West Seattle restaurant news: Ama Ama announces it’s closing

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, added 11:37 pm)
Thanks to everybody who’s just sent us word of Ama Ama Oyster Bar and Grill‘s closure announcement. Last day: July 25th. It’s posted on the Ama Ama Facebook page, and this is what was sent to the Ama Ama mailing list:

Well, we are very sad to announce that Ama Ama will be closing its doors for good on Saturday, July 25th. Economic conditions, being what they are, have reluctantly forced our hand.

Thank you to all of our customers, from West Seattle and beyond, we truly enjoyed serving you and hope you enjoyed your time spent at Ama Ama. To all of our employees, both current and former, we thank you very much for your hard work and dedication. We are lucky to have had the chance to know and work with you all. Special thanks to our Chef, Jared Wentworth, whose menus are both creative and fantastically well executed. We are very proud he has been a part of our restaurant – we are now several pounds heavier because of him – but we will try not to hold that against him!

We hope you will come by in the coming week, have some oysters, a few drinks, say goodbye to the staff and fill up on Jared’s incredible food one last time. Thanks again, for your support and encouragement. We will miss coming to work at Ama Ama and miss seeing our West Seattle neighbors!

Rob Coburn
Paige Crandall
Co-Owners Ama Ama

Ama Ama opened in October 2007. Before that, Ovio Bistro had been there (following its move from the location further north on California where Beato closed last year); previous incarnations included Guppy’s and a national-chain pizza parlor.

93 Replies to "West Seattle restaurant news: Ama Ama announces it's closing"

  • OP July 19, 2009 (9:59 pm)

    Can Shadowland, Spring Hill and others be far behind?

  • Rick C July 19, 2009 (10:00 pm)

    Sorry to hear this, you guys rock. We don’t have enough real gastro-destinations in West Seattle. You will be missed!

  • RogerTango July 19, 2009 (10:04 pm)

    Too bad; restauranting is a tough biz; these folks were OK. In any other economy I bet they’d be doing fine. We hope their employees get good gigs elsewhere soon!

  • E July 19, 2009 (10:12 pm)

    What are they going to do with all of that great furniture?

  • BB July 19, 2009 (10:21 pm)

    bummer… I really thought after the menu change it would work out. What is it with that space?

  • Living in West Seattle since 1985 July 19, 2009 (10:24 pm)

    oh dear . . . I am sorry about the sad news . . . best of luck to all of you!

  • CD July 19, 2009 (10:29 pm)

    This makes me sad. I really liked Ama Ama.
    I hate to see these good restaurants in west Seattle going out of business. Clearly I need to eat out more

  • lg July 19, 2009 (10:31 pm)

    very sad, indeed. the decor is so great. I love the seats up by the windows and delicious food.

  • Admiral Lady July 19, 2009 (10:33 pm)

    This sucks… Ama Ama was a great place, with a fun vibe – great food, drinks, decor, etc…

  • Cami July 19, 2009 (10:37 pm)

    Bummer! We just enjoyed a great meal there during the street fair!

  • Evan July 19, 2009 (10:39 pm)

    SUCKS. All my favorite restaurants are closing…Moxie, Saito’s, now Ama Ama…sigh.

  • d July 19, 2009 (10:40 pm)

    Good bye amazingly rich grits.
    Good bye cafe vita in the cute French press at the table by the window.
    Good bye copius reds and oysters.
    Good bye and good luck to all the Ama Ama folks. What an unexpected and darn shame.

  • Doug July 19, 2009 (10:46 pm)

    I spent many a night after work enjoying the happy hour oysters and wine. We will surely miss this place.. great vibe, great staff, great food. It really is a shame that restaurants never seem to work in this location. I liked it even better than Ovio.. especially the old movies playing over the bar. Best of luck to the staff.

  • CS July 19, 2009 (10:56 pm)

    I’m not surprised. To be honest, their food just wasn’t that good. In these economic times, you have to be spot on or you’re going to go under. Best wishes to those looking for new work.

  • k July 19, 2009 (11:04 pm)

    sad for west seattle. i always thought they were struggling to find their niche. it’s tough out there right now for restaurants and small businesses of any kind. i wish them the best.

