EMP Museum Opens a Wolfgang Puck Restaurant, and More Intel

Switcheroos

Culture Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck recently replaced Pop Kitchen in the EMP Museum; chef Greg Campbell, a Washington native, is serving seasonally-inspired fare like hearth-baked sandwiches, salads, and soups to pair with a selection of draft beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. Campbell tells Eater, "After five years in the space, we felt it was time to evolve the concept and take more advantage of the great product Seattle has to offer us." You don't have to be a museum member to dine at Culture, but there's a 10% member discount. Full menus and details are online. [EMP]

Awards Season

Bon Appétit has released its long list of the 50 Best New Restaurants in America, a selection that will eventually be winnowed to ten. Two Capitol Hill spots made the first cut, including James Beard Award-winner Renee Erickson's innovative steakhouse Bateau and the latest iteration of Thai favorite Little Uncle. [BA]

Opening Report

Capitol Hill gave a warm welcome to a new sushi spot recently: Ikina Sushi is owned by Shinsuke Nikaido, who also slings Japanese-style hot dogs from his cart, Gourmet Dog Japon. Capitol Hill Times reports that chef Michael Suzuki, who worked for decades with legendary Seattle chef Shiro Kashiba, "runs the kitchen and sushi bar, receiving a percentage of the profits." See full hours and menus (which extend well beyond sushi) on Facebook. [CHT]

Cash or Credit

After 62 years of cash-only sales, local burger chain Dick's Drive-In will accept credit or debit at all locations by September. The company's pushing the news hard on its website with slogans like, "Remember when the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl? This is almost that good!" You be the judge. [Dick's]