Food & Culture

Summer Hotspot Alert: Li’l Woody’s in South Lake Union Now Has Boozy Drinks and an Outdoor Deck

The SLU outpost for the burger joint added a drink menu that features boozy milkshakes and signature cocktails. Drink up

By AJ Rathbun July 19, 2018

lilwoodys_crop

There are currently four Li’l Woody’s in the Seattle area, with the first opening in 2011 on Capitol Hill and other outposts in Ballard, White Center, and South Lake Union. The independent small chain is celebrated for its NW grass-fed beef burgers, which have crowned a number of best-of lists, including the Huffington Post’s Most Audacious Burger list, which featured the Trotter burger (caramelized onions, apple, chopped Hills bacon and horseradish sauce).

While Li’l Woody’s has been serving beer and wine for some time, it was only recently – May 31, to be exact – that Li’l Woody’s in South Lake Union started serving up cocktails and booze-y drinks. And while I’ll never frown on a beer and a burger, I’m all for a wider array of drink options, and feel that their choices are fun and match the Li’l Woody’s vibe perfectly.

The drink menu, at first glance, seems fairly small, with six choices. But don’t be deceived. One of the six, for example, is Boozy Milkshakes. There isn’t just one, or two, to pick from, however. You can match any milkshake they serve with any kind of spirit – it’s like a choose-your-own boozy milkshake adventure, the bartender said. Not sure where to start? Just ask the helpful staff, whose suggestions ranged from a Mint Chocolate Chip shake with bourbon (an ice-cream paean to the Mint Julep) to a lush combination of elderflower liqueur St. Germain and a Strawberry shake.

It’s the same with the mules – you can have a classic Moscow Mule, or sub a different spirit in for vodka, changing your ride to a Kentucky Mule with bourbon, a London Mule with gin, and on down the line. Kombucha cocktails follow this mix-and-matching, too, and use Bellingham’s Kombucha Town flavors like blueberry, jasmine, and ginger.

Even though making a choice is entertaining, don’t skip the San Pellegrino Paloma, which requires no further decision-making. Tangy, refreshing, citrus-y, it brings lime, San Pellegrino grapefruit, Sauza silver tequila, and local Scrappy’s grapefruit bitters all together in a summertime treat.

The latter – and really, all of the above – are ideal sipped out on the big patio Li’l Woody’s shares with the Jujubeet and Evergreens (all three constitute “The Deck”). There’s an assortment of outside seating, tall bar tables, shorter tables, and one big square table with fire rocks in the middle – which you might not need now, but fall isn’t that far away. There’s also some seating inside, including a little bar set off from the regular ordering counter, but for this time of year, that patio is a swell sipping and snacking spot for after work. If you don’t want to spoil your dinner with a burger, just share some hand-cut fries with a friend.

One note: the drinks aren’t available until 3 p.m. Not a problem, but if you were dreaming about have a 1950s-style lunch with cocktails, you’re out of luck. You’re in luck if you stop by for Thursday happy hours from 3 until 8 p.m., though, where you’ll find 50 percent off food, a DJ spinning sweet songs, games to play, and more.

A.J. Rathbun writes about bars, spirits and cocktails for Seattle magazine and seattlemag.com, and is the author of 11 books, incluing the IACP award-winning Good Spirits. See more at ajrathbun.com. 

Follow Us

What’s All the Fuss About? 

What’s All the Fuss About? 

Let these Seattle-area restaurants take the Thanksgiving cooking reins

The countdown kicks off earlier each year. Turkey window decals peck at the heels of the skeletons. Soggy brown leaves lay scattered across roads, sidewalks, and yards. From misty blue mornings to frigid evenings, we hear you, nature. It’s time to eat, drink, and be merry. If you’re looking to remove the stress from your…

Five Things to Eat in November

Five Things to Eat in November

No need to wait for the holiday spread. Make every meal as comforting and celebratory as the feast ahead.

So often around this time of year, our attention turns to the holiday feast — the giant bird, abundant sides, and numerous pies — such that we forget how everyday meals can be regular opportunities to treat ourselves. Family-owned restaurants are returning to classic recipes and bringing a sense of comfort and ease to our…

Eat Your Vegetables

Eat Your Vegetables

Make the most of seasonal produce with these recipes

The parking garage is under a vitamin shop, across the street from an apartment complex. It’s trash pickup day so the garbage cans are stinky and overflowing. A few crows bounce through puddles in the alley, waiting for me to pass so they can get back to doing whatever it is crows do when no…

Westfield Southcenter launches Restaurant Row

Westfield Southcenter launches Restaurant Row

The mall is in the midst of a culinary upgrade

Get ready for Restaurant Row at Westfield Southcenter. The entire north side of the Tukwila shopping center has established a new dining district. Dubbed “Restaurant Row,” the emerging culinary hub is introducing several new concepts, beginning with Mr. Dim sum this winter. Gen Korean and another new concept will open later next year. Each restaurant…