Goodbye, Eastlake Teriyaki. Hello, Babirusa!

By Seattle Mag March 5, 2014

eastlaketeriyaki

!–paging_filter–pstrongEastlake Teriyaki/strong, the more casual lunchtime offspring of stronga href=”http://blindpigbistro.com/” target=”_blank”Blind Pig Bistro/a/strong, served its final meal yesterday. Demolition has officially begun to transform the tiny strip mall storefront into a 23 seat bar that’s attached to Blind Pig. It’s been the plan since owners Charles Walpole and Rene Gutierreznbsp;took over the space last July./p
p”Everyone felt the neighborhood needed another bar,” Walpole told me this afternoon, just before heading to work in what is now a construction zone. “We kept it going [as Eastlake Teriyaki] until we had enough money to do the bar.” A passageway connects the two spaces, which made an adjoining bar a natural fit.nbsp;/p
pstronga href=”https://www.facebook.com/BabirusaSEA” target=”_blank”Babirusa/a/strong, named after “the genus of our beloved pig friend who watches over us at Blind Pig Bistro,” will serve lunch weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. and then open as a bar at 5 p.m. nightly (no lunch on Saturdays or Sundays). Babirusa will offer simple eats: fish and chips, a burger, and lots of tapas-sized plates that will rotate daily and top out at about $8. Also, plenty of eat-with-your-hands type stuff, like croquettes and pork ribs. The menu is a work in progress and being crafted right now by Kenny Gibbs, who’s been Walpole’s right hand man at Blind Pig up until now./p
pAs for the interior, “In spirit, it will be the same as Blind Pig Bistro,” says Walpole. There will be an 11-seat bar and 12 seats via banquette. strongAtelier Drome/strong, which did the build-out for most of Ethan Stowell’s restaurants, Juicebox and Altura, is doing the design work for Babirusa. Walpole describes the style as “saloon-y” with the same red colors as Blind Pig./p
pBen Sherwood, who spent lots of time behind the bar at stronga href=”http://www.marjorierestaurant.com/” target=”_blank”Marjorie/a/strong, will be managing the bar. Gutierrez, another Marjorie alum, will be the General Manager of both places./p
pLook for Babirusa to open in about six weeks./p

 

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