Jackalope (restaurant)

Jackalope
The restaurant's exterior, 2023
Restaurant information
Established	December 2021 (2021-12)
Owner(s)	Jack Timmons Graham Ayers
Food type	Tex-Mex Mexican
Street address	4868 Rainier Ave South
City	Seattle
County	King
State	Washington
Postal/ZIP Code	98118
Country	United States
Coordinates	47.5581°N 122.2849°W / 47.5581; -122.2849
Website	jackalopetexmex.com

Jackalope Tex-Mex and Cantina, or simply Jackalope, is a restaurant in Columbia City, Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. Established by co-owners Jack Timmons and Graham Ayers in 2021, the restaurant serves Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine, and has garnered a positive reception.

Description

Named after the mythical creature of the same name,[1] Jackalope is a restaurant on Rainier Avenue South in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood. Established by staff of a local barbecue restaurant chain,[2] Jackalope serves Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine with smoked meat in dishes like enchiladas, fajitas, and tacos. Brisket appears in the chili gravy, enchiladas, and picadillo. The restaurant has also served chile con queso, chile rellenos, grilled quail, nachos,[2] rockfish, stuffed peppers, tostadas with ceviche, baja fish tacos with chipotle cream and mango pico de gallo, and rice and beans.[3][4]

The campechana has Dungeness crab and wild shrimp from Texas.[5] The 'El Caesar' salad has green chile dressing.[2] Cumin is used in many dishes.[6] Jackalope's signature hot sauce has Fresno and habanero chilies.[7] The weekend[8] brunch menu has included Huevos rancheros and Texas-style breakfast tacos.[9] The drink menu has included margaritas,[3] mezcal and tequila.[10]

History

Jack Timmons and Graham Ayers, the founder and a longtime general manager of Jack's BBQ, respectively, opened Jackalope in December 2021,[10] in the space that previously housed El Sombrero for approximately 17 years.[2][11][12] The opening was slightly later than the previously reported launch dates of September and November 2021 by Eater Seattle and Thrillist, respectively.[13][14]

Reception

Allecia Vermillion included Jackalope in the take-out edition of Seattle Metropolitan's 2022 list of the city's best new restaurants.[15] In 2023, Aimee Rizzo and Kayla Sager-Riley included the business in The Infatuation's overview of recommended eateries for birthday dinners,[16][17] and Harry Cheadle and Charlie Lahud-Zahner included Jackalope in Eater Seattle's list of fourteen "mouth-watering" Mexican restaurants in the metropolitan area.[9] Tan Vinh of The Seattle Times said Jackalope's hot sauce "is one of the better takes around town".[7]

See also

• List of Mexican restaurants
• List of Tex-Mex restaurants

References

1. "Taste the cuisine of both north and south of the border at Jackalope Tex-Mex & Cantina". KING-TV. January 13, 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
2. "Jackalope Brings Tex-Mex Cuisine to the Heart of Columbia City". South Seattle Emerald. 2022-01-27. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
3. "Jackalope Review - Columbia City - Seattle". The Infatuation. 2022-02-18. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
4. "A Takeout Guide to New Seattle Bars and Restaurants". Seattle Metropolitan. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
5. Tomky, Naomi (2021-12-21). "December brings winter cheer and new restaurants to Seattle". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
6. Burnstead, Brandon (2022-03-21). "Jackalope brings a taste of Tex-Mex to Columbia City". Seattle Refined. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
7. Vinh, Tan (2022-02-05). "A kosher cafe comes to Seward Park and 16 other restaurant openings in Seattle". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
8. Grossman, Sophie (2023-08-03). "Where to Eat and Drink During Seafair Weekend". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-12-10. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
9. Cheadle, Harry (2016-04-08). "14 Mouth-Watering Mexican Restaurants in the Seattle Area". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
10. "Jack's BBQ Spinoff Jackalope Arrives in Columbia City". Seattle Metropolitan. Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
11. Guarente, Gabe (2021-05-12). "Jack's BBQ to Open a Sibling Tex-Mex Restaurant in Columbia City". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
12. "El Sombrero Closes After 17 Years, Leaving With 'Love Full in Our Hearts'". South Seattle Emerald. 2021-05-18. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
13. Guarente, Gabe (2021-08-10). "More Seattle Nightlife and Entertainment Venues Announce Vaccine Requirements". Eater Seattle. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
14. Tomky, Naomi (2021-08-27). "13 Fall Restaurant Openings in Seattle to Get Excited About". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
15. "The Best New Restaurants in Seattle". Seattle Metropolitan. Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
16. "Where To Have Your Birthday Dinner In Seattle - Seattle". The Infatuation. 2022-01-21. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
17. "Where To Go When You Don't Want To Make A Big Deal About Your Birthday, But You Actually Kinda Do - Seattle". The Infatuation. 2022-01-21. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-12-10.

External links

• Official website
• Taste the cuisine of both north and south of the border at Jackalope Tex-Mex & Cantina, KING-TV
• Cooking up brisket enchiladas with Columbia City's Tex-Mex restaurant Jackalope, KING-TV