TEST 10 feature restaurants

Old favorites and new restaurants are turning South Lake Union into Seattle’s hottest dining destination.

GEOFFREY SMITH

By CHRIS NISHIWAKI and ETHAN CHUNG

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TRIED AND TRUE...

Re:public: 429 Westlake Ave N, republicseattle.com Cactus: 350 Terry Ave N, cactusrestaurants.com Duke’s Chowder House: 901 Fairview Ave N, dukeschowderhouse.com Chandler’s Crabhouse: 901 Fairview Ave N, schwartzbros.com/ chandlers-crabhouse

Roasted cauliflower at Re:public Muscovy duck leg at Re:public

Capitol Hill over the next five years, and really become a destination location in Seattle,” Henderson says.

As South Lake Union continues to grow with high tech and biotech jobs attracting retail and residential development, so too does the attraction for more dining and drinking establishments. These spots will help bring life and character to distinct corridors in the neighborhood. New restaurants will be everyday fixtures for folks who live and work in South Lake Union and a boon to food-conscious Seattleites outside the neighborhood who are looking to savor the city’s the next big thing.

What’s New?

OLIVIA BRENT

For ten years, Hannes Schindler would drive south on Westlake Avenue North into downtown Seattle from his home on the west shore of Lake Union. Each time, he would look longingly at the 1920s brick building on 429 Westlake Ave N. He would slow down to get a better look as he approached the intersection of Westlake and Republican.

“Back then, we knew the neighborhood was beginning to develop,” Schindler recalls.

Today, the South Lake Union Streetcar motors past the same building. Schindler stops five or six times a week and calls it his office. Schindler’s fantasy became reality five years ago when he opened Re:public, a warm and hip farm-to-table gastropub in the heart of South Lake Union. Schindler and business partners Rory McCormick and Matthew Greenup were among the first in the new development of restaurants to open in the neighborhood at the time.

Marc and Bret Chatalas, the brothers behind Cactus Restaurants, opened their fourth location in SLU soon after, in 2011. Marc said they started considering SLU once voters rejected the Seattle Commons, a proposed 61-acre park and mixed-use space stretching from downtown to SLU, back in 1995.

“We loved the area because of its proximity to downtown, Lake Union, and the great freeway access. We relished the opportunity to help define a major neighborhood in Seattle and once we visited Vulcan’s Discovery Center and saw the long-term vision, we were sold,” Marc says.

Restaurants certainly are not a new idea in SLU. Seattle institutions like Chandler’s Crabhouse, Daniel’s Broil-

er (formerly Benjamin’s), and Duke’s Chowder House took root in the area in the late eighties. In 2016, Duke’s Chowder House celebrates its 27th year on the waterfront in SLU. “After we won the Chowder Cook-Off three years in a row, it struck me that we should do a concept around chowder, ergo Duke’s Chowder House. And it made sense to have it on the water for two reasons. Chowder and seafood go well on the waterfront. Secondly, there were no casual seafood concepts on the waterfront, mostly high end. A comfortable, casual but classy place on the waterfront just made sense. Coincidentally, the developer of Chandler’s Cove came to me and wanted a Duke’s restaurant.

It seemed like the stars had aligned for us,” says Duke Moscrip, founder of Duke’s Chowder House.

In September 2015, news broke that a horde of new restaurants would be opening in the neighborhood, including ones run by Seattle restaurant stars like Ethan Stowell and Josh Henderson. Henderson and his Huxley Wallace Collective are heavily invested in South Lake Union. He is debuting several new restaurant concepts in early 2016.

“One of the reasons we chose South Lake Union was from a business perspective—there were good deals, and we think there is a built-in customer base growing by leaps and bounds. This customer base is one that has come to Seattle from around the world, which is exciting because they’ll be pushing us in new directions and expecting different things. It will be a great process to go through, and we’re looking forward to it. I see the SLU neighborhood becoming a major dining, shopping, and retail area that will rival

Here’s a guide to some of the newest, and newly announced, restaurants in South Lake Union. Many are sibling restaurants to successful local eateries elsewhere in town.

SOUTH SHORE OF SLU SOUTH SIDE

CHUPACABRA The third location of this popular restaurant opened in summer 2015 in the former Hooters space. It serves Tex-Mex specialties as well as vegan, gluten-free and nut-free options.

