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There's been a rumor flying around the last couple weeks that Via Tribunali was going to vacate their space in the Crocodile. We've just confirmed that the news is true. It's not as dire of a situation as it sounds. The pizza oven is staying, the bar isn't going anywhere either. The space will be absorbed into the Crocodile. Word has it that the wall seperating the two spaces will be coming down to make for more space in the Croc. I know that could be a welcome change for some people. And, if your tears are just about to break, don't fret little pizza lover, Via Tribunali has other locations in Seattle where you can get your fix. This is a Belltown public service announcement. There is a lovely retail space on 1st avenue neighboring Black Bottle that has been up for lease. It looks lonely, like a cute puppy at the pound.
It'd be perfect for a stand up coffee bar concept like this;
Credit: Ruth Fremson/The New York Times
Last night we joined a full house of the owners friends and family for a sneak peek at the new Belltown Pub. (loc: 1st & Battery) It was a fun experience seeing the staff pumped up for the new challenge of running a restaurant here in Belltown.
The new Belltown Pub owners believe that there's room in Belltown for an informal pub. They're trying to stay away from the crowded space of fine dining micro plates and lasers in your face, fist pumping clubs. The goal is to have a spot that locals can come to unwind, hang out with friends, and potentially even hear themselves talk; a worthy cause gentlemen.
Most Belltowners will remember the space as Belltown Bistro. I was a big fan of the bistro, not for the overpriced unmemorable food, but purely because of the chill atmosphere. It was a great place to enjoy a decent meal and more importantly, concentrate on a good conversation. So, I think I'm probably an unfair judge of the new Belltown Pub interior. An extreme analogy is like walking into your childhood home - it's never going to be what you remembered in fondness. (stretching, but you get the idea) The Pros: The menu is extensive and cheap. Beers on tap will not disappoint. Shit you not, burgers are around ten bucks. There's a good assortment of appetizers to choose from that are all under the magic 15 threshold. It's standard pub fare here; mac n cheese balls, crab cakes, fries. Entrees aren't going to break your wallet either. Most were right around or under 15. The food was filling and decent. Remember this isn't fine dining. So, if you want your palate to dance with gluttonous excitement, venture to the many other options that Belltown enjoys. If you're looking for some tasty bar food, you're all set.
Cons? It's brand new guys, so cut them some slack before you start lambasting the wait times or service on yelp. Give new restaurants at least a month to break in their britches. If you go the first week, just understand that the kinks are being worked out. Go with people you like talking to and you'll be happy. The hope? That this endeavor is wildly successful. The neighborhood could use some more bars and pubs that are just organic places to hang out with a community of friends. I know, we have Buckleys, Spitfire, and a bunch of others, but this will be a great new option to try out. Welcome to the neighborhood guys!
This event is always sold out - so I thought i'd give you guys a heads up. Just how long will Tom be able to ride the Bacon wave? Only time will tell.
. I was walking down 3rd Avenue earlier last week and I noticed something different about Gambas--that place next to Kelly's you might have missed because you're too busy noticing how much you dislike Kelly's. Gambas built a patio area in front of their store. Fast forward to later that week and some friends and I found ourselves wanting some sushi. As much as I love Shiro's, we were ready to try something different. Here's the first thing I like about Gambas: they're open late. It was a little after 9 and most places we looked were already closed. Then I remembered that I had tried Gambas the first time a few weeks earlier for happy hour and it wasn't too bad. So we hiked on over to 3rd and Bell to get some food. The wait staff remembered me from the time before and we were seated to a table. If you haven't been, Gambas is actually quite nice inside. They have the typical sushi bar, and the rest of the decor is quite pleasant. However, I'm not a guy into decorations and aesthetics, so I'll spare you...
Street Bean is a beautiful little Belltown coffee shop near 3rd & Cedar. It's much more than a coffee shop. Meet the woman and mission behind the business. 
I suppose it's alright to talk about Clever Bottle now that the Seattle Metropolitan picked it up. Sometimes I like to see places with neighborhood character get overlooked for a little while before they're swarmed by the masses (hello Bathtub Gin) . If you haven't been to CB yet, give it a shot. It's a perfect place to start a date or enjoy some good conversation.
