West Seattle, Washington
01 Sunday
Thanks to Diane for spotting this one: According to a Craigslist help-wanted ad, the new restaurant at West Seattle Bowl, replacing Terrace West, will be called Highstrike Grill, and it’s set for a September 1st opening. The ad mentions highstrikegrill.com – but as of right now, that site’s not working. We’ll check with WS Bowl tomorrow to see what more we can find out; owner Andrew Carl confirmed to us a month ago that there would be a change in the bowling center’s restaurant operation. We’ll also check on the Terrace West closing date, which two WSB’ers have e-mailed to say is later this week. P.S. The new restaurant’s name/logo is on the WS Bowl website too, but no additional details.
(Since the banner outside this in-the-works restaurant on Delridge originally promised a spring opening, now that it’s summer, some have asked us if we know what’s going on. So we found the owners and got the story.)
Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Though the only aroma currently coming from this storefront is that of paint and varnish, the owners of this new restaurant located next door to Olympia Pizza on Delridge Way promise that in a couple of weeks, the smells of spiced meat, banh mi sandwiches and pho will be enticing customers to visit.
Owners Melinda Nguyen and Scott Dang, who have owned other restaurants including Lemongrass near Seattle University (which they sold in 2002), moved to West Seattle recently and decided they needed to open another restaurant.
Saw the name on the liquor-license application lineup recently but couldn’t get the scoop – the name Blackboard Bistro, 
attached to new liquor licensees for 3247 California SW, the Eness/Beato/O2/Ovio/etc. spot. But this afternoon, Nancy Leson at the Seattle Times (WSB sponsor) has the full story – she reports that Eness is making way for Blackboard Bistro to open next month. Its proprietor worked most recently at Olivar on Capitol Hill. Read all about it here. 6:21 PM NOTE: We went over to the restaurant to look for signs of the transition, and to see if anyone was around to talk to. Aside from the “Blackboard Bistro” liquor notice, there is no sign of the impending change; a flyer taped to the window just says the restaurant will be closed July 1-12. THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: A spokesperson for Blackboard Bistro says Eness is definitely “closed for good” and that Blackboard plans to open “mid-August.”
(Photographed right after West Seattle’s new Jones Barbeque opened: Shyla Jones & Charelle Love)
ORIGINAL 12:30 PM REPORT: Just checked on Jones Barbeque in The Triangle – drove by and saw signs of impending business – they tell us they’ll be open in a few hours. Here’s our last update, from June 18th, mentioning their hopes for curbside service – we’ll ask about that once they’re open later today.
2:59 PM: Now open. Saw the sign while driving back from the Viaduct South End groundbreaking event (story on that, to come).
3:33 PM: Added a photo. Address is 4417 Fauntleroy, if you haven’t passed the storefront before. Couple notes: You can’t call in orders yet – the phone won’t be in until Thursday. Hours: 11 to 9 Monday through Thursday, 11-10 Friday and Saturday. They haven’t decided yet about Sundays (including the 4th of July) – we’ll check back in a few days. That curbside service WILL be offered, 11 am-4 pm and 6 pm-9 pm Mondays-Fridays, not during 4-6 because of peak traffic.
Just got a note from Kamala with Marination Mobile, the food truck that’s been a hit in the 35th/Graham lot for months now. Next month marks a year since it’s been making Saturday visits to West Seattle – but it’ll skip the next two Saturdays:
We just wanted to let our W. Seattle peeps know that we will be closed on July 3rd (so that folks can prepare for the 4th), and July 10th as Big Blue will be at the Mobile Chowdown at the Seattle Center. We are already missing West Seattle, but look forward to seeing you all on July 17th. Wow, the 17th already seems too long to be away from West Seattle…
(So, those 2 Saturdays, go try something new for lunch in The Junction, or Admiral, or … On the 10th, in fact, you’ll want to be in The Junction at West Seattle Summer Fest, anyway. But if you’re looking for ideas, we’ve got a West Seattle Food-specific board in the WSB Forums.)