  • WTF July 19, 2009 (11:26 pm)

    Damn! Sorry guys. :O( Loved your fries. I’m wondering if that place is (truly) cursed?

  • Kris July 20, 2009 (12:04 am)

    I’m going to miss their mussels most of all. Damn. This was the only restaurant I regularly frequented during this down economy because I so wanted them to be able to stay open. I loved, loved, loved this restaurant.

  • Stanley July 20, 2009 (3:17 am)

    Good to see fellow West Seattlers have some taste.

    I don’t think spring hill is next – they actually have a chef and you know… know how to do this thing that some restaurants think is important – MAKE FOOD?

    The day a good restaurant closes I will be sad, I am not sad today. Lousy food, lousy service. Here’s hoping something good takes their spot.

  • George July 20, 2009 (6:36 am)

    Ama Ama has amazingly adventurous and wonderful food. Great specials, wines, and ambiance. I wish the staff nothing but the best. Poster Stanley, you sad, petty, lonely little man: shame on you and you lack of civility and decency.

  • Admiral Janeway July 20, 2009 (6:50 am)

    I wasn’t a regular customer, but I’m going to miss this place. We always had a fine meal and enjoyed good service. Good luck to the Ama Ama staff.

  • shell July 20, 2009 (7:04 am)

    This is so sad. I hope the best for the owners and staff …. I will come in this week to give you business one last time. I am so sorry for this…

  • coffee July 20, 2009 (7:14 am)

    I am sorry to hear that another independent small owned business in West Seattle is closing. Just another reminder, we need to support our small businesses even more than ever. Skip the chains stay local!

  • mom3 July 20, 2009 (7:39 am)

    LOved the old menu = when it changed so did the soul of the place. Who would ever get rid of those incredible crab sliders and flank steak sliders on bakery nouveau buns – they lost us after that move.
    Im sorry to see it go b/c the curse of that location is intact. It would be great to have a wood fired pizza place with great salads etc – Tutta Bella?

  • rockergirl July 20, 2009 (7:47 am)

    WOW – loved this place and am sad to hear it is closing. Excellent food everytime we visited. Best of luck to all who are involved.

  • Aim July 20, 2009 (8:07 am)

    “LOved the old menu = when it changed so did the soul of the place. Who would ever get rid of those incredible crab sliders and flank steak sliders on bakery nouveau buns – they lost us after that move.”

    YES. THIS.
    The old menu was AMAZING, the new one meh. However, brunch was fabulous under the new chef. New brunch menu + old dinner menu would have been a winning combo.

  • PlaneGuy July 20, 2009 (8:14 am)

    Guess they won’t be needing to fill this position, eh?

    http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fbh/1262073715.html

  • David July 20, 2009 (8:15 am)

    So sad! My wife and I went there for the first time last week! Ama Ama was GREAT! Great food, nice people!

  • Christopher Boffoli July 20, 2009 (8:33 am)

    I met owners Rob and Paige last autumn when they hosted a collection of my photographs for the Art Walk. They were both very cool people…kind, supportive, flexible. They couldn’t have been easier to work with. By that time I had been in their restaurant on several occasions and had many good meals there.
    .
    I agree with the comments of some others about the menu. I think the chef was trying to keep things evolving. But there were some perfect dishes that were worth making permanent items that should not have gone away. For a while they were doing this oxtail mac and cheese that was more like a creamy pasta with oxtail ragu. There was also a dish of truffled potatoes with duck confit topped with a perfectly cooked duck egg that almost made me join a 12 step program to deal with my addition to it because it was so good. There was a brilliantly conceived curried cauliflower with lentils that was very nice too. And a grilled baby octopus that was perfectly cooked.
    .
    In the end it was a big space with high rent that must have been a challenge to keep filled. I know the owners and their chef will go on to bigger and better things because they are all very talented people. Thanks for a great run.

