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Once a server, Broadway Grill’s new owner plans food overhaul, continued good times

Last week, new owners Matt Walsh and C.J. Saretto took possession of The Broadway Grill from Debbie Augustavo, who has run the restaurant for 20 years. CHS spoke with Walsh regarding the new ownership’s plans for this Broadway institution.


Matthew Walsh has ambitious plans for the Broadway Grill. (Photo: seadevi)

When asked about his reasons for wanting to buy the restaurant, Walsh told us that he had met his husband and business partner Saretto at the Broadway Grill. Walsh said that having arrived in Seattle from a small town at the age of 16 ten years ago, the Broadway Grill was the first place that he “felt at home” as a gay teen. He ended up getting a job there and working his way up to manager.

Walsh said that Augustavo approached him about buying the restaurant late last year.  She wanted to keep the restaurant in good hands and since Walsh had previously been a server and manager at the Broadway Grill, Augustavo felt that he understood why the eatery was special.

While Walsh said he plans to keep some popular items (e.g. yam fries), he plans a major revamp of the menu. In the next few months, the bulk of the Broadway Grill’s menu will focus on local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients. In addition to editing the menu, he plans on cooking at the Grill himself.  Walsh told us that they have no plans to tinker with the popular all day, every day happy hour.

Augustavo (See Mary’s comment below) opened the Grill at 314 Broadway E in spring 1991.

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Leedale
Leedale
13 years ago

Does anybody know what the Broadway Grill was before it became the Broadway Grill ??

christopher575
christopher575
13 years ago

They hurt like crazy.

morty
morty
13 years ago

“The Broadway” owned by Mike Malone

Keriche
Keriche
13 years ago

Yay Mr. Walsh. I’m coming in soon to check it out and to see you! Congratulations Matt!!

Micah
Micah
13 years ago

Boondocks.

Bcampbell
Bcampbell
13 years ago

Good job on this guy, working his way up like that. That’s not easy to do.

Andres B
Andres B
13 years ago

The best of luck for you and your partner on this. I’ve known and loved the Broadway Grill for (only) about a year, but I go about as often as I can, living all the way down in Renton.

I’m excited to see the new food changes, yet a bit nervous about the future of some of my favorite items.

mary
mary
13 years ago

Actually, it was a restaurant named Baffert’s — owned by Mike Malone but managed by Bill Baffert (of the horse racing Baffert family). When the Broadway Grill opened in ’91, it was managed by a man named Tom. Debbie Augustavo didn’t come on board until a year or two later. Initially she was a co-owner with Mike Malone. She became full owner several years later, sometime around 1997-8. Glad she finally sold the property — the restaurant was showing all the signs of owner burn-out. I look forward to the improvements by Mr. Walsh and CJ Saretto — and wish them the very best.

njoy
13 years ago

The food is gross as it is now! I look forward to seeing some positive changes to the menu. I never understood how such a terrible eatery could do so well. Perhaps it is because of the lack of options. Maybe if the Bway Grill ups the ante the rest will follow suit! (I’m looking at you Deluxe.

Tommy
Tommy
13 years ago

Change anything you want, but don’t you dare change my fish and chips! :)

While we’re on the subject of tasty things, I hope Dustin stays too! ;)

Seriously, I’m looking forward to seeing the place update!

ltrain
ltrain
13 years ago

Spent many a summer night back in the bar back in the 90’s, great space, good vibe.

Thought boondocks was on the N end of Bway, down by Babes/Siam.

JTContinental
JTContinental
13 years ago

…but a menu change has been long overdue. I’m excited to see how this pans out for the new owners–best of luck!

Cap Hill Guy
Cap Hill Guy
13 years ago

I feel like it was the people watching, and not the giant chicken caesar salads or the nondescript mediterranean that kept people coming back.

RATOPHOBE
RATOPHOBE
13 years ago

I have it on good authority that it is not safe to consume anything from the Grill beyond a mixed drink. And I would kind of wonder about the ice.

I hope that steps are taken to make the unseen areas less furry.

--
--
13 years ago

Some people would argue that this is part of what makes Capitol Hill edgy.

ProstSeattle
ProstSeattle
13 years ago

Probably true of many restaurants. The way I figure, that’s why we have immune systems.

Mike with curls
Mike with curls
13 years ago

Silly comment – go find the Howard Hughes bubble!!!

Hot oil, hot grill, boiling, kills ALL bacteria.

barry smith
barry smith
13 years ago

I believe it was Henry’s Off Broadway in the eighties…..

Leedale
Leedale
13 years ago

Wasn’t Henry’s off Broadway located off East Olive Way ??

Mike with curls
Mike with curls
13 years ago

Henrys – yes, Olive Way – two three blocks before Bwy.

Nice place.

Megan Long
Megan Long
13 years ago

Im so proud of you Matt and CJ! Congrats you will be a great success
We all love you both so much

jessica
jessica
13 years ago

I’ve been enjoying the Broadwawy Grill for years and am excited to see what Matt has planned! My only hope is that the staff remains the same friendly fun and energetic group, not to mention the back of the house who with an open kitchen you can see them working their buns off
Will always gives me exceptional counter service and he’s easy to look at ! Good luck Matt I’ll br in soon.

Mike with curls
Mike with curls
13 years ago

…. keep the buttermilk chicken … keep the fish and chips … keep the giant salads with some added meats …. keep the grilled tuna … keep the moderate prices.

Get a unifying new paint job inside. Crappy chairs, hurt the ass.

