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Monday, June 29, 2009

Chow Opening Tonight in Ballard: Bastille

Posted by Megan Seling on Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 11:28 AM

c669/1246299835-bastillewindow.jpg On Ballard Ave, just a few steps down from Madame K's Pizza, is a new French cafe Bastille, which opens tonight.

From their press release:

Restaurateurs and business partners, James Weimann (Pesos, May Restaurant and Lounge, Talarico’s, Triangle Tavern, El Camino) and Deming Maclise (Caffè Fiorè), have installed Seattle’s first commercial rooftop garden on the roof of Bastille Café & Bar located at 5307 Ballard Avenue which opens on Monday, June 29, 2009. The restaurant phone number is (206) 453-5014 and the website will be located at www.bastilleseattle.com. Bastille Café & Bar will be open 7 days a week from 4:30 pm — 10:00 pm., with dinner service beginning at 5:30 pm. Brunch will be served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am-3:00 pm, and late-night dining will be available until 1:00 am.

I walked past the new restaurant this morning, around 8:30 am, and people were frantically buzzing around inside, prepping the space for tonight's opening. Tape and plastic still covered a lot of the windows, and everyone was cleaning up the dust and other remaining signs of recent construction.

But! They should still be ready for tonight—they'll just be very busy today. And despite the mess, the place was gorgeous. Dark wood and paint, and a big dining area. Unlike Presse, I would never feel comfortable hanging out with my laptop there. It's looks much too nice for that. But since the prices are higher than that of Presse, well, I probably couldn't afford to anyway. (Small plates run about $8-$12, while entrees are $14-$23. The brunch menu ranges from $6-$15.)

Also of note: Happy Hour is 4:30-6 pm and 10 pm-1 am.

UPDATE! An FYI from Bethany: Shannon Galusha (of Veil) and Jason Stoneburner (of Union and How to Cook a Wolf) are doing the cooking.

I'm hungry.

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Comments (13) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Went to the soft opening last week. The place is delicious, affordable, and much larger inside than what you'd think. A great addition to the neighborhood.

The interior is heavily influenced by the Musee D'Orsay.

Posted by MY on June 29, 2009 at 11:35 AM

The pizza joint needs to change its name to Madame Defarge's.

And provide free knitting needles and yarn.

Posted by rob! on June 29, 2009 at 11:40 AM

Hmmm....Seattle's Balthazar? Let's hope...

Posted by Hungry on June 29, 2009 at 11:43 AM

Have any of the people involved actually been to France? Rather, not been, but lived there? 'Cuz I'm really getting sick of "French" cafes and bistros run by people who have never left North America.

Posted by Bitchy Hungry French Cunt on June 29, 2009 at 12:31 PM

@1 - Affordable? $14-$23 is affordable? Where the fuck do you work?

Posted by Super Jesse

on June 29, 2009 at 12:38 PM

@4, watching Ratatouille doesn't count?

Posted by rob! on June 29, 2009 at 12:40 PM

@4

Hit Entre Nous on Stewart.

Posted by levide on June 29, 2009 at 12:50 PM

Will there be a prison-like ambiance? Does the place evoke memories of the Duc de Richelieu's many stays? Are they celebrating the beginning of The Terror? The name alone is confusing and off-putting.

Posted by gilcher on June 29, 2009 at 12:55 PM

Interesting that their press release conveniently omits that James Weimann also is responsible for creating the Fremont Ballroom.

How about it James? Why wouldn't you want to trumpet bringing your daily dose of thuggishness to the neighborhood?

Posted by blackhook on June 29, 2009 at 12:59 PM

I was also reminded of Balthazar, and hope so too! (Ref. comment by 'hungry')

Posted by jwalseth on June 29, 2009 at 2:33 PM

@4: I agree with Levide @7. That place is pretty good. I also miss real french food (I lived near france) and real french bakeries. The french "bakeries" here really fall short.

Posted by Original Monique

on June 29, 2009 at 2:53 PM

"Affordable? $14-$23 is affordable? Where the fuck do you work?"

At a better job than yours apparently; life's tough, suck it up.

Posted by Stupid White Man

on June 29, 2009 at 3:12 PM

A little late to the party here, but I do know that chef Shannon Galusha spent a ton of time in Paris -- that's where he did the bulk of his culinary training. How do I know? I ran into him in a Parisian internet cafe in 2000.

Posted by arielmeadow on July 8, 2009 at 4:54 PM