(Image: Rione XIII)
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- In 2010, CHS reported that a “mystery” restaurant project was opening in the space left behind by the closure of longtime 15th Ave E gift and home wares store, Tilden. Tuesday night — some two years later — we’re finally right. Ethan Stowell’s Rione XIII is slated to debut for its first “official” night of dinner. If things are on track, you can visit for your first lunch on Wednesday. Any “soft opening” buzz to share?
The neighborhood “Roman trattoria” emerges from the build-out phase weeks ahead of its coming-soon dance partner, next-door’s The Wandering Goose. With deeper pockets and a small Roman empire of Seattle restaurants, Stowell can do restaurant construction at a scale that has left Heather Earnhardt’s boostrapped bakery project in the sawdust. We expect she’ll be able to give Stowell a run for his money soon enough.
(Image: Rione XIII)
In what we like to believe is a tribute to the far flung nature of 15th Ave E for you that must trudge up Hill to reach it, Rione XIII takes its name from an area of Rome literrally translated “across the river” —
Inspired by Trastevere, the bustling 13th district of Rome, Rione XIII explores simple Roman cooking on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Menu favorites include fried artichokes, housemade mozzarella, cacio e pepe, and wood-fired Roman street pizza. A full bar is available as well as lunch service Monday through Friday.
While not joined at the hip, Stowell told CHS in March that his latest project will complement the adjoining Wandering Goose. “There will be some viewing between the two spaces, some cross marketing, some crossing over of energy.”
For now, however, it’s only Stowell across the river.
Rione XIII is located at 401 15th Ave. You can learn more on the Rione XIII Facebook page.
UPDATE: Here’s a peek at the menu. Click for a giant image you *should* be able to mostly read. CHS once spent a good part of a day wandering Rome looking for fried squash blossoms. CHS failed. And now we can just walk down the street and get them.
- Speaking of a build-out, the Raygun Cafe is slated to host a PAX party in two weeks. Gamma Ray Games is posting construction updates on its blog.
- The void left by the shutdown of EVO Tapas was filled by Friday. E Olive Way’s the Social is now paired with Theory Vodka Lounge. Here’s the press release — a grand opening party is planned for Friday.
The Theory overhaul (Image: The Social)
Pterodactyl Group announced today the opening of it’s latest Capitol Hill hotspot, Theory Vodka Bar. Theory, Seattle’s first vodka bar, will launch with 75 unique vodkas from around the world including popular and distinctive flavors from 360°, Absolut, Belvedere, Chopin, Cîroc, Cupcake, Effen, Finlandia, Grey Goose, Hangar One, Ketel One, Level, Pearl, Pinnacle, Stoli, Van Gogh, and many others with seasonal house-infused vodkas offered throughout the year. Theory Vodka Bar will grow to 250 vodkas by yearend with additions based on customer feedback at vodka tastings and on-staff expertise.
“We’re excited to bring Seattle’s first vodka bar to Capitol Hill with the launch of Theory Vodka Bar,” said Laura Olson, Pterodactyl Group CEO. “There are only so many factors to great tasting vodka – from what it’s made of, how many times it’s filtered, how it’s distilled, and what proof it is, to how it’s prepared. With more than 250 vodkas on the shelf, fresh squeezed juices, house-made syrups and vodka drink experts, Theory Vodka Bar will be Seattle’s first and only haven for vodka lovers and their friends.”
- Broadcast Coffee is now open on Bellevue Ave E. One thing we didn’t note last week. Owner Barry Faught has brought a new roaster to Seattle:
I’m a fan of Sightglass Coffee Roasters out of San Francisco, I feel they deliver a great product and Broadcast Coffee is their first account in Seattle. Broadcast Coffee will offer their Single Origin Espresso and a few coffee options for Clever Brewing. Stumptown Coffee Roaster remains the staple of both Broadcast Coffee locations and Sightglass is only available at the Capitol Hill location.
- Free burgers next Monday celebrate Li’l Woody’s 1st birthday.
- With Chao Bistro’s demise, Capitol Hill-born BarCraft moves on.
- “Perhaps Seattle’s most appropriately named bar, The Hideout, situated next to a Thai restaurant on sleepy Pill Hill, is easy to miss.“
- High 5 Pie hosting Pie School.
- Cafe Presse’s Jim Drohman reminds: September 12th is this year’s big Eat Out on Capitol Hill benefit for the Country Doctor Clinics.
- Jamie, don’t even go there:
- Meet local food authors this week at Broadway’s new Eat Local:
Eat Local on Capitol Hill is excited to host a book signing with a couple of local authors who’ve written books about local food! Come meet Leora Bloom, author of Washington Food Artisans (a beautiful cookbook filled with recipes from local chefs which includes stories about many of Eat Local’s growers) and Jess Thomson, author of Pike Place Market Recipes.
- Reward for rocking hard? Linda’s Burger
(Image: Linda’s via Facebook)
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I believe that was Barca almost 10 years ago.
A ‘Vodka Bar’, really? What is this, 1997? And I love how they dropped every sh*&^y big name vodka in the press release and failed to include the ones made on Capitol Hill, just blocks from where they are situated.
I actually went there over the weekend with a few friends – the drinks were pretty good, and there was quite a crowd growing as the night wore on. Way better than Evo or whatever the hell was there before. I’m a vodka drinker, so I fully enjoyed myself!
But…I did not see Oola vodka amongst the racks of liquor. Or maybe I just didn’t look hard enough…?
Order a martini with the Russian Standard if you go!
I know, right? And you can get all of those vodkas at most area liquor stores. This must be a vodka bar for people who don’t know anything about vodka.
Ebb & Flow maybe?
Rione has built a permanent bench, ‘across the sidewalk’ and it’s obnoxious.
I wondered about that too. Is it a structure designed to demarcate sidewalk seating? Or is it some kind of stand-up bar?
Either way, it’s right in the middle of the sidewalk and I can’t believe that the city officials (DPD) approved it. It’s a very bad precedent and should be removed asap.
Turns out it’s a stand-up bar, right smack in the middle of the sidewalk. It’s a total eyesore, and a safety hazard.
…And not to be Debbie Downer, but what about the giant, permanent pile of smelly trash behind this restaurant? I guess I assumed that once they were done with construction and occupying the space, this would be taken care of. Apparently not. It’s seriously disgusting.
agreed
Looks the same as several other places in the neighborhood. The wave of Italian places is upon us.
OK, I take it back. They cleaned up the trash.
That pile of trash was there looong before this restaurant. I think it’s because it’s a (too small) shared container for a number of businesses on the block.
…I kind of like the bar out front.