BIZNOTE: New restaurant for ex-Best of Hands space

More new-business news – we’d been looking into who’s taking over the ex-Best of Hands Barrelhouse space (7500 35th SW) since a reader mentioned the “For Lease” signage had disappeared, and now we have the answer: GH Pizza and Pasta. The name may be new but the operator is not – Chef Brian Clevenger and General Harvest Restaurants, which already has Haymaker (open since 2019) and Raccolto (open since 2016) in The Junction, among other Seattle restaurants. The announcement notes, “The menu boasts fan favorite large bowls of fresh pastas, a variety of pizzas with rotating specials, starters, and salads all at approachable prices.” They’re excited about the new West Seattle location, planning to offer “a huge year-round outdoor-seating section along with a separate adults-only space.” GH Pizza and Pasta is aiming to open in West Seattle in “late spring.” But will the rooftop cow stay? We asked that on followup; the reply – “Of course!” There’s one GH Pasta location so far, in Belltown, and the announcement notes GH Pizza and Pasta is currently “taking over” Haymaker’s Eastlake location – see the menu here.

54 Replies to "BIZNOTE: New restaurant for ex-Best of Hands space"

  • Olivia January 23, 2023 (2:33 pm)

    Welcome to the neighborhood, we are so lucky to have you! 

  • Friend O'Dinghus January 23, 2023 (2:44 pm)

    Yay on keeping our favorite neighborhood bovine! Looking forward to trying your pizza. Welcome.

  • Andros January 23, 2023 (2:48 pm)

    I’m happy for the new owners, but sad it is pasta and pizza. I feel like we have that covered in W Seattle. I’m still happy to have you all in the neighborhood!

    • PIZZAHOUND January 23, 2023 (4:31 pm)

      Im excited to try it out. I keep bringing up lately in conversations how lackluster the W.Sea Pizza scene is.My top are:Pizzeria 22 & Credo (both pricey, and Credo has only open a few hours a week it seems) Proletariat is pretty good all rounder’ but in White CenterLucianos, Zeeks & Pagliacci are all very meh with large slabs of toppings sliding off the pie.I was super excited to try Supreme, but its the only place I brought a pizza back too after the crust was entirely black. Not just some touches, but full on about to eat Carbon. Maybe I can try them again soon.West Of Chicago is great, but I cannot afford a $40 pizza all the time.Bring on someplace with reasonable prices and consistency! Maybe they will have great meatballs as a side (the veal meatballs at Pizzeria 22 are pretty good, different but good)

      • Peter January 23, 2023 (6:45 pm)

        That’s really a pretty good summation of the pizza scene. I would say Mio Posto is the best, but the absurdly long waits and absurdly bad service ruin the experience. 22 and Credo have similar problems, great pizza but I just can’t stand the places/service. Proletariat is awesome. Zeke’s is not “meh,” it’s nearly inedible, and expensive to boot. I actually end up at Talarco’s more than anywhere else; pizza is good, and the service and location are awesome. The deafeningly loud music drove me out of Supreme before I ever got to looking at a menu. 

      • WSSpartan January 23, 2023 (7:06 pm)

        I noticed you didn’t mention Mio Posto. For my money they’re the best on the peninsula. Plus their tiramisu is heaven. 

        • Admyrl Byrd January 23, 2023 (11:19 pm)

          Mioposto prices (and most all pizza prices here) are absurdly high relative to the rest of the country.  Big green egg and a little sourdough starter and DIY it is the only answer.  Moto is the only place short of proletariat that meets the value threshold of taste/price.

          • PIZZAHOUND January 23, 2023 (11:32 pm)

            I Gotta try Miposto!

      • aa January 25, 2023 (7:22 am)

        What are the odds that pizzahound will be pleased with their pizza?  Why do you keep bringing up how dissatisfied your are with the pizza?   You listed 10 businesses!  And why do people think food should be cheap?  Its not just the cost of ingredients, they have to pay wages, insurance, taxes, rent, supplies, utilities., and make enough money to pay their own rent, insurance, utilities, food, clothing, gas,..  If you want cheap pizza go to Costco.

  • Patty from the Junction January 23, 2023 (2:52 pm)

    More pizza and pasta?! 