  • Andre July 20, 2009 (8:38 am)

    I’m also very sad to see them close. We spent a lot of Sunday mornings at Ama Ama enjoying their Brunch.
    The menu change also bothered us as it removed a lot of items that made this place so unique (Strada, Brioche bun filled with mascarpone, ….). That said, we thought the quality of the new Brunch items was great (the Duck dish was killer!) and continued to go.
    Great food, great staff, that one certainly hurts…

  • DB July 20, 2009 (9:00 am)

    I am sorry to see them go….and I also loved Ovio Bistro- but I think perhaps a new incarnation of Guppy’s is in order! It was a shame they were forced out in the first place.

  • MH July 20, 2009 (9:03 am)

    I gave Ama Ama three tries, and had terrible service. I never went back. I spent my money instead on those restaurants in W. Seattle that have good food AND good service, and I hope they continue to thrive!

  • JenV July 20, 2009 (9:24 am)

    it’s the curse of Godfathers! No one can make a go of that location. Sorry to hear about Ama Ama. Restaurants are tough to make a go of it, and I know how much heart and soul goes into it. This can’t be easy for the owners.

  • sam July 20, 2009 (9:34 am)

    reading all these descriptions, my mouth is watering and I’m sorry I haven’t made it there… (never seemed like the right place to bring infant and babysitters are not in the budget these days)

    but it makes me wonder.. Ama Ama always looked busy and crowded, but the Thai place next door/ nearby always looks mostly empty and they are still in business ? how does that work?

  • WhatsNext July 20, 2009 (9:37 am)

    WSB, or anyone else, is there any word yet on who is going in to that space next?

  • Mike in the Junction July 20, 2009 (9:45 am)

    I am sad for the employees and I do not like to see more empty spaces in my area, but as a person in the industry that frequents many of these establishments- I was a bit suprised they made it this long. The food was adequate and the service was slow and spotty-and it never seemed very busy. Good luck to their people.

  • squareeyes July 20, 2009 (9:56 am)

    Oh man…best mussels in town, and the poutine?!? to die for. The new menu was creative and great. It gave me an opportunity to sample a few ingredients I had never tried before. Ama Ama, I loved sitting at your bar and will miss you.
    WSB – will you tell us where the chef lands so we can follow him?

  • CA July 20, 2009 (10:30 am)

    So sad where else will you get 75cents oysters!! I have to admit a lot of other things weren’t that great and over priced. But great amibiance though! Seems no one can keep that space!!

  • Jon July 20, 2009 (10:32 am)

    I have to believe the parking situation at that end of the Junction contributed to the demise of this and other restaurants on that corner. At the other end, Jaks and Garlic Jim’s and the other eateries benefit from a large parking area immediately behind them. Ama Ama needed that kind of long-term parking option for its customers, too, as will any successor in that location.

  • rnl July 20, 2009 (10:47 am)

    We Need to have Paseo’s open a West Seattle location!

  • austin July 20, 2009 (10:56 am)

    There’s a big free parking lot behind puerto vallarta, across the street and less than half a block away.

  • WSB July 20, 2009 (10:56 am)

    WhatsNext, we are looking into that and have not found anything yet. Will post a separate update once we do. – TR

  • margaritaville July 20, 2009 (10:57 am)

    Sad. Goes to show even restuarants need to serve bread and water to survive.

  • Keith July 20, 2009 (10:57 am)

    What a bummer. I was a big fan, especially loved their great happy hours and brunch. Hope another independent business with as much creativity, charm, and quality takes that space. Even then, Ama Ama will be missed.

  • WSB July 20, 2009 (11:17 am)

    Small update: The owner of that site just told me any info on what’s coming next would have to come from Ama Ama at this point, as they “still (have) a lease.” We sent a request for comment last night when this news first broke – TR

  • onceachef July 20, 2009 (11:22 am)

    As the restaurant adage goes, “location, location, location”…this one is somewhat cursed and it’s getting harder and harder to park in WS, even in the free parking lots. If AA was hoping to get people from outside WS that’s a big concern…someone not from here wouldn’t necesarily know about the lots behind the buildings.
    I have to say I’d give it mixed reviews anyway…from the ambiance to the music choices, to the service and execution of the menu it never seemed to gel. That’s not to say it was all bad either…just didn’t quite come together (for me)….the oyster bar was good, though, but you’re not going to make it on that alone. It’ll be interesting to see what comes into that space.

