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1. lfrillman
   Member Profile

   Once in a great while, you find a place that makes a difference in your life, the life of your neighbors and friends, in the life of our community.

   Phoenicia is such a place.

   Hussein Khazaal, owner, unexpectedly passed away August 8, 2009. Carol & I were driving by our favorite Alki restaurant, saw the sign and flowers, read the notice, and were shocked and saddened to hear of our friend Hussein's passing.

   And friend he was. For every customer, he always had "something special for you". The food was always delicious and as special as Hussein described.

   But it really wasn’t the food that was the attraction. It was Hussein himself. You know how you feel when you meet someone that you know is special? That is, a person you know has wisdom and grace? And, most importantly, fills you with some slice of the knowledge of life before you leave?

   Hussein was such a man. His warmth and good spirit radiated and filled Phoenicia. Phoenicia was him, he was Phoenicia.

   Phoenicia's Back.

   Last nite, we ventured to Phoenicia to see who had opened our favorite Alki haunt. We were thrilled, excited, and joyous to see the Khaazal family in the center of the action, welcoming customer after customer, many of them, and us, shedding a tear for Hussein, and celebrating the reopening of Alki's newest oldest most favorite place.

   The food is fantastic; the place is redecorated and really beautiful. But, as before, it is Inaam, Sonya, William, and Nadia Khazaal who have instilled the Khazaal love in Phoenicia.

   So, if you are wondering where to go for a special event, or where to go on a night you don’t feel like cooking, or you just want a nice meal surrounded by nice people, go to Phoenicia.

   They will fix something special for you.

   Lou & Carol Frillman

   Posted 2 years ago #         

2. johnnyblegs
   Member Profile

   

   I was there on Thursday with my grandmother and wife and have been meaning to post a big RAVE. They did a great job redecorating the space, making it very intimate and cozy. We were welcomed like part of the family (as usual). The new chef is very talented. We had the 39 spice beef with mushrooms, caprese salad with buffalo mozzarella, spicy habanero prawns, two of their delicious pizzas and banana fosters for dessert. There was not a scrap of food left on our plates.
   I know Hussein is proud of them while looking down on the family.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

3. Jo
   Member Profile

   Oh, yum!
   What are the prices like?

   Posted 2 years ago #         

4. johnnyblegs
   Member Profile

   

   Very affordable. The pizzas are $14, small plates run 6 - $9. Specials on the chalk board are a little more, $18 + Everything was well worth the price. BTW: the pizzas are to die for! So good. Topped with Zoe's meats and other deliciousness.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

5. yumpears
   Member Profile

   I have been twice since they reopened - it is awesome. Definitely a treat, but not just for special occasions. I took my kids last night - the cheese plate and pizzas are a hit!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

6. grr
   Member Profile

   Indeed..the new Phonecia is an honorable tribute to Hussein, as well as a bold, new take on the family recipies, and a more 'everyday dining destination'.
   -
   In speaking with the owners, the outpouring of love and letters after Hussien's passing was truly moving. They cherished the thought that Phoneica was that place where people came 'for something special on a special occasion'.
   -
   The fiscal realities of that, however, well..are realities. I think the family has done an AMAZING job keeping the place 'special', but also making it a more casual, come-hang-out-with-us' kinda vibey place. It's just what Alki needed, and we'll be there often.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

7. hollyplace
   Member Profile

   

   I finally made it to the "New Phonecia". It was sad and wonderful at the same time. It was very different but in the nicest possible way. I had hoped to see the curry on the menu, maybe a different day? The food we did have was delish. The squash pizza with dolce gorgonzola was amazing. The cheese plate with the fig jam also great and the salad with the candied nuts was perfection. I am so happy it has reopened under the care of the family. I have so many wonderful memories from times spent there. I laughed to myself when I noticed how busy it was when I remembered back to the big snow storm when the restaurant filled up and Hussien wasn't staffed for it so he just locked the doors and took care of all of us that were lucky enough to get a seat.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

8. afrikando
   Member Profile

   i had my second recent dinner at phoenecia last night and had to share my continuing rave about this lovely restaurant. the small plates we enjoyed: fiery prawns, the trio (a must!), and the garlic green beans. then we had the green salad and two pizzas---the squash and the phoenecian. with our bottle of wine, it was really the perfect dinner. the family was warm and welcoming and made us feel like returning friends. i just can't get enough of phoenecia--please try it!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

9. guidosmom
   Member Profile

   

