584800 Sat Jan 03 14:05:32 -0800 2009 26 4 Pacific Northwest 0 4293031 Lots going on on the hill ....Opal is dark , with a sign saying "new restaurant soon", Jamba Juice has left the Ave, leaving a "For Lease" sign, Vincenzios is prepping in the old Ace Hardware spot, what will become of their old site ? And a telltale PortaPotti has been dropped in front of the old nail place across the street from Kens, which had a liquor application up for a wine bar.... Anybody got more scoop ????????? Sat Jan 03 14:05:32 -0800 2009 50476 tilt 1 4296502 I didn't know about Opal, but we just discussed a bunch of Queen Anne places at the following post: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/578083 Sun Jan 04 21:56:02 -0800 2009 4293031 85184 broksonic 2 4298871 The Vincenzo's bit is new! As is the darkening of Opal. Furthermore, I had heard a sandwhich shop across from Ken's not a wine bar. I had also heard that Bricco was for sale. Anyone have any updates? Mon Jan 05 16:41:10 -0800 2009 4296502 129814 bluedog67 3 4345738 I live down the alley from Ken's and it looks like a MAJOR revamping of the new space across from Ken's. Anyone have an update? Any rumors on the Jamba Juice space? Wed Jan 21 16:02:04 -0800 2009 4298871 56261 TacoBusHound 3 4377426 The old hardware shop/new pizza place has details up on the exterior - pizza, delivery available - liquor license application is posted as well Sun Feb 01 08:05:09 -0800 2009 4298871 85184 broksonic 3 4398262 I believe that Bricco is no longer for sale but revamped the menu and added a liquor license and that the original sommelier was back at Bricco. The Bricco owners just opened Moshi, a sushi restaurant on Ballard Ave with one of Shiro's proteges. The nail salon across from Ken's is definitely a bar or lounge. Tough location. Rumor of a Blue C coming to upper QA. Sun Feb 08 10:36:13 -0800 2009 4298871 57284 fooddawg 4 4399575 Wow...Blue C on Queen Anne could be interesting although Ottoto seems to be holding its own..but probably a completely different clientele. Sun Feb 08 20:05:50 -0800 2009 4398262 56261 TacoBusHound 5 4399762 Blue C would be interesting. Trying to narrow down their possible location, supposedly new construction? Any ideas. The old nail salon on McGraw (across from Ken's) will be Bustle, a wine-centric bar. Sun Feb 08 21:47:34 -0800 2009 4399575 57284 fooddawg 6 4401890 A wine bar at that location would be great for me! do you know any estimated open date? Mon Feb 09 14:55:13 -0800 2009 4399762 86106 cocktailhour 7 4401924 Looks like they applied for a beer/wine license the 1st week of November, so might be soon. Mon Feb 09 15:04:10 -0800 2009 4401890 57284 fooddawg 8 4408608 Update: Drove by Bustle today and it looks like it might be a while after all. Walls have been moved and it looks like some major remodeling had been going on, though it looked pretty quiet today. Wed Feb 11 15:51:07 -0800 2009 4401924 57284 fooddawg 9 4503790 ...still quiet. Any updates from anyone? Sat Mar 14 04:39:41 -0700 2009 4408608 56261 TacoBusHound 10 4504551 I have heard that the spot across from Kens is to be a bakery...I know I know, it doesn't make sense to me, but the folks I heard it from are very much into the QA scene....maybe the staff will be friendlier than Macrena.... Sat Mar 14 11:26:53 -0700 2009 4503790 50476 tilt 11 4509302 I thought it was to be a wine-bar? Mon Mar 16 09:46:14 -0700 2009 4504551 129814 bluedog67 12 4510684 I heard it was to be Bustle, a wine bar. It may be in another post in this thread. Mon Mar 16 15:43:28 -0700 2009 4509302 86106 cocktailhour 13 4514015 ditto. but tilt says a bakery???? f Tue Mar 17 14:02:55 -0700 2009 4510684 129814 bluedog67 14 4526131 Ouch...looks like they are clearing out a nice area for a deck as well. Please no bakery... Sat Mar 21 17:06:21 -0700 2009 4514015 56261 TacoBusHound 15 4526260 Turns out Bustle is going to be a coffee house that also serves wine & beer. Owner is a guy named Patrick. met him as I walked by. Really pretty cool and dedicated. He's been working hard to completely erase all remnants of the nail salon and run through the ringer