Despite the ongoing pandemic and dwindling days of long, warm evenings that require al fresco dining, Seattle’s restaurant scene only seems to be warming as new openings are announced every day.
Some of the interesting places to look out for are some local favorites opening their second location (and in one case their third), some popular pop-ups that take root, and several newcomers who have witnessed how a place opened up a unique style and saw room for more – be it the production of masa dough from organic heirloom corn or the merging of a brewery and a cidry under one roof.
All of these spots plan to welcome customers soon, but like in pandemic life, nothing is ever safe in restaurants.
In case you can’t spend every second on Instagram discovering these exciting revelations, read on for some of the coolest places to look forward to, even as the darkness of winter looms.
Black Coffee NW Ballard
Although this community-oriented cafe with beverages like the blackacino and the melanin mocha had to contend with a string of racist attacks at its first location in Shoreline over the past year, it persisted. Now they are working hard at their second location, on Market Street in Ballard. While you wait for them to drop by the new location with the coffee, check out their Instagram, which is always full of opportunities to support people locally and elsewhere and events they attend.
Señor Carbon Peruvian cuisine
The same day we featured this amazing Peruvian pop-up and its Nikkei cuisine in our guide to new Peruvian places to visit in Seattle, they shared some exciting news: They just signed up for a permanent location in Pioneer Square. They hope to be open by mid-December and toss the South American sushi. Meanwhile, they’ve been hosting pop-ups at Don Lucho’s in Maple Leaf on Tuesdays, giving people a taste of their shrimp-filled tiradito and apaltado rolls with avocado.
Cricket club
The former Salare room in Ravenna did not stand empty for long: Just two months after it was closed, Preeti Agarwal from Fremonts Meesha picked it up. The restaurateur promises a stylish place modeled on the elite sports clubs of India, small plates and creative cocktails. Read our latest account of what Agarwal had to say – and what she intends to serve – on her second attempt.
Chuck’s Hop Shop Seward Park
Eight years after opening a second store in the Central District, the popular beer store announced it was moving to the restaurant area of Third Place Books in Seward Park. While the original Greenwood location and CD room both focus on serving the best beers and leaving the food to the trucks and practically ignoring the ambience, this place becomes an espresso bar, restaurant concept and – according to Instagram – Include “a whole lot more”. ”
Hildegard
This small-batch beverage company makes seasonal beverages, including Jun, a fermented green tea, and a honey beverage similar to kombucha. In the fall of this year they will open a joint bar in Wallingford with their alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. If you can’t wait that long, your Jun is currently available exclusively from Delancey in Ballard.
Frequently
After Seattle got its first tortilleria in Milpa Masa earlier this year, which nixtamalizes its own corn, Maiz is opening the second right in the heart of Pike Place. In addition to selling the masa as dough and in tortilla form, there are anotjitos – snacks – and tacos. At the annual Sunset Supper market fundraiser in August, they showed a chicken mole and a vegetarian version with portobello mushrooms. You want to open up the room in October with corn-colored tiles and inviting bright chairs.
For decisions
After Bale Breaker and Yonder Cider opened the very first cider and brewery combo in Ballard this week, the neighborhood is set to get a second similar collaboration inspired by it. This combines Everett’s Crucible Brewing and Soundbite Cider in the space previously occupied by The Dane, which closed in March.