    • Joe January 23, 2023 (6:08 pm)

      This will be higher-end judging by his other two restaurants. It’s not going to be another Dominos. :)

  • Joe January 23, 2023 (2:58 pm)

    Im a fan of roccolto and I’m happy they’re doing well enough to open a sister restaurant, but can’t help but feel disappointed we are getting another pizza/pasta spot in West Seattle while we still don’t have any great/reliable Chinese or Korean takeout options. I miss Lee’s

  • Keith January 23, 2023 (3:12 pm)

    Awesome news! I’ve missed having a walkable pizza place in Gatewood since Red Star closed. 

  • Peter January 23, 2023 (3:58 pm)

    Good news! I saw the for lease sign was gone last week, so was hoping WSB would have news, thanks for the update. I presume “adults only space” means full bar?

  • valvashon January 23, 2023 (4:12 pm)

    I was kind of hoping for a good Indian restaurant in that space…

  • KJ January 23, 2023 (4:13 pm)

    I hope they give a nod to the previous tenant and provide some good craft beer options and not just whatever the distributor wants them to sell. How about a couple taps dedicated to our local Westside brewers? Seems a small ask. 

    • WSSpartan January 23, 2023 (7:01 pm)

      How about the owners decide what beer to serve? Seems like a small request. 

      • Jeepney January 24, 2023 (5:19 am)

        Agreed.  Everyone has ideas for what kind of food or drink should be served, but don’t want to start a business themselves.

      • RayWest January 25, 2023 (6:04 am)

        WSSpartan. The owners can decide what to serve, but any good establishment will listen to what their potential customers want and meet the demand. That’s just good business.

  • Sarah January 23, 2023 (4:22 pm)

    Another pizza and pasta restaurant. I wish I didn’t need to leave my neighborhood to find some food diversity.

  • Bdawg January 23, 2023 (4:23 pm)

    ” Oh no not pizza and pasta.” Never fails. 

    • WSSpartan January 23, 2023 (7:11 pm)

      At least there hasn’t been the obligatory “hope they offer a gluten free option” yet. 

      • MRA WS January 26, 2023 (8:06 am)

        what’s wrong with asking for gluten free? most wheat used in pizza in the US is absolute garbage.  ask any chef…our wheat is crap which is one reason pizza is so cheap. gluten free is healthier for you. maybe you should try it instead of posting this rubbish.

  • 35th and Thistle January 23, 2023 (4:45 pm)

    Thank you for planning a _separate_ adults only space. Nearby places are restaurants but 21 and up.IMHO the state should just join the 21st century and allow kids in restaurants with bars.

    • Lisab January 23, 2023 (6:39 pm)

      Love 21+ only places……for adults to unwind.

    • Anne January 23, 2023 (6:59 pm)

      No

      • reed January 24, 2023 (10:30 am)

        Geez Anne in other posts your are for the children (demanding parking at WS high school) and now you want to restrict their access to enjoying a new food spot with their parents; make up your mind already!

  • Uncle Steve January 23, 2023 (4:52 pm)

    That ” cow” has a rather strange udder…

    • taurbos January 23, 2023 (7:04 pm)

       cow, in common parlance, a domestic bovine, regardless of sex and age, usually of the species Bos taurus.” 

      And a “hero” ain’t nothing but a sandwich.

  • Denden January 23, 2023 (4:53 pm)

    Better ‘pizza and pasta’ than another Mexican or Asian. I look forward to trying them out and another option to Peel & Press. Welcome.

  • Joan January 23, 2023 (5:15 pm)

    Pizza and pasta, sigh. I love a good pizza, but wish we had more healthy and ethnic options.

    • WSSpartan January 23, 2023 (7:08 pm)

      Home cooking is healthy. Dining out is for pleasure. 

      • Joan January 23, 2023 (8:33 pm)

        Agreed, home cooking is best. But when I have out of town visitors I’m not going to take them to pizza and pasta.

        • Bob January 24, 2023 (6:48 am)

          Joan, when we have company, Raccolto is the first place we go to. 

  • Steve January 23, 2023 (6:27 pm)

    Yay! So happy to hear this! 

