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Two Twelve on Central: Comfortable Downtown Bistro Geared for Grownups

Kirkland's adults have another option for music and libations at Two Twelve on Central.

Not many restaurants in Kirkland cater exclusively to the 21-and-over crowd, but has been added to their ranks. And contrary to the wine glass gracing the logo, it is not just a wine bar.

“We’re a full bar,” says Bobbi Foger, front-of-the-house manager and a partner in the restaurant, which opened last fall with the concept, “Stay local, buy local, support local.”

It's a full bar with musical acts Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays that might be just the kind of grown-up entertainment necessary to draw in Two Twelve’s target audience -- local condo dwellers living the downtown life. Clientele suggested live music might add ambiance to the bar, and the request was granted -- Thursday nights feature the popular local musical group the Side Project.

Foger’s friend Gunnar Nordstrom recommended hiring bartender Craig Salathe, previously of Mixtura. Salathe brings amusing charm to customers and the libation menu offers drinks such as “The Italian Job” and “The Mussolini.” He has a knack for reminding customers to get in a last-minute happy hour order ($4 drafts, house wines and well drinks) and is more than willing to recommend a tasty bite to eat.

Those tasty bites are whipped up by kitchen manager William Chiang, who grew up in the north end of Seattle and received his culinary training at Seattle Central Community College before working in the kitchens of Ray’s Boathouse and Barking Frog. After eating what he claims was an impressive meal at next door, Chiang took a position at the restaurant, meanwhile earning a certificate from the French Pastry School in Chicago.

As the name implies, the restaurant is at 212 Central Way downtown, right next to Lynn's Bistro. Lynn's owner and chef MyLinh Tran was involved in the opening of Two Twelve, but said this week there has been a falling out and the two businesses are now neighbors in location alone.

While Two Twelve menu started out as a Mediterranean small-plate concept, it has morphed into more of a comfort food melange, ranging from cheesy cauliflower gratin (yum!) to Caesar salad to chili chicken drumettes. The calamari isn’t the typical fried chewy rings, but a full calamari steak seasoned with scallion, jalapeno, lemon and garlic. The fried ravioli (more like wontons) filled with kabocha pumpkin were a miss for me, however.

Chiang loves the satisfaction of cooking for customers saying, “People are happy when you provide them good food.” He has thoughtfully produced many gluten-free items on the menu, including the meatloaf, which traditionally contains wheat bread crumbs.

Foger has been in the service industry since she was old enough to pour a drink, working in restaurants, on the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train and still employed as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines. She designed the interior of Two Twelve, centering it around a piece of antique furniture serving as a wait station.

“I really wanted to put in a fireplace,” says Foger, but construction issues would not allow it. Instead, she had a central table installed that is faced in the building’s recycled chimney flue and topped with twinkling candles.

All of the wines are from Washington, with the exception of an Oregon pinot noir. Musicians are also homegrown, though the menu doesn’t necessarily ooze local roots -- unless you count the Dungeness crab in the mac and cheese. But it’s really about drawing in the neighborhood customers at Two Twelve on Central.

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