1. Went to Spiffy's Bar and Grill last week (917 S. 3rd St, Renton), in the old Armando's space at 3rd and Main. They're newly open, and are doing a "soft landing" with a very limited food menu for the first few weeks. But they have a full bar selection.
It's a soul food place, with a full bar, and will have music/dancing later on. I think I may have spied Jamil Johnson in the kitchen, one of the areas premier soul food chefs....
So what's to like, what's not to like?
The atmosphere is very pleasant. I always liked the old Armando's space, and Spiffy's did a nice job with the space. The service is friendly and attentive, even if the waitress did spill cold water onto the lap of one of my dining companions. These things happen. When I bussed tables (100 years ago) I spilled a full glass of milk into a woman's open purse while she and her party were in the rest room. I closed the purse and hid in the kitchen.
The food at Spiffy's is good, if you like soul food. I do. But all they really had to offer was fried chicken and smothered pork chops. The chicken was great and there was a lot of it. Sides include collards, cabbage, yams, corn bread. They plan on adding home made desserts and catfish in the near future.
But soul food is kind of heavy. My dining companions would have preferred to have some lighter options, not fried, maybe some entree salads?
As it was, the chicken was fine, as were the greens and cabbage. Some people prefer crunchier veggies, but I enjoyed these "cooked to death" veggies with pork. So what? This is not a health food restaurant. But I do hope they add a few healthier options. It'd be good for business.
Cafe Vignole is also newly opened, 9252 57th Ave S, Seattle (Rainier Beach),206-721-2267.
I haven't tried them yet ( I tried to go for lunch a few days ago and they were closed).
They are a soul food/Italian food combination. From what I understand, it's an African-American woman married to an Italian man...I like soul food, I like Italian food, what could be so bad? They have live jazz on Friday nights, and there are no posted hours on the door.
I happen to like places that offer unusual combinations. JapanThai in Renton used to be a big favorite(they are now closed), and there used to be a French/Japanese place in Seattle and a Pakistani/Middle Eastern/Italian place in Bellevue that was great. In LA I saw a Jewish/Mexican place but didn't stop in.
Soul/Italian has great potential.
7 comments:
Getting patted down, the odor of old socks (must/mold), and a group of people that are clearly not welcoming to non-rap types is exactly what I got at stiffys. I guess it is a close as I will ever get to what I envision the prision expirience to be. Being held up and forced to pay exorbanat prices for the ONLY "option" on the menu and looking over my shoulder throught out the expirience. This is a far cry from what I had hoped for. I would like to say I could have masked my disappointment with a drink, but the bar was "out" of three of the four drinks I requested. (However, they were exotic, so I guess I can understand. Corona, Grey goose, Absolute...)
Needless to say, learn from my expirience, spend your dollars elsewhere.
Maybe the place name refers to the customer getting "stiffed".
Great.... Getting a pat-down? Sounds like too much Section-8 and ant enough Soul.
Uhh, did you go to the same Stiffy's?
I had a great experience there and I am clearly not a "rap type". No pat down either. They were super friendly and the food was great.
Thanks for the review! I may go to Spiffy's for my bday!!
RE Cafe Vignole: We went by on a Friday night at about 7:30 and they were closed. Word is it's a good place but they pretty much open when they feel like it, and don't when they don't.
I had a good time at Spiffy's when my girlfriends and I went there.
Anonymous 2:18 AM, I am sorry you had a prison like experience at Spiffy's. That description seems a little extreme, but I respect your opinion. Let's remember this is a new business venture,and they are still in the learning and growing process. Hopefully, your thoughts will have them review a few things and determine if any adjustments need to be made.
As I said, we had a good time and I never felt the need to look over my shoulder. Being patted down is necessary in these times, I appreciate the security. I am not the biggest fan of rap, but I didn't feel unwelcome because of it. It was actually a cool vibe in the place.
Overall, I had a great time and a wonderful meal. I had a craving for soul food and Spiffy's was recommended. I am happy I was told about them and plan to go again in the future.
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