STIR/Martini + Raw Bar Opening in Bellevue Place Saturday, August 1

STIR / Martini + Raw Bar Opening in Bellevue Place Saturday, August 1
Solstice Restaurant Group’s New Eastside Location Offers Relaxed All-Day Dining, Precise Mixology and Lively Atmosphere

BELLEVUE, Wash.—(July 29, 2009)— Come early August, STIR / Martini + Raw Bar will do with cocktails what Twisted Cork has done for wine: ignite Bellevue’s drinking and dining scene.

Solstice Restaurant Group, the creative force behind Twisted Cork Wine Bar and 0/8 Seafood Grill is unveiling a “stirring” new restaurant concept that will focus on an innovative cocktail program, offer a Northwest and Asian influenced menu and wrap it all up in a lively yet sophisticated atmosphere.

“We want to take that same relaxed-fun vibe that we have at Twisted Cork and recreate it in a hip and contemporary cocktail bar,” Solstice Restaurant Group Owner Matt Bomberger says.

As the name implies, a big focus for STIR is on its liquids. Offering something for everyone, from classic to contemporary, from innovative to traditional, master mixologists will offer signature and unique cocktails while also customizing cocktails to guests’ preferences. A distinct feature of the bar is the ice encrusted vodka tap, which will dispense vodka at the perfect temperature, eliminating the need to chill—and dilute—it with ice. The signature cocktail menu includes:

Baby Shea ($7.5)
Titos Vodka, Lillet, Orchard Apricot, lemon juice

Purple Flower ($11)
Bombay Sapphire Gin, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, Crème de Violette, Lavender Dry Soda,
garnished with an iced violet

Caju Caipirinha ($7)
Cachaca, lime, sugar, caju juice

For Whom the Bell Tolls ($9)
Hornitos Tequila, lime, maraschino, grapefruit juice

Summertime Manhattan ($14)
Basil Hayden, Vya sweet vermouth, peach bitters

Maximiliano ($10)
Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka, aperol, egg white, Champagne

In addition to a distinctive cocktail set, simple and contemporary preparations of poke, sushi, ceviche, tartare and oysters are joined by an all day menu of northwest and Asian influenced seafood. The menu will also feature a selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and entrees. Highlights include:

Raw Bar
Beef Tartare ($9)
Sake (Salmon) Sashimi ($8)
Ahi Tuna Poke ($10)
Oyster selection (MP)
King Crab Roll - crab, cucumber, cream cheese, fried tempura, spicy chili aioli ($9)
Halibut Ceviche - tomato, red onion, lemon grass, peppers, plantain chips ($7)

All-Day Dining Menu
Lobster Bisque ($7)
Rock Shrimp Miso Soup ($4)
Crab Salad ($10) / ($14)
Oyster Po’ Boy - cayenne, caramelized onions, saffron aioli ($9)
Beef Udon – seared tenderloin, shiitake mushrooms, scallion, lemongrass ($8)
Coconut Vanilla Prawns - black rice, pea vine, crispy kale ($12)

Designed to have a dynamic, urban lodge vibe, STIR’s ambiance invites comfortable lounging, lingering conversation and socializing. The restaurant is dominated by a bustling central bar lined with shaved-ice for keeping drinks frosty cold. Lounge furniture, dining tables and booths create distinct, intimate areas that punctuate STIR’s large open dining room.

Taking advantage of the warm months of summer, STIR will offer seating on its outdoor patio, accented by grassy and landscaped areas. Ideal for people watching, indoor patio seating will be available in the Wintergarden, just off the Bellevue Hyatt’s grand staircase.

STIR / Martini + Raw Bar will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

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Opening August 2009, STIR / Martini + Raw Bar will focus on precise mixology paired with simple and contemporary raw preparations of poke, sushi, ceviche, tartare and oysters and an all-day menu of NW and Asian influenced seafood. The restaurant offers an intimate, indoor urban lodge-feel with modern elements. Open daily from 11 to 1 a.m., STIR is located in the Bellevue Place Wintergarden, just off the grand staircase of the Bellevue Hyatt. For more information visit www.stirmartinibar.com or follow us on Twitter @StirBellevue.

Media Contact: Andrea Courtney Randall PR / (206) 624-5757