Bulletin: Blackbird Bistro announces it’s closing

Just out of the WSB e-box: After less than 3 years in business, Blackbird Bistro in the Admiral District will shut down this Friday. Will see what we can find out about what’s happening in the space next. Here’s the full text of the e-mail:

With mixed emotions we are announcing that Blackbird Bistro has been sold, and the last day of operation will be this Friday, September 19th. We are excited for the new (currently confidential) concept to step in with fresh legs and take the space and the neighborhood to the next level. We are also looking forward to concentrating on building the brand and expansion of our other restaurant Mission-Latin Restaurant & Lounge www.missionbar.com.

Thank you to all of our wonderful customers, and our dedicated employees past and present. It has been an amazing 3 years, and we are looking forward to continuing to help build the Admiral business district with the help of our soon to be neighbors. Please contact us at blackbirdbistro@gmail.com with any specific questions or comments.

One of the hardest things about selling a restaurant is laying off dedicated and talented employees. Blackbird would like to help in anyway to find the right place for these staff members to work… if any restaurants would like resumes / references from these employees please contact us at the email above.

If you have outstanding giftcards, please email us the 19 digit code on the back, with your name and address, and we will replace it with a card of the same amount for Mission.

Thank you again for your support,
Eric Cozens & Peter Morse

You may recall, various “blind” ads for a “West Seattle bistro” were rumored to involve Blackbird, going back more than a year ago; here’s one such discussion (comments included) from August 2007, and a followup from later that month.

JenV September 17, 2008 (10:39 am)

that space must be cursed. this is really a shame. they had nice food there, nice staff, good wine.

Chuck & Sally\'s Van Man September 17, 2008 (10:54 am)

Not really surprised. Last time I was there the service was very poor. Certainly not in line with their prices. Great space and okay food, but otherwise I was disappointed. Looking forward to seeing what is next!

Sue September 17, 2008 (10:59 am)

I always meant to go there. Guess I’m glad I didn’t get hooked on it before it closed …

nuni September 17, 2008 (11:01 am)

so anybody have the inside scoop of what’s coming next?

WSB September 17, 2008 (11:05 am)

Hope so. So far haven’t found anything obvious in business licenses, liquor licenses, permit applications (though B’bird still has a permit application open for a “sidewalk cafe”).

Irukandji September 17, 2008 (12:07 pm)

WE always enjoyed the food, but when the redesign happened and the wals were painted a chilly blue, the place never seemed comfortable to us. When we wanted warm, intimate, yummy, Blackbird just never came to mind. Sorry.

villagegreen September 17, 2008 (12:13 pm)

This is sad. I really liked the concept of Black Bird, but unfortunately the food just didn’t live up to the prices. I never had an issue with the service, it was mainly just a problem justifying the steep prices.

Actually, what I’ll miss most is their weekend brunch. IMO, it was the best in W Seattle. I’ve heard raves about Ama Ama’s brunch, so I guess I’ll have to give them a try – definitely love their happy hour.

Hope Mission continues to thrive! People seem to flock to Matador and Cactus, but I find the atmosphere and food at Mission more to my liking.

ann September 17, 2008 (12:18 pm)

Oh man! This is one of my favorite restaurants. Excellent breakfasts. Sad to see it go.

CMP September 17, 2008 (12:23 pm)

I’m disappointed to see that Blackbird is closing. I finally went there for brunch about a month ago and absolutely loved it…I’m glad I went this past Sunday since I won’t have another chance. I never tried dinner since I thought it was overpriced but found brunch to be very reasonable, which I don’t say often. Mission will get my business in the meantime since they have delicious food and a good happy hour to boot.

Jason September 17, 2008 (12:37 pm)

The dinner menu was a tad overpriced for the quality of food IMHO. However, my wife and I enjoyed the atmosphere and we hope the employees land something new quickly.

mongo September 17, 2008 (12:45 pm)

Our experiences with Blackbird were, on the whole, not that great (sometimes not good at all, sometimes just adequate….). As always, with someone new moving in, hope springs eternal…

As far as what goes in there next — please, dear god, anything but another pizza restaurant (I’m still bummed that the old “Inn On The Corner” space at Calif/Fauntleroy won’t become a more interesting restaurant option.)

My West Seattle restaurant wish list:
1) A decent sit-down Chinese restaurant
2) Country French (need not be fancy — see Le Pichet)
3) Spanish/Tapas
4) REAL Mexican

Stacey September 17, 2008 (12:55 pm)

Try JAK’s Brunch! I just went for the 1st time and I’m hooked! The french Toast is AMAZING! The Chop Chop was DELICIOUS! And who can complain about $3.00 Mimosa’s (made with FRESH OJ!) go for the MANmosa if you feel the need for some extra bubbly!

r26 September 17, 2008 (1:25 pm)

Maybe they will learn and the service at Mission will step it up a notch – went last weekend and it was horrible service, bad (rancid) salsa, and the jalapenos in the special needed to be actually grilled.

d September 17, 2008 (1:29 pm)

Sorry they didn’t make it. Restaurant business is tough!

Vegetarian ala Cafe Flora. Please.

jiggers September 17, 2008 (1:51 pm)

I hope another nail salon,coffee house,donut shop or pet store takes its place.

Jeff September 17, 2008 (2:04 pm)

The Mission can go too!!!

