Maria Hines's Golden Beetle Opening Next Week in Ballard

Maria Hines's highly anticipated new Eastern Mediterranean restaurant, Golden Beetle, is set to open in Ballard next Friday, February 18. The newest spot from the James Beard Award-winning Tilth chef draws upon the cultures of Turkey, Greece, Israel, Egypt and Morocco, utilizing organic and seasonal ingredients from local purveyors. The name Golden Beetle is rooted in a celebrated 27-ingredient spice mixture from Morocco, ras-al-hanout, containing dried golden beetle, a Spanish fly considered to be an aphrodisiac. Along with Hines's Tilth, Golden Beetle received its organic certification from Oregon Tilth, making it the third restaurant in the nation to do so.

Lunch service slated to begin this spring will offer a casual experience with walk-up counter ordering, self seating and takeout reminiscent of the street food of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Those who have been following Hines on Twitter know she's been traveling the past few months to research the foods and cultures reflected at Golden Beetle.

Dinner service features elevated street food, drawing on the robust and earthy spices and flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean. Small plates include Skagit River Ranch Ground Beef Skewers with tamarind glaze, sultana and peanut sauce ($9), and small-game birds, lamb and rabbit are emphasized on the menu along with seafood and vegetarian items. Craft cocktails have been designed to complement the menu using house-made bitters and sodas with herbs and spices derived from the countries of influence. Belly up to the bar and order a Toronto to Cairo made with George Dickel Whiskey, Fernet Branca, house spice bitters and tamarind-lemon foam.

Yes, there is a happy hour—5 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight. There's also a late-night menu.

Golden Beetle is located at 1744 Northwest Market Street; you can see the website here. Seattlest is absolutely excited to see what Hines cooks up.