Latona Pub — Restaurant in Seattle

When marooned in Munchkinland, choose your neighborhood carefully as you will also be selecting your neighborhood pub. I spent about a calendar year’s worth of Friday evenings enjoying Latona Pub’s jazz happy hour, delicious burgers, and sardonic staff. And I would have continued patronizing the establishment but for being patronized by the manager.

I’m not interested in whether anyone’s in an open and/or unhappy marriage. I am interested in spending my milk money at cozy corner pubs where the manager (aka person in power) hashtag resists messaging patrons that they’re pretty while out drinking with his wife. The same manager who looked over my resumé when I was seeking some cash to stay in Seattle (aka the city where my daughter lives), saw that I was previously the Director of Emergency Preparedness for the Massachusetts Port Authority, and said “Wow. That sounds like a big job.” GiRLs wOrK hArd ToO.

No longer comfortable at my usual spot, I left Green Lake, then Seattle, then the West Coast. When I visit my family here in the Emerald City, I drink alone.

#UncensoredShayleen #MakeItRainCity...

I have to say, having lived in Seattle for four years after moving from the east coast, I’ve been generally disappointed in Seattle’s pub scene. That is, until Latona Pub. I have found it almost impossible to find a corner bar serving quality food and a great draft selection in a friendly , unpretentious setting. This is something that is easy to find in Philadelphia, Baltimore etc. Even Portland has a bunch of ‘em. I mean, I don’t need 50 versions of Asian fusion, Pho, and teriyaki in my neighborhood.

Latona fills that void for me. Really great rotating draft selections, and flavorful food with quality ingredients. The first time you look at the menu, it seems pretty basic. But when you taste the food, you will see they actually understand how to cook something, and season it well. Those seem like basic requirements, but I have found it hard to find in Seattle. Latona is my go to place to have a beer or...

Although I no longer live close by, I make the trip as often as possible to enjoy the best burger in Seattle, exquisitely diverse tap list and flavorful overall vibe. Things have changed over the years, but the food, beer, local music and friendly environment is always exceptional. Everything on the menu is succulent, but the burger is my go-to. Love that it comes with a salad (amazing vinaigrette dressing) rather than fries. Duck confit salad was also something so special. Cocktails are also notable as is sitting at the bar and chatting with the other friendly folks that patronize this long-running gem. I miss the previous cooks that seemed to be family and the riffraff that was always going on in the cozy little cooking quarters. Super secret upstairs seating and newer outdoor limited seating is also...