A lot of Seattle stories seem to be coming to a close as we near the year’s end, with some iconic eateries going out on their own terms and others fighting to survive. Sadly, we’ve also lost some truly outsized figures on the culinary scene, including Ms. Helen Coleman, the “Queen of Seattle Soul Food,” and the “Prince of Pork” and Salumi founder Armandino Batali. It’s important to take the time to remember their contributions, but alas, this is also just the beginning of the article, so in their honor, onward and foodward.

Ho ho holiday hospitality

Over the next few weeks, plenty of restaurants are setting their tables for special occasions to celebrate Christmas and the new year. Have brunch at RIDER Seattle on Dec. 21, where Santa eggs Benedict with sturgeon caviar and gingerbread French toast, a North Pole raw bar (Dungeness crab, smoked salmon, and prawns), a filet mignon carving station, and an over-the-top hot chocolate and dessert bar are all part of the experience. Mountaineering Club is in the midst of its “Field Guide to The 12 Days of Yule” cocktail series based on holiday oracle cards (don’t miss their winter solstice celebration Dec. 20). And The Butcher’s Table will serve a New Year’s Eve tasting menu (4-10 p.m.) with courses like fried Pacific oyster and American wagyu carpaccio, chicory caesar salad, and a smoked salmon lobster bisque.

Cook Weaver is calling it quits

The start of 2026 will be the end of Chef Zac Reynolds’ Capitol Hill restaurant, which he plans to sell to spend more time with his family. It’s the culmination of a decade of business in the historic Loveless Building, where the “neo bistro” leaned into lower menu prices. December reservations are now open to showcase a “best in class,” 11-course omnivore omakase menu to honor the run and say thank you to the community for its support over the years.

Fogo de Chão on top

The Brazilian steakhouse chain took its downtown location to the next level recently, debuting the “Next Level Lounge,” a rooftop bar with a 360-degree view at the corner of University Street and Fourth Avenue. Guests will be able to sit around fireplaces while enjoying a selection of small plates like lobster mac and cheese, empanadas, and yuca fries, plus filet mignon or fire-roasted chicken boards, select cuts of beef, and of course a long list of wine, cocktails, and NA options.

Down to the last drop

The future of Whisky West may rest on approval from the state, as it seeks to transition to an all-ages establishment. Events like live music and trivia are not enough for the business to turn a profit, and the Morgan Junction bar and restaurant’s owner told West Seattle Blog they would not be able to pay the bills without making a change. An initial inspection pointed in the right direction, so families should soon be able to enjoy burgers, rice bowls, salads, and sandwiches together, plus a $12 kids menu.

A storied career will come to a close

John Spaccarotelli, 94, a Korean War veteran and the owner of The Shanty Tavern, is believed to be the oldest bartender in Seattle, but on Dec. 19, he’ll cut a rug and serve drinks with a wink and a smile for the last time. The city’s last roadhouse is set to host its final show that day, and may yet “host a big ‘beer blast’” sometime in January, but then the Lake City Way landmark will go dark (at least until Spaccarotelli starts renting the property out for events). It goes out alongside another longtime venue, Slim’s Last Chance—the Georgetown chili parlor is also set to close in the coming months.

Out-of-this-world tacos and quesadillas

A pair of stars on the Mexican food scene will open their first brick-and-mortar restaurant, Tacos Cometa, at 1620 Broadway next March. Although brothers Rey and Osiel Gastelum spent 14 years in the fine-dining space, it took only a single year for their food truck (of the same name) to chart a meteoric rise in popularity, fueling this move to open up their Sinaloan dishes to more customers.