by the city. He has some cool ideas about how a coffee house should feel. i can't wait till it's open. Maybe April? Sat Mar 21 18:23:34 -0700 2009 4526131 276336 ironbutt 1 4301934 Opal is gone? What a shame as it was a very adventurous attempt on the Hill and probably the most since Pirosmani (spelling?) which was before my time. Tue Jan 06 15:24:49 -0800 2009 4293031 56261 TacoBusHound 1 4309109 There was a posting on Opal by Seattle Times' Nancy Leson: http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/allyoucaneat/index.html#035928 scroll down to Jan 6. Apparently another place will go in soon by the same owners. What we really need up here is a simple, tasty hang out like The Grove in San Francisco. Grab a pressed sandwich or salad and a glass of wine without breaking the bank. Thu Jan 08 16:37:05 -0800 2009 4293031 77354 blueberrygirl 2 4377260 I drove past on Friday night and the lights were on and people inside. I assume they were employees but looks like something is gearing up. Anyone have more info? Sun Feb 01 06:50:35 -0800 2009 4309109 56261 TacoBusHound 3 4377419 There's a sign on the door that they are going to open Monday, February 2nd as "Opal Bistro" and be more "reasonably priced and neighborhood friendly". There wasn't much more detail than that though. Sun Feb 01 08:04:14 -0800 2009 4377260 85184 broksonic 4 4378722 Opal Bistro?? Hmmm. Guess they decided they couldn't compete with Wolf & Portage in close proximity. So downscale it and try again. Should be interesting, I'll have to check it out. These folks must have money to burn. Actually they'd do good to capitalize on cocktails. That was the bulk of their business after Wolf opened, people waiting to get into Wolf would go there for a cocktail. Oh, and I'm bummed its Vincenzo's moving into the hardware space and doing 'pizza' ~ when we already have enough pizza on the hill. Sun Feb 01 17:45:31 -0800 2009 4377419 28239 malarkey 5 4398303 Opal Bistro appears to be open, as it was about half-full when I drove by at 7pm-ish last night. No changes to the interior from what I could tell. Any reports? Sun Feb 08 11:01:30 -0800 2009 4378722 28940 adanzig 6 4526815 I went there last week and I'm not sure I'd go back there to eat, but I would for happy hour or late night drinks. The menu is cheaper and the decor is still very nice, but the food was rather mediocre. I can only speak directly to the taste of my food. I had the crispy pork belly tacos. The rice was very dry and crunchy and the pork very greasy and the grease was the only thing keeping my corn tortillas warmish and soft. My friend said the curry chicken was ok and nothing special for 15.00. I think he secretly wished we had just gone to an indian place. They only had 2 desserts, ginger cookies & ice cream and a lemon tart and we got them both. The tart was ok but the ginger cookies were not good and very hard. It still has a very nice atmosphere for after work cocktails. I liked the salads we had, and I might try the burger someday as a safe bet, but overall I can't really recommend the food thus far. I'm sad to hear this is a whole new kitchen staff because I felt the food from the old Opal was at times divine, if over priced. Finally, the waitstaff was quite attentive and I was pleased with that. Anybody else? Sun Mar 22 05:26:04 -0700 2009 4398303 97296 skyla 7 4538305 I was there Friday night and went with the house green salad and the mussels. The former was alright, but the latter were pretty darn good and came with a very spicy dipping sauce. The Missus tried the shrimp scampi and pronounced it quite good. The prices are, as pointed our previously, quite reasonable. I'd go back, but am still bummed that we don't have Mexican on top of the Hill. Wed Mar 25 15:59:39 -0700 2009 4526815 167652 Square Business 4 4395984 The only positive is a potential move of Vincenzo's and a Buckley's type family pub moving into the cavernous space with outdoor seating. The Paragon does a good job for adults but I think a more casual sports oriented pub with good food would do well. Sat Feb 07 10:13:45 -0800 2009 4377419 56261 TacoBusHound