June 19, 2007

A Hex of a Good Time

Smith Opens

Curses, schmurses.

True, you’ve stabbed voodoo dolls. And you blamed your high school GPA on that broken mirror. But your fascination with the heebie-jeebies ended when you outgrew Christopher Pike.

So you won’t hesitate to try Smith, a funky new bar and restaurant that just opened in a supposedly jinxed Capitol Hill location.

Determined to stay for more than six months, Linda Derschang (the force behind Linda’s Tavern, King’s Hardware, and the Viceroy, to name just a few) gutted the place (to exorcise its ghosts?). Now vintage portraits, retro wallpaper, and taxidermied animals create an old school pub vibe with an eerily hip twist.

Former Licorous chef Gordon Wishard’s quirky menu jives perfectly with the cozy-creepy decor. So order a Rainier tall boy or a Belgian brew and dig into clam steamers, house-pickled veggies, and venison meatloaf. No matter what, you’ll find the place downright bewitching.

And bound to stick around for a spell.

Smith, 332 15th Avenue East (206-709-1900).