  • Cody January 23, 2023 (6:48 pm)

    We needed a family friendly restaurant in the neighborhood. So excited! Gonna be hoping in the summer with the outdoor seating they mentioned. First beer is on me! -friendly neighborhood dad

  • Amy January 23, 2023 (8:01 pm)

    Want a different food type, open your own place. 

  • Winkandnod January 23, 2023 (8:13 pm)

    We are overjoyed that a restaurant is going into this space – no matter what kind of food it is. The fact that it’s Brian Clevenger makes it even better. You know the pasta will be amazing. We’ve lived a stone’s throw away from the space since 1997 and welcome this dining option with open arms!

  • WSDad January 23, 2023 (8:40 pm)

    I wonder what will happen to all the brewery equipment in the back? I remember Red Star back in the day. I would take my son there and play videogames and eat slices. Good times.

    • west sea neighbor January 24, 2023 (10:36 am)

      I believe that all of the equipment and supplies (hops, etc) were sold at auction. 

  • Kate January 23, 2023 (10:57 pm)

    I hope they have a GF option.

    • E January 24, 2023 (4:29 am)

      Hahahaha

    • MRA WS January 26, 2023 (8:07 am)

      me too. All those that fid this humorous would do well to take gluten out of their diet. you would be surprised how toxic it is.

      • Auntie January 27, 2023 (8:10 pm)

        For those who are gluten intolerant/have celiac disease, it is certainly toxic. However, for others it can be dangerous to just unilaterally omit gluten from your diet without checking with your doctor or dietician.

    • D-Mom January 27, 2023 (7:39 pm)

      Sadly, it does not look that way, when looking at the menu for the Belltown location. I’m happy to have a restaurant vs condos and it looks delicious, but it’s disappointing to not provide GF crust. 

  • Sue H January 24, 2023 (1:40 am)

    I’m glad another business is moving in. Pizza and pasta wouldn’t have been my first choice, but it’s better than an empty storefront and that neighborhood is not overrun with pizza. I don’t know how the menu for West Seattle will differ from that takeover, but those prices are not what I would consider “approachable.”

    • skeeter January 24, 2023 (9:54 am)

      I agree Sue H.  Dining out prices have gone way, way up in the past few years.  I don’t really blame the restaurants.  Food prices have increased and labor costs have increased.  Not to mention rent and other costs.  The days of a simple entree/sandwich and glass of beer for under $20 per person are over.    

    • Neighbor January 24, 2023 (4:21 pm)

      Sue, out of curiosity what would you call “approachable” prices? Can you give me examples of where you can get house made pasta/pizza for less? And from my understanding, the people making the food get paid well and have benefits too.  Only interested, because if those restaurants are out there, i need to go! 

  • Corinna January 24, 2023 (7:12 am)

    Please please PLEASE have GF pasta options. Feeling very under served in the GF pasta restaurant world. Best GF pizza in my humble opinion is Proletariat. 

  • WMR January 24, 2023 (9:24 am)

    I wish that restauranters understood that WS residents’ culinary tastes weren’t limited to only pizza.  There are such great options south in Burien. Wish we had that here.

  • namercury January 24, 2023 (5:33 pm)

    I remember when I rented a frozen food locker at this place about 40 years ago!  

  • Leon January 24, 2023 (7:52 pm)

    The part about “Pizza and Pasta” doesn’t even matter.   The place is in a vacuum for retail businesses so to put ANYthing at all in there will greatly add to a long ignored and forgotten area.It’s sad that Mary & John’s Cafe had better menu selection in 1977 than does the only present restaurant in the same immediate area in 2023.   (so much for “progress”)It is difficult to imagine people arriving from far and wide to dine in such a remote locale so how it is received by the local area will make or break the place as is the case with most nearby businesses.  Hopefully the place will perfect their take-out business and be of considerable use to the immediate area.

    • CC January 24, 2023 (10:13 pm)

      Not “remote” for everyone, dude.

  • RayWest January 25, 2023 (5:49 am)

    I was excited to hear about a new restaurant until I read “pizza and pasta” So much for something new and different, though certainly curious about what is considered as “approachable” prices. Oh well.

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