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Chefs William Belickis of Mistral, Scott Carsberg of Lampreia, Kerry Sear of Cascadia
First Mistral, temple of gastronomy, hushed inner sanctum of the molecular, closed six weeks ago. Then Lampreia, sacred (and almost secret) destination for Seattle devotees of haute-cuisine, put itself up for sale. Now Cascadia, that hardy and trendy hybrid, is out as well.
All three owner-chefs have their reasons, and they're not even the same reasons. Mistral's William Belickis is on to a more ambitious project, a suite of restaurants that needs more space (and more investment) than his 32-seat chapel. Scott Carsberg of Lampreia has long wanted a space he can actually own, and is moving to the Gallery building, under construction at the corner of 2nd and Broad. And Kerry Sear, having hit his stride by combining popular mini-burgers with high standards of Northwest cuisine, is leaving Cascadia's grand, high-ceilinged space after ten years and returning to the fold of the new Four Seasons at First & Union.
So, by the end of summer, Belltown's top three dinner houses will be g-gone. What will come in their place? The rent's too high for mid-range chains like Red Lobsters or Applebees...though not for dance clubs and lounges. With food costs skyrocketing and labor shortages climbing, it makes less sense than ever to fill the menu with $20 tuna tartare and $30 salmon en papillotte. But a super-premium cosmo for $15, shaken by a $10/hour bar dude with a dollar's worth of booze, that's a no-brainer.
Between Lampreia and Cascadia stands Del Rey, a Capitol-Hill-style lounge (dark inside, live music, tequila) with a line out the door. Could this be the future of Belltown? Or, indeed, of fine dining everywhere?
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I'm not sure if we'll see anything pop up in the place of Lampreia there any time soon. And I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the new business there isn't a restaurant.
I was a little panicked when I saw Lampreia was closing -- I ate two of the best meals I've had in Seattle there -- but as long as Carsberg is still going to have a restaurant that's probably OK.
Moving, not closing. Not closed! Agree with Troy, however, that its replacement probably won't be a restaurant. High-end, high-volume SOMETHING out of California, most likely.
Probably California.
I have yet to eat there, but I've talked with Scott. If his cuisine is anything like his personality, it'll be in your face, filled with raw energy, and full of jokes about my small penis.
I love eating small penis jokes! My favorite preparation is braised, although I'm also fond of roasted penis jokes with vinegar and shallots.
I understand 2nd and Broad is new contruction but that seems like a bad location as 2nd basically starts there and its at least several blocks from any other 2nd Ave attractions or first for that matter.
JWhieger,
You have a point there, but he and the restaurant already have a good reputation, so people will go out to the location. It's also able to grab Belltown, Lower Queen Anne and SLUnion folks.
So I think that because of all the recent development in that sector and it's surrounding areas, he should be fine.