Seattle’s restaurant scene is playing chess, not checkers. And the latest moves reveal what is actually thriving in this economy. Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh and editor Trevor Lenzmeier break down the openings focused on sandwiches and fast-casual small plates, while large format restaurants and fine dining spots are closing or pivoting.

Read more about openings, closures, and pivots in The Seattle Times:
 https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/why-5-seattle-area-restaurants-are-pivoting-or-closing-in-2025/ 
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/seabird-acclaimed-bainbridge-island-restaurant-will-close-next-month/ 
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/mamnoon-to-close-after-13-years-as-capitol-hills-levantine-restaurant/ 

Recommendations in this episode:
M Bar, South Lake Union
Beast and Cleaver, Ballard area
Communion, Central District
Fortuna Bottega, Greenwood/Phinney Ridge
Occhi Belli, Wallingford


Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this kind of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

Seattle&rsquo;s restaurant scene is playing chess, not checkers. And the latest moves reveal what is actually thriving in this economy. Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh and editor Trevor Lenzmeier break down the openings focused on sandwiches and fast-casual small plates, while large format restaurants and fine dining spots are closing or pivoting.
Read more about openings, closures, and pivots in The Seattle Times:
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/why-5-seattle-area-restaurants-are-pivoting-or-closing-in-2025/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/why-5-seattle-area-restaurants-are-pivoting-or-closing-in-2025/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/seabird-acclaimed-bainbridge-island-restaurant-will-close-next-month/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/seabird-acclaimed-bainbridge-island-restaurant-will-close-next-month/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/mamnoon-to-close-after-13-years-as-capitol-hills-levantine-restaurant/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/mamnoon-to-close-after-13-years-as-capitol-hills-levantine-restaurant/</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Recommendations in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">M Bar, South Lake Union</li>
<li aria-level="1">Beast and Cleaver, Ballard area</li>
<li aria-level="1">Communion, Central District</li>
<li aria-level="1">Fortuna Bottega, Greenwood/Phinney Ridge</li>
<li aria-level="1">Occhi Belli, Wallingford</li>
</ul>
 Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this kind of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at <a href="http://kuow.org/eats">kuow.org/eats</a> and <a href="http://seattletimes.com">seattletimes.com</a>.

Seattle is a buffet of great food... if you know where to look. Seattle Times journalist Tan Vinh invites listeners to the area's hottest restaurants, road-side food stalls and everywhere in between to find the best meals in the city and to meet the people who make them sing.

New episodes every Thursday.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes 

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network

 

Seattle is a buffet of great food... if you know where to look. Seattle Times journalist Tan Vinh invites listeners to the area's hottest restaurants, road-side food stalls and everywhere in between to find the best meals in the city and to meet the people who make them sing.
New episodes every Thursday.
<hr>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes">https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes</a>&nbsp;
Seattle Eats is a production of <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/">The Seattle Times</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/">KUOW</a>, part of the NPR Network
&nbsp;

Seattle Eats with Tan Vinh

 Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh and editor Trevor Lenzmeier break down the openings focused on sandwiches and fast-casual small plates and look at how large format restaurants and fine dining spots are closing or pivoting.

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