It’s (soft) opening night for Whisky West in Morgan Junction! Thanks to Samuel for the tip; we went over to confirm and to get a few photos.
It’s been two months since we reported that Colin and Donna Pickering, the West Seattleites who run The Whisky Bar downtown, were taking over and renovating the 6451 California SW space that had been Feedback Lounge. Just the other day, they told us they hoped to be open in time for this Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival – and indeed, they are.
There’s no railing up behind the bar stools so I assume that means the whole restaurant is 21 and over only. Yet another restaurant that keeps families out, bummer.
Sorry, forgot that they hadn’t decided as of our February story so we didn’t ask, will doublecheck today.
Their bar in Belltown is 21 & over as well. The atmosphere is not conducive to under 21 (within the US).
Honestly, let’s not re-visit that. I’m going to a place with “Whisky” in the name for an adult experience. I had a mature under-age diner, but I wouldn’t have been clamoring to take him here, especially as a little one.
Bravo. As a parent of two younger kids, I can say there are ample places for families with kids in West Seattle to dine and drink—with more on the way. This appears to be something the neighborhood has sorely missed…. A cocktail bar that serves some food. Perfect for when us parents want to get away from the kids for a date or meet up with friends for a little grown up conversation over craft cocktails. Love it.
Yet another? Aren’t Matador and The Westy the only 21+ bar/restaurants in West Seattle?
also The Bridge, which has a full menu and is one block away. There are others, too. Locol, for example.
I’m very happy for an adult only place! No one loves their child as much as their parent.
Welll We adults need another place to go the kids are sweet, but its hard to talk over the
screamingjanie
Planning on trying it Friday night I hope they are successful. Different places for different audiences – if it is 21 and over then that is a business decision that th owners made. Personally, I like to go to a place every now and then that is 21 and over. West Seattle is big enough (and inclusive enough) to to enjoy a lot of good restaurants that have different business models. Let’s enjoy them and wish them the best!
Went there last night and it looked incredible inside. The owners did an amazing job bringing in more natural light. Way different from the Feedback Lounge. I’ll definitely be going back.
Colin and Donna Pickering have renovated the space in a 1920s built West Seattle building and turned it into a gem. The beautiful floor to ceiling wood paneling, the hardwood floors, the new windows that open to flower baskets, skylights, new kitchen…… What a transformation!
Ha ha! I remember the “let’s let kids in there” conversation on here, months ago. The place looks nice. WHISKY!
Looks beautiful, light and bright and blessedly child-free. Can’t wait to try it out!
If it is like the Whisky Bar, it will have small plates of food. Maybe sliders kinds of things, but the focus will, of course, be on the cocktails and whisky “flights”. Gotta love a neighborhood place that has whisky in the freakin’ name. Giggety!
For the record, it’s the second place in the neighborhood with whisky in its name. Ma’Ono Fried Chicken & Whisky.
Nice! Major eye roll to the kids conversation (again). I have two young ones and there are plenty of places to take them in West Seattle. Excited for another adults-only bar option!
Looks great! Thank goodness for adult only venues! West Seattle was starting to lose its edge with all the condo over development, lack of parking and corporate chain businesses. Glad to see something fun appear again. I am looking forward to a visit.
We went last night, and the place was packed! The food was good — bar food, burgers, fish and chips. The drinks were excellent! Best of all — the light! It doesn’t feel like such a cave in there!
Went last night and it wasn’t the experience of a business run by people who have done this before. No one greeted us as we wondered around the entrance wondering if we should seat ourselves at one of the unbused tables. After finding a table, we quickly saw that it was going to be a long visit. We were there for 2 1/2 hours and got two rounds of drinks and one serving of small plates. We spent most of our time waiting and wishing we could have sat in the front room, so as to avoid those screaming at the sports on the TVs. While waiting, we witnessed more than a handful of people come in, sit down, wait a while, then get up and leave. This isn’t a downtown spot where you can afford to lose tourists with crappy service and downtown prices. West Seattle and the Morgan Junction are neighborhoods. And thus far this neighborhood resident is very disappointed in a business I was looking forward to being a regular patron of.
My opinion, they need to lower their prices. Hire and train adequate staff. Get their management to show that their is actually a management presence. And expand their menu. Even if their current menu meets the requirements of their liquor license, which I question. They need more. Once again, downtown is very different from a suburban neighborhood.
