Qwest Field hires new food vendor

With Levy Restaurants coming on board, you might be waving a crab cake instead of a hot dog at the next Seahawks game. (JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES)

The Seattle Seahawks announced Friday that Chicago-based Levy Restaurants will take over all food service at Qwest Field and Qwest Field Event Center. "We chose Levy because of their creativity," said Susan Darrington, vice president of facility operations and services for Qwest Field. Both the Seahawks and Levy Restaurants refused to release the value of the five-year contract. Levy Restaurants replaces Aramark, which has served the stadium since it opened in 2002.

Levy Restaurants plans to bring new "mini-restaurants" to the stadium's club level. Menu items will range from "Thai BBQ Shrimp Sizzle Fry" and "Sausage-Spiked Dim Sum" to salmon sandwiches and crab cakes to freshly made flatbreads and hand-tossed pastas.

"We're taking the hot dog to the next level," said Suzanne Lavender, spokeswoman for the Seahawks. She said the prices would remain consistent with what fans pay at other Northwest stadiums. The Seahawks said they sought a change in food vendors in response to fans calling for higher quality and more choices. Levy Restaurants will be the lead concessionaire, which means it is responsible for staffing, chefs and choosing other food vendors. It will provide all premium dining, catering and general concessions at the facility.

Levy also manages STAPLES Center and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, American Airlines Arena in Miami, Wrigley Field in Chicago and Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

Bibeka Shrestha: 206-464-2436 or bshrestha@seattletimes.com