Seattle's new spring restaurant openings forge hopeful note for hard-hit food scene

After a record-breaking rainy and snowy start to 2021, it finally looks like brighter — and warmer — days are on the horizon for Seattle as spring approaches.

As a foodie town, Seattle has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused over 90 restaurant to permanently close.

But with lifting restrictions allowing for indoor dining to resume and restaurants to reopen, better days are also ahead for the city's food scene.

Here's a look at recently opened restaurants in the Emerald City as well as a sneak peek at some opening their doors soon.

NOW OPEN: Botteco Brazil

An authentic Brazialian steakhouse has just arrived in Shoreline, and it's the dream destination for any meat lover.

Botteco's menu includes options like Brazilian fried chicken, slow cooked beef ribs and churrasco with sides of black beans, chicken sausage and Brazilian-style potato salad. Be sure to snag a side of creamy pudim (flan) for dessert.

NOW OPEN: Flavor Lao Bowl

Hot pot in a bowl? Yes, please.

Phinney Ridge's new hot pot spot has single servings of spicy hot pot — which is usually a more communal dining experience centered around a simmering cauldron of broth — with a Laotian twist that will warm you up on some of the chillier days to come.

In addition to hot pot, the new restaurant also features many authentic Laotian noodle soups like kao poon and kao piak sen along with sides of chicken wings and beef skewers.

NOW OPEN: Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen

It's probably the most buzzed about ghost kitchen in Seattle right now, and it certainly has an emphasis on flavor.

Guy Fieri's new Emerald City outpost is now accepting orders for delivery. The kitchen features a host of sandwiches and burgers, including a bacon macaroni and cheese topped burger along with other over-the-top comfort food items like bacon-wrapped jalapeno peppers and cheesesteak eggrolls.

NOW OPEN: Martino's

Comfort food and comebacks are certainly having a moment. Greenwood's beloved sandwich shop that specializes in Santa Maria-style tri-tip is finally back open after five long years.

Sandwich lovers can find much of the same menu items like their signature cherry wood smoked chicken wings, Italian grinder sandwich and buttermilk fried chicken dinner.

NOW OPEN: Sushi Blossom

This delivery-only restaurant based out of the International District opened last month and has been raved about for its affordable prices. The menu features a large variety of nigiri, sahsimi, rolls and donburi.

NOW OPEN: Tacontainer

Alki's newest street taco walk-up window is just biding its time for the warmer days of summer when Seattleites flock to the beach.

Located in an actual shipping container, the ambitious new spot is serving up an array of tacos, including ones filled with wild foraged chanterelle mushroom and specials like wild boar tacos.

NOW OPEN: Whiskey by John Howie

Whiskey connoisseurs have been mourning ever since beloved Canon closed down temporarily in November. But luckily, there's a new whiskey-focused bar to check out on the Eastside.

Located inside The Shops at The Bravern in Bellevue, the new spot will feature hundreds of rare whiskeys from around the globe for all manners of sipping.

"Nothing beats discovering and sharing a really special bottle with friends so, for me, showcasing extraordinary whiskey finds at a beautiful and welcoming establishment of my own design is a dream come true," said Chef John Howie in a news release.

OPENING SOON: Bok a Bok Fried Chicken

Seattle's fried chicken destination just announced their fifth outpost at the The Village at Totem Lake, bringing all manners of brined, battered and twice-fried chicken to Kirkland soon.

Their menu is highly customizable, with selections of drumsticks, wings, strips and thighs in a variety of different dry rubs and/or drenched in sauces like spiced honey and garlic. Sides like kimchi macaroni and cheese and buttermilk biscuits give Bok a Bok a leg up on the competition.

OPENING SOON: Oddfellows Cafe + Bar

The long-awaited return of the cafe and bar is set to open on March 1, bringing benedicts, jammy brioche French toast and baked goods back to Capitol Hill.

It will also feature a permanent street patio with a deck, roof and heaters just in time for sunnier days.

OPENING SOON: Harmony & Grain

Ballard's Gather Kitchen & Bar will host a new inventive, fast-casual pop-up starting in March. Focused on healthy foods, the menu is set to include grain bowls featuring  locally-sourced vegetables, legumes and fruits as well as a variety of house-made sauces and toppings.

Their Great PNW Bowl with smoked salmon, roasted brussel sprouts, dried cherries and apples, and topped in a delicate yogurt vinaigrette will prove to be refreshing as the weather warms up.

OPENING SOON: Stoup Brewing Kenmore

Beloved by local hopheads for brews like like Mosaic Pale Ale, the team at Ballard's Stoup have joined forces with Chef Jason Stoneburner to open their second outpost in Kenmore that will also serve up delicious tavern bites.

Taking over the Seaplane Kitchen and Bar location, the creative collaboration will combine Stoneburner's talent for thin-crust pizzas and burgers with excellent beer options.