Monsoon, Ba Bar Siblings Are Planning to Open a Vietnamese Steakhouse This Fall

By Seattle Mag August 18, 2014

banh

And they don’t stop.

Not to be outdone by the Joule/Revel team (Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi) and their upcoming Korean-inspired grill Trove, or the Korean steakhouse Girin coming to Pioneer Square next year, the brother and sister team behind Monsoon and Ba Bar are opening a huge steakhouse this fall.

Sophie and Eric Banh announced this morning the imminent arrival of 7 Beef, which will be located around the corner from Ba Ba (1305 E. Jefferson St.) in a space that previously housed an architect’s office. The restaurant will include the sibling’s take on the traditional Vietnamese seven-course beef dinner, also known as Bò 7 Món.

At a whopping 4,000 square-feet, 7 Beef will be pretty huge, but the Banhs have their sights set on making in a warm and inviting place with some industrial elements (exposed metal beams, copper), a ton of windows (just like Ba Bar) and a butchery room—perfect for the whole grass-fed cows the kitchen staff will be breaking down for dinner.

Perhaps the most exciting and unexpected announcement is that Scott Emerick, the former owner of Cremant (that great little French bistro that now houses Red Cow in Madrona), who also helped open Le Grand Bistro, will be leading the kitchen. And what a kitchen it will be–marked by a 48-inch wood-fired grill that also doubles as a hearth/broiler/smoker, with a chef’s counter for diners to catch all the glorious action. 

Says Eric Banh, “[Scott] brings a vast knowledge of French cooking, which is a great complement to our vision for the restaurant.”

In addition to copious amounts of beef, the steakhouse will also serve some classic French dishes, with a Vietnamese twist, of course.

And with their Monsoon-adjacent bar (which is quite beautiful and the perfect summer sipping spot with large roll-up windows) just opened a couple of weeks ago, cocktails will be a big part of 7 Beef. Company bar director Jon Christiansen will be in charge of the drinks, while Eric Banh focuses on bringing “an approachable wine list” of mostly French and Northwest wines. 

The only other question left is: What do the Banhs have planned for that back space behind Ba Bar? When I had lunch with Eric last month, he mentioned putting some sort of casual concept in there. Burgers, perhaps? Or is that too much beef for one block? 

 

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