Seattle’s Saddest Restaurant Closures of 2016: Bar Sajor, Blind Pig Bistro, and More

As is tradition, Eater closes out the year by surveying local food writers on various restaurant-related topics. Readers, please feel free to chime in with your own thoughts in the comments section below.

Today’s first question: What was the saddest closure of 2016?

Nicole Sprinkle, food writer and critic, Seattle Weekly:

Spur; they really started the gastropub trend here, and did it remarkably well. I'll miss sitting at the bar with a customized cocktail and a fresh slab of smoked salmon with mascarpone, capers, and pickled shallot on toast points. Heaven. I'll also remember it because the first time I ever went there the bartender accidentally spilled a drink all over me....

Angela Garbes, food writer, formerly The Stranger:

Central District's The Barbeque Pit.

Julien Perry, consume editor, The Fresh Toast:

I miss lunch at Bar Sajor and Gabbiano. And I'll miss sitting on the patio at Ponti with a glass of wine, overlooking the canal in the summer.

Allecia Vermillion, senior food and drink editor, Seattle Met:

Blind Pig Bistro opened shortly after I started working at Seattle Met, so it was one of the first "hey guys, this place is open" blog things I did. I loved the food and to me it was so representative of what was happening in the city at that moment: Local and seasonal, inventively so. And a room with shoestring decor, because we were all still clawing our way out of the great recession. I really hope those guys find a new place. Bar Sajor — that one hurt, too.

Chelsea Lin, food and dining editor, Seattle magazine:

I could wax poetic on how there have been so many long-time Seattle businesses closed to make way for development of a newer, fancier city, and what that means. But truthfully, I'll miss Gnocchi Bar the most. Not just the gnocchi, which I know Lisa Nakamura is still selling wholesale, but pastry chef Adana Protonentis' desserts were (are) among the best in the city...and I'm sad they aren't immediately available right now.

Leslie Kelly, senior food editor, Allrecipes:

Blind Pig Bistro had amazing food and man, I'm gonna miss the smoked burger at Old Sage, but top of the list is Ye Olde Spaghetti Factory. Hadn't been there in forever, but it represents a different era in the city. Back when everybody got an iceberg salad with their meal. Don't jump all over my shit, I know the food was old-fashioned, and that's exactly the point. Not many of these Olde places left.

Surly Gourmand, "world’s greatest food writer":

MARTINO'S!!!!! I'll miss the tri-tip sandwich more than I'll miss your mom, whenever it is that she finally decides to die.

Bethany Jean Clement, food writer, The Seattle Times:

Bar Sajor — all that trumpeting of the revival of Pioneer Square was maaaaaybe a little premature.

Jackie Varriano, editor, Zagat Seattle:

The one that hit the closest to home (literally) for me as a relative newcomer was Neptune Coffee. It was two blocks from my house and I still think about their Honey Drop weekly. While I am so glad to see Greenwood rally and come back strong, I miss the vibrancy of Neptune and the crowd of people next door gathered around Mr. Gyro’s tiny counter.