  • christopherboffoli July 20, 2009 (11:41 am)

    austin: Your point in response to Jon is well taken. Maybe it’s not that we need more parking lots but instead need to reset people’s expectation of always parking within 30 feet of their destination. There is nothing wrong with walking a few blocks.

  • jeff July 20, 2009 (11:47 am)

    For about a year now, every time something closes or fails, the “economy” is blamed, or the “frozen” credit markets, etc.

    New restaurants go under in good times and bad. A restaurant succeeding is a product of a bit of skill and a bit of luck.

    I liked Ama-Ama. A restaurant can do everything right, and just not get the buzz or the magic, and close.

    On the other side of it, we all know some restaurants that seem to suck and yet survive year after year, decade after decade.

    The blaming of the “economy” is starting to get old.

  • hopey July 20, 2009 (12:11 pm)

    This explains why, on Friday night, they didn’t seem to care too much that the air conditioning was broken. No point in fixing it if you’re closing soon anyway.

  • furryfaces July 20, 2009 (12:14 pm)

    Paige and Rob,

    Thank you for providing us with such a lovely restaurant, elegant atmosphere. My friend and I had already planned on having dinner there tomorrow night and now it means so much more.

    Lastly, for supporting Furry Faces Foundation. The two of you were always very generous and in doing so, helped a lot of people be able to keep their pets well fed and healthy. Hugs,

  • jiggers July 20, 2009 (12:36 pm)

    Recession,recession,recession. No one has money to go out on anymore. I’m surprised that El Gaucho and the other high end restaurants are still in biz. Except for Oceanaire of course.

  • I had heard July 20, 2009 (1:01 pm)

    People still eat out plenty…just go and check out Cactus or Pegasus on Alki Fri night, or Circa Sunday brunch. Restaurants fail ALL the time for a long variety of reasons. Why did the previous bar close (was at height of economic boom and it was popular), why did Godfathers close before that? I like Circa, but they took over for a previous restaurant at that location, so did Celtic Swell and Bamboo Bar & Grill…both took over previous food joints. It’s just the nature of the business. 50% of all restaurants fail in the first 2 years. You have better luck in Vegas. You open a restaurant for love, not business sense. ;-)

  • I had heard July 20, 2009 (1:05 pm)

    Remember Pegasus took over Coyote Bar & Grill, which took over from some french restaurant, which took over for the Lighthouse Grill, which took over the spot from The Point…that’s just ONE location in 6 years!

  • I had heard July 20, 2009 (1:10 pm)

    And whatever happened to The Homestead? Super popular, ALWAYS a loyal crowd, since the “fire”, no plan to even reopen now. I expect an apartment or condo building on that side within 5 years once the owners decide, golly it’s just “too damaged” (after years of neglect) to fix up. Remember the Twin Teepees’s on Aurora? Same exact thing. Lets see, they had a “fire”. Then the building sat vacant for a few years. The owner then said they couldn’t afford to fix it up and it’s too neglected now, and then bulldozed in the middle of the night without the city knowing and threw up a cheap apartment building. Hmmmm. That might explain why there was a HUGE fight and dust up over just putting up a $40 blue tarp on the roof for weeks after a fire tore a hole in the roof (like any private home owner would do in 24 hours).

  • katemca July 20, 2009 (1:11 pm)

    After our last trip there for a late-night happy hour I’m not really surprised- it was empty in there. I am, however, soooo sad to see this place go! Back to having to travel downtown for good oysters on the half shell. :(

  • christopherboffoli July 20, 2009 (1:14 pm)

    I had heard: Actually, I was just doing research for an upcoming restaurant piece for the WSB and the most recent study I found indicates that about 1 in 4 restaurants (25%) will close or change ownership within their first year of business. Over a three year span that number rises to 3 in 5 (about 60%). Those statistics are generally in line with the failure rates for small businesses.

  • kevin July 20, 2009 (1:29 pm)

    Nooooooooooooo! After Beato closed we had to find a new haunt for delicious food. We were thrilled to discover Ama Ama had a new chef and delicious vittles. Now that too has been taken away. This is a sad moment in West Seattle gastronomic history. Sadly we’re left with the outreagously overrated Spring Hill. RIP Ama Ama. Your oysters, burgers, fries, and friendly staff will be greatly missed!

