Tapas in Ballard

Hannah Levin just clued me in that Seattle’s Chowhounders are abuzz with the Jan. 22 opening of a tapas restaurant in Ballard: Ocho, 2325 N.W. Market St. Apparently, it’s open seven days a week, serving food until midnight and strong liquor until 2. The phone directory hasn’t registered the business and I can’t find a Web site yet, so let me know if you have any more information or comments.

— Jonathan Kauffman

New Italian in Ballard

There’s a new Italian joint coming to Ballard, called Il Giardino. Sign’s up, and now there’s a big “coming soon” announcement in the window. Anyone know when it’s opening?

— Jess Thomson

A Growler Bar in Ballard?

Peeking at CHOW’s Pacific Northwest board, those posting about Il Giardino also mentioned another new place: “going in right next to Tiger Tail is apparently a ‘growler bar’…”

Anyone know more?

— Adriana Grant

New From the Folks Behind the Purple Cafe: Barrio

Larry and Tabitha Kurofsky, the folks behind the Purple Cafe in Seattle, Kirkland, and Woodinville, have just announced they’re opening a new restaurant in the almost-completed Trace North building in the Pine/Pike triangle. Slated to open this summer, Barrio, named for the Spanish word for neighborhood, will serve up “Northwest inspired traditional Mexican dishes and well-crafted cocktails.” No word yet on the menu or who will run the kitchen.

— Jess Thomson