Seastar Restaurant in Seattle to Close in January 2015

Seastar’s Bellevue Location Will Remain Open

Chef John Howie regretfully announces that effective January 3, 2015, Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar located in Seattle will close to the public. Chef Howie would like to thank loyal guests for their continued support of Seastar in Seattle, and also express gratitude to the restaurant’s dedicated staff. Seastar’s success could not be possible without either. The restaurant will remain open with regular dining at lunch and dinner until the closure, and Chef Howie hopes to see guests stop by and celebrate a remarkable five years in South Lake Union.

The John Howie Restaurant Group and Vulcan came to a mutual decision to end Seastar’s lease in January 2015 and close the restaurant in Seattle. Despite the growing population of the South Lake Union area, Chef Howie believes that Seastar’s concept is perhaps better suited in another location, and is currently searching for a new space. While it’s sad to leave friends and guests behind in Seattle, Chef Howie wants to allow everyone two months to plan accordingly and stop by to say hello one more time (or two!) before closing Seastar’s Seattle operations to focus efforts at the Bellevue location.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished at the Seattle Seastar location; we have amazing people who have given their all to make Seastar a Seattle classic,” commented Chef/Owner John Howie. “We look forward to serving our guests, whether it’s over the next two months or sometime, somewhere in the future. Thank you Seattle!”

Chef Howie opened Seastar ’s Seattle location in the winter of 2009 to incredible accolades and reviews. Since opening, Seastar has received many awards, including Seattle Magazine Reader’s Choice Best Seafood Restaurant and Best Service, Washington Wine Restaurant Award’s Washington Wine Grand Award in 2009, Wine Spectator Magazine’s Best of Award of Excellence consecutively from 2009-2014, and Evening Magazine’s Best of Western Washington top five winner in 2012. Seastar in Seattle was also recognized with Zagat ratings of 27 for food, 25 for service, and 25 for décor.

Chef Howie looks forward to opening a new restaurant/brewery and distillery, Beardslee Public House and Wildwood Spirits Co., in Bothell in January 2015.