As 2014 draws to a close, there is suddenly an even more shameful embarrassment of riches in Capitol Hill food and drink thanks to three new Asian-flavored ventures between Broadway and downtown. We took you inside BC-born izakaya Suika in the former home of 611 Supreme earlier this week. Here’s a look inside French Vietnamese-focused Stateside down Melrose-way.
“There’s so many good things here already,” Stateside’s chef/owner Eric Johnson tells CHS. “We’re just trying to create a situation here where a fantastic restaurant community will accept us.”
Johnson’s Stateside opened late last month on E Pike in a space carved out from parking and offices in the auto row-era building home to Six Arms. The new, highly anticipated, already connected restaurant from a chef with a resume stretching from New York to Shanghai is reflective of its owner’s global wanderings.
“It feels like you’re somewhere else,” Johnson says of Stateside’s subtropical theme created by designer Callie Meyer. “The plants and the colors are pretty true to far away environs.”
Zhu Dang ready to mix tradition with new flavors on E Olive Way
“We want to expose people to the original flavors,” first-time restauranteur and former Capitol Hill resident Steve Cheng tells CHS. “I hope it’s a great introduction but also meets expectations of people who like it authentic.” More here…
As for food, you’ll find an image of the menu in our pictures on this post, but Johnson said you might want to get right to Stateside’s Bún chả Hanoi, the classic bowl of rice noodles, herb salad of big pile of Vietnam herbs, imperial rolls, a bowl of aromatic caramel fish sauce broth, *and* grilled pork sausage patties.
“There’s no interpretation,” Johnson says of the dish. “I’m trying to exactly recreate a dish from Vietnam.”
There’s a fun cocktail list from George Engelstad, formerly at the Hideout, but you also would be doing right with a 33 Beer or three.
Johnson, his team, and his Stateside partner Seth Hammond, formerly of Lisa Dupar Catering, see Stateside as a neighborhood place with tables full of food for sharing — and a good chance you’ll be able to get a seat. Stateside plans to reserve 40% of its seating for walk-ins and to be open every day — forever. Late night and lunch will come in the New Year with soups and banh mi. Johnson says he plans for Stateside to never take a day off.
“This is supposed to be a neighborhood place,” Johnson said. “You’ll never have to wonder if we’re open. We’re open.”
Stateside is located at 300 E Pike and is open from 5 to 10:30 PM. You can learn more at statesideseattle.com.
Completing the overhaul of a Capitol Hill auto row building, Trove ‘fourplex’ debuts on E Pike
Speaking of an embarrassment of riches, add Trove to our list of highly noteworthy Pike/Pine/Melrose newcomers:
Trove, a gastronomical “fourplex” of concepts, brings the couple and the teams behind Seattle favorites Revel and Joule to Capitol Hill for the partnership’s first foray in the neighborhood’s booming nightlife economy. More…
[…] added its take on French Vietnamese to the Melrose scene with its new space behind Six Arms on E […]