  • Jiggers July 20, 2009 (1:35 pm)

    Also there is a lot of restaurant competetion in W.S. now. If you don’t go out of your way and give 110%, you’ll likely not get returned business. A lot of owners take it for granted that you’ll come back. A lot of people who open up a restaurant/bar shouldn’t even be in that business in the first place.

  • Barb July 20, 2009 (1:41 pm)

    I really hope they put something in that will succeed. I bet if someone opened a place like Vios at the WS Junction it would do amazing. Vios (http://www.vioscafe.com) has good food and drink and caters to families with kids. Even has a big play area for the kids.

    Very few places in the area are kid welcoming. You are lucky if you find a place with high chairs…changing tables are a rarity. What Vios has is above and beyond but it ain’t a gross Chucky Cheese(Red Robin, etc.) type place. It is somewhere people without kids could go and have a really good time. All of the WSJ young hipster parents are dying for a good place to go with kids. I suggest someone study how Vios did it. I will drive across town to go there.

  • foodie July 20, 2009 (1:46 pm)

    It is always sad to see a local small business fail. However, I’m not overly surprised that this one did. While yes, the menu was creative, the food was not always consistent. It is important to create regulars in the food service industry and if your food isn’t consistent your clientele won’t be either. That being said, I always received good service at Ama Ama.

    The place I can’t believe is still open is Springhill. Yes, the food is very good, maybe great, but the service is horrible. I’ve been twice. The first time the service was so bad I emailed a complaint. I went back because the food was so good. But the second time was even worse service than the first. Too many options to pay $$$$ for terrible service.

  • Sue July 20, 2009 (1:48 pm)

    I’m sorry to hear this, although count me among the list of people who they lost when they changed the menu. I tried it once after the menu change and just wasn’t impressed enough to spend that much and continue going. But I’m sorry to see any local business be forced to close.

  • Jen July 20, 2009 (1:51 pm)

    Oh my god, I totally agree that a place like Vios would be constantly packed. Have you looked around the Junction lately? So many urban hipster 30 & 40 som’s with strollers.

    W5 does not even have high chairs let alone anywhere to change a diaper…. I love that place (and Dean and Dave) but that sends a message.

    Some other places are a little more kid welcoming esp. the new Zeeks down in Morgan Junction but a place like Vios would be excellent! I want a cool atmosphere, good food and DRINK, and a kid play area in back. The Guppy / Ovio / Ama Ama space would be perfect.

  • sam July 20, 2009 (2:24 pm)

    I second Barb. WS needs a place like Vios. the food is amazing. the atmosphere is great, and it is welcoming to kids.
    I love Vios- we had our rehearsal dinner there.

  • Kurt July 20, 2009 (2:33 pm)

    Great food, nice atmosphere, but terrible service. I went there once and the service was extremely slow. The whole time our waitress was socializing with the bartender and ignoring us. I never went back. There are too many other good restaurants in Seattle.

  • Liberty Bell July 20, 2009 (2:48 pm)

    Rob & Paige,
    I am very sad to hear this news. You were an asset to the Junction and were always a pleasure to work with. I will miss the Friday Menu printing sessions!! You are awesome and I wish you the absolute best. I know how hard it is out there, sorry you are a victim to the economy.

    Michael

  • Under_Achiever July 20, 2009 (3:11 pm)

    Not to pile on, but…
    .
    Our first experience at AMA AMA was about a month after they opened — we sat at the bar and were absolutely ignored for 15 minutes until I politely asked for cocktails. Bartender’s response was, “Sorry, didn’t see you sitting there”. I’m 6’3″ tall and difficult not to see. The House comp’d not one but two rounds of drinks for us that night as service was at a slug’s pace. The house was not slammed, either.
    .
    Second and third experiences showed no improvement in service but we liked the menu. Problem is, we like the menu at many West Seattle eatin’ establishments as well or better. We so much wanted our overall dining experience at AMA AMA to be fulfilling. But, not so. Too many foodie choices on our fair peninsula to invite and pay for disappointment.
    .
    I hate to see any business close. Savings are lost, lives are disrupted, families stressed. I wish the very best to all invested and employed at AMA AMA.

