News for Restaurants in Seattle
June 2012 Archive

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RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery has opened in Ballard

Pastry guru Autumn Martin, known for her take-and-bake molten cakes sold at area farmer's markets, recently opened a dessert café in Ballard called Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery. The charming 1,800-square-foot space is part classic soda fountain shop and part dessert café, plus the company's wholesale production headquarters. The small shop seats about 26 people with six spots at the counter. Hot Cakes will also serve wine and beer, grilled chocolate sandwiches and cookies, and even "boozy" milkshakes. Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery, 5427 Ballard Ave. NW, Ballard, WA 98107, 206-420-3431.

Vij's, the acclaimed Indian restaurant in Vancouver, B.C., is opening a restaurant in South Lake Union near Amazon.com headquarters. Expected to open this November, the restaurant will be called Shanik, named after the daughter of Meeru Dhalwala, the woman who oversees the kitchens at Vij's and is married to chef Vikram Vij. According to reports, Shanik will have a different menu from its Vancouver sibling, and the space will have the feel of a "Himalayan guest house."

Green Leaf, a hugely popular Vietnamese restaurant --- with good reason, recently opened a second location in the unlikely basement location of Belltown's historic Labor Temple. Walk down dingy steps into the cavernous basement space and you are transported into a delightfully dim, fancier-than-most Vietnamese restaurant. Unlike its much smaller sibling in the International District, this Green Leaf has a 50s-style bamboo bar and lounge, a water feature, and is open into the wee hours. Happily, the menu is the same, offering a wide selection of traditional artistically presented Vietnamese dishes. Lunch & Dinner daily. Green Leaf, Labor Temple, 2800 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98121, no phone.

Volterra, the Tuscan-inspired Italian restaurant in Ballard, will be opening a second location this fall in Kirkland. Chef Don Curtiss and managing partner (and wife) Michelle Quisenberry plan to open the second Volterra at 121 Kirkland Avenue in a luxury apartment building. Serving dinner nightly and lunch and dinner during the week, the 2,500-square-foot restaurant will accommodate around 86 guests (56 in the dining room and 30 in the lounge). Volterra, 5411 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107, 206-789-5100.

News Bytes

Chow Foods Bringing TNT Taqueria to Wallingford
Chow Foods, the folks behind the popular neighborhood diners Endolyne Joe's and The 5 Spot, will open TNT Taqueria in Wallingford in July in the space vacated by Jitterbug. There's always a twist to the Chow eateries, as well as quality comfort food and good service.

Morton's Changes Ownership & Menu
Morton's The Steakhouse, the upscale steak chain with a location on Sixth Avenue in downtown Seattle, was purchased by Landry's, which also now owns the Seattle-based seafood group McCormick & Schmick's. Expect major menu changes to be forthcoming except for those expensive, signature steaks. Morton's The Steakhouse, 1511 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, 206-223-0550.

Could Din Tai Fung be Opening Digs Downtown?
When the internationally famous dim sum chain Din Tai Fung opened in Belleview's Lincoln Center, people waited hours to get a seat. (The dumplings are good but hardly worth that degree of devotion.) Now rumors are circulating that the chain plans to open a second Northwest location in downtown Seattle or U Village. No word yet on when --- or if --- this might happen. Din Tai Fung, 700 Bellevue Wy. NE, Bellevue, WA 98004, 425-698-1095.

Chef Shuffle

Jill Severson, who worked with former Canlis pastry chef Neil Robertson, the culinary talent behind recently opened Crumble and Flake, is now head pastry chef at MistralKitchen. Lucy Damkoehler, formerly of MistralKitchen, moved to become kitchen manager at Autumn Martin's new Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery in Ballard. MistralKitchen, 2020 Westlake Ave., Seattle, WA 98121, 206-623-1922.

Chef Peter Birk, the well-respected chef at Ray's Boathouse for two decades, made a quick stop at Harborside --- the recently remodeled former McCormick & Schmick's location on Lake Union --- and is now heading the kitchen at BOKA Kitchen + Bar at Hotel 1000. BOKA Kitchen + Bar, Hotel 1000, 1010 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98104, 206-357-9000.

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.

Trellis restaurant in Kirkland's upscale Heathman Hotel closed on May 24 when a main water line malfunction caused significant damage to the hotel, spa and restaurant. The entire property, including the hotel and spa will be closed until August 1. Trellis, renowned for its farm-to-table cuisine and bounty of fresh produce from the chef's local farm, will be sorely missed. Trellis, The Heathman Hotel, 220 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, WA 98033, 425-284-5900.

The Signature Vietnamese restaurant on lower Queen Anne closed in May and has re-opened as Red Papaya. The new owners have two other Red Papaya Restaurants, one at Crossroads Mall and the other at Kent Station, plus other Vietnamese restaurants in Renton. The Signature, 530 1st Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109, no phone.

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 2012 Archive

News for Restaurants in Seattle
June 2012 Archive