Followup: What’s planned for The Porterhouse in West Seattle

(2008 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
As first reported here last Friday, the team behind The Porterhouse – a popular alehouse/restaurant in Mount Vernon – is going to take over the Admiral District restaurant space vacated by Blackbird Bistro last fall. After our first report, we spoke with Porterhouse proprietor Silas Reynolds – turns out he’s a West Seattle native! – to find out full details of what they’re planning — read on for details:

“We’re going to use the same formula to some degree” as the Mount Vernon operation, Reynolds told us by phone. With one major difference for starters: They will allow all ages, “definitely family-friendly and -oriented.”

Another difference: “We’re going to have more taps in West Seattle than up here, with a greater focus on the local beer scene” – and since they are going for a full liquor license, he says, “I want to start bringing in some of the microdistillery (offerings) that have popped up all over the state, micro-gins and -vodkas, etc., to drive home the craft aspect of this.”

Reynolds says he was a brewer for a while but doesn’t plan to be making anything for The Porterhouse: “I’d rather drink it and sell it,” he laughs.

As for the food — he says it’ll be similar to what’s on the menu in Skagit County (see it here), “gastro-pub, for lack of a better term … pub food but a little flashier, a little more fun, more fresh stuff. Three of my aunts have commercial organic greenhouses and we will utilize their goods quite a bit, will definitely do the Northwest thing.”

He’s hoping they’ll be able to open the new restaurant next month. He has been working to get the space since shortly after it closed last September, though he acknowledges “somebody else was in line before me” — that fell through, and now it’s finally coming together for Reynolds.

The plan is to be open “roughly 11 to 11, seven days a week,” possibly Saturday/Sunday brunch eventually too. He expects they’ll start hiring within a few weeks. But most of all, he’s excited to return to his West Seattle roots: “I’m from West Seattle, born and raised, local boy … we just rented a little house in West Seattle,” and he plans to split his time between both operations.

WSB coverage of restaurant news is archived here, newest to oldest.

homesweethome June 8, 2009 (12:52 pm)

glad to hear it will be family friendly!

grr June 8, 2009 (2:56 pm)

I was hoping for something that would give Jak’s a run in the steak/ribs/meat department. :(

jayjayb74 June 8, 2009 (3:39 pm)

Sounds cool but seems redundant…..Circa is a similar type of place.

fatcat1111 June 8, 2009 (3:43 pm)

I agree w/r/t Circa, but they haven’t changed their menu in ages, so it’ll still be nice to get some variety.

mongo June 8, 2009 (5:00 pm)

On one hand, I’m always glad to see more dining choices here in West Seattle. On the other hand, I’m bummed to see another opportunity lost for real dining diversity… Already had plenty of pizza choices (before Zeke’s added another) and plenty of pub food choices (before this place adds another).

I keep dreaming that one of these spaces will be a Spanish/Tapas, French bistro, GOOD chinese, eclectic (Ovio, we miss you…) or some other new cuisine option in West Seattle. At leaset places like Kokoras offer some variety….

fluorescent carl June 8, 2009 (7:28 pm)

Chuck e cheese on Admiral, The Admiral District misses the Cadyshack it’s been dull there since… Family friendly just means adult headachy, If you want a PUB with screaming Kids we already have Elliot Bay Brewery, My money will stay in the Morgan Junction even though I live in the Admiral. I do understand the importance of a place for Moms and Dad’s to go and get drunk without a babysitter and I am sure they will do well… I wish for a good night spot in the Admiral Junction, Big Hot Bummer.

JayDee June 8, 2009 (7:41 pm)

I would so love for a “Admiral Alehouse” to open in West Seattle — Like the Hilltop, Columbia City, and 74th Street Alehouses. No better food for the money anywhere, and good NW beers. And also, no kids. But if Porterhouse can do 2 out of 3 I’d go. Circa is great if you don’t mind a cramped setting with screaming toddlers. Sound dies off as the square of the distance, so more room at Porterhouse may muffle the noise.

homesweethome June 9, 2009 (6:58 am)

fluorescent carl and others – family friendly doesn’t mean a place for moms and dads to get drunk – generally those with families are in early to restaurants and leave places to other non-families for the bulk of the evening.

Meghan June 9, 2009 (7:52 am)

If more people would monitor their children’s behavior in restaurants (MOST do, but too many don’t), there wouldn’t be so many complaints about children in restaurants. If there is one thing that most people HATE, it’s children running around a restaurant or bothering people at the next table while the parents either ignore it (and go about their conversation, happy that their kids are out of their hair for the moments) or – worse yet – sit there beaming – assuming that everyone is thrilled to have their children’s attention. Trust me, when we smile at your kids, we’re just being polite! You are putting us in a very uncomfortable situation and we REALLY wish you’d take responsibility for them – or not bring them to restaurants!!

Shelli June 9, 2009 (10:15 am)

Family friendly doesn’t mean a parent let’s their kids “run around a restaurant”. How insulting. As the parent of a well behaved yet friendly 4 year old, I am THRILLED that there may be a restaurant that would (hopefully) have a safe area for children where they can play and interact with other children. Something like Vios on Capitol Hill. Only a person with children would understand the pleasure in going to a restaurant with options for the enjoyment of the adults and the children. If this new restaurant could fill that void in West Seattle, they could have a gold mine. WS, being such a family oriented community needs a place like this.

I feel sorry for Meghan and her inability to be more open minded.

Patrick June 9, 2009 (3:11 pm)

Shelli – With all due respect, I think Meghan speaks for millions of people who don’t mind well behaved, monitored children. But she is pointing out that too many parents either let their children roam around a restaurant (which is dangerous to them, as well as annoying) and/or bother neighboring diners (e.g. stare at them over a booth). My wife and I have 2 children and WE get very annoyed at other parents who let their children run around a restaurant, bother other diners, or scream/cry loudly without removing them. That’s because we DO monitor our children’s behavior and we would also like an “adult night” out every so often. Maybe you are the one who needs to be more open minded.

Frank June 9, 2009 (4:56 pm)

Wow, as the parent of a very well behaved 4 year old, I must say that although it is frustrating when children run around a restaurant unsupervised possibly creating a hazard to themselves and bothering people, it is equally frustrating to think that people are as completely negative (judgmental) about it as Meghan. Her post has an air of negativity that feels very bad to me. It is not her place to speak for others, as in, “most people hate” a child that is crying or being difficult in a restaurant. I myself have had my own meal cut short by my overly tired and difficult child. All children have their moments, even the best behaved ones. For me, when my child is not behaving well, it is a huge source of anxiety. I would imagine I am not alone in this feeling.
Meghans absolutes are just too much for me and in my opinion not at all a sensible or fair commentary on the issue of children in restaurants.

Dave H. June 9, 2009 (6:35 pm)

Excellent news. The original owner of the Porthouse formerly owned a numbers of pubs here in Seattle area before moving North several years ago, the last being the Park Pub on Phinney Ridge. His partner has kept thing familiar, great pub grub and a superior rotation of the finest NW micro’s. I hope it’ll be an excellent fit versus the higher end type restaurants that have tried that location in the past.

WS resident June 9, 2009 (8:18 pm)

Good news for the Admiral neighborhood! I wish them luck and I’ll still visit my favorite alehouse – Elliott Bay. And re; Circa – I love their food and will continue to visit them too. Hope The Porterhouse stays longer than all the other restaurants that have been in that location. Price it right and it’ll be good!

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