January 18, 2022 - Most anticipated restaurants + Cirque Du Soleil

Some people make to-do lists. We make to-dine lists.

While COVID-19 challenges continue to stall some new restaurant openings in Seattle, there are still many places on the horizon for 2022 that we can’t wait to check out — from Indian street food to vegan donuts and beyond. Grab your knives and forks.

MariPili Tapas Bar takes over the former Cafe Presse space. | Photo by Grayson Corrales

MariPili Tapas Bar

📍1117 12th Ave.

🗓️ Late spring

🍽️ Don’t you just love saying patatas bravas? Rising chef Grayson Corrales will give her own spin on classic Spanish dishes, like “brothy” prawn and saffron rice, inspired by her grandmother and time spent in Galicia. On the drinks side, expect lots of sherry + gin.

Vivienne’s Bistro

📍2441 76th Ave. SE, Mercer Island

🗓️ Early 2022

🍽️ A hot Mercer Island dining destination? You better believe it. This new Chinese restaurant comes from chef Danna Hwang, who recently helped revitalize China Harbor’s dim sum menu. By the looks of things, the attention to elegant details for comfort food is in full effect here, too.

Dough Joy built a strong following as a food truck in Ballard last year. | Photo via Dough Joy

Dough Joy

📍1316 E. Pike St.

🗓️ Soft opening happened this weekend

🍽️ Here’s an ode to Dough Joy and its delectable vegan doughnuts. The popular food truck is setting down roots on Capitol Hill, serving up sweet delights like PB & Hayyy (with strawberry jam) and S’more Plz in an adorable brick + mortar cafe. Wash ‘em down with Fulcrum coffee or lattes topped with dairy-free whipped cream.

Khushi

📍595 106th Ave. NE, Bellevue

🗓️ Early 2022

🍽️ The owners of highly acclaimed Pioneer Square restaurant Nirmal’s have been working on an Eastside project for the past two years. It’s finally at the finish line, with a menu influenced by street food from all regions of India + a chill vibe.

TacoOx

📍903 19th Ave. E.

🗓️ This month

🍽️ Talk about animal magnetism. Khampaeng Panyathong from Capitol Hill’s excellent Cambodian restaurant Taurus Ox joins forces with the teams behind Hangry Panda and pop-up Expat Supper Club for this Asian-influenced restaurant. They’ve also planned an adjacent bar called MoneyFrog for March.

3 MORE SPOTS WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT

Share with your foodie friends who are on top of the new restaurant watch.

EVENTS

Today

Cirque Du Soleil: Alegria | Tues., Jan. 18 | 8 p.m. | Marymoor Park, Redmond | $50+ | The world-renowned performance troupe brings one of its most popular shows to life 25 years after its original run with some new spins. 🎪

Wednesday

“Belle” | Wed., Jan. 19 | 4:30 p.m. + 7:45 p.m. | SIFF Cinema Uptown | $11 | This animated movie from Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda tells a fantastical tale of a young girl finding her identity in the age of social media. 🎥

Thursday

Love at First Beat: Intro to Hip-hop DJing | Thurs., Jan. 20 | 9:30 a.m. + 1:30 p.m. | MoPOP | $7 | DJ Lady Love (Denise Briggs) helps aspiring turntable wizards get started with the basics — equipment provided. 🎛️
The Minimalists: Love People Use Things Tour | Thurs., Jan. 20 | 7 p.m. | $30 | The Neptune Theatre | Netflix stars and authors Joshua Fields Millburn + Ryan Nicodemus give a talk on how to live a simpler life with less stuff.

Friday

Whim W’Him | Fri., Jan. 21 | 8 p.m. | Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center | $5+ | Experience the art of movement through the works of choreographers Ethan Colangelo, Jakevis Thomason + Olivier Wevers.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

ALL JANUARY EVENTS

Note: COVID-19 protocols are changing rapidly to curb the spread of the Omicron variant in Seattle. Please make sure to check event listing pages + venue websites for the most up-to-date information.

NEWS NOTES

Weather

48º | Scattered showers | 40% chance of rain

Sunrise + Sunset

Rise: 7:50 a.m.
Set: 4:50 p.m.

Ranked

Is the Seattle Freeze getting colder this winter? The Emerald City ranked No. 20 out of 30 major metro areas for most neighborly, according to a recent Storage Cafe report. Although keep in mind that a 2021 OfferUp survey had us at No. 1. So, ya know, take it with a grain of salt. 🏘️ (Storage Cafe)

Civic

Wait, there’s a local election today? That’s right — voting has started for a King Conservation District board position. If you’re wondering where that district actually is, the main office is in Renton, but it’s really a larger county org that handles land stewardship + natural resources. Find the ballot online. 🗳️

Coming Soon

The Seattle boba craze can’t stop, won’t stop. Timeless Tea — which has locations in the U District + Bellevue — is planning to open a third shop on Capitol Hill at 509 Broadway E. in the space formerly occupied by Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt. Besides bubble tea, there’s also mousse in the shapes of puppies.🧋 (Capitol Hill Blog)

Sports

Jordan Eberle made some history last week as the Seattle Kraken’s first-ever All-Star. The forward will represent the Pacific Division in Las Vegas on Feb. 5, while teammate Mark Giordano had a chance to join him as a “last man in” candidate through fan voting (ballots closed last night). 🏒 (ESPN)

Drink

Raise a glass, y’all. Reuben’s Brews is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in Ballard with a series of special beers that honor some of the local businesses + individuals that have been key to its success. January’s collab kicked off with Georgetown Brewing on Saturday with nine others coming soon. 🍻

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POST OF THE DAY

Building a legacy

📸 @mohaiseattle

Ever stop to admire the dramatic arches at the Pacific Science Center? Famed architect Minoru Yamasaki designed them and several other iconic buildings around Seattle like the IBM Building + Rainier Tower. 🏗️

If you want to learn more, MOHAI is hosting a free virtual talk about Yamasaki’s place in architectural history tomorrow from 6:30-8 p.m. So you can ace your next trivia night.

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THE WRAP

Editor’s pick: I am an unabashed food lover — and a former food writer, too. So today’s list of anticipated new restaurants was a ton of fun to put together. One bonus place to watch is Glo’s. While the diner isn’t technically new, it’s going to have a larger location at Capitol Hill Station soon. Bet those egg bennys will taste even better with more room to roam.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Here’s a recap of MLK Day activities in Seattle.