and a simple but classic neon sign out front.

206 S 3rd Ave, Yakima, WA 98902 - (509) 575-9513
Est. 1943 (current building), 1933 - Building constructed: 1948
Web site: billsplacetav.com - facebook
Reviews: yakimaherald - yelp

#2523 - The Mint, Enumclaw, WA - 5/23/2014

The Mint, Enumclaw, WA

Below the volcanic noises of Mount Rainier which produced its name, the city of "Enumclaw" came into existence in 1885, then the Northern Pacific Railroad routed through the Frank nd Mary Fell Stevenson's property. (historylink) The Stevenson's also gave away property for a hotel and saloon at the same time. In 1906 The Mint was established. It seems to have survived in one form or another through prohibition until today, moving across the street to its current location at some point in the 1930s. I have notes that it was for some time called The Peach Tree and the n the Enumclaw Pub, but in my limited city guide data I can find only "The Mint" or "Mint Tavern" listed at this address going back at least as far back as 1941.

Bacon jam crostini, The Mint, Enumclaw, WA

The Mint closed suddenly in 2012, but re-opened under new ownership in August 2013. The current version retains the old bar and accentuates some of the history, as well as upgrading and broadening the food. A nice beer selection is complemented by some fresh cocktail choices -- not quite fine, craft cocktails, but better than average. I started with a tasty bacon jam crostini, and followed with the asparagus and salmon ravioli.

1608 Cole St, Enumclaw, WA 98022 - (360) 284-2517
Est. 1930s (1906 in different location) - Building constructed: 1923
Web site: thehistoricmint.com - facebook 
Reviews: link - link - yelp - tripadvisor - courierherald - patch

#2522 #S1250 - World of Beer, Seattle - 5/19/2014

Update: World of Beer closed in Dec 2014 and reopened under new ownership as 500 East.

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Of course World of Beer has a lotta beer (50 rotating drafts, >500 bottles), but I was in the mood for something different so I had a MargaIPA. It was actually pretty good (bartender told me "I'm from California -- I can make a margarita"). This place later broke off from the big WoB chain but is much the same place, with some decent snacks, high ceilings, big windows, a small patio, and, well, lots of beer.

500 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 323-9110
Est. Nov 25, 2013 - Closed Dec 2014
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook
Reviews: capitolhillseattle

#2521 #S1249 - Mezcaleria Oaxaca, Seattle - 5/19/2014

La Mezcaleria Oaxaca / Puro Lonchera
Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA

Update:  Mezcaleria Oaxaca Capitol Hill is now Puro Lonchera (same owners and menu)

La Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard quicky established itself as one of the most authentic and most popular Mexican restaurants in Seattle. With pretty much every night featuring lines out the door for a seat at the communal tables, the Dominguez family expanded first to upper Queen Anne Hill and now to an old auto body shop on Capitol Hill. This location is larger, features a roof top bar for summer time, and a "mezcal classroom."

422 E. Pine St., Seattle - (206) 324-0506                       
Est. Feb 25, 2014 - Building constructed: 1958
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: mezcaleriaoaxaca.com - facebook
Articles ranked: bizjournals - capitolhillseattle - yelp - tripadvisor - eater - thestranger - eatinseattle - seattlemet - thrillist - suzi-pratt

#2520 #S1248 - Babirusa, Seattle - 5/18/2014

Babirusa, Seattle, WA
The photo may not do them justice, but these
chorizo stuffeddates with remesco were delicious

Update: Babirusa at this location closed Dec 2, 2017. It would re-open in 2018 on 2nd Avenue, and close that location in the same year.

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Built into a dreary little strip mall portion of a 20-year-old mixed use structure, astride a Subway and below concrete steps to an apartment complex parking lot, Babirusa's location is one where you would not be surprised by a nice, cheap little ethnic joint, but not upscale, creative small plates and craft cocktails. And when it beckons you from this location with "the best burger in town," one would not expect that to come wiht charred eggplant aioli, confit onions, and sales verde, nor for the other options to consist of items like "Orcchiette with walnut pesto, flowering rapini and Parmesan," "Ling Cod with baby turnips and nettle puree," or "Belgium Endive salad with creamy jalapeño dressing, black radish and miners lettuce."