   YUM YUM YUM! I went over the weekend with Afrikando. Everything was amazing! The service was superb. I have been craving the squash pizza ever since. HUGE Rave to the Phoenicia!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

10. cathyjaramillo
    Member Profile

    My husband and I went to Phoencia last night for the first time since it opened. We were going for the small plates, but ended up with Leg of Lamb and Sable fish. Both of these dishes were AMAZING. Its been a long time since we've had such a great meal in West Seattle, and we've eaten at almost every restaurant in the area. It was a little pricey, but every bite was worth it and I'd do it again. Everyone in WS should go there immediately. When the rest of Seattle figures out how good there food is, we'll never get in.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

11. Buddy
    Member Profile

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Phoencia and the owners...
    will work (do dishes) for foooooood :)

    Posted 2 years ago #         

12. grr
    Member Profile

    make sure to try the Scallops next time :)

    Posted 2 years ago #         

13. johnnyblegs
    Member Profile

    

    Seattle Mag's review...
    http://www.seattlemag.com/0p38a2110/restaurant-review-phoenecia/

    Posted 2 years ago #         

14. AlkiCabCompany
    Member Profile

    

    I drove by and it looked closed. Is it really open?

    Posted 1 year ago #         

15. grr
    Member Profile

    nope..not closed..here's their FaceBook page:

    http://www.facebook.com/Phoenecia

    (not sure what their holiday schedule is this weekend tho)...but...go check them out!!

    Posted 1 year ago #         

16. AlkiCabCompany
    Member Profile

    

    again..the place looked closed on a busy Alki day. Wonder why they would choose to close on such a great day. Or do they just appear closed from the outside. There is no sign and the windows are dark. I jus don't get it.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

17. JanS
    Member Profile

    

    they are only open for dinner 5-11pm ...did you try the door?

    Posted 1 year ago #         

18. AlkiCabCompany
    Member Profile

    

    ahhh..no..I was out in the day time. will have to check them out for dinner then. Thanks. Oh..I just realized it said that on their website. I guess I just assume place will have standard hours.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

19. JanS
    Member Profile

    

    not every restaurant is open for lunch.....really :)

    Posted 1 year ago #         

20. ericak
    Member Profile

    We had dinner at Phoenicia again last night. They mentioned that starting next weekend they will be open for lunch - weekends only for a while as they test it out. If you haven't tried it yet, go! Amazing food and a wonderful family of owners that me feel like family every time I enter.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

21. johnnyblegs
    Member Profile

    

    From their facebook page...
    We're expanding our hours and need help in the kitchen. If you know anyone with line and/or pizza experience please send them my way. This person should have good hygiene, strong work ethic, desire to learn and grow, and must have an eye for detail. This person will learn all stations from prep to pantry to pizzaiolo to pans to running the pass and expediting. Resumes can be sent to wkhazaal@hotmail.com

    Posted 1 year ago #         

22. Kay2009
    Member Profile

    Love Phoenicia... and will definitely be back

    Posted 1 year ago #         

23. dawsonct
    Member Profile

    At the risk of blowing my cover, or violating the terms of use, I started at Phoenicia recently. Hope that doesn't dissuade my good friends from across the aisle. I may get vitriolic when discussing politics, but happily cook for people of ALL political stripes.
    Ericak has it right, sort of. We ARE opening for lunch, but ALL week, except Tuesday, when the restaurant is closed.
    The team in the kitchen is strong, and the menu will continue to evolve, the focus will continue to be fresh, local ingredients (when available and applicable).
    ---
    And, yes, the Khazaal family are very sweet aren't they? Some people are just right for this business.
    Guys like me are best left in the kitchen, where our lack of social skills do the least damage.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

24. JoB
    Member Profile

    dawsonct...

    i am glad to hear the menu is still evolving.

    Hussein was a very special person and his restaurant reflected that. I visited his restaurant every time i visited Seattle for decades and told everyone i knew to go there and put themselves in his capable hands...

    i so wanted to love the restaurant his family rebuilt in his memory... and i didn't.

    I didn't hate it... i even liked some dishes.. but i didn't love it.

    I want to love it and i am certain the Khazaal family wants those of us who loved the Phoenecia to fall in love all over again.

