Renton and Kent make the ethnic diversity grade, and other notes
Within the last month, Wallet Hub( whoever they are) came out with their annual rankings of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States. Jersey City, New Jersey ranked number one. But three out of the top twenty five were from western Washington State. Renton, home of the Freakazoid homestead, ranked twentieth, out of about five hundred cities ranked. Kent, Renton's neighbor to the south, ranked tenth. And Federal Way, about fifteen miles southwest of Renton, ranked twenty fourth. Seattle, the nearby city of seven hundred thousand plus, ranked 138th. A city in Florida finished last, being 97% Hispanic/Latino.
Renton has a smaller percentage of non Hispanic whites than Seattle does, but a larger percentage of African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, Hawaiians/Polynesians, people of two or more races, and Asians.
As someone who enjoys multiculturalism, and especially food from all over the world, how can this not be a good thing?
But no matter the ethnic diversity of a city, owning a restaurant is a challenge, and restaurants are well known for not having longevity. So it comes as a shock when a place that's been around for years goes out of business.
First it was the Beachcomber in Skyway. Closed maybe six months ago, it was in business since the 1940's. When I was on the West Hill council, prior to the city of Renton annexing the Freakazoid homestead, there were a few "after" meetings at the Beachcomber. They had better than average, inexpensive bar food. And the clientele represented the ethnic diversity of the area. But it's gone, now an empty space. Maya's in Rainier Beach is gone since November, the owners retiring. I'm pretty sure they were there at least thirty years. They served better than average Mexican food, had multi colored chips, and great Spinach enchiladas. But now they're gone.
And in Renton, the Hangar 205, formerly Love's Landing, has closed. Yes, it was a dive. Yes, it attracted it's share of motorcyclists. But the people were friendly, it was an accepting place, and they had some of the best burgers I've ever eaten. I'm more of a vegetarian now, and can't tell you the last time I had a burger. It might have been at the Hangar. But as places close, other intrepid entrepreneurs are opening places, foolish though they may be. The long vacant space that housed the late Shuga's Jazz Bistro is now open as O-Cha Thai restaurant. It's a huge space, and the food is good.( 317 Main Ave S, Renton). I was a huge fan of Ma Prang on Park Avenue in Renton, but now they're gone, replaced by Nice Thai, which I haven't tried.
The former Pizza Hut, 261 Rainier Avenue S, is now Sansonina Ristorante Italiano. It's an amazing transformation from Pizza Hut, both decor wise and food wise. We tried it once and will be back. Great steamed mussels, and complimentary bread with herb butter.
A little further south, in the even more ethnically city of Kent, a new Afghani place recently opened called Afghan Cuisine. I haven't been. But Afghani food is so good! Kent also has a Persian restaurant, and at least three Iraqi owned Middle eastern places, as well as the Alhamdani Iraqi bakery, where they have delicious and addictive pastries. I don't want to live in Kent, but it's an unsung foodie's paradise. Renton also many good places to eat and drink. I'd love to see a Greek restaurant, and a bakery where I can get a good loaf of rye bread. But you can't have everything.
In Seattle, it costs more to operate a restaurant because of the higher minimum wage, and there is a larger percentage of people in Seattle who make more money, so too many restaurants are catering to the well heeled, places that serve things like "marinated wild harvested pigeon entrails in a beurre blanc reduction served with roasted radicchio on a bed of farro" , for 43.95, and then charge an extra surcharge/service charge. Don't get me started. Food service workers deserve more money. They should get it. But don't add on a "service charge" and blame the law for it . Just raise the prices. By adding a service charge, it draws attention to the fact that the workers are being paid more. Fine, brag about it, but don't politicize it, don't blame the workers for it. It makes me not want to patronize places with a service charge, unless it specifically states that it is in lieu of a tip. I've heard restaurant owners claim that they can't raise prices because it is such a competitive marketplace. But what are they doing when they're adding a 7% service charge? They're raising the prices, but not on the menu, because they think their customers are stupid and can't figure it out.
That is just one more reason to dine in Renton.
Renton has a smaller percentage of non Hispanic whites than Seattle does, but a larger percentage of African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, Hawaiians/Polynesians, people of two or more races, and Asians.
As someone who enjoys multiculturalism, and especially food from all over the world, how can this not be a good thing?
But no matter the ethnic diversity of a city, owning a restaurant is a challenge, and restaurants are well known for not having longevity. So it comes as a shock when a place that's been around for years goes out of business.
First it was the Beachcomber in Skyway. Closed maybe