We've often featured Seattle Cellars' Thursday wine night tastings as an easy way to meet your neighbors. The last couple of times I've been in the shop I've been a bit worried about the diminishing inventory. It looks like the downturn and Belltown drain is taking on another victim... This is getting depressing!
You know when we post the Belltown Wine Tasting post - there's nothing going on. Bring your Seattle Cellars tasting glass and come join us tonight, May 27, from 5 - 7pm, as we present Wines of the Douro region! Centered around the Douro river in the Trás-os-Montes e Alta Douro region, it is sometimes referred to as the Alto Douro (upper Douro), as it is located some distance upstream from the city of Porto, sheltered by mountain ranges from coastal influence. The region has Portugal's highest wine classification as a Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC). While the region is associated primarily with Port wi ne production, the Douro produces just as much table wine (non-fortified wines) as it does fortified wine; the non-fortified wines are typically referred to as "Douro wines". The Douro winemaking region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
This is a great example of a citizen identifying a problem, thinking of a solution, then picking up the shovel and getting to work. Thanks go to Tom Douglas for giving the community an example of how business and the community can make a difference without the dawdling support of local government.
Shallots Asian Bistro, located on the corner of 4th & Vine is apparently closing. I walked by yesterday and noticed that the restaurant was pretty much shuttered up except for a lone guy packing up all the chairs. He didn't have any inside information besides confirming that the restaurant is closing. Calls to the owner have gone unanswered. Shallots was up for sale this past October, so here's to hoping that they've found a buyer for the space instead of just adding to the growing vacancy in the neighborhood. 
Seattle Times food writer Nancy Leson ponders whether Brasa is closing it's doors for a remodel, demolition, or?
Belltown restaurants are mid-way through Seattle Restaurant Week. 3 courses for $25. Don't miss out! I've underlined some of our Belltown favorites that are absolutely worth a try.
Downtown & Belltown
Pouryourheartintoit posted some shots of Txori too gorgeous not to share.
LuuvuH posted a great little tribute to Txori's last Txoko dinner.
txoria txori from LuuvuH on Vimeo. Try not to lose too much sleep over Txori's departure from the neighborhood. A new Spanish Tapas bar called Pintxo is set to open up soon in the same space. The new owners are huge fans of Txori and promise to resurrect much of the same atmosphere with a few new surprises thrown in for good measure. 
Txori, Belltown's much beloved tapas bar, is saying goodbye April 19th. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem like cruel April Fool's joke, but rather just a comment on the continued evolution of the neighborhood.There's a silver lining amongst the news. The space will be transformed into a new tapas bar - Pintxo. That gives us all a "little something" to look forward to. From the Txori Newsletter A Letter of Farewell Dear Friends, After nearly 2 ½ years of continual flight, my beloved little Basque bar, Txori, is going into hibernation. I say hibernating rather than closing because after a restorative rest and an improved economy I hope to begin looking for a new nest for my little bird at the end of the year. Our final txoko dinner (see below for details) will be this coming Monday, April 5th. Our final day of service at our Belltown nest will be Monday, April 19th. Business as usual will continue at my other restaurant, The Harvest Vine; I hope you’ll join us in the coming weeks at Txori and into the future at The Harvest Vine. But don’t despair Belltown will not be left pintxo-free. In fact two of its own residents, right from the neighborhood, will be taking over the jewel-box of a space on April 21st and reopening shortly thereafter as “Pintxo”. C.J. Chaney and Corey Chigbrow have been patrons and fans of Txori as their neighborhood place. Having met while working for Myspace several years ago, they believe in community in both the virtual and physical worlds. They share with me the joy of bringing people together through food, understanding that the connections forged over a bite and a glass are like no other. I hope that you will welcome and support them as I have. In time perhaps Seattle will support a tapas bar on every street! (My personal mission…) Read More...
