The Bridge
A friendly, casual vibe makes this watering hole a new local favorite.
By Maysha Watson December 12, 2011
This article originally appeared in the January 2012 issue of Seattle magazine.
Longtime friends and bartenders Trevor Garand and Rita Dixson opened casual neighborhood bar The Bridge this year in dive-bar Redline’s old space in West Seattle. It’s now a clean, welcoming bar (hooray!) with an outdoor patio and a fresh food and drink menu.
The Vibe
Warmly lit with deep red walls and single candles atop dining tables, The Bridge is pleasant and cozy, with a small stage, a bar, five flat-screen TVs and a photo booth. There are a variety of games on tap here—shuffleboard, darts and a pile of used board games—and a variety of patrons, from a woman in business casual to a guy sporting a Broncos jersey.
The Food
Making good use of local ingredients, the food is familiar yet creative. The assortment of revamped classics (such as The Burger, $10) will have your taste buds rethinking a few basic principles with the addition of pickled peppers and bacon-marinated onion. But consider ordering the bacon-wrapped dates ($8; $5 at happy hour). Filled with goat cheese, wrapped in hickory-smoked bacon and drizzled with a balsamic reduction and goat cheese crème fraîche, these creamy, salty morsels are irresistible.
The Drinks
Garand and Dixson take turns tending bar, pouring draft Mac & Jack’s and concocting various house-created specialty cocktails, ranging from the stomach-burning, Jägermeister-based Bridge Jumper ($8) to the dessert-like Jesse’s Root Beer Float with Pinnacle whipped cream vodka ($7) or the delightfully citrussy Sage Brush ($8) with ginger ale, whiskey and triple sec.
The Bridge. 4439 35th Ave. SW; 206.402.4606; thebridgeseattle.com