It’s a sad time for the dining world in Seattle: amidst a spate of restaurant closures, another acclaimed restaurant just announced its final day of service. The Whale Wins in Fremont announced that they will be closing this year. Luckily you still have some time left to make a reservation at the James Beard Award-winning restaurant for novelty or nostalgia before it’s gone.
Read on for all the details.
The Whale Wins announced that their last day will be Tuesday, October 28. It opened in 2012 and earned a James Beard Award for Best Northwest Chef in 2016. The reason given for the closure is that rising costs led to the decision to not renew their lease.
The restaurant’s announcement on Instagram read, in part: “The reality is, like many restaurants, we’re facing rising costs that have outpaced our sales. This decision was not an easy one to make but our lease is up in the fall and it’s feeling like this is a good time to close this chapter.”
If you’re looking for a special way to say goodbye to The Whale Wins, the last Lamb & Rose Dinner will be on July 20. This annual summer event is a four-course dinner with rosé wine pairing. Seats are still available and you can snag yours on Open Table.
If you subscribe to the restaurant’s wine club, we have good news for you: the wine club will continue. After The Whale Wins closes in October, wine club subscribers can go to Westward for pickup.
The Whale Wins is part of Renee Erickson’s restaurant group Eat Sea Creatures, which includes other popular Seattle eateries such as Bateau, The Walrus and the Carpenter, and General Porpoise. Although the General Porpoise doughnut shops in Pioneer Square and the Spheres remain open, the other two locations in Capitol Hill and Laurelhurst closed permanently in June. Meanwhile, Bateau and Boat Bar have been temporarily closed since June 19 and are not expected to reopen for three to six months.
For more updates you can follow The Whale Wins on Instagram. And remember, you have until October 28 to make a reservation to try the seasonal, wood-fired dishes at The Whale Wins before it’s gone forever.