Le Zinc Restaurant & Bar, a French, neighborhood gastro-pub, is slated to open on Capitol Hill this June. Owned by Maximilien restaurant operators Wilfried Boutillier and Axel Macé, the restaurant’s name is a reference to its zinc metal-topped bar, a feature commonly found in France.
“In France, when you say you’re going to the zinc, back in the day, it meant you were going to the bar,” Boutillier says.
Le Zinc will occupy the ground floor of the newly constructed, Claudio Guincher-developed VOX building and will dedicate nearly half of its 2400 square feet to the bar area. The six-story building also features 52 Apartments on the upper five floors.
Like the building it calls home, Le Zinc was designed and built by local companies-architect Graham Baba and DMCTIS. They are incorporating comforting Old World touches with stylish New World elements by using metals, natural wood, leather and concrete warmed with inviting floor lamp lighting and area rugs to create a casually sophisticated and welcoming neighborhood space.
“ The location on 15th and Pike is great because it is halfway between Madison Park and downtown and has the city neighborhood community feel we wanted for Le Zinc. We’ll bring a touch of France but it will be much different from Maximilien’s–more casual, everyday– like your extended living room,” Boutillier says.
Boutillier and Macé have been owner/operators for 17 of the 37 years that Maximilien’s has been open in its downtown Seattle Pike Place Market location.
Le Zinc’s French gastro-pub menu takes cues from some of the favorites that have made Maximilien famous. Among them is Penn Cove Mussels Marinière with white wine, shallots, butter, garlic, and parsley. The menu at Le Zinc will offer four to five rotating mussel preparations.
“Our goal is to provide a relaxed, neighborhood-style restaurant and bar with a menu highlighting local ingredients with an emphasis on Penn Cove mussels and prices under $22,” said says.
“The wine list is going to feature spectacular wines from France and the Pacific Northwest. The bar and lounge will primarily showcase local premium beers and spirits,” Macé says.