  • grr July 20, 2009 (3:15 pm)

    yeah…ya can’t blame EVERYTHING on the economy. The resturaunt biz is BRUTAL..no doubt about it. Total crap shoot.

    –And, I can’t even imagine want the rent on that big of a space is. Hey..I know..maybe Trader Joes can go in there…

    I’m going to have to do a lot of consoling to mrs. grr…She loved her happy-hour oysters.

  • grr July 20, 2009 (3:24 pm)

    hmmm..a scaled back, but fully stocked TJ’s..with a lunch/dinner menu….hmmmm…

  • WSB July 20, 2009 (3:26 pm)

    Seriously – parking would be a problem. From all accounts, TJ’s has very specific requirements re: parking. And I just interviewed the owner of the building that Ama Ama’s in, Leon Capelouto, regarding his soon-to-open Capco Plaza/Altamira Apts development nearby (watch for that story within an hour) – he isn’t planning on starting any NEW buildings any time soon, he told me … TR

  • Kelly July 20, 2009 (3:26 pm)

    I have never been to Vios, but it sounds fantastic!!! What a great suggestion for that space. It would be great to have a nice restaurant that welcomes kids in West Seattle!

  • Snappertuna July 20, 2009 (3:30 pm)

    I ate there once and was struck by the sheer size of the place. I remember wonering if they ever filled up. Guess I know the answer now.

    Anyway, the time I went, the food was pretty good, although I don’t remember being overly impressed. I do remember them seating a large, noisy party right next to my girlfriend and I at a time when there were plenty of other tables available that would have been less intrusive. C’est la vie.

    I think Linda Derschang should open a joint in West Seattle. She seems to have a knack for success in moribund, so-called “cursed” locations.

  • Phil July 20, 2009 (3:35 pm)

    I found this place by chance one night. I came to enjoy and would bring friends to enjoy the atmosphere. We always had a great experience. Thanks Paige!

  • Dreamland July 20, 2009 (3:50 pm)

    Sure wish I had some kind of partnership in which I could open a resto with some upscale downhome (You read right.) food. Southern yumminess but use as much local ingredients as possible. Except when it comes to key lime pie and banana pudding and coconut cake, and YES, I would have those things. And I’d put it in that space!

  • Gina July 20, 2009 (3:52 pm)

    If Charlestown Cafe had to relocate, might be a good spot for them.

  • dr July 20, 2009 (4:38 pm)

    Unfortunate, but not tragic, as others have noted. Seems like it could have worked in a space a half or third of Ama Ama’s size, with a smaller (and more attentive, judging by others’ comments) staff. They misread the market. Hopefully the next entreprepenur there will get it right. The Junction needs another family-friendly restaurant. Vios sounds like a good candidate.

  • Catherine :o) July 20, 2009 (4:48 pm)

    It’s always sad to see a business fail, as the owners depend on it for their livelihood. The location seems cursed. Whenever a new business pops up in this location, I feel sad for the owners, knowing it probably won’t be around for long. It would be nice if a business could convince me otherwise :o)

  • Mike July 20, 2009 (9:13 pm)

    “We Need to have Paseo’s open a West Seattle location!”

    HELLLLL YES! Please!

  • mom3 July 20, 2009 (9:28 pm)

    hell no on the relocated Charlestown Cafe – I will not spend 40 bucks on a mediocre breakfast for 3.
    hell yes on Vios and if you havent been – worth checking out asap – please VIOS add a west seattle location or agree on Paseo – best sandich in seattle – hands down

  • Meghan July 20, 2009 (9:48 pm)

    Too bad. They were not that great at first, but really improved, especially with the new chef and menu. In my opinion, West Seattle needs 3 types of restaurants: 1) affordable sushi (e.g. Blue C or the like); what we have now is great, but very expensive; 2) Neopolitan pizza (Via Tribunali or the like; all we have now is thick pizza); and 3) a good Vietnamese restaurant; all we have now is basic pho. I just hope we don’t get yet another “pub”. There are alread so many of those with the same basic menu.

