It’s time to say goodbye to another beloved Seattle eatery.
You know how sometimes you keep hearing about a must-try restaurant and you add it to the list, neglecting to make a reservation as the months go by because there’s no hurry? Well, if Sawyer has been sitting on your must-try list we have sad news for you: you only have a couple weeks left to cross it off, or miss out forever. News broke this week of popular Ballard restaurant Sawyer closing on Sunday, October 2.
Read on for all the details (but not if you’re hungry).
Upon its opening in 2018 by chef and owner Mitch Mayers, Sawyer quickly garnered praise and a spot on multiple best-of lists. The brightly-lit interior has a minimalist, industrial-chic look that feels very Ballard (perhaps because of the neighborhood’s Scandinavian roots) and the menu can best be described as upscale comfort food. Condé Nast Traveler called it “a serious restaurant that knows how to have fun” in its review.
One menu item that Sawyer has been known for since it opened is its s’more choco taco, pictured above. If you’re still recovering from Klondike’s announcement about their choco taco being discontinued, the news about Sawyer closing is probably hitting you extra-hard right now. Our sincere condolences. We hope you get one more before they close!
People also flock to Sawyer for their dilly bar (essentially a cookie dough ice cream bar encased in chocolate magic shell) and the weekend brunch staple of a skillet stuffed with frosting-glazed cinnamon roll monkey bread. The menu isn’t all sweets, of course; pork belly steam buns, wood-grilled artichokes, and inventive craft cocktails offer a grown-up prelude to your sugar high.
In a statement on the Sawyer Instagram page, Mayers shared:
Closing Sawyer was the hardest decision I have ever made. Being a chef and owning a restaurant has been my dream since I was 11. While there has been a lot of moments of joy and gratitude, there has also been plenty of moments of loss. For much of my life I have prioritized professional achievement while putting my family on the back burner. Owning Sawyer had been my dream, but priorities change, and it has become apparent that closing Sawyer is what I needed for myself and my family.”
Sawyer’s last day of brunch and dinner service will be Sunday, October 2. They will also host a few pop-ups the week after, so be sure to follow their Instagram page for updates.