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Chef Toshiyuki Kawai announced plans today to reopen his French-Japanese fine-dining restaurant Iconiq at 1421 31st Ave. S on Mount Baker this October, which will mark a year since he closed the restaurant temporarily to deal with a personal matter. Kawai also floated the possibility of a few casual pop-ups in June and July.
When he put Iconiq on hiatus, Kawai said he was headed to Japan to deal with a “family emergency” and hoped to reopen a month or two later. Today’s Facebook post revealed instead that he had a personal health issue that he felt was better treated in Japan, where he could be close to his family during recovery. “Last October I was ill and needed some treatment,” he wrote. He assured everyone he’s doing much better and should be back in October “with a greater passion and even more knowledge of Iconic cuisine.”
Hello Iconiq lovers. This is Toshi, chef of Iconiq restaurant. Today I’d like to update everyone regarding my...
Posted by Iconiq on Thursday, May 3, 2018
Iconiq opened in 2017 in the former home of A La Bonne Franquette, and it quickly won over critics, so this should be welcome news to anyone missing the chef’s unique blend of French and Japanese cuisines. In a review last summer, Seattle Met said, “This restrained dining room offers reassurance that pleasing people needn’t negate ambition.” The Seattle Times had a similar experience last spring: “Iconiq has the relaxed demeanor of a neighborhood place [...] Yet the food and service has the refinement you expect when appetizers are in the double digits and entrees hit $30.”