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We got a tip tonight on the stealthiest restaurant opening on Capitol Hill ever. The premise of the tip was so audacious that we couldn't print it until verifying with our own eyes and camera lens. The setting: an abandoned fast food restaurant, Pike/Pine. Take it away neighbor Pete:
Unbelievable until I stopped by for the pics and saw for myself. Outside, the sign is a taco bus style vinyl banner. Inside, they've ripped out most of the Tricon Global industrial... Maybe Ed from Acacia Florist was just bullshitting me or maybe he really doesn't know what's coming next -- but it looks like Pony is, indeed, coming back to life in the flower shop on that weird triangle where Madison and Union meet. Looky what neighbor Jacob found digging through the state business licensing database:
Don't yet know what the timing will be but looks like Pony on Madison is for real. Over the past 9 months, I've now had my third experience with very obvious hair in food from three different restaurants. I'm curious to know if this is just my bad luck, or if something more needs to be done through the Dept of Health or whoever handles this sort of thing. Without naming the guilty, the first was at a certain Broadway piroshky place (now closed), the next an "awesome" burrito, and yesterday a favorite new cafe by a very successful local restauranteur with a number of great neighborhood places. Almost was willing to remove it without calling attention to it by my guests, until I immediately found the second next to the first and floating in my maple syrup under the bread and returned the dish to our waiter. The piroshky and burrito were take-away, and I did not notify the restaurant, but probably should have. I certainly accept the fact that this may happen, but the frequency seems a bit much...and the three mentioned above all occured during the day. Disgusting to me, but I'd have to presume... 
CHS neighbors, god bless 'em, get a little freaked out these days when they see a real estate sign on their favorite neighborhood businesses. Neighbor Marco, I'm happy to inform that the venerable Martin's off Madison is not going anywhere despite the large real estate sign plopped on top of it. Just got off the phone with Marty who informs that, yes, the property is for sale, and, yes, his lease goes with it. He's expecting at least six more years at the location and, he adds, that means at least six more years of the best brunch on Capitol Hill. All I know is that Martin's was one of the few places open and serving beer in the middle of the day when I got canned from a job a while back. For that, they will always hold a special place in my heart (though, hey, those pitchers were expensive!). 
Just got word from owner Kevin York -- Pizza Fusion is no more. Never said goodbye to a CHS sponsor in this way so forgive any awkwardness. PF was born back in November and positioned itself as a purveyor of pie with organic ingredients, and, importantly for many, gluten-free options. Much of their interior was made up of recycled or reclaimed material (including bar stools from the Sunset Bowl and hardwood flooring from Garfield). York was the first to admit he couldn't have had worse timing in trying to open the franchise as the economy tanked and purse-strings tightened. Even a steady stream of daily specials advertised on this very neighborhood blog couldn't save the restaurant. Capitol Hill's restaurant and bar scene is apparently surviving and, possibly, thriving. Another new joint joins the pack -- welcome Knee High. We first told you about the new business taking over the old home of Il Forno back in November. Here are a few reports from Knee High's 'preview' night from Zeebloop via Twitter:
There's the scoop. Speakeasy theme, opening week logistical issues, packed. I'm looking forward to visiting during their "speakeasy theme, got all the logistics down, moderately packed" phase. Couldn't find any pictures inside the new place yet so you'll have to enjoy this shot of Knee High, Inc. "chief experience officer" Jack Valko, instead. My favorite piece of public art on Capitol Hill has been described as “over the top and rad at the same time,” “glowing and scenic,” and “a pleasant leafy experience.” These yelpers are describing, of course, the bathroom at In The Bowl - Vegetarian Noodle Bistro. 
Usually you don't get gifts when you go to somebody else's birthday party. But CHS sponsor BottleNeck Lounge has a fun idea to celebrate its 2nd birthday this Saturday -- a t-shirt raffle: The traditional gift for 2nd anniversary is cotton. Get it? Doesn't matter. There will also be complimentary champagne and a lot of beer to go along with the beer shirts. Oh, and do note, you could win a CHS crow shirt. Best birthday ever. Bright and early yesterday morning, I walked over to Olivar to preview the brunch offering that will be made available to the eating public beginning March 7. Going to Olivar for brunch allows you to appreciate how lovely the Loveless Building really is - the stained glass, the dark wood paneling and other Tudor Revivalist details all come alive in sunlight. The $15 prix-fixe is an amazing bargain - securing you coffee, pulpy fresh-squeezed OJ, ensaimadas and a hot plate/salad option. All items on the menu will be offered a la carte as well - if you enjoy brunch on the lighter side. I sampled a vegetarian version of Patatas a lo Pobre (scalloped potatoes, green pepper and poached eggs), Tortilla Manchega (eggs, potatoe and Manchego cheese), Omelette (with Comte cheese & mushrooms), Frisee salad with poached egg and croutons and the Endive Salad with blue cheese, walnuts and apple. I did not have a bad bite, and all the eggs were cooked properly (it's difficult to get a poached egg in Seattle where the yolk remains... Tony Englehart reads CHS. And, he recently interviewed Vivace's owner David Schomer and found that though the move was costly, Vivace is finding brisk business at its new location:
"Brix has concentrated our demographic into the new location. There are no sweeter, more educated residents than the extended neighborhoods around north Broadway anywhere in Seattle. [The move] placed Vivace in the center of our strongest customer base."
Looks like another new restaurant grand opening on Capitol Hill this weekend -- The Tin Table makes its big entrance this Saturday, 2/28. The venture is backed by Century Ballroom owner Hallie Kuperman and located on the 2nd floor of the Oddfellows building not far from the dancefloor. Check out the TT's menus or scroll through a few screen-grabbed highlights uploaded on this post. Last image is the dessert page, of course. 
Cheers to GoTime.com! So many things going right with this locally owned website - so little I actually want to talk about outside of the fact that they have jammed lots of my "favorites" into ONE BRILLIANT promotion. 1) It's Free The site itself is WAAAY more helpful than say yelp or citysearch, far more details and far mor accurate, love love love the pictures too! GoTime.com kicks serioius ass and so does this promotion: http://www.gotime.com/fanfare/details - I found the details about it on another wonderful blog/website: http://citystimulus.blogspot.com/ - you can too! Watch out, a new ice cream store is coming to the Hill! Old School Frozen Custard will open up on Pike between 13th and 14th (across from the BOA parking lot, the old Square Room space). I honestly have never tried them before, but it sounds perfect for this coming summer. They feature frozen custard made fresh throughout the day. They'll also offer hot dogs for lunch, sundaes, milkshakes, smoothies, and floats. I've been dying for a place besides Dicks that makes a good milkshake, so that will be the first thing I try when they open. Molly Moon is also slated to open in the Oddfellows building. Must be time to update this list. Any other places that offer ice cream? View Larger Map 
Nancy Leson has a fun story on the Top Chef auditions that took place at Canlis last week. I would love it if Robin Leventhal, late of Crave, would turn up on my favorite reality show. BTW this season, does anyone think that Stefan can be beat? Overheard staff at Liberty Bar today discussing expanding their space into the florist shop next door. Not the entire florist shop, mind you, apparently the florist isn't going anywhere (which is great, I like them a lot). Details to follow I'm sure. 
Faire Gallery and Cafe, purveyors of the Hill-famous Nutella Mocha, are celebrating with music and lots and lots of Nutella. There will be a DJ from 8pm to midnight spinning world music, and there will be nutella shots, nutella with everything you can think of, and $2 12oz. Nutella Mochas all day. Hurray for hazelnut and chocolate spreads of delicious wonderment! 
Anchovies & Olives (to open later this month presumably in April) will focus on seafood and a white wine list Licorous decoupling appetizers and cocktails and offering $1 snacks at its happy hour Barrio offering $2 tacos and $5 margaritas Not all women love Poppy Spinasse offerings still fantastic, now a la carte Smith brunch still strong - now with polenta Note to Oddfellows: tomatoes not seasonal 
Can't help but wonder about the Linda's -> Oddfellows -> Volunteer Park Continuum that now exists across Capitol Hill. Yes, Smith fits somewhere in the middle. The table below is a joke. Mostly. For me, at least, it's interesting to think about the way the businesses fit together across the hill.
I'm sure there are more rows, cliches and prejudices to add. Have you found yourself facing the dilemma yet of choosing one over another. Was it based on which pair fo shoes you had on? 
From the photostream of Flickr user Jonkern comes this reminder that Taco Gringos (1510 E. Olive Way) re-opens tomorrow, perhaps freshly inspired from travels abroad. Haven't been? Here's my imitation of a Zagat-style review, culled from comments from Yelpers: "Yum" say late night revelers who "stumble" into this "hole-in-the-wall" taco shop from nearby watering holes including The Saint and The Elite. Come for the "small," "tiny" "snack-sized" soft tacos (a touch pricey at $2 each) stuffed with "Chorizo! Duck! Lengua! Rabbit! Menudo!", (there's always a vegetarian option on the "limited" menu) stay for the "taco hombres" one of whom is described as "beautiful" and both of whom are described as "a little on the strange side." Simply put: "you cannot go wrong with fresh grilled meat, cilantro, pico de gallo and fresh limes." Cash only. 8pm until late.
Jody Hall, owner of Cupcake Royale, when asked by Seattle P-I restaurant critic Rebekah Denn why she chose Capitol Hill for Cupcake Royale's fourth store (at 1111 E. Pike) responded: "I really believe that Capitol Hill is the heartbeat of the city in terms of culture, activism, arts, community, great restaurants, great coffeehouses, etc.," she wrote in an e-mail. "I've lived on Capitol Hill for the last 12 years -- so I've been waiting a long time for this chance." No surprise that a cupcake maven and Starbucks marketing alum knows how to butter her target market up before the big launch, but a compliment's a compliment. We'll take it. One interesting side note that hasn't yet been discussed on this topic: the launch of Cupcake Royale in Capitol Hill should also mean the introduction of Caffe Umbria's fine, fine coffee to the Hill (via Hall's Verite Coffee). That'll mean access to Caffe Vita, Stumptown, and Umbria within a 3-block radius. The "heartbeat of the city" just sped up a little. [Update: Cupcake Royale... 
In case the text is not legible, Monsoon East says of the Capitol Hill location, "Oh, the Seattle location! Well, plans for property have not gone through. There are no changes in store currently. 2-3 years maybe?"
What's going on with Thai Restaurant next to Galeria's ?
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