Keep the ice in the urinal – paint the johns.

Keep the sidewalk service, jazz it up there. Keep it very gay.

Best of luck.

ProstSeattle
ProstSeattle
13 years ago

I believe Henry’s Off Broadway was located where the Villa Marjorie Condo is now.

raincitysun
raincitysun
13 years ago

Can I just second this? That’s the one thing that keeps me from going back more often.

sheesh
sheesh
13 years ago

If you’re that squeamish, I hope you never ate at the Olympic Hotel (lots of mice, at least during the Four Seasons years), or Trader Vic’s at the Westin (cockroach central).

Face it, bugs and vermin are everywhere. It’s a port city, for God’s sake. If you can’t deal, move to Omaha.

Me
Me
13 years ago

I used to go there all the time and drop tons of money on the pomegranate martinis.

Unfortunately, other than crazy busy burger night, it’s usually too expensive to go there now. Just can’t afford $30 for dinner and two drinks.

Also, there are some nice servers, but the last few times the servers have been real jerks.

And several times they’ve overcharged my credit card (thought total was tip!) and I had to hassle to get the charges reversed.

After the second time I asked the manager if they could do something for me for my time and he jerkily said he’d write me a gift certificate.

Then I went home and realized that he had written it already expired!

I’ve only gone back once since then, and at friends’ request. … and with cash!!!

broadwayboy
broadwayboy
13 years ago

I’m really glad that it’s going to stick around! But, yeah, the chairs are awful. I never go there because I just wiggle around uncomfortably.

Ashlee P.
Ashlee P.
13 years ago

Congrats Matt! I am so happy for you!

Pete & Nikki Saretto
Pete & Nikki Saretto
13 years ago

Congrats to C.J. & Matt!!! Change is always good and the Grill will benefit greatly with the hard work and dedication of Matt and C.J. Matt has had many years of experience in the restaurant business and C.J. grew up in it having parents who owned and operated a small cafe in N.C. for 30 years. We have nothing but sincere confidence in this new ownership and wish our boys all the success in the world. Capitol Hill you are in for a wonderful experience!!!!!!

Love you guys, Mom and Dad Saretto

Betty Abadia
Betty Abadia
13 years ago

I just hope we can get out there to see the place, Congrats, man! This is terrific! Edgard & I wish you guys the best of luck with your restaurant, with your lives!

Aunt Torie
Aunt Torie
13 years ago

I am so excited for you guys and I wish you all the best! I know you will have years and years of great success with this business venture and your lives together!! With both of your backgrounds in the restaurant business you can’t help but be successful!! Seattle is mighty lucky to have you two taking over the Broadway Grill. With your passion for good food, good drinks, and success the Broadway Grill will be the best eatery and social gathering place in Seattle.
Good luck and I love you!!

Cris Boyd
Cris Boyd
13 years ago

C.J. & Matt,
We are very excited for you both. From the comments it sounds like you have bought a the place to go in Seattle.We (Saretto’s) all know how hard the restaurant life can be, but I’m sure you will do just great. C.J. since you were born you have always been at the top with everything and I know you will do wonderful things with your new restaurant. We want to wish you and Matt all the best with your new restaurant and your lives together.
We love you very much. Just wish you weren’t so far away.I love trying new restaurants
Love Aunt Cris

Ian Crowfeather
Ian Crowfeather
13 years ago

Don’t fix what isn’t broken.

toryx
toryx
13 years ago

umm the grill doesnt serve pomogranite martinis and burger night is down the street at deluxe??

Jimmy
Jimmy
13 years ago

I don’t know where you got your history on this place from but you sound like a real know it all with incorrect info. Malone owned originally The Broadway(which went defunct), then partnered with Bill Baffert and created Baffert’s(defunct shortly after opening), the location was vacant for three year’s and then Malone opened The Broadway Grill with a guy named Tom and was shortly dismissed within a few months of opening. Check the facts. Debbie came on board right after Tom. The Grill has been there for 20 years and I hope it continues for another 20. The place was in need of some updates but you perhaps are a mean and unhappy person to be rude and acting so self important… Cruel comments on the past owner, the fact it was there for a long time was a tribute to her and the dedicated staff. I like the old Grill and am looking forward to what will happen…

arbyuu
arbyuu
13 years ago

Boondocks was furth North on Broadway (the Deluxe is around the corner from the former Boondocks site). What is now the Broadway Grill was once “Baffert’s”.

Arbyuu
Arbyuu
13 years ago

Henry’s Off Broadway was located at 1705 East Olive Way, hence the name, “off Broadway”.

Anne-Marie Casselberry
Anne-Marie Casselberry
13 years ago

Good Luck on your new restaurant! I once worked at Bafferts and had many a cozy evening of drinks in that bar. Great Space, does it still have the wonderful sky light?
Miss Seattle terrible sometimes, nice to see that there are still those that remember the good ole days and there are caretakers in place!

Anne-Marie Casselberry
Anne-Marie Casselberry
13 years ago

BTW, I also worked at Henry’s for several years… It was down on Olive. Anyone know what happened to it and the Schwartz Bros? That place was a Gold Mine!! What is there now?

paul
paul
12 years ago

Ever since that little dip shit took over the restaurant sucks. I got sick eating there which has never happened so I gave them another shot and food poisoning again so I complained and they told me not to eat there. Fuck that place, I also read online that they refused to pay an employee who is now homeless because they wouldn’t give him his last check and that’s so illegal !!!