The sunny yellow exterior of The Heartland Cafe (4210 S.W. Admiral Way)

Published 8:00 am Thursday, November 5, 2009

The sunny yellow exterior of The Heartland Cafe (4210 S.W. Admiral Way) is coming together, but much work needs doing on the interior of the new restaurant next to the Shipwreck Tavern in the Admiral District of West Seattle. It’s the space that used to occupy the Benbow, a much missed tear-in-yer-beer bar. The restaurant will focus on Midwest comfort food (yessss) and is shooting for a late winter opening. Perhaps it will fill the void the old Homestead has left in the hearts of West Seattleites.Walking to the back bar of the Admiral Benbow, through the large front space and down a hall, was like entering an amusement park ride, one that had fallen in disrepair. According to the guys working on the space, the new owners will restore the ship-like back bar area and bestow on it the name of old, the Benbow Room. But the entrance will be separate, from the alley as opposed to street side. Bratwurst laden family dining in the front, dark and divey bar in the back–sounds like pure heaven.