    Put those skills to good use.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

25. dawsonct
    Member Profile

    What was missing JoB? Is it something you can put your finger on?
    I certainly understand the impossibility of being everything for everybody all the time, but still, some problems/deficiencies are pretty easy to correct.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

26. JoB
    Member Profile

    dawsonct..

    maybe i caught a lazy day.. but although i appreciated the quality of the ingredients used ... i ended up with very little that i couldn't have produced as well in my own kitchen.

    I know i experiment at home more than most... i have been experimenting with this cooking thing for 50 years now and practice does have it's benefits ....

    but when i go out...i either want relatively inexpensive easy food or i want to pay for what i won't or can't prepare myself.

    i want to be charmed and intrigued with novel flavor combinations... i want to feel spoiled.

    I always paid through the nose when Hussein cooked for "just for me".. but i never left feeling that i didn't get value for my dollar.

    I realize that may be hard to do with a new restaurant where at least in the beginning you have to cater to volume trade... but that's what i want.

    i would settle for really really good soup at lunch:)

    Posted 1 year ago #         

27. dawsonct
    Member Profile

    Thanks for the feedback JoB. I make pretty good soup, so will talk to the chef about that as a lunch item.
    Hussein's sous chef is still there, and he told me about some of those "pay through the nose" meals. We are obviously trying to lower the price point as we transition; I would say that we are a restaurant in the middle of an evolution and that the restaurant we have now is not the one we will have in six months or a year. Hope you come back after a while and give us another chance, JoB.
    ---
    If anyone took my advice and went down there last night, sorry! We had a power outage around 7:30, and it pretty much crashed our menu. We struggled along until it got so dark we couldn't see.
    Good training!

    Posted 1 year ago #         

28. charlabob
    Member Profile

    

    Bob and I haven't made it to Phoenecia since it reopened, but we look forward to it. I appreciate and understand (and even envy) the viewpoint of excellent cooks who expect something they can't do.

    As someone who can barely boil water on a good day, I have to say I am amazed and delighted by good food that I didn't have to prepare myself. (If your dishes just had to be better than I could do, the bar would be much too low.) :-)

    Everything I've read about the new version makes me think it's different (understandably) and, possibly from our viewpoint, even better. I'll let you know.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

29. JoB
    Member Profile

    dawsonct...

    let us know when you open for lunch..
    i will definately come in for lunch.
    and i will try more than once..

    i know it takes a new place time to find it's voice..
    Hussein's voice could never be replicated...
    and i am not sure i would turn my pocketbook over to another chef like that anyway:)
    i am eager for the family to find theirs..

    i really want the new Phoenicia to succeed.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

30. grr
    Member Profile

    I believe Phoenecia is now open for lunch on the weekends!!!

    Posted 1 year ago #         

31. dawsonct
    Member Profile

    Whoops! Post #23 was incorrect; we ARE open for lunch only on the weekends for now.
    Hope we can go full-time in a few weeks. See you there soon!

    Posted 1 year ago #         

32. johnnyblegs
    Member Profile

    

    Today's Times review
    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/restaurants/2012368062_cicero16.html?cmpid=2628

    Posted 1 year ago #         

33. add
    Member Profile

    We finally tried Phoenicia earlier this week and had an absolutely lovely meal and great service. The 39-Spiced Beef and Garlic Green Beans small plates were delicious and much larger portions than expected. The pear and gorgonzola salad was good, and the prosciutto and arugula pizza was perfection. We had a corner table and enjoyed the Alki sunset, and our server was friendly and just the right amount of chatty. We loved it and will be back!

    Posted 1 year ago #         

34. nighthawk
    Member Profile

    As someone who loved the the original Phoenicia, I'm not crazy about the new one. It was a couple of months ago when we went.

    Part of this I will admit is definitely the lack of Hussein and missing the old place. I did not go their often but every time I did it was a memorable experience. The first time we went it was a complete accident, just walking on Alki, wanting dinner and hey this looks good. I think it was the 4th time I went before I ever ordered off the printed menu because Hussein always had the most amazing specials.

    Taking out the nostalgia factor, one of the main issues I had with the new Phoenicia is it was loud. The music was competing with conversation. I really hate feeling like I have to yell over dinner and I think possibly the acoustics in there have something to do with it, lots of flat surfaces and nothing to dampen the sound.

    For dinner we ordered some small plates and pizza. We really enjoyed the pizza but the small plates were meh. Especially for the price.

    The last thing was the service, it was also sort of meh.

    That said I will mention again we did love the pizza. From comments here I will definitely pay more attention to the special if we go again.

    Posted 1 year ago #         

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