Restaurants in Magnolia and all across Seattle will have to make a big change starting July 1.  That’s when an ordinance will require all single-use packaging and food ware to be compostable or recyclable.  Restaurants and food service businesses will also have to put up new bins for customers to sort their trash.

Today, Seattle Public Utilities invited Magnolia Voice to Safeco Field for a look at how the Seattle Mariners are already implementing the program.  All food vendors at the stadium have switched to compostable products and bins have been set up on all levels so fans can sort the trash after they’ve finished eating.  Safeco hopes to have a recycling rate of over 70 percent.

“Our beer cup looks like plastic but it’s made of corn.  Our knives, forks and spoons look like plastic but they’re also made of corn.  They are heat senstitive, so if you have a spoon in a hot food item, it will bend.  That’s something fans will have to get used to,” said Scott Jenkins with the Mariners.

Restaurants will face added costs from the new ordinance, and some have pushed back against Seattle Public Utilities.  The Washington Restaurant Association says most restaurants in Seattle are interested in using more sustainable practices, but they have questions about cost and customer safety.  SPU says many businesses, like Taco Del Mar which made the switch the eco-friendly ware back in 2008, are more than willing to make the change.

“The restaurants are responding really well,” said Dick Lilly from SPU.  “It’s a big change so it’s going to take some working out.  The products are getting better and less expensive.”

The city’s new composting requirements follow a ban on styrofoam last year.  You can read more about the program here.

Updated: A Magnolia area restaurant is listed for sale today for $1.2 million.  The listing does not name the restaurant, but says it has dining seating for 68 and a separate bar with seating for 45.

The description sounds like Rudy’s Place, so we called the restaurant for a confirmation.  But a manager tells us the listing — which is indeed for Rudy’s — is a mistake, and the restaurant is not for sale.

The Seattle Times NW Ticket editor gives a big thumbs up to Magnolia’s newest restaurant today. 

Serendipity, located in The Village on McGraw street, earned praise for menu items like the Grown-up Mac & Cheese that is an ’oh-so-good mix of creamy cheeses like fontina, mozzarella, Romano and white Cheddar, heavy cream, crunchy Parmesan-toasted fresh breadcrumbs, al dente elbow mac and a touch of truffle oil.’

The restaurant is run by up Magnolia sisters-in-law and co-owners Jen Young and Nanette Baker.  They spent the last year rehabbing the former Magnolia Tree gift store, before opening the restaurant in July.

This review differs with opinions shared by MagnoliaVoice readers.  So far, they only give Serendipity two and a half stars out of five, far behind local favorites Nikos Gyros and Ichiro Sushi who score at the top of the list with a solid four out of five stars.  Comments differ too, with one person calling it a great family restaurant and another saying that kids were running all over the place.  The Seattle Times praised the atmosphere, calling it comfort food served in a warm inviting place.

Based on our experience, the restaurant did have some challenges at opening but maybe its time to give it another shot?

If you live in the general vicinity of Palisade restaurant, you may have heard the sirens early this morning. A full contingent of firefighters responded to W. Marina Pl. just before 2 a.m., and they discovered smoke on the main floor. The small fire was quickly extinguished.

Nikos Gyros currently has the most votes in our new restaurant rating section and it looks like people love this place, rating it a 4.5 out of 5.  Do you agree?

Other restaurants getting some love from readers are Red Mill, Chinooks, Szmania’s and El Ranchon with 4 stars.

Make sure to cast your vote, share your comments and let your neighbors know what you think. 

Just got this email from Julie and Ludger, owners of Szmania’s Restaurant.

“Twice now our A-frame style sandwich board has been stolen from Magnolia. Once at the corner of 28th Ave. W. & Dravus a few months ago, and now (last night 9/3/08) from the corner of 28th Ave. W. & W. McGraw.

This time it was attached to the street sign with a bike chain which was obviously cut or somehow broken off. It had only been at the corner for a few hours – we wanted to promote our 1/2 price Wednesday Wine Night – at an intersection where people don’t normally drive by our restaurant. It was placed there late afternoon and was already gone when we went to pick it up by 10:30 p.m.

There are many, many A-boards all over Magnolia advertising anything from homes for sale to businesses, churches, public events, blood drives, etc. The fact that our restaurant sign has been stolen TWICE when it was only on these corners for a short time is very disconcerting. If someone has a problem with signage, a call or complaint would be appreciated. These signs costs hundreds of dollars to make including the slip-in placards for custom events.

PLEASE PLEASE return the sign(s) to our restaurant if anyone sees it. No questions asked. I can’t imagine a competitor taking it (as the more good businesses, the better in Magnolia). Competition brings higher standards and ingenuity. If it’s a disgruntled former customer or employee, talking to us would be certainly preferable to theft and destruction of property.”

Thank you,
Ludger & Julie Szmania

Have other businesses had problems with their sign boards? Let us know.

Check out our new restaurant section on Magnolia Voice. There are listings for all the restuarants in our area and now we need you to share your opinion.

Tell us which ones you love and why.  Let us know if a restaurant is not hitting the mark. Just click on the restaurant you want to review and then pick the star rating you think they deserve.

People who live in the neighborhood give the best reviews so take a few minutes to share your opinions!

Sisters-in-law Nanette Baker and Jen Young have opened their long-awaited restaurant at 3222 W. McGraw in the Village.  Both women live in Magnolia, and Jen was previously part owner of the Village Pub across the street.

Serendipity is a neighborhood café serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The restaurant was delayed by construction issues, but since it opened earlier this month the owners say they have been overwhelmed by the positive response from Magnolia diners.

Serendipity is a casual neighborhood spot with fresh food that is welcoming to families with a large children’s play area.  There is counter service for coffee drinks and gelato and sit down service for lunch and dinner.  A selection of take out meals will roll out soon.  Serendipity also has a beer and wine menu.

The restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.