Babirusa Exiting Eastlake, At Least For Now

Favorite Eastlake cocktail-and-dinner haunt Babirusa has announced that it will not renew its lease at the end of the year, so December 2 will be its last day in business. But there’s a glimmer of hope: Owners Charles Walpole and René Gutierrez, who opened Babirusa in May 2014 and ran Blind Pig Bistro next door before closing that last year, hope to open another restaurant next year, according to Seattle Met.

Walpole and Gutierrez have been scouting locations in and around Eastlake so as not to venture too far from their fan base. Fans will also be pleased to hear that the next business should maintain some elements of Babirusa and maybe even of Blind Pig Bistro, with gussied-up bar food and original cocktails.

Regulars can even take heart in two upcoming Blind Pig Bistro pop-up dinners scheduled for October 21 and 22. Each will involve seven courses with dishes like lamb tartare with smoked tomato, quinoa, and sunflower seeds; poached oysters; and goat shoulder with date mole. And after the closure, the restaurant will host seven-course dinners December 7 through 10, though no menu has been announced yet. Reservations for either series can be made by calling Babirusa at (206) 329-2744.