Now open. elchupacabraseattle.com

THE BUTCHER’S TABLE Sugar Mountain, the company that brought you Beecher’s Cheese, Pasta & Co., Bennett’s, Liam’s, and the food truck Maximus/Minimus is now headquartered 801 Blanchard St. Sugar Mountain will install a steak and raw bar concept called The Butcher’s Table. Projected opening Summer 2016. sugarmtn.net

MOLLUSK Gastropod chef Travis Kukull and Epic Ales brewer Cody Morris will be opening Mollusk, a Southeast Asian curry and pan-Asian restaurant in the True North building on the southwest corner of Dexter Avenue North and Aloha Street. Projected opening Fall 2015. molluskseattle.com

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FRESH EATS

What’s New?

Skyline, Sea-planes and Food...Oh My!!!

NINTH AVENUE

ELTANA WOODFIRED BAGELS The local company’s fourth wood-fired bagel cafe will serve serve soups, salads, sandwiches, and wood-fired bagels for breakfast and lunch. Now open. eltana.com

“#1 Happy Hour in America!” - USA Today

happy hour every day 3-6pm & 9pm-close $4-8 menu Enjoy authentic wood-fired pizzas and antipasti along with craft cocktails, beer and wine.

In your Neighborhood 2200 Westlake Avenue above Whole Foods

BALLARD PIZZA CO. Chef and restaurateur Ethan Stowell will be opening his third pizzeria on Ninth Avenue, similar in concept to Ballard Pizza Co. and Frelard Pizza Co. It’s set to offer salads, pizzas, local beers and value priced wines.

Projected opening Early 2016. ballardpizzacompany.com SAM’S TAVERN Expect burgers, Sam’s renowned Bloody Marys, and cheap Rainier beers at the tavern’s second location.

Projected opening Early 2016. samstavernseattle.com

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JOSH HENDERSON IS ADDING A TRIO OF CONCEPTS TO HIS RAPIDLY EXPANDING HUXLEY WALLACE COLLECTIVE AT NINTH AVE: —Vestal will feature Henderson’s dishes inspired by his travels and his youth.

The design focal point will be a large chef’s counter surrounding a coal-fired hearth. Projected opening March 2016. vestalseattle.com —Poulet Galore is a rotisserie chicken takeout counter serving whole and half chickens dressed with chimichurri, barbecue sauce, and more. Projected opening March 2016. huxleywallace.com —Cantine Bottle Shop and Bar will offer beer, wine, and cocktails, plus a separate space for snacking on said chicken, cheese, charcuterie, and pickles. Projected opening March 2016. huxleywallace.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURETESY ELTANA, GEOFFREY SMITH, COURTESY HURRY CURRY, SARAH FLOTARD, GEOFFREY SMITH

Ballard Pizza Co.

HURRY CURRY OF TOKYO Enjoy traditional Japanese starters such as karaage (fried chicken) and gyoza, plus the restaurant’s eponymous traditional curries.

Sip wine, beer, sake, and sake cocktails, too.

Projected opening January 2016. hurrycurryoftokyo-seattle.com

1200 Westlake Ave. North Seattle, WA 98109 (206) 270-9052 DISCOVER SLU • 15

FRESH EATS

What’s New?

DOPPLER Scratch-made daily

1165 Harrison, Seattle (One block off Fairview) www.nolliescafe.com

ANAR/ MAMNOON STREET Anar will be the sister cafe to Mamnoon Street; expect handcrafted juices and blended beverages, teas, and healthy bites. Projected opening Spring 2016. mamnoonrestaurant.com

MARINATION A new brick-and-mortar location for one of Seattle’s favorite food trucks/place for tacos with a view. Projected opening December 2015. marinationmobile.com

Life Float

NOROESTE Tacos, ceviches, braised meats, salsas, and more.

Expect an elegant, late-night bar with a low-key DJ. Projected opening February 2016. huxleywallace.com GREAT STATE BURGER Another Huxley Wallace Collective spot; plans are for a small menu of about three burgers ($4–5 each), fries, onion rings, shakes, and more.

Projected opening Early 2016. greatstateburger.com

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: COURTESY MARINATION, SARAH FLOTARD, SARAH FLOTARD

Good food for nice people!

Amazon’s new Doppler building is located at 2021 Seventh Ave.

OPEN

SKILLET The brunch institution’s fourth location.

Projected opening December 2015. skilletstreetfood.com CINQUE TERRE Sister restaurant to Barolo Ristorante offering approachable, fresh Italian coastal dishes, and pizzas. Projected opening February 2016. cinqueterreseattle.com POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP A high-quality deli chain known for tasty, toasty sandwiches. Projected opening December 2015. potbelly.com

TERRY AVE

LOCAL PUBLIC EATERY This Canadian chain from the folks at Joey’s specializes in craft beer and elevated bar food. It will take over the former Cal’s Classic American Kitchen space at 404 Terry Ave. Projected opening Early 2016. localpubliceatery.com

Portage Bay Cafe DISCOVER SLU • 17