(Images: Suzi/CHS)
“I never liked that name,” is the kind of thing you can say about a place when you’ve been the chef but now you’re the owner. Jeffrey Wilson’s new vision for 219 Broadway E is playing out as Americana has been born in the former home of Table 219.
And here is also the kind of thing you say when you were the chef and now you are the owner.
“I was happy with the menu. I plan to expand it but make it more accesible and not try to be fancy. I’m going for an American home kind of feel.”
On the food end of things, not much, yet, has changed in the Broadway eatery. But Wilson has announced big plans. With the New Year, he’ll be rolling out an ambitious idea — weekend-style brunch every day Americana is open.
“I just felt it was a strong point,” Wilson said. “And kind of an untapped market. Plus, lunch has been a challenge for us in the past.”
So, when people talk about 2012: The Year Brunch Broke, you’ll be able to say you were there.
Wilson has given the Table 219 space a bootstrap overhaul. With a tight $6,000 budget, Wilson said he’s done much of the new look and feel of the place on the fly while continuing to remain open. He’s worked to make the space feel more modern and a little more industrial. A contractor friend put in new bench seating and overhauled and expanded the bar area for him — a trend we’ve reported on in older generation restaurant spaces on the Hill seeking to optimize their revenue potential. Wilson said he and his staff did most everything else themselves including the artwork.
Americana is Wilson’s first start-up after being a partner in Table 219 with Gary Snyder and Stacey Hettinger. Before 219, Wilson worked at the place when it was still called El Greco. Snyder and Hettinger continue to run popular Columbia City diner Geraldine’s Counter.
Wilson says he’s excited to be at the helm and feels like he’s getting in on Broadway at the right time. “This section is going to follow Pike/Pine,” he said. “The face of Broadway is changing.”
It’s the Americana dream, no?
You can learn more at https://facebook.com/AmericanaSeattle
I loved table 219 (neutral on the name…also neutral on the Americana name), so I was quite worried when I heard there was an ownership change, then subsequently relieved to hear the new owner was the old chef. I hope that Americana can grow while keeping the best of table 219 – especially their happy hour bruschetta appetizer!
Wasn’t the name changed to Table 219 maybe like 3 years ago or was there just another restaurant in this spot?
I remember an old girlfriend and I getting a coupon for the restaurant that existed before Table 219, and then going there, being confused, and going to India Express instead. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name that was on the sign before “Table 219” though.
Any help? This will be in my head all day until I remember.
El Greco. I should have included that — updating above.
Perhaps Table 219 wasn’t the best name in town, but Americana is a terrible and completely forgettable name for a restaurant.
but I’ve always liked that space and I dig the DIY approach to turning the space over, so best wishes to them.
I LOVE brunch there. Please don’t change the bacon, egg and arugula sandwich!
Shame about the “industrial” makeover. I wanna be comfy while I’m eating my comfort food. As long as the food is consistent he should do well, though. I wish him luck.
El Greco was the original name and the brunch was always one of the best in Seattle. I still can’t figure out how to make pancakes as good as theirs, their scrambled eggs are always light and fluffy (this is, apparently, difficult to do because almost no other brunch place in Seattle manages it) and the “East Coast” remains one of the best brunch concoctions in the city. 219 was smart to keep most of the original brunch items intact. If Wilson is smart, he won’t just save them through the transition. He’ll keep them on the menu permanently. I’ve been coming there for brunch for 13 years and hope I to continue. I’m glad to hear the space and menu aren’t vanishing. I wish him luck.
And please keep the deviled eggs!
Weekend-style brunch every day = brilliant
Way to go.
Thank you!
You remembered it enough to write it in your comment.
Speaking of unforgettable names, what was yours?
It’s not hard to “remember” a name that is printed directly above the post I’m making.
And my name is irrelevant – I’m not opening a business with it.
I sincerely hope you are just a troll and not involved in this restaurant, because if you read my post you’ll note I wish them well. But not if anyone related to the venture is so thin-skinned that they would spaz out over a pretty mild comment on the choice of name.
I’m just a troll. And it worked too!
It is weird though how you wish somebody well and then in the same comment say they have a terrible name.
I believe the original El Greco owner is the guy who owns Vios on 19th and Aloha. Tomas? Thomas? His wife passed away so he went back to Greece and took time off but opened Vios soon after his return. Its Fabulous if you haven’t tried it!
Don’t feed the trolls.
It’s a terrible name and I also wish them well.
If you’re not going to be part of the solution then you’re part of the problem. Why don’t you branding experts come up with some alternate names?
Here are my suggestons. Both could use the same basic logotype as Americana:
—————
Posse (as in Posse’s on Broadway…get it?)
The Great Northern Tater Mining Company (sort of that old-timey, Americana-esque thing, with a focus on great potato sides for brunch. The servers can dress up as frontier whores like they did at that now-defunct pizza joint in Ballard)
There are many worse names than “Americana.”
Good luck to the new owner!
Horrible name, not a patron except for a couple of drinks couple of times.
Yes, of course, best of luck.
Occupy?
Really? Weekend-style brunch on weekdays is an untapped market? Charlie’s is RIGHT next door, and Julia’s is a block away, Glo’s is right around the corner and down a couple blocks. In fact, the guy in the first picture works at Charlie’s. Not saying Americana can’t do better, but c’mon, there ARE options.
Agreed on the Vios tip. I live down the street from there and it’s a great place, especially if you have a big group and wanna eat family style.
Purr has great brunch, $11.00 incl a mimosa.
Just Sat. and Sun. Perfect over easy eggs.
Nice help.
Amantes has also started doing breakfast and they are now open 24 hours. Hopefully their breakfast is better than their pizza.