Belltown recently welcomed Ventana to the neighborhood. Personally, I was a bit under enthused and managed to walk by this restaurant for the last couple months. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there just wasn't really a compelling reason to venture inside. In fact, it always seemed like the place was near empty. Well, we decided to finally give it a shot last Friday night and were seriously blown away. We will be returning on a regular basis without doubt! Here's our top three reasons why you really ought to give Ventana in Belltown a shot; 1) It's pretty cheap. - swing by for a happy hour. It's probably the best food on 1st during happy hour, and the cocktails are amazing. My wife and I were surprised to see how affordable the happy hour menu was. Ventana is now on my top 3 after work happy hour joints. 2) Get 50% off - Check out tumblr. If you buy $25 worth, you'll get $55. Be quick, there's only 3 lett. 3) Dinner was awesome - I can vouch for the NY strip - it was cooked to perfection. Trina had the spare ribs and they were so good she refused to share. We were feeling pretty unadventurous and tried the cheese plate (hard to jack up) and the truffled popcorn (yay, fun.) 4) Service was impeccable and the view is amazing. Tip, get there right around dusk, grab your pick of the tables, and watch the sunset over an appetizer. Boom. FOUR reasons you ought to take that special someone out on a date and surprise them with a beautiful dinner at Ventana. Let me know how you liked it. Maybe we ought to throw a belltownpeople happy hour there sometime soon! 
If you are a Seattlite, I am sure you know at least one Michigan transplant. It is no secret that the State of Michigan, and Detroit in particular, has been one of the hardest hit by our recent economic crisis. Michiganders are moving out of the state in droves to find better employment opportunities and many find their way to the Seattle area. I am one of these many Detroiters now located in Seattle and while I love it here so much, every now and then I need a reminder of home. I get so excited when the Tigers or Lions play here (miss those Pistons coming here!!) and love catching sports games, Detroit bands, amongst other Michigan things with my fellow Michigan transplants. Well, I can add two more taste of home to my list… Coney Dogs & Vernors cocktails! Now if you have yet to try a Detroit Coney (also, sometimes referred to as a Michigan Coney) you are in for a treat. You start with a Koegel Hot Dog, top it with Detroit style chili (bean free), diced white onions and top it off with yellow...
Bring your Seattle Cellars tasting glass and come join us this evening, Thursday, February 25, from 5 - 7pm, as we present Red Hot Deals from California! Our friends to the south have come up with some delicious value selections, including two of our current Fab Finds under $15, so tonight is the time to stop by and stock up!
Other upcoming events:
We look forward to seeing you!
Seattle Cellars, 2505 2nd Avenue at Wall St., Belltown, Seattle (206) 256-0850. 
Ari Shapiro, one of only a dozen or so “Masters of Whisky” in the U.S., takes Ventana on a five-course taste tour of the world's best single malts paired with Chef Joseph Conrad’s New American cuisine, Thursday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. Explore such renowned brands as Dalwhinnie, Singleton, Oban, Talisker, and Lagavulin. Ari will explain how “whisky” has become a catch-all term to encompass bourbons, ryes, Canadians, blended Scotch, as well as this evening’s focus: single malt Scotch. In this tasting, discover how color can help determine the flavor intensity, the aroma, and finish of each whisky poured. In his selections you’ll experience the complexity of flavor and the long finish people seek out in a single malt Scotch. Menu includes:
1st course: Butternut squash gnocchi with braised endive, caramelized turnips, and a balsamic and lychee reduction; served with Singleton 2nd course: House smoked Sockeye salmon with mocha Israeli cous cous, glazed apples, and walnuts; served with Talisker 3rd course: Seared artisan duck breast with black bean puree, cocoa duck jus, and roasted Meyer lemon; served with Dalwhinnie 4th course: Smoked pork belly with miso butterscotch, cherry, and frisee; served with Lagavulin 5th course:(dessert): Oban ice cream with burnt orange and star anise caramel, pecan; served with Oban $50 per person, plus tax and gratuity. 21 & Over. Call (206) 441- 4789 to secure your reservation and for additional details. 2323 1st Avenue Seattle; http://ventanaseattle.com. 
Kim's Homemade will begin a new late night "service" offering at Cafe Lieto lovingly called Biscuit Bitch. Kim promises to be serving "food your mom would want you to eat" until 2:30 am. Who knows if your mom would be alright with you hanging out with a biscuit lady past your bedtime though. Kim's biscuits look worth a nibble and at five whole dollars, it's not going to set you back too far to give them a try. 