  • Keith July 20, 2009 (10:06 pm)

    There are plenty of ‘family-friendly’ restaurants in the Junction. The problem is, there are too few ‘restaurant-friendly’ families.

  • Mike July 20, 2009 (11:02 pm)

    “affordable sushi (e.g. Blue C or the like)”

    Grocery stores have that, there are NO expensive sushi places in West Seattle.

  • WSB July 20, 2009 (11:06 pm)

    We’re rather partial to Azuma Sushi ourselves … certainly not expensive.

  • Sandy July 20, 2009 (11:14 pm)

    Perhaps a Sushiland type place, it is big enough. I think a place like a Geraldine’s Diner could also have a shot.

    Very frequently a wait for the Elliot Bay Brew Pub, lots of people are looking for good food at more moderate prices these days.

  • LeroniusMonkFish July 21, 2009 (12:59 am)

    Zippy’s could probably expand on their current menu and inhabit this spot?

  • dawsonct July 21, 2009 (11:17 am)

    Please dreamland, don’t put upscale and downhome in the same sentence. Pretty much ALL Southern food worth eating was created using inexpensive, readily available ingredients. Collards, grits, catfish, etc. are delicious, inexpensive, and readily available. Though some foods indigenous to Southern cuisine are usually unavailable in the N.W., most meat and produce needs could be easily met. Even if I were to use only the best grits available, such as Adluh, Carolina Plantation, or Anson Mills, we’re talking about cheap food created by poor people, so take yer ‘upscale’ and… well, you know.

    But yeah, a great Southern foods restaurant WOULD be awesome. I want whole-hog ‘Q and Carolina-style sauces.

  • dawsonct July 21, 2009 (11:36 am)

    It is a very large restaurant with a HUGE prep kitchen. Unless the place is completely gutted and reconfigured by the next tenant, they would be well advised to put the back kitchen into full use and do as much production in-house as possible.

    I think Paige and Rob own most of the decor, so what isn’t nailed down will go with them. I hope they didn’t lose their shirts and need to sell their assets, they had a lot of cool stuff in that place. Hopefully, when things smooth out a bit, they can open that intimate “oyster shack”-style bar which was their initial idea. Now was not the time to overreach, but the place was a pretty good idea, and the menu had definitely matured and focused when the new chef came aboard.

  • Aardvark July 21, 2009 (7:46 pm)

    I BLAME REPUBLICANS!

  • dawsonct July 22, 2009 (12:24 pm)

    Why not? They screw up everyting else trying to stuff us all into a time machine back to the Fifties.

  • curtis July 23, 2009 (6:28 pm)

    Sorry they are closing – I visited several times, had wonderful food and the service was always spot on. The cocktails were also great and watching movies like North By Northwest with a fabulous dinner was such a treat. I hope everyone invloved does well in the future.

  • Corey July 24, 2009 (4:11 pm)

    We are heartbroken. Recently we had one of the best meals ever at Ama Ama. What started as a shaky, average joint grew to a warm, inviting restaurant with one of the best menus in Seattle. Fantastic decor. Crazy movies at the bar. We will miss you dearly.

  • dawsonct July 25, 2009 (1:51 am)

    What the heck was wrong with me Tuesday morning!? Could I have possibly jammed the word ‘available’ more often into my 11:17 A.M. post?

    Sorry folks, I’ll remember to proofread in the fyuchir.

  • Mike Alvarado August 11, 2009 (4:25 pm)

    Uh,I thought you were going to mail your employee’s their last checks? Guess not.Thanks.

  • Mike Alvarado August 12, 2009 (2:40 pm)

    I must apopoligize to Rob and Paige. I did recieve my check. Bettere late then never. Thank you for being stand up folks and I wish you the best of luck. Cheers.

  • Beto August 13, 2009 (8:48 am)

    I sure will miss Ama Ama but I also miss having a gay bar in West Seattle. I miss Guppy’s….to all those guys with deep pockets, please bring back a gay neighborhood bar to West Seattle!!!

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