DISCOVER SLU • 11

Old favorites and new restaurants are turning South Lake Union into Seattle’s

hottest dining destination. By CHRIS NISHIWAKI and ETHAN CHUNG

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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 West-lake 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 devel-opment of restaurants to open in the neighborhood at the time.

Marc and Bret Chatalas, the broth-ers behind Cactus Restaurants, opened their fourth location in SLU soon after, in 2011. Marc said they started consider-ing SLU once voters rejected the Seattle Commons, a proposed 61-acre park and mixed-use space stretching from down-town 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 neigh-borhood 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 water-front, mostly high end. A comfortable, casual but classy place on the water-front 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 open-ing 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 perspec-tive—there were good deals, and we think there is a built-in customer base grow-ing 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 di-rections 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

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 restau-rants will be everyday fixtures for folks who live and work in South Lake Union and a boon to food-con-scious Seattleites outside the neighborhood who are looking to savor the city’s the next big thing.

SOUTH SHORE OF SLU

CHUPACABRAThe 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

MOLLUSKGastropod 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

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

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THE BUTCHER’S TABLESugar 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

SOUTHSIDE

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.

What’s New?

Muscovy duck leg at Re:public

Roasted cauliflower at Re:public

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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

HURRY CURRY OF TOKYOEnjoy 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

SAM’S TAVERNExpect burgers, Sam’s

renowned Bloody Marys, and cheap Rainier beers at

the tavern’s second location. Projected opening Early

2016. samstavernseattle.com

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

ELTANA WOOD- FIRED 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

NINTH AVENUE

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Ballard Pizza Co.

What’s New?

FRESH EATS

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

tuttabella.com

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

1200 Westlake Ave. NorthSeattle, WA 98109

(206) 270-9052

Skyline, Sea-planesand Food...Oh My!!!

16 • DISCOVER SLU DISCOVER SLU • 17

MARINATIONA 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

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GREAT STATE BURGERAnother 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

NOROESTETacos, ceviches, braised meats, salsas, and more.

Expect an elegant, late-night bar with a low-key DJ. Projected

opening February 2016. huxleywallace.com

CINQUE TERRESister restaurant to Barolo Ristorante

offering approachable, fresh Italian coastal dishes, and pizzas. Projected opening February 2016. cinqueterreseattle.com

SKILLETThe brunch institution’s fourth location.

Projected opening December 2015. skilletstreetfood.com

POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOPA high-quality deli chain known for tasty,

toasty sandwiches. Projected opening December 2015. potbelly.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

Amazon’s new Doppler building is located at 2021

Seventh Ave.

What’s New?

FRESH EATS

TERRY AVE

LOCAL PUBLIC EATERYThis 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

OPEN

Life Float

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

Good food for nice people!

Scratch-made daily

Portage Bay Cafe