Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Nick Parisi of Highland Park plans to open the doors to Athena’s restaurant today at 11 am.
We first told you three months ago about the plan for the newly designed Greek-themed spot (across from Fire Station 11 at 16th and Holden, in the original home of Zippy’s Giant Burgers, now in White Center) will also be the brick and mortar commissary for Athena’s food truck [reported here by WSB].
The family’s new food truck carries on the food-stand circuit tradition begun by Nick’s father 30 years ago at countless Seattle events and festivals. It has been operating in the parking lot as a kind of soft run for the cuisine to be offered indoors and has had steady business, but this past weekend the busy festival season for the Athena truck began with a gig at the Mobile Food Rodeo in Fremont as well as a taco challenge. So the truck will no longer be around as the busy season begins and the sit-down Athena’s doors finally open.
As Nick took the paper off the windows last night, we chatted with him about the grand opening. In preparation for the big day, he had just started the first batch of three or four kinds of fresh gelato, and an employee had begun the slow caramelization of heaps of savory Walla Walla sweet onions, which Athena’s uses in everything from falafel sandwiches to traditional gyros with lamb and beef to food with vegetarian Field Roast (made by a Seattle-based company). Lighter fare includes a Greek salad and for libations, Nick will offer Schooner Exact on tap Tuesday, but with plans to add an additional option soon.
Most items are in the $6-$10 range and Nick says, for now, the new spot will be open until 8 every day until they figure out the best schedule.
The opening celebration will continue this weekend with live music courtesy of the band The Madelines; the exact time has not been set, but we’ll add it to the calendar as soon as we find out.
Find Athena’s on Facebook, here.
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