Seattle Restaurants Scene Adds Live-Fire Menu, Galician Prix Fixe and More

SEATTLE, May 22, 2026 — Seattle's dining and café landscape added a wave of new programming, openings and seasonal menu updates this week, headlined by the relaunch of live-fire cooking restaurant ELDR in the Sunset Hill neighborhood, a five-course Galician prix fixe at MariPili Tapas Bar on Capitol Hill, a new pour-over café in Pioneer Square, and a free burger giveaway tied to National Burger Day on May 29.

The cluster of activity reflects a busy stretch for the city's food and beverage scene heading into late May, with restaurants rolling out spring menus and newer venues finding their footing in the market.

ELDR Relaunches in Sunset Hill With Live-Fire Spring Menu and $97 Tasting

Live-fire cooking restaurant ELDR, located in Seattle's Sunset Hill neighborhood, has launched a new spring menu under chef Brian Clevenger as the restaurant enters what the venue describes as a second run. The seasonal offering centers on grilled vegetables and proteins, with the Albacore Crudo,  dressed with strawberry, chili and olive oil,  among the opening courses.

The menu also features a dry-aged American Wagyu Ribeye Steak as a shareable centrepiece. For diners who want a structured experience, ELDR now offers a four-course chef's tasting menu priced at $97. The restaurant builds its kitchen around open-fire cooking techniques, where live flame and wood heat drive the flavor of each dish.

MariPili Tapas Bar Offers Five-Course Galician Prix Fixe for $75

MariPili Tapas Bar on Capitol Hill runs a five-course Spanish prix fixe menu priced at $75, with drink pairings available as an optional add-on for $40. The format is flexible,  not every guest at the table needs to order the tasting menu, allowing a mix of prix fixe and à la carte ordering within the same group.

The Galician-influenced lineup moves through small bites including an octopus empanada and a duck confit croqueta, through braised flank steak and quail breast, and finishes with a chocolate cake Swiss roll filled with brandy mousse and Biscoff cream. The restaurant draws on the cuisine of Galicia, a coastal region in northwestern Spain known for its seafood, stews and pastry traditions.

Uneeda Burger in Fremont Gives Away Free Classic Burgers on May 29

Uneeda Burger in Fremont will mark National Burger Day on Thursday, May 29, by giving away one free Classic Burger per guest from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Classic Burger consists of a quarter-pound patty topped with romaine, tomato, pickles and house sauce. The promotion runs while supplies last.

The Fremont burger spot operates under the broader culinary direction of chef Scott Staples, a James Beard Award nominee. The broader menu extends to options including the Big Bison, the Blue Onion and a Veggie burger for those looking beyond the Classic.

Gloom Coffee Opens in Pioneer Square in Former Elm Coffee Roasters Space

Gloom Coffee, a pour-over café and roastery, opened last month in Pioneer Square, occupying the former Elm Coffee Roasters location. The new venture was founded by four former co-workers who collectively bring experience from multiple parts of the coffee industry, including roasting, service and café management.

The house roasts lean toward the lighter end of the spectrum, producing a clean cup that the team pairs with croissants from The French Guys served in-house. Gloom Coffee has also signaled plans to introduce coffee-based mocktails to the drinks menu in the months ahead.

Little Jaye in South Park Draws Attention for Biscuits and Gravy

Little Jaye, a bakery tucked inside Cloverdale Business Park in South Park, has attracted attention for its biscuits and gravy,  a dish the Seattle Times recently featured as among the city's best. The gravy is described as creamy and peppery with a herb note carried by the sausage, served over buttermilk biscuits that hold a crispy exterior and a soft centre. A sunny-side-up egg completes the plate.

Little Jaye operates as an offshoot of Lady Jaye, the established South Park barbecue and restaurant brand. The bakery format gives the South Park neighborhood a destination morning option separate from the parent restaurant's dinner-focused identity.

Hotel Restaurants Rider and Hart and Hunter Offer Dining Worth a Detour

Two Seattle hotel restaurants are drawing diners who are not staying at the property. Rider, inside Hotel Theodore, runs a dinner-focused menu covering pasta, seafood and steak in a full-service fine dining format. The Hart and the Hunter, the restaurant inside Palihotel, operates as a classic American diner with a chicken pot pie at its centre and a $10 martini available on Thursdays during a nightly drink special.

Both venues were highlighted by the Seattle Times as hotels where the food is the primary reason to visit, a distinction that places them alongside a small group of Seattle hotel restaurants that have built identities independent of the properties they sit within.