Closure Blues: A Culinary Surprise in Capitol Hill!

Capitol Hill just got a little less flavorful. Stateside, the famed Vietnamese-French restaurant run by James Beard-nominated chef Eric Johnson, has closed its doors without so much as a goodbye meal. Johnson took to social media to announce the sudden shutdown, stating it was due to a mandatory closure in Seattle. You know it’s disappointing when you find out your favorite spot is out of service—like walking into your pantry and discovering it’s just empty.

The closure didn’t just impact Johnson’s kitchen; his neighboring bar, Foreign National, also shut down recently, apparently a casualty of a lease expiration. Talk about double trouble! Seattle diners are left to reminisce about their last visit, with no chance to indulge in what they love most—his delicious offerings. And let’s be honest, closing down without even a farewell dinner feels like pulling the rug out from underneath the entire community’s culinary scene.

Now, take a second to imagine this: what if you had a chance to pick the last dish to enjoy before the doors swung shut? What would it be? As we sit and ponder what went wrong in the lease negotiations that led to this bittersweet ending, it leaves us craving not just the food but the stories attached to these beloved places.

So what’s next for Stateside and Foreign National? Johnson hinted at weighing new possibilities, but no specifics just yet. Fingers crossed this dynamic duo of eateries will surface again like a phoenix rising from the ashes—or at least a really good beef pho. Because let’s be real, Seattle needs its flavors back!

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