Maria Hines Sets Sights on Fremont For Third Restaurant

Food and Wine Best New Chef and Beard winner Maria Hines gets a rush from opening restaurants, and she tells Seattle Times' Rebekah Denn that she's planning to open her third: Agrodolce, a Sicilian restaurant at the space currently occupied by 35th Street Kitchen + Bar. The deal hasn't been finalized yet, but Hines has been working with 35th Street's owner Michelle Citarello on buying the place "as is". Hines tells Denn, "I'm totally going to leave it as it is. It's charming. She [Michelle] just painted in February, and I love the colors. This is what a turnkey should be: you go in, you turn the key, you cook food and you go. You're open!"

Citarello did more than spruce up the paint job back in February by expanding 35th Street's bar seating and adding a glamorous lounge, so it's no surprise that Hines doesn't want to tinker with it too much. Apparently, Hines has long been fond of the site, when it was the Still Life Cafe: "I lived in Fremont for five years, and I'm a hippie. Of course I need a restaurant in the Center of the Universe! You just couldn't have a better location." Hines hopes to open Agrodolce in January or February 2013 and will have it certified organic. Hines two other certified organic spots, Tilth in Wallingford and Golden Beetle in Ballard, will continue.

· National Star Maria Hines Planning Third Seattle Restaurant [Seattle Times]
· All Maria Hines Coverage on Eater Seattle [-ESEA-]
· All Coming Attractions Coverage on Eater Seattle [-ESEA-]