Boom Noodle Joins the List of Capitol Hill Restaurant Casualties
According to a sign that went up in Boom Noodle's windows a few days ago: "it saddens us to announce that this weekend will be our last." Capitol Hill Seattle blog reports "owners didn’t offer a reason for the closure" but says they've been "told the 10-year lease on the location was coming up for renewal and that the explosion in Pike/Pine rents over the past decade have the space lined up for a significant increase."
According to CHS, "The tech money-powered Madison Holdings group opened Boom Noodle in 2007 as a follow-up concept joining the company’s Blue C Sushi chain. In 2014 the investors decided to change course by opening Kaisho at the 12th and Pike space, but the concept only lasted a few months and Boom was rebooted on the block in 2015."
Let's zoom in on that sign to the left in the picture above so you can read the whole thing:
Smith Tower Gets a Facelift—and There Will Be Vests
Specifically, old-timey suit vests worn over starched white shirts by bartenders in a "speakeasy-style concept." Seattle's original skyscraper's not-appropriately-named-for-2016 Chinese Room has been made over into the Smith Tower Observatory, which will include a bar and cafe called Temperance. Of course it will be. The "speakeasy" trend just won't die. It'll be open for business on August 25th. Thankfully, there will be none of that goofy "text for the secret password" hullabaloo.
However, to get to Temperance, one must shell out $10-20 for a self-guided historical tour of Smith Tower. Down on the ground level, there will also be Smith Tower Provisions, a general store/gift shop offering up snacks, sundries, and a soda fountain with Full Tilt Ice Cream floats.
The Spanish Table's Last Days
As first announced in July, the beloved but very hidden Pike Place Market specialty shop Spanish Table is closing in late August. Their sister store, The Paris Grocery, will remain open and continue to stock a few paella essentials for all you last-minute, "I can't believe I said I would make paella for my in-laws" types. Their online store (as well as their three other California locations) will remain open. Still, I'll certainly miss them as a stop for budget-friendly boquerones.
Zaccagni's Moves Downtown
In meat-sandwich news: Hot Tipper Derek writes, "Zaccagni's just opened up downtown about a month or so ago. Didn't realize it was a previous Pike Place Market incarnation, but the current one is doing great work!" The new Mecca of meat sandwiches is at 823 Third Avenue and they're open for lunch only (11:00 am to 3:00 pm).
Though the restaurant's Facebook page features an enormous close-up of piled-high brisket as their banner image, Derek recommends the chicken parm or the chicken cutlet.
Restaurant Marron Got No Love in the Loveless Building, Apparently
The ambitious fine dining joint Restaurant Marron called it a day last week, announcing the closure online and via a small note on the menu board out front. They join the short-but-growing list of recent Capitol Hill closures, include Boom Noodle, Meat and Bread, and Chop House.