Thankfully, the ever astute folks at Mama's Mexican Kitchen on 2nd have understood Belltown's dire situation. We're running out of bars! The great bar shortage is upon us! Oh the horror, there's no place to get a little sip of the Devil's nectar around here! Running to the rescue is the opening of Papa's, a new bar in the back of Mama's. If you'd like to see some pictures of the cozy spot or get a glimpse of local artist Joey Nix's latest creation, swing over and "read all about it" from Lydia Heard - one of the PI's neighborhood bloggers.This new bar offers something different for Belltown. Instead of smelling like cheap cologne after a night of socializing, you can revel in the glorious aroma of re-fried beans. Mmm, lovely.
As early as November, I was tasked to list the menu for our annual family noche buena. I remember mother telling me that it is best that I finish all my research papers before December comes as she really wants the table be filled with delectable dishes. My moms worry that I will not enjoy the December season if I will still busy on my writing services. This is because a lot of relatives usually come over all spend the dinner with us. And so I plan to make 3 roasted chicken or turkey as the main course. I will have mushroom and chicken soups, and tuna and potato salads as starters. I made it clear eversince that I do not allow iced tea on my menu. It is either fresh juice or mineral water for everyone's well-being. Wheat bread with slight butter will also be present in the meal. For desserts, we will have puddings, chocolate mouse, and cheesecake. Fruits will be served for the elders and those who are diabetic. I had been receiving e-mails and calls about the family affair and I am quite pressured right now....
Spur Gastropub. Called Washington Chicken Confit. This is truth, not to be debated. I am the biggest connoisseur of wings that you will probably ever come across. And nothing has ever been better than these. I remember tasting something like them at the Chicken Wing Contest held at Union Restaurant last year. It was the best night ever, all-you-can-eat hot wings made by all of Seattle's best chefs...a taste of heaven for me. I believe these wings were a little spicier and garnished with mint for the contest...but they are still prepared the same. End result: Drumsticks with meat that literally falls off of the bone when you pick them up. They are the best that I've ever had, not just in Belltown, the best ever. I had them again a few nights ago and they did not disappoint. (In all humility, because i "think" i know that these are the best, yet have not tried every restaurant to determine this, please don't hesitate to comment below with your favorite..i wouldn't want to miss out on some...
Everyone has their opinions on restaurants. I try to avoid writing whole posts dedicated to one restaurant, because there are just so many wonderful choices in Belltown for dining that all do something well. But today I am writing about my experience at La Vita E Bella because it feels like it is a part of me, a part of the neighborhood of Belltown. I am half mexican/half italian, just as an aside, and this restaurant exuded a sense of familiarity for me. I walked in and immediately felt like I was in a 1990's mexican restaurant. Yes it's 1993 in theory..the aesthetic is that eclectic, so much so that looking at the orange, blue and red walls coupled with plastic multicolored light fixtures over the bar, made me want to have a margarita. Literally, I had a craving for a margarita! Yet Sinatra was playing in the background and the joint had the beautiful aroma of Italian food. It was laid back, but not in service or quality of food. The Italian guy with the thick New York accent took our order, it was fun to just hear him speak, he sounded exactly like my dad. Our busser was so attentive that our water glass never got half empty. My husband ordered the Rigatoni and I ordered the Halibut, we switched plates half way through the meal. The Rigatoni was Freakin Amazing! The Halibut was delicious as well, but i've never tasted a more rich and perfectly balanced sauce as to what the rigatoni was made with. It was amazing, i licked my plate...almost. Great, Great food. When the meal was over, and the tiramisu and white chocolate covered sorbet were devoured, i thought to myself: So what if the ambiance is not hip and posh? There are far too many restaurants in Belltown with that vibe anyways. This joint is a Gem. Truly a Belltown Gem. It felt like i stepped back ten years to see a glimpse of the local Italian place when Belltown was less seven condo buildings. Its annoying when all of the restaurants look the same anyways, super minimalist with nothing to distinguish it from any other place. This place is quality, the Rigatoni is where it is at, and I felt like it was my neighborhood Italian joint where i could go to get a little taste of home. |
