News for Restaurants in Seattle
June 2011 Archive

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RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Located in a charming red 1940s house, Jerzy's Wine Bar & Bistro has re-opened under new ownership with revamped décor and a fresh menu. The cozy and inviting restaurant in the heart of downtown Redmond prepares European-American cuisine and offers a global wine selection. Jerzy’s Wine Bar & Bistro, 16727 Redmond Way, Redmond, Settle 98052, 425-658-1765.

Fans of the East Coast and Mid West's acclaimed sandwich chain Potbelly will be thrilled to know this popular eater is opening a branch in downtown Seattle on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Pike Street. Famous for meatball and pizza sandwiches and subs (Jimmy Johns, better watch out!), Potbelly also has great shakes and (often) long lines.

Named Gayot's 2011 Best Restaurateur in the U.S., Michael Mina has brought his urban wine bar and restaurant to downtown Seattle. Mina and his long-time wine director and expert sommelier, Rajat Parr, opened RN74 in the historic Joshua Green Building at Fourth Avenue and Pike Street. Veteran chef Michelle Retallack presides over the kitchen with Eric Perlin as general manager. RN74 marks the second urban wine bar Parr and Mina have launched, and a return home for Mina who began his culinary career in Ellensburg, Wash. Named after Route National 74, the major thoroughfare passing through the heart of France's Burgundy region, RN74 promises a rich, contemporary interpretation of the classic train stations of Europe. RN74, 1433 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98121, 206-456-7474.

Belltown got lucky with the opening of the Lucky Diner, an upscale urban diner serving quality, affordable food in a friendly, hip setting. Chef Justin Meve, formerly executive chef at Cutters Bayhouse, eventually plans to be open 24/7 serving his creative spin on comfort food. Lucky Diner, 2630 1st Ave., Seattle, WA 98121, 206-805-0133.

News Bytes

Café de Lion Roars into Queen Anne
Husband and wife team Tomoyo and Daisuke Miura offer beautiful, exotic French pastries (she trained in Paris) with a Japanese accent in elegant surroundings at the Café de Lion on upper Queen Anne. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the menu includes Japanese-style iced coffee, a small selection of sandwiches and pastries such as cheesecake surrounding a blackberry and blueberry jelly filling topped with fresh berries, white chocolate mousse with apricots, and Japanese black sugar sponge cake with soybean cream and walnuts. Café de Lion, 1629 Queen Anne Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109, 206-913-2125.

Chef Shuffle

Chef Patric Gabre-Kidan, who helped create and then manage the front of the house of the much lauded Book Bindery, has left the restaurant. Well-known in Seattle as the co-owner of three restaurants with Ethan Stowell (Tavolata, How to Cook a Wolf and Anchovies & Olives), there's no word yet as to his future plans. Book Bindery is owned by Sumi and Mike Almquist. Book Bindery, 198 Nickerson St., Seattle, WA 98109, 206-283-2665.

Charles Walpole, the talented chef at Anchovies & Olives, has moved to Marjorie, Donna Moody's bistro on Capitol Hill that has had some difficulty finding a long-term chef since reopening from its Belltown location. Rumor has it that Ethan Stowell---the culinary visionay behind Tavolata, How to Cook a Wolf, and Staple & Fancy---has selected a new chef for A & O but is keeping mum. Anchovies & Olives, 1550 15th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122, 206-838-8080‎.

Rob Sevcik replaces Adam Hoffman as the new chef de cuisine at Rover's, one of Seattle finest restaurants. Hoffman has left to open his own bistro and brewery in Monroe, Wash. Twenty-one-year-old Nick Gavin becomes the new sous chef. Both are under the direction of Rover's head chef, Thierry Rautureau. Rover's, 2808 E. Madison St., Seattle, WA 98112, 206-325-7442.

Jason Stoneburner, who has been Bastille Cafe & Bar's chef de cuisine since the restaurant opened in June 2009, is taking over the kitchen from Shannon Galusha, who is moving on to open a chain of restaurants. After launching and building the kitchen at Bastille Cafe & Bar, chef Galusha is creating a new restaurant group called Classic Concepts Group with business partners Jeff Chandler and Matthew Schweitzer. Bastille Café & Bar, 5307 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107, 206-453-5014.

Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for Seattle to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from the past. Lampreia, R.I.P.

The bad, sad news: Restaurant Zoe, one of Belltown's finest eateries, is closing its doors on July 23 and moving to the Oola Distillery building at 14th and Union on Capitol Hill. The good news: Spur, another Belltown favorite, is planning to open a second, different dining concept in the exited space on Second and Bell. Restaurant Zoe, 2137 Second Ave., Seattle, WA 98121, 206-256-2060.

Taberna del Alabardero in Belltown closed its doors May 31. The popular tapas bar and traditional Spanish restaurant, which opened in 2008, also has branches in Washington D.C., and Madrid. The closing e-mail announcement signed-off with "We hope to be back soon," so hopefully this change may be temporary.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Seattle

Discover the top restaurants for various cuisines and categories like steakhouses, pizza, happy hours, and romantic dining. Find the best restaurants in Seattle here!

Find the best restaurants in Seattle in categories like outdoor dining and brunch

BEYONCE INSPIRED LIBATIONS

Try these whiskey cocktails inspired by Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.

Check the recipes.

BOURBON IN YOUR AIOLI

This cashew aioli recipe gets a kick with bourbon.

Get the recipe.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDS

Over the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.

News for Restaurants in Seattle June 2011 Archive

News for Restaurants in Seattle
June 2011 Archive