And yet here once sat Matt Dillon's tony Sitka & Spruce, then Nettletown, and later Blind Pig Bistro, and those are just the sort of dishes that appear on the rotating, chalkboard menu at Barbirusa. Indeed it is from the Blind Pig next door that Charles Wadpole (Anchovies & Olives, Mistral), Rene Gutierrez, and Ben Sherwood expanded into a teriyaki shop and remaded it into the bar. The Blind Pig closed in November 2016, but the newer place, named for the deer-pigs of some Indonesian islands, remains.

Babirusa, Seattle, WA
Painted Hills burger with confit onions

The attitude is wry and casual. and I quite liked the touted burger, although the aoli was not my favorite. I loved the chorizo stuffed dates. and my cocktails, a "Rye a Reason" and classic Boluvardier, were also quite fine. And while it would be far from my first choice to live in the sprawling corridor of mixed use condo buildings that now coats Eastlake Avenue, this joint, squeezed into the corner of a vestigial strip mall, is just the sort of hidden gem any neighborhood would love to have.

2236 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, Washington 98102 - (206) 323-7531
Est. May 13, 2014 - Closed Dec 2, 2017 - Building constructed: 1988
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: blindpigbistro.com/babirusa - facebook -
Articles ranked: thestranger - seattletimes - eater - seattlemag - yelp

#2519 #S1247 - Chippy's Fish and Drink, Seattle - 5/14/2014

Chippy's Fish and Chips, Seattle, WA

Update: Chippy's closed Feb 14, 2016 and was replaced by Marine Hardware.

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Chippy's is the 10th restaurant from Seattle chef Ethan Stowell, a smaller, less upscale sliver of a joint squeezed in between fancy places (Staple & Fancy, Walrus and the Carpenter, Barnacle) and serving up less rarefied dishes like fish and chips, chowder, crab salad and tuna poke. It seats only 18 people. It is said that the secret to the fried fish batter is "lots of vodka, which evaporates quickly for added crunch, and rice flour." It is one of better plates of fish and chips in town, but not so much better that I would seek it out, except when I was hankering for some fairly basic fish and chips with a high quality cocktail.

Chippy's Fish & Chips, Seattle, WA

4741 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 257-4390
Est. May 14, 2014 - Building constructed: 1910 - Closed Feb 14, 2016
Previous bars in this location: None known
Reviews: eater - thestranger - bizjournals - annetrent - myballard - vittlemonster - seattlemag - yelp - thrillist

#2518 - Outlaw Saloon, Bellingham, WA - 5/11/2014

We much enjoyed chatting with bartender/owner Jamie -- good drinks (Moscow mules in copper mugs) and fun -- and also visiting Wesley the dog. The place seems like it would inevitably host a lot of douchebags, but there was no sign of that while we were there.

2023 Main St, Ferndale, WA 98248 - (360) 380-0808
Est. July l, 2011
Previous bars in this location: Cedars Tavern
Web site: outlawssaloon.net - facebook
Reviews: yelp

#2517 - Cabin Tavern, Bellingham, WA - 5/11/2014

The Cabin Tavern, Bellingham, WA

The Cabin Tavern was located at 1213 Cornwall from at least the late 40s to mid 70s. By 1980 it appears at its current address. The current building dates back to 1900 or earlier and has alternated between many different types of businesses, punctuated by years of vacancy. Previous businesses include Abraham Saperstein's music shop, Price Less Shoe Store, State Woodworking, George Fisher's bakery and Farm Electrical Contractors. (Jim Talbot)

The Cabin was remodeled and reopened by a new owner after this visit and these photos, and it looks even more cozy than before (I saw a Facebook post requesting more antlers which I took as a good sign). The lighting looks nicer, they've added a small patio space, they feature Taco Thursdays, have a nice selection of local craft beers, and host live music. They remain hipster friendly, gay friendly, and geezer friendly, and seems like it would be a good choice to by your regular place.

The Cabin Tavern, Bellingham, WA

Cabin Tavern, Bellingham, WA
(Wish they still had this sign up)

307 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225 - (360) 733-9685
Building constructed: 1900
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook
Reviews: whatsup - whatsup - yelp