Your Daily Dose of Food News, Events and Must-Read Miscellany
It seems that something is in the air as Spring knocks on our door begging to come out and with it a spate of restaurant closings and shuffles.
Preceding the ides of March comes the announcement that Renee Erickson will be closing Boat Street Cafe on May 30th. Multiple sources report that Erickson will not renew the lease on the much adored Elliott Bay spot that has served as a space for romantic meals and French-influenced cuisine. Chef Jay Guerrero will be moving on to one of Erickson’s new projects on Capitol Hill slated to open this summer. Boat Street Cafe will serve its last meal on May 30th while Boat Street Kitchen (owned by the original Boat St. founder Susan Kaplan) will continue to serve lunch, brunch and special events in the space.
And then there’s Little Uncle, the venerable Thai spot born from a tiny space in Capitol Hill that expanded later into Pioneer Square is closing the latter location. Apparently Little Uncle is more suited to less real estate as owners Wiley Frank and PK Kounpungchart have decided that their latest incarnation was just too big. The Pioneer Square location will serve its last meal today while the 1509 Madison location will remain open as usual.
In case you’ve been hiding under a rock the past three days – here’s the biggest news on the Seattle food scene; Chef Jason Stratton of Cascina Spinasse, Artusi and Vespolina, which we just reviewed recently, is taking a break from the pass and has stepped down effective immediately. The much lauded chef recently received a James Beard nomination for Best Chef Northwest and will be taking some time to recharge his batteries, work on some art, see the world and enjoy himself after years of hard work in the kitchen. Buon viaggio!
The answer to the common question ‘Why can’t I get any good Indian food in Seattle’ just got harder to answer with the soon-to-be departure of Meeru Dhalwala’s Shanik. The South Lake Union sister to Vancouver’s celebrated Vij’s will close on March 21st. And so there will be no more cricket pakoras or Amazonian’s lamenting that there’s one less place to drink after work since apparently they didn’t go there enough during lunch. Hopefully Meeru knows she’ll be welcome back any time.
In happier news, Murphy’s Pub in Wallingford has re-opened bringing live music, better food and craick back to 45th Ave. The space has been remodeled and has eschewed the tchotchke theme of an Irish TGI Friday’s by de-cluttering its walls. But the bones of Seattle’s oldest Irish Pub still remain with a new menu featuring items such as Scotch Eggs, Paddy Melts and Proper Irish Cod & Chips. Drown your sorrows over other restaurant closings here and celebrate the rebirth of Murphy’s.
