Food & Wine magazine Names "America's Best Bars": Tavern Law on the List

Thank you to Food & Wine magazine for including us on your list of the country' best bars:  http://bit.ly/ucHK7b

The story describes us, "From the duo behind the gastropub Spur, Tavern Law has classic cocktails, lots of whiskeys and fancy bar snacks like oxtail banh mi sandwiches. Through a heavy vault door is Needle & Thread, an upstairs bar where drinks are custom-made."

We're honored Food & Wine. Thank you.

Tavern Law's Chef/Owners Dana Tough and Brian McCracken Named "Chef of the Year, Seattle" by Eater

What news! Eater has named our Chefs, Brian McCracken and Dana Tough, as "Chef of the Year, Seattle". The announcement read:

"In over 50 categories spanning thirteen cities, the winners comprise a diverse bunch of the finest and most interesting chefs, operators, and characters in the country. We applaud them. You are hereby instructed to applaud them".

The entire story can be read here.

Thank you to Eater's editors and all of you who also voted. We're humbled and so look forward to seeing you at Spur, Tavern Law and The Coterie Room soon.

12th Avenue Neighborhood Festival on Sunday

Seattle Met reports, "Ever looked at 12th Avenue on Capitol Hill and seen just one long smorgasbord? That’s exactly what it becomes from noon–6pm on Sunday, August 14.
It’s the second annual 12th Avenue Neighborhood Festival, and more than 32 food and retail vendors plan to open their doors or set up tents on 12th Avenue between Madison and Pike Streets...Tavern Law is flying by the seat of its pants, serving ice cream they won’t create until the day before the fest. It will all depend on what inspires the chefs on Saturday night, so we have our fingers crossed for tequila-flavored gelato."

We'll surprise you with a delicious ice cream Sudnay, so come by to say hello.

Click blog title above to read Seattle Met article.

Tavern Law Tip from Kathy Casey in the Wall Street Journal

In the Wall Street Journal, locals like Dale Chihuly, Howard Schultz and Kathy Casey were tapped for tips on the Insider's Guide to Seattle. WHAT MAKES THE EMERALD CITY SHINE? "The Foodie Seattle-based chef, restaurant consultant and cookbook author," Casey suggests: "Secret Sipping: Needle & Thread (upstairs at Tavern Law). When you enter, head towards the bank vault door, pick up the old-fashioned wall phone and ask for a seat. If lucky, head upstairs to this sexy speakeasy, where the bartender will craft you a custom cocktail. Just name your spirit and how you like it. 1406 12th Ave., tavernlaw.com"

Click blog title above to read all about the City's don't miss spots.

Thank you Kathy and the Wall Street Journal.

The List is Out: Best Bars 2011: 10 Top Seattle Bars Right Now

The Best Bars of 2011? And Tavern Law plus our little upstairs spot made the list!

Seattle Met mag wrote, "Tavern Law attracts a comely crowd that sips expertly wrought flips, slings, sours, and punches while snacking on small plates (foie gras, fried oysters) rich enough to hold up against those potent pre-Prohibition potables. But the real magic is upstairs at Needle and Thread, the bar’s second-level spirits sanctuary. Lined with artisan bottles and sepia-toned nudie photos, this 30-seat “speakeasy” benefits from the undivided attention of one silk-vested, mustachioed barman who crafts each drink to order. (There’s no menu, so prepare for a conversation). Tavern Law, 1406 12th Ave, Capitol Hill, 206-322-9734; tavernlaw.com"

Photo of The Last Word by Ryan McVay for Seattle Met. Thank you Seattle Met!

Tavern Law’s Needle & Thread Makes Worth Magazine’s “Elite List of the Top Ten (Secret) Hot Spots” in the World

The Top Ten. Claire Willett’s article in the February - March issue of Worth magazine begins, “Walt Disney holed away with Hollywood bigwigs at Club 33. Parisian cinephiles built a cinema beneath the Trocadéro. International artists create forever hidden work in abandoned New York subway tunnels. Man’s fascination with the clandestine is strong. Today, secret places are more likely to be luxe and exclusive than dangerous or debauched. The following 10 have the additional bonus—and challenge—of being rather difficult to find. Something hidden this way lies..."

From London to South America, Sydney to Hong Kong, and straight to us here in Seattle— check out this great story on where to travel around the globe for a bit of hidden pleasure.

Thank you Bob Peterson for the wonderful photo of Tavern Law’s not-so-secret main bar and to Worth magazine for deeming us worthy of the list.

Tavern Law's Nathan Weber: Answers 5 Questions from Seattle Met Mag

Jess Voelker interviewed Weber for today's "Five Questions for the Bartender" feature while photographer Anne Dixon snuck in to snap this portrait.

The mag writes, "Weber brought his impressive resume—which includes stints at San Fran’s Washington Square Bar and Grill and Solstice Restaurant and Lounge—to the cocktail bar on Capitol Hill, and the rest was history.

“I worked with old masters of bartending, who instilled a very old-school approach in me. Working at industry hangout Solstice, Weber met heavy weights like Neyah White and Dominic Venegas. “Spending time with great bartenders really advanced my understanding of building craft cocktails,” he says.

But it was the late, great Neil Riofski who inspired him to be a bartender in the first place. “I watched him and I thought, ‘I want to learn how to do that.’""

Click on blog title above to read the entire story by Seattle Metropolitan magazine. Thank you Jess!

2011 Must Drink List: Tavern Law Honored to Make Seattleites' List

The kind editors over at Seattleite let us know that the cocktails here at Tavern Law are some of the City's best. In fact, Ian Cargil's Monical drink has made the list of the five best.

They write, "Try these top five sip sensations the next time you hit the town. The colder weather calls for this surprising sipper. The drink begins with a firm earthy and peaty taste from the Ardbeg Scotch (cited on its web site as “perhaps the most peaty malt whiskey in the world”) and slowly changes flavor gears to a semi-sweet apple for the finish. An excellent starter drink for those looking to enter the world of scotch."

To take a tour of all five drinks, and to see the recipe for Ian's Monical, click on link above.

Thank you Seattleite.