A Terrible Beauty opens in West Seattle on June 28th

The long-awaited opening date is set for A Terrible Beauty in The Junction – the new family-friendly Irish pub/restaurant that’s been in development at California/Edmunds. Co-owner Jenna Shannon Garvey O’Brien has just told WSB contributor Katie Meyer, who’s been covering the in-development establishment since they announced their West Seattle plans 3 months ago, that they will open one week from today, June 28th, starting with lunch at 11 am. Katie visited Jenna and the crew over the weekend, while they – with the help of volunteers – were putting in some of the finishing touches prior to a round of inspections:

That’s Jenna – next photo, one of the helpful volunteers:

If you’ve missed our previous coverage – this is an expansion for A Terrible Beauty, whose original location in Renton is wildly popular by all accounts. Katie has chronicled their extensive makeover of the West Seattle Junction spot that previously housed the short-lived Table 35 – as the ATB team added highlights from Scottie Joe‘s stonework to the distinctive green paint. You can find out more about them at aterriblebeauty.com (including menu information), and they’re also in Facebook, including a page just for the West Seattle location. More to come!

datamuse June 21, 2011 (12:12 pm)

Wow, looks gorgeous! I look forward to checking it out.

mookie June 21, 2011 (12:14 pm)

SO excited – it looks warm and comfortable and beautiful in there now. Planning to work my way through the entire menu visit by visit! Oh, and drink teh beers.

Megan June 21, 2011 (12:16 pm)

Do you know if this pub is family friendly or for over 21 only? Looks like a great place!

WSB June 21, 2011 (12:24 pm)

Family-friendly! I am adding more of the backstory now and some of the links we’ve published before – just had to get the actual date out first, since SO MANY PEOPLE have been asking about it – TR

Pete Voss June 21, 2011 (12:30 pm)

Can’t wait! My wife and I have seriously been checking back every day since the announcement was made three months ago. See you opening night!

NinjaRider June 21, 2011 (12:53 pm)

AWESOME! I wonder if they’re going to do seisiun (as in, jam, with fiddles and bodrhan and flute and guitar) like they do in Renton? This djembe player would like to sit in!

Dave June 21, 2011 (1:04 pm)

So funny, I just drove by and was wondering, thanks WSB!

datamuse June 21, 2011 (1:13 pm)

I hope so, NinjaRider, cause I’ve got a fiddle that wants an outing!

Diane June 21, 2011 (1:23 pm)

if any of you have babies/young kids and want to go out for opening night of A Terrible Beauty, I have that night open to babysit; here’s my CL post
~
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/kid/2452080143.html

Dc June 21, 2011 (1:36 pm)

Can’t wait to check it out. Double YAY for being family friendly.

catlady June 21, 2011 (2:10 pm)

A menu my whole family will enjoy. What a pleasant surprise. Can’t wait to try it!!

mpento June 21, 2011 (3:38 pm)

Gawd, family friendly and possible “musical” cacophoney. This is like going to coleman pool because your bladder is full. So much for a nice quiet pint of guinness.

2 Much Whine June 21, 2011 (4:14 pm)

You’re right mpento, who would ever want to go someplace where people are having fun? What a nightmare that would be. How I long for a dark, lonely and empty restaurant where I can drink my warm beer alone, think about how much I hate people, music and noise and fun, now that’s what I’m talking about. . . . . hey you kids, get off my lawn or I’ll call the cops on the lot of ya!

OlyS June 21, 2011 (4:39 pm)

@mpento: In that case, whatever you do, don’t go to Ireland. You’ll hate it.

Jiggers June 21, 2011 (5:04 pm)

Somebody’s got money to build.

NinjaRider June 21, 2011 (6:44 pm)

Jiggers – Apparently the Renton branch has been a wild success? Looking forward to having one within walking distance.

Datamuse – about that _seisiun_ – let’s see if we can get something going (or join in)… see me after class, dm @xenscooter…

datamuse June 21, 2011 (8:36 pm)

I think I found a quiet pub in Ireland. Once. It was in a village where the houses, not to mention the sheep, outnumbered the inhabitants.

seattlegirl June 21, 2011 (9:49 pm)

Sorry, but the inside looks better then the out, don’t really care for the paint or rocks. Looks kind of tacky. Also forgive me but Renton is not West Seattle. Wish them the best.

foy boy June 21, 2011 (10:48 pm)

So this will make it what 15 bars in a 4 mile strech. We can start our own westseattle pub crawls. Park one car at one end take another car to the other end and see who can make it back still walking. Or crawling.

ivan June 22, 2011 (7:29 am)

I had a couple of pints at A Terrible Beauty in Renton recently. If the atmosphere I experienced there is any example, West Seattleites are going to fall in love with this place immediately.

kg June 22, 2011 (2:11 pm)

Can’t wait for this place to open!

Marcee Stone June 22, 2011 (5:11 pm)

I love the one in Renton. I’m very excited to see the progress. I think this time this location will shake the bad juju of a commercial pizza place. Yay, Jenna!

gracie June 24, 2011 (11:17 am)

So excited they are expanding. I go to the Renton location weekly. It’s a great place and I love everything on the menu! Best of all weekend brunch! If you haven’t been, you need to check it out! It’s worth it.

mynameis June 27, 2011 (11:58 am)

@mpento what a grump….really hoping they have a seisun…and pubs are family friend in ireland…you know..public house??

simiansun June 29, 2011 (6:55 pm)

Well I was there opening night and it was a terrible mess. Food was cold. Service was HORRIBLE. I even asked the server about the daily happy hours like the menu suggested and he was rude – all he said was “Are you ready to order? We’re very busy.”

That said, I am very invested in this place being successful and so I have a few recommendations:
1. Reward the cute hostess staff for being so nice and welcoming – best part of the evening.
2. Hire servers who aren’t surly to their guests.
3. Buy or organize a table numbering system and/or hire an expediter who knows which plates go to which table (again see surly server – he argued with me about what I had ordered…..of course I was correct).
4. Establish a late PM happy hour (trust me, this one is going to save your business when everyone else is going to Tallarico’s and/or the offensive and overpriced Bang Bar.

As I told my server when he shut down my inquiries, “Answering my questions will pay off.” So I’ll give you another chance because it takes an idiot to screw up pub food and beer from a tap.

Hopefully yours…..

roger July 7, 2011 (8:31 pm)

Nice ambiance, and I’m sure the food is great – if you manage to get some. I just sat at a table 25 min and couldn’t even get a beer.

The Thai place next door, Bang Bar, is great though.

cece July 15, 2011 (8:44 pm)

I’m truly disappointed, an Irish place that serves nothing Irish…..Brushetta, hummus plate…french dip…corned beef plate that has never been served in Ireland, Americans will fall for anything…and the drinks were really, really weak for $6.00 for a well drink.Never again! Not only that but not once but twice they got our order wrong!