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Hungry for news? Welcome to our Friday Feed, where we run through all the local food and restaurant news this week—and maybe help you figure out where to eat this weekend.
The view at Mbar in the early days, circa 2016/7.
Blocked View
Just a month after announcing the closure of their groundbreaking Syrian restaurant Mamnoon, and shortly after the quieter closing of Mamnoon Street this month, Mama Restaurant Group is back with more bad news: The sun will set on the stunning views of South Lake Union’s rooftop Mbar on November 1. Racha and Wassef Haroun told the Puget Sound Business Journal that they intend to focus solely on their wholesale business going forward. They do make a good hummus!
More Pivots and Changes
- Movin’ on up: Renton’s omakase speakeasy Fujiwara closed its original location just over a year ago, but is finally showing signs of life again. Per Instagram, the restaurant will reopen soon in Bellevue.
- Just movin’ on: Pioneer Square’s Oh Sun Banchan announced that it will no longer operate as a café open to the public. The exact nature of their pivot isn’t completely clear, beyond closing the daily café operation to focus on other parts of the business—catering, events, and more.
- Fourth time’s the charm: While I’m not sure what each of the prior iterations were, West Seattle’s Lady Jaye announced it’s switching up its concept to Lady Jaye 4.0. This version, starting October 22, will focus solely on hot sandwiches (and the drinks that go with them, naturally).
Numa Coffee and pastry chef Gerald Hawkins Jr. are coming to Alki’s Seaglass.
New Views
- A good bar: This week Good Grief Bar opened in the Ballard space that was once the Greater Good. My Ballard reports that it comes from three men who have long worked and lived in the neighborhood.
- A better bar: The folks behind Jude’s Old Town opened a second worker-owned and operated bar, Rosette, in Rainier Beach. The adorable little spot specializes in no-proof cocktails and wine, with a small, eclectic menu of food that includes rockfish kinilaw and a cold pasta with wild mushrooms.
- Coming ashore: Alki’s Driftwood shows off the region’s hyper-seasonal, super-local seafood. Now, founders Dan and Jackie Mallahan are expanding their beachfront footprint with Seaglass, in the former Alki Café space. The new spot is a bakery and coffee shop, and a collaboration with Seth Allen of mobile coffee shop Numa, and pastry chef Gerald Hawkins Jr.
- Roaring back: The folks behind Queen Anne’s Tyger Tyger return to Capitol Hill, where they once ran Lionhead, to take over the recently emptied Stateside/Foreign National space on E Pike, reports Capitol Hill Seattle.
The Trend Marches On: Arabic Cafés
- High five: Tiny and sweet Hamsa opened this week in Wallingford, serving classic mezze, sandwiches, bowls, and salads. The extensive drinks menu includes cardamom and honey rose lattes, mint lemonades, and all kinds of espressos.
- Matcha watcha: The ubiquitous tea comes with an Arabic twist at Bellevue’s recently (softly) opened Diwan Coffee House, also with a signature knafe latte and za’atar croissants.
Further Expansions
- Thrilled ovines: Happy Lamb Hot Pot, the chain opened by the founder of Little Sheep after he sold that company to Yum Brands and which took over Little Sheep’s local outlets, opened softly in Alderwood Mall.
- More to Avole: Central District Ethiopian coffee roaster and shop Avole celebrated a grand opening for its second location, on the Ave in the U-District.
- Grocery gossip, part one: Just as the lines died down for Canadian Asian market T&T in Bellevue, the company announced the opening date for its second location: November 13.
- Grocery gossip, part two: Town & Country is in talks to anchor the development replacing the Wedgwood QFC and (sob) the Wedgwood Broiler.
Oh, BTW, here’s what you missed last time.