ML September 17, 2008 (2:27 pm)

Oh! This is sad news. I will miss brunch, as I live 1/2 block away and it was a great neighborhood staple.

margaritaville September 17, 2008 (2:45 pm)

Sad, sad, sad. The staff was nice and the food wasn’t over the top – not too expensive, not too rich,not too complicated – just right.

k September 17, 2008 (3:11 pm)

not really surprised. such a pricey place for the caliber of food served. also, you always left there smelling of smoke from the kitchen. the kitchen wasn’t vented properly. there was a haze over the dining room during peak hours that was less than appetizing. i wish the new owners luck! tough time to be launching a new restaurant, but if it’s good, west seattle will support it.

margaritaville September 17, 2008 (3:19 pm)

The restaurant scene in West Seattle is reminding me of a stupid Sylvester Stallone / Kurt Russell movie where Stallone was frozen by the bad guys. When he was thawed things had changed – instead of TP there were Three Shells. The only restuarant standing was Taco Bell…

Molly September 17, 2008 (3:43 pm)

We LOVED Blackbird and hope the efforts of the fine owners continue towards Mission.

Loo September 17, 2008 (3:52 pm)

I couldn’t ever get my husband to go back to Blackbird since he went there once when it first opened a few years ago – he always said it was too pricey. We finally made it over there for drinks the other night, and actually had a nice time.

Still, I’d love to see another restaurant in it’s place, but one that’s affordable. I’m not sure if anyone would agree with me since I grew up in Dallas, but I’d love to see a barbecue place, or some sort of comfort food place that’s good and affordable. The Charlestown is close, but how about a good, family restaurant that is hip and lively AND has great food at a reasonable price? That’s be awesome right next to the movie theater! I’d be there every night! (Just dreaming now, sorry!) :-)

Cait September 17, 2008 (4:11 pm)

Every time I’ve been in there the wait-staff has been amazing. I can’t stand when people begrudge a waiter an off day and then hold it against the restaurant for all eternity. If you want something done right do it yourself, I suppose. Whenever I have a bad waiter I think “Hmm… he must be having an off day. I’m glad I have the money in my pocket book to be able to go out to eat when I want to when so many don’t. I guess I always could have just cooked for myself!”

I get disappointed with bad service, but let’s all get over it, shall we?

CarolPB September 17, 2008 (5:25 pm)

Hey Mongo,
There is a good Chinese restaurant in the Alaska Junction on California-can’t remember the name of it, but about across the street from the liquor store.

Mel September 17, 2008 (5:37 pm)

We’ll miss it a lot!!! We loved the food and had always super amazing service. If we were there with kids, they always were great to them, even went to get a highchair from the Mission when they had run out of high chairs.

Keith September 17, 2008 (6:16 pm)

Drat — I really enjoyed Blackbird. Their burger was right up there with Jak’s and better than Elliot Bay’s. Agreed that they were perhaps a tad too pricey, but I was never disappointed with my food or service.

Chris September 17, 2008 (6:51 pm)

We loved Blackbird, and took several of our out-of-town guests there for brunch on weekends. It was one of very few places in West Seattle that went out of its way to have interesting vegetarian items, not just standard menu items with the meat removed. It will be missed.

mongo September 17, 2008 (8:50 pm)

CarolPB,
I’m guessing that you’re referring to Lee’s Asian Restaurant (in the junction, across from state liquor store). We love that place — best takeout in the area (not much ambiance for dining in…). However, it’s more “pan-Asian” than straight Chinese.

charileg September 18, 2008 (9:18 am)

Bring back the “CaddyShack”

Holly September 18, 2008 (12:03 pm)

boo. maybe we can get mae phim to open up or paseos. that would be great.

Beth Ann September 20, 2008 (2:45 pm)

We loved this place! As one of the few short walking distance restaurants from our house we would eat there at least once a week. Having only lived in West Seattle for the last year almost every person we have had over to our place has walked with us to Blackbird to show off our neighborhood. Compared to other places in West Seattle there was NO waiting, they had GREAT service, and wonderful wine & food. We just happen to eat there last night and found out the news. What if it another place like Cactus or Matador or Cupcake Royal moves in?…barf.

We are so disappointed; it was our neighborhood staple.

CindyW September 23, 2008 (12:12 am)

i just went there for a wedding on saturday, and the food and staff was AMAZING. it was sad seeing this place so vibrant and full of people to be closed right after this night.

The staff i remembered cried. The band played “byebye blackbird” and i remember seeing the server staff crying. This means that this place wasnt just another restaurant, but family. It was sad to see there hearts broken while i was there for a wedding. i am sure the blackbird will be sorely missed.

never have i seen such a wonderful wait staff, impressive and quick as i assumed the wedding was chaotic. everyone seemed to compliment eachother just perfect as each person was helping one another. i was amazed to see the kitchen staff so close and friendly with the wait staff.

it was a wonderful last experience and to be sorely missed. i hope only the best for the staff at blackbird.

dhgaut September 23, 2008 (12:32 pm)

I won’t miss Blackbird because I thought it was overpriced and the decor was cold. The sheets hanging between the booths were laughable and made the place look cheap. I miss Zaffaranos. The Maitre’d treated me like I owned the place. The decor was a warm yellow and the food was excellent.

So my vote for a new place: How about Senor Moose? I ate their just last night and the food was the best Mexican I’ve ever tasted.

zerodacus November 4, 2008 (3:43 pm)

Better yet charileg, lets bring back the Rainy City, although the Caddyshack had the best burgers. I vote for something a little less pretentious than most of the restaurants that have opened in the last few years, and don’t seem to be able to stay open. And for all of you child haters out there, someplace I could take my sixteen year old son without waiting until he’s 21.

Ray West December 6, 2008 (6:58 am)

I won’t miss Blackbird at all. I only ate there twice, but each time was a “so what” experience. There was nothing memorable about it at all. I miss the old Rigazzi’s. I loved their food. Let’s hope something interesting goes in next, and, pleas God, not another pizza or Thai place, but something that is both a little different “and” affordable.

Sorry, comment time is over.