Friday’s update on Jones Barbeque‘s impending West Seattle opening brought a few questions about other on-their-way businesses, including the Wing Dome location that’s going into The Junction, next to CAPERS. When last we checked in with Colleen O’Leary at Consolidated Restaurants, the Wing Dome’s parent company, they were hoping for June or July. Things are still going well, O’Leary tells WSB, but going a little more slowly because of the permit process: “A delay in permitting has caused us to push back our target opening date by another few weeks. At this point we’re planning for an early August opening.”
Ever since our first report 3 weeks ago about Jones Barbeque planning a West Seattle location, we’ve been chasing down more details. Finally just got them, in a phone chat with Andreque Jones, as more signage continues going up at the storefront. He tells WSB they’re hoping to open as soon as next week in their new location at 4417 Fauntleroy (between Aikido of West Seattle and Tervo’s Mini-Mart, and previously, briefly home to OK Corral), if “the rest of the permits come through.” At the very least, he says, “we’re looking to have a grand opening on the 1st week of July.” We asked him about hours – and learned about plans for “curbside service” – read on:Read More
Got a note from Kristina saying she’d heard that Terrace West Chinese Restaurant inside West Seattle Bowl will be closing; she wanted to “let the nice family who runs the current space know they will be greatly missed.” The restaurant is part of WS Bowl, whose boss Andrew Carl confirms to WSB that they are making a change, including remodeling, in the bowling center’s eating/drinking space. He says it’s too soon to say much else, except that the next restaurant will not be Chinese food, and that he hopes it will be open by September 1st (though he says a closing date for Terrace West isn’t yet finalized). “We should have a much clearer picture for everybody in early to mid-July,” he says. Right now, though, they’re “still in the development area.”
That banner has just gone up in the window at 4417 Fauntleroy Way (map), the former OK Corral barbecue joint (which quietly went from take-out, to catering-only, to closed over the past few months): Jones Barbeque, coming soon. You may know them from SODO and/or Columbia City. We’ve got messages out to company ownership/management to find out about the West Seattle plan, so stand by for more.
We spotted the sign while heading over to take a photo of what WSB Forums member Nuni pointed out — the new left-turn signals at 35th/Avalon have just been switched on, after more than a week under wraps:
The signals are just on the west/east lights (Avalon to 35th), not the north/south ones. And yes, this is the same intersection that has one of West Seattle’s two red-light-camera systems (along with 35th/Thistle).
Not only were dozens of current West Seattle food/beverage purveyors part of tonight’s Taste of West Seattle, attended by more than 300 people at The Hall at Fauntleroy — one future local eatery was represented too. That’s Andy Pattalochi, manager for the future Wing Dome in The Junction, expecting to open just north of CAPERS in July. We did mention more than 300 people, right?
The Taste of West Seattle is a major fundraiser for West Seattle Helpline, whose board includes First Lutheran Church of West Seattle‘s pastor Rev. Ron Marshall, who tended the all-ages drink table:
Guests were entertained by performers including Troupe Hipnotica:
And after we showed you their setup work earlier, we had to show you the finished look at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor)’s table:
(From left, Roger, Jessie & Charlie) And serving coffee, Lora Lewis of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (inaugural WSB sponsor):
Just heard back from promoter Brooks re: results of the voting during The Taste – he reports: “Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes won! Fresh Bistro and Bakery Nouveau tied for second.” (WSB was among the co-sponsors of tonight’s event.) FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: One more photo to add – Helpline provided this photo of director Anna Fern (left) accepting a big (in more ways than one) check from Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) during The Taste:
FRIDAY NOONTIME UPDATE: A note of acknowledgment from the Helpline’s board president, for the community support – read on!Read More
Online ticket sales are closed but a few tickets remain to be bought at the door for tonight’s Taste of West Seattle, 6-8:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, raising money for West Seattle Helpline, co-sponsored by local businesses including WSB – and best of all, featuring 30+ local food/beverage purveyors, including Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), whose bartender Roger and proprietors Jessie and Charlie are shown above, photographed about 45 minutes ago during setup, with (at left) ToWS promoter Brooks. Skylark’s “taste” tonight is toasted ravioli, by the way. And remember that it’s not just a chance to eat and drink – there’s also a silent auction – lots of cool stuff to bid on:
We’ll be heading back down after it starts at 6, for coverage of the event as it happens. And if you want to know more about the nonprofit you’re supporting – West Seattle Helpline’s mission is explained here.
Case closed: Two months after it was reported missing, the Endolyne Joe’s pig is back. We noticed it this morning and asked Dickie about the backstory. She said it’s been back for a few weeks; a Joe’s employee was at a real-estate open house and spotted the pig in one of the bedrooms! The employee called Dickie; Dickie called the police; the pig was recovered. No info on the fate of the pilferer.
There’ll be no living with us now. We are the sweets capital of the region. In an article for next Sunday’s New York Times (it’s dated May 16 but online today), a Seattle-based writer talks about five places she loves to stop for sweets, and two of them are in our area – West Seattle’s Bakery Nouveau, White Center’s Full Tilt Ice Cream. Read the story here; the FT photos start here. (Thanks to Alex for the tip!)
Almost three weeks ago, more than 200 people voiced their opinion in the comment section when we reported that the vegetarian restaurant Chaco Canyon Café is considering a West Seattle expansion in the Link project now going up – fast! – along 38th SW in The Triangle. We invited Chris from Chaco Canyon to provide an update on what happens next – click ahead to read the update, which includes a few more questions if you are interested in informally assisting their research:Read More
Just two nights till the annual citywide Dining Out for Life fundraiser for Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Five West Seattle restaurants are on the list for this Thursday: Abbondanza, Buddha Ruksa, Fresh Bistro, Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), and Talarico’s. Check the Dining Out for Life website to see whether they’re donating part of their proceeds for lunch, dinner or both – and also to see who else is participating around the city.
While heading back to HQ after tonight’s Alki Community Council meeting (story to come), spotted this banner outside the Saigon Boat Café, the pho/sandwich restaurant that’s been closed for two months (here’s our Feb. 18 report on King County Public Health closing it for lacking a permit and “approved … plans”). The closure came less than a month after it opened. But tonight, that banner’s up, and if you can’t quite read the right side, the date it lists is 4/16/2010 — tomorrow. (The restaurant’s in a renovated house at 2632 Alki.)
When a commenter wondered earlier today when the Wing Dome is opening in The Junction, since it plans to participate in the upcoming Taste of West Seattle on May 20th, we realized we hadn’t checked in with spokesperson Colleen O’Leary for a while – so we did just that. She had said in February that they were awaiting their construction schedule for their section of what used to be part of CAPERS, before estimating a date. They have that now, and work is under way, as you can see in the photo she shared; she says they’re aiming for late June/early July.
2 months ago, West Seattle Helpline put out the call for local restaurants to make this year’s Taste of West Seattle (co-sponsored by WSB) bigger than ever – and as of this morning, 29 have answered that call. They’re all listed here, and organizers say they “still have a couple of restaurant openings” – call Helpline’s Anna Fern, 206-932-2746, if you’re interested. The Taste is 6-8:30 pm May 20th at The Hall at Fauntleroy; you can buy tickets online, or at Hotwire Coffee and Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsors) as well as at Husky Deli and CAPERS.
If you drive through The Triangle, you might notice that major progress is being made on Link, the mixed-use project that Harbor Properties is building along 38th SW between Fauntleroy Way and SW Alaska (map). Harbor’s Emi Baldowin tells WSB that a vegetarian restaurant, Chaco Canyon Organic Café, is considering leasing part of Link’s ground-floor retail space and wondering what you think about their potential prospects here – so we said we’d be glad to put this out for your opinion. Chaco Canyon says it’s the first certified organic restaurant/café in the state; right now they have one location, in the University District (map). Sound like something you’d be interested in (or not)? Post a comment!
This new restaurant’s opening (yesterday was the official Day 1) has been of so much interest, the arrival of its website is worth noting. Sue pointed it out in the comment section following our Wednesday night preview. It’s at heartlandcafeseattle.com – no menu posted yet, though. They’re on Twitter, too, at @cafeheartland. And if you’ve tried it and want to talk about it, there’s a thread going in the WSB Forums.
This morning we welcome a new WSB sponsor, REDLINE Music and Sports. New sponsors are offered the chance to introduce you to their business, and here’s what proprietor Scott Goerig (right) wants you to know: “REDLINE Music and Sports is more than just a ‘bar.’ I say this confidently, as everyday somebody new still comes in the door and immediately becomes a repeat customer. We are still somewhat of a hidden gem in West Seattle; a delicate mix of a welcoming staff, 70+ menu items (we love homemade and fresh!), diverse nightly events, and a non-pretentious atmosphere where you can relax next to the fire and dine on Chef Joshua’s Hand-tossed NY-Style Pizzas. When the weather’s right you can even hang out and relax on our outdoor patio, the largest of any night spot in West Seattle. Perhaps that’s why in just over 2 years we have won ‘Best New Business‘ 2007, ‘Best Food under $10‘ and ‘Best Bartender‘ 2008, and runner-up ‘Best Bar/Pub‘ and ‘Best Happy Hour‘ 2009 (Best of the Westside), as well as many other accolades. Our energy and dedication are simply unmatched, as we knew it wouldn’t be easy to change West Seattle’s perception of the former businesses that have resided at 4439 35th Ave SW [map] over the past decades. When writing this I couldn’t decide which old adage fits REDLINE best — ‘don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it’ or ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’ Especially with all the amazingly unique businesses in West Seattle, I truly believe it is what’s inside that counts. It wasn’t easy, but shaking the negative connotation associated with our old red building was only made possible by giving customers GREAT food, AFFORDABLE prices, and a FUN atmosphere. If you haven’t visited us yet, please come say hi and learn what hundreds of other West Seattleites already have; a wonderful experience is located just off 35th near KFC and kitty-corner to the West Seattle Golf Course.” You’ll also find REDLINE online at redlinemusicsports.com.
We thank REDLINE Music and Sports for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
Just got the word from Heartland Café proprietor Jay Wergin (who also provided the photo above) – the much-awaited restaurant (for which WSB’ers offered many menu suggestions just weeks ago) will open day after tomorrow. Here’s his announcement:
The buzz around West Seattle is that the Heartland Cafe will open its doors to the public this Friday, April 2. It¹s true: After a trial run with friends and family last Sunday, we are ready to welcome the public! There has been much anticipation of the food, fanfare, and a chance to set sail the old ship bar. We promise not to disappoint, as we have crafted an extensive menu of Midwestern delights and we are ready to pull up the anchor to the Benbow Room.
We will begin taking reservations on Friday for Easter Sunday Brunch. In celebration of our opening, we will be selling Leinenkugel’s original beer for $3 a bottle. Doors open at 3 p.m. on Friday and will stay open until the cows come home.
We are located at 4210 SW Admiral Way, near the intersection of Admiral and California in the heart of the Admiral district.
The phone number you can call on Friday for those aforementioned reservations is 206-922-3313. WSB Forums members have been buzzing about the friends-family preview last Sunday – which is when the photo above was taken – here’s a gallery link Wergin provided for more images from that event.
When we checked in with the proprietors of Eness Restaurant – which moved into the ex-Beato/Ovio/O2 space at 3247 California – they had hoped to open this week, and indeed, they achieved their goal. We got a tip they’d opened quietly on Thursday night; no signs on the door or phone-answering on Friday, but co-owner Khadidja Romari Belambri confirmed by e-mail early today that they’re indeed open for business. Their website’s not up just yet – soon, Khadidja says – but they’re open Tuesdays through Sundays, 5:30-10:30 pm, and hoping to add Saturday/Sunday brunch in about a month. (For more on Eness, here’s our original January report.)
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