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A greasy spoon without the grease? Youngstown Kitchen — the offshoot of local java shop Youngstown Coffee Co. — recently opened at 6032 California Avenue SW, and aims to emphasize healthy options to patrons. The short menu in the cozy restaurant (with seating for about 15) highlights six different salads and a few sandwiches, including an avocado smash with cheesy eggs and sauteed mushrooms, and a “pulled pork” concoction with jackfruit instead of meat. There are also more indulgent pastries and drinks available, such as biscuits and a “Perfect Start” latte, with vanilla, cinnamon, honey, and oat milk.
The new restaurant is in the space formerly occupied by popular fried food purveyor Harry’s Chicken Joint, which closed this spring after six years. Back in the day, this also was the location of Nate & Kate’s Restaurant, before it became Jade West Cafe and then the short-lived comfort food spot Meander’s, pre-Harry’s.
Youngstown owner Zoe Kritzer seems well aware that residents may still have some strong feelings about some of those older spots. For instance, locals rallied around Jade West owner Wah Wong after he was seriously injured by a drunk driver and forced into retirement years ago. Kritzer intends to keep the Jade West sign inside the building as a tribute.
In that vein, she hopes to build strong ties to the community. “We don’t have customers, we have friendstomers,” Kritzer tells Eater Seattle. “Because every person that walks in is treated like our best and oldest friend.”
