Cafe Lolo is now (softly) open — It’s new restaurant season on Capitol Hill

(Image: @cafeloloseattle)

The folks at Capitol Hill’s Cafe Lolo are still smiling as they welcome first customers for this week’s “soft opening” of the new “seasonal” day and night cafe.

The cafe is beginning its run in the Loveless Building on E Roy just off northern Broadway with a calm as possible schedule with limited hours. You’ll want to check eatcafelolo.com for updates.

CHS reported here in January on the project from restaurant veterans Leah Engel and Alex Halmi who found love and a life together growing Cafe Lolo at Seattle farmers markets and pop-ups. Brett Bankson rounds out the trio.

Capitol Hill diners may know Halmi from his time as “pastaioli” at 14th Ave’s Cascina Spinasse, Engel and Bankson were previously part of the crew at Roosevelt’s Three Sacks Full.

Cafe Lolo is replacing the chef-driven Cook Weaver after chef and owner Zac Reynolds decided to sell the business after a near-decade on E Roy. Yes, the old Russian Samovar murals are still there.

Cafe Lolo’s transformation to brick and mortar is planned as an extension of its popular run at markets with local grains and regional, seasonally-driven ingredients. There will be counter service for daytime hours when servers will still be attentive to table needs. Nighttime will bring a transition to the more traditional sit-down dining service.

Cafe Lolo is planned to eventually be open for daytime brunch and lunch Thursdays through Sundays with dinner served Friday through Monday nights. Cafe Lolo will serve beers, wines, and ciders.

Engel describes Cafe Lolo in terms of focus calling the new cafe “seasonally dictated.”

The season on Capitol Hill is renewal. March has brought a small rush of new spaces making quiet starts around the Hill. Early this month, Kha-Bar arrived with contemporary Bengali flavors on 12th Ave and BusanJeong introduced Korean Pork Broth Rice to North Broadway. “Refreshed steakhouse” Jeffry’s is now open on the backside of Pike/Pine at 10th and Union. And this week also brought the not-so-quiet opening of the much-anticipated Tacos Cometa on Broadway after a year of nightlife street food experience around the corner next to Cal Anderson Park.

Cafe Lolo is now quietly open at 806 E Roy. Learn more eatcafelolo.com.

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