Your kitchen staff and bartenders shouldn’t be running food. Your bartenders shouldn’t be busing tables. And no customer should ever go unattended for more than half an hour. And I shouldn’t have to say these things to people who supposedly know what they are doing.
Good lord. It was their FIRST night (even a ‘preview’ night). Give them some time to get all their ducks in a row before being SO critical.
By the way, how’s YOUR bar doing? Oh, you don’t have one? See. It’s easy to be an ‘armchair’ critic.
You went to a bar with a TV on one of their first nights (was it their first night?) and also on the night of a US soccer match in the soccer capital of the US that was being played here in town. Chill.
It’s too bad- Morgan Junction has a dearth of good restaurants that I can take my kid to. I’m not trying to get wasted in public with my kid- I’m just sick of pizza.
30 posts and nobody extolling the virtues of the whiskey selection?? Yamazaki 18? Hibiki 21? I’m gonna have to have someplace to park my Big Wheel.
As with all new places, give it a month to train up the staff, work on the flow, menu, etc.
And yay 21 and over. I don’t think the Mommy’s Of W.S. have opened their vegetarian day-care bar yet. Hopefully soon. I’ll need a stronger drink. :)
and.. holy crap.. are those really CUSHIONS on the booth benches!?!??!?! Now we really know who the target market is. :)
This is one of the more entertaining comments thread I’ve read. Glad to hear it’s opened.
I thought this was a great addition to our neighborhood…..until they measured the whiskey for my drink! Seriously? #freepour
Hi I’m the manager at Whisky west and thank you west seattle. As for the few negative feedbacks we are sorry for some of our growing pains, we didn’t expect all of you to show up in such great force. We know we need to work some stuff out … i.e. more staff and quicker service. We are actively working on our issues and plan to improve.
yup.. Just growing pains. As you can tell, the neighborhood is excited to have you here! The remodel is beautiful, open, and airy. Looking forward to you expanding your Japanese Single Malt selection as well as getting a spectacular chef onboard. The summer is young ;) Congrats on your opening!!
Will you have a similar happy hour to your Belltown location?? I go there often, and love that this opened so near to my house!
Dear West Seattle resident – the night you were there was a soft opening, unadvertised, dress rehearsal – don’t be so critical
Dear
There is a place in the Alaska junction that is going to open that is a family restaurant.
That would be Shelby’s, first reported here 2 1/2 months ago, about which we’re actually writing a detailed followup right now.
As a parent of a 7 year old that is not a screamer, I would love for some fun restaurants in West Seattle that allow kids so we can have a nice dinner. Even if they did it up until 8pm would be nice.
Elliott Bay
Talaricos
Puerto Vallarta
Pecado Bueno
Mashiko
Azuma
The Lodge (when it opens!)
West 5
Peel and Press
Endolyne Joes
Luna Park
Zeeks
…..and these are just SOME of the “fun restaurants” here that are family friendly. There are SO MANY MORE. I think there are actually more kid/family friendly places than not on this whole peninsula, but every member of the WS Mommy Brigade seems to take every 21+ only establishment opening as a personal affront.
And don’t forget Cactus, Circa, Dukes, Christo’s, The Mission, Palin Thai, Buddha Ruska, West City Sardine and also close to WS is the very kid friendly Barton Noble and those are just the places I have been to recently.
I have a 3 year old and we go out for dinner almost every week in West Seattle, White Center and Burien so for people complaining about a lack of kid friendly places maybe you need to get out more or try this amazing invention http://lmgtfy.com/?q=family+friendly+restaurants+in+west+seattle
@HelperMonkey thanks for the helpful list thought I would add to it to help make the point, as a single father on the rare occasion I do get to go out kid-less I am happy to have a kid-free zone to do my own playing in.
and when the daughter and her hubby want that 21+ place to go enjoy, it gives me a chance to spend the evening with the grandson…works out just fine, since I adore him :)
We had a great experience at Whisky West on Friday night – place was crazy busy but they held up as best as they could. We didn’t care, we were enjoying our Manhattans and each other’s company, and our server Jen was super friendly despite the stress I’m sure she was feeling! Excellent brussel sprouts by the way. We look forward to returning!
Horrible experience. They didn’t know how to make a simple drink – it was watery. The service was horrible. That isn’t fair to the word horrible as it was non-existent.
If you are bored and want to check out how not to run a bar, at least sit at the bar so you are harder to ignore.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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