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First look: Nacho Borracho brings margaritas and queso to Broadway bar rejuvenation

(Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

(Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

IMG_9766Now, stay with me on this one. If Montana, in a way, represents a Pike/Pine bar on E Olive Way that serves the hometown crowd of the people of the western Summit Slope of Capitol Hill below Broadway, then its newly born Mexican cousin Nacho Borracho represents a Pike/Pine bar that serves the hometown crowd of the people of the western Summit Slope of Capitol Hill below Broadway — on Broadway.

Cheese.

Got it?

The most important thing is that Rachel Marshall and Kate Opatz can quit worrying about permits and opening dates and turn their attentions to fine-tuning their latest food and drink and fun creation on Capitol Hill. Nacho Borracho is open now for thirsty visitors from Summit Slope and beyond. You’ll find it in the 200 block of Broadway E, just north of John/E Olive Way, across the street from Castle Megastore and in a space where a succession of Thai restaurants came and went and a Seattle-area chain Mexican failed in under a year.

It seems highly unlikely Marshall and Opatz’s Nacho will suffer a similar fate. They’ve built a menu around Marshall’s signature prepared cocktails including churning machines humming out frozen Moscow Mules  (hey, she signed the Rachel’s Ginger Beer, too!), a Vitamin T delight mixed with tequila, orange juice, passion fruit and cointreau and margaritas — classic and avocado.

IMG_9729

IMG_9743You’ll find nachos, tatchos, a Sonoran dog, frito pie and, most importantly, homemade queso to fill your tummy. And make you thirstier. Need more? Here are “5 Reasons to Get Excited About Nacho Borracho” and “10 Things to Know About Nacho Borracho.” Inside, you’ll also find some science. Nacho is Velveeta-ing its own cheese with baking soda and citric acid.

With Nacho’s debut, you can cross another name off the CHS list of 24 Capitol Hill bars and restaurants to look forward to in 2014. CHS first told you about the project back in November. Marshall told us Patric Gabre-Kidan, busy building out his own venture at 11th and Pine, helped drive the Nacho buildout with a design by Boxwood studio. She also told us she saw her arrival on Broadway as part of the bigger changes underway on the Hill and on the neighborhood’s central commercial boulevard. “We’re really invested in our neighborhood and we don’t want to see only chains here, either,” Marshall told us in November. With nearby Capitol Hill Station set to open in early 2016, Broadway independent food and drink offering continue to grow as longtimers do everything they can to hang in and new players make their investments along the street. Its arrival is also a good moment to honor La Cocina for keeping the spirit of (head-sized) margaritas alive on Broadway. You don’t have to go it alone, now La Cocina. Rest. You now have help.

Nacho Borracho is located at 209 Broadway E and is open Sunday through Thursday, 3p to 2a and noon to 2a on Fridays and Saturdays. You can learn more at nachoborrachoseattle.com.IMG_9777

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Tejana Dame
Tejana Dame
10 years ago

I love me some queso!!!! I’m also a big fan of Rachel’s other businesses. Cannot wait to check the new place out!

Jose
Jose
10 years ago

Not a good sign when sophisticated photography can’t make the food look less greasy and yucky.

zeebleoop
10 years ago
Reply to  Jose

the food looks greasy? which photos are you looking at?

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
10 years ago
Reply to  zeebleoop

I would guess he’s talking about those tater tots. At least I think they’re tater tots? But probably a better idea to make decisions based on first-hand experience than on online photos.

Nick
Nick
10 years ago

The avocado margarita is way, way, way, waaaaay too sweet. Several other patrons said the same. Such an awesome idea though. Rachel, please tone it down and it will be a hit!

Great place.

Danny
Danny
10 years ago

Is this place already open? I walked by today and it looks like they’re still working on the interior.

jpol
jpol
10 years ago

Just curious as to how much an advertising slot like this runs…?

Timmy73
Timmy73
10 years ago
Reply to  jseattle

I appreciate these posts on your blog. Lets us know there is something new in the hood to check out. Thanks!

jake
jake
10 years ago

Shocking, the fried, “fake” cheese, greasy mexican food looks greasy? I don’t think they are really going for health food here. That being said, I ate some of the fares at the soft opening and they were fucking delicious. More queso for the rest of us.

Jane Fader
10 years ago

Does anyone know who the cute boy is who remodeled this place? He has long dreads and a big dog and knows what BORRACHO means.

Dman
Dman
10 years ago

Yea, my friends and I went there last Saturday. They didn’t open until 3 in the afternoon, eh, that’s cool peeps got to sleep. But then when they did open none of their frozens were ready… Ahhh! We really wanted to try them. Instead we settled on a regular margarita (wayyyy too sweet). We wanted to go for brunch, but settled for just drinks and brunch elsewhere. Oh yah and I agree, food looks greasy but good idea. We’ll see how it pans out, I’m all for something new!

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[…] and more expensive by the year. A burger costs like $18. Not literally, but you know. On Broadway there’s a place where during happy hour you can get free chips and salsa. That’s like unheard of. Free food!? […]

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[…] we might say that your Tex-Mex options on Broadway are about to double — Nacho Borracho opened just four Broadway blocks south of the Rooster’s border in early […]