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James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson, owner of Miller’s Guild, debuts his two new Bellevue projects today: The Lakehouse restaurant and Civility and Unrest cocktail lounge.
Eater stopped by to preview both spaces, which are housed on separate floors of the Lincoln Square Expansion in Bellevue (10455 NE 5th Place). Wilson was heavily involved in every aspect of the design at both establishments, from choosing the ceramicists that created handmade plates and bowls to the artisans who developed the handmade menu covers and custom knives.
The Lakehouse is billed as a “modern Northwest farmhouse,” which Wilson says is meant to evoke a sense of place and honor the history of Bellevue. Wilson and team will plate straightforward yet elegant seasonal dishes that lean heavily on sourcing from local farms. There will be plenty of from-scratch elements, including pasta, and a range of small and large shareable dishes.
“Throughout my career I have cooked to a sense of place, which is particularly relevant now,” Wilson says. “The rich history and story of Bellevue inspired me. The story starts with the area’s history as a farming community. It’s embellished by the area’s use for summer homes, and beach and lake houses. It evolved into bedroom communities where people often lived in the area and worked across the bridge, once the first bridge was built. The last piece is our most recent era, a growing epicenter, where we have become a modern hub of technology, combined with arts and culture. I wanted to build a Lakehouse, a place that I always wanted to entertain in and a place of familiarity and comfort.”
The Lakehouse will open at 7 a.m. daily, closing at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
As for Civility and Unrest, expect a craft cocktail bar that skews toward “contemporary speakeasy.” The bar will shake and stir Northwest-inspired original cocktails with local spirits alongside a collection of Champagne and other sparkling options.
“Civility and Unrest is all about the discovery of cocktail culture,” Wilson says. “It’s ultimately quality-driven, a little sexy escape and all about fun.”
Civility and Unrest will open at 5 p.m. daily and close at 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
