I'm far more depressed that my fave Thai place in the U dist closed.

But I remember El Gaucho at the old location. Sweet spot.

They aren't closed, WiS. They see you coming and they turn out all the lights and flip the 'open' sign over.

So where Red Balloon was?

Seattle's cocktail revival started at the Zig Zag when Ben & Casey took it over and hired Murray Stenson away from Il Bistro back around 2001 or so. Vessel came along much later.

.....progressive and creative....cocktails...

Hmmmm. Is that going to interest me in going to this particular watering hole when soooo many progressive watering holes abound? Perhaps not.

What I really need is a classic shot-gun bar of Seattle years gone by. A shot and a beer; warm, stale mixed nuts for food with a jukebox full of standards.

Shit, what happend to you Seattle?

I’m so over special crafty cocktails ... this opening bores me already. Plus, if this is the same guy who owned Mondeo on Western .. he is a crook/shyster.