From tapas to barbecues, newbies offer a mouthful
A wide world of restaurants still in "grand-opening" mode are offering menus with specialties ranging from Spanish tapas to Brazilian barbecue, Puerto Rican empanadas to New York- style pizzas. Once the debut-dust settles, I look forward to lifting a fork — or a slice — at the following newbies. You, on the other hand, may be less inclined to wait.
Ibiza Dinner Club (528 Second Ave., Seattle; 206-381-9090) promises Nuevo Latino cuisine and a DJ-fueled late-night scene. This dual-level Pioneer Square hitter anchors the corner of Second Avenue and James Street, offering a chic bar and lounge outfitted with Miss Muffet-style tuffets and a sexy white-on-wood dining room dressed to thrill with sheer, peignoir-worthy draperies and ivory-toned wraparound booths (careful with that cabernet!).
Owner Abi Eshagi and GM Brooke Laurance scouted talent to tend to the front and back of the house. Their management team includes barman Dennis Brand (late of McCormick & Schmick's and Tini Bigs) and dining-room manager Michael Don Rico (ex-Mackay Restaurant Group). Chef-exec Matthew Lederman (formerly with the Salish Lodge) provides a tapas-heavy menu that runs deep with small plates ($3.50-$8.95) plus a short list of entrees including paella Ibiza ($17.75), olive-crusted sea bass with salsa verde ($18.50) and rack of lamb with chimichurri ($18.50).
A lengthy lineup of specialty cocktails plus an intriguing wine list helps put Ibiza high on the list of check-it-outs. Open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with a full dinner-menu till 1 a.m. Happy-hour prices on tapas and drinks, 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays.
The Grill from Ipanema
The transformation of the former Wolfgang Puck Cafe is complete and Ipanema Brazilian Grill — a Brazilian-styled churrascaria rodizio — is now open for business. Ipanema (1225 First Ave., Seattle; 206-957-8444) is home to the hot trend in all-you-can-eateries: the "endless barbecue" and its accompanying mesa de frios (cold buffet).Popular in urban centers elsewhere across the U.S., Seattle's only churrascaria is offering its barbecued specialties and Brazilian-influenced salad bar at lunch ($24.95) and dinner ($34.95).
The rodizio concept entices diners who come to eat, drink and make merry while sampling various meats, seafood, vegetables and fruits impaled on swordlike skewers. These are slow-roasted on special rotisseries and served by roving passadores who ferry the skewered goods from kitchen to table, slicing meats tableside, parceling out garlicky prawns, fruit-swabbed chicken, grilled pineapple, etc., until you've had your fill.
Accompanying the barbecued bites are sides like fried bananas and cassava with garlic sauce. A lunch-time "menu executive" offers a choice of beef, chicken or fish plus unlimited trips to the cold buffet ($14.95).
Bringing this taste of Brazil to the heart of Seattle is Marco Casas Beaux, owner of nearby Buenos Aires Grill (2000 Second Ave., Seattle; 206-441-7076), who refashioned this colorful mosaic-tiled room to take better advantage of the Harbor Steps view, moving the bar front and center. A dozen-plus bar bites ($2.95-$11.95) are available along with a full complement of Brazilian cocktails. Lunch is offered 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with dinner served nightly from 5 to 11 p.m. Happy hour runs from 4 to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to closing.
Casas Beaux opened Ipanema with sweat-equity partner Sam Hassan — owner of Washington's first churrascaria, Rio Brazilian Grill. Slated to head up the kitchen at this flashy newcomer, Hassan closed his U-District restaurant and worked with Casas Beaux until Ipanema opened late last month.
Citing professional differences, he's no longer involved with the project and has his sights set on a solo venture, a Brazilian seafood restaurant — location and ETA are under negotiation.
Island eats, rum-enhanced drinks
At Sofrito Rico (2320 N.W. Market St., Seattle; 206-789-0516), a new Puerto Rican eat-in or take-out joint in Ballard, there's no bar per se, yet rum's the word. Sit (at one of a handful of tables), stay (the sofrito-colored palette makes this petite dining room so appealing) and sip a piña colada or "Rumgria" while perusing the brief menu.Co-owners Alfonso Gonzalez, Michael Figueroa and Jason Mikos are the fellows behind this month-old venture, hatched after a two-year stint selling Puerto Rican favorites at the Fremont Sunday Market.
Today the trio works together at this small storefront spot — formerly Miyi, the Australian savory pie-shop — to offer lunchtime specialties like empanadas, tostones and bacalaitos with rice and beans ($5.95-$6.95). Soup, salads and "platos pricipales" ($11.95-$13.95) round out the menu, which includes pollo guisado (chicken fricassee), bistec encebollado (grilled marinated flank steak) and pez gato (fried catfish strips seasoned with adobo and lime).
Tentative hours of operation: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 8 p.m. Sundays.
Pie guys set anchor
Pizza purveyors Ryon Weber and Steven Stehlik have set up shop farther north in Ballard to create Zagi's (2408 N.W. 80th St., Seattle; 206-706-0750), a big-as-a-New-York-minute "Pizza Ristorante." In years past, the pair sold New York-style tomato pies from a mobile pizza kitchen, plying their trade on the West Coast summer-festival circuit. On the road they paused to serve slices under the banner "Pie to the People." Locally their mobile outfit wintered on Snoqualmie where snow-goers knew them as Snoqualmie Pass Pizza Pie.At Zagi's they're hand-tossing 14-, 18- and 21-inch pizzas served with toppings galore ($10.95-$25.95), hot subs ($7-$7.95), calzones ($9) and pastas ($7-$11.50). Want a slice? They've got your number: three bucks for a wedge from a super-sized pie.
Zagi's provides delivery service in Ballard and limited outlying areas. Shop hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Nancy Leson: 206-464-8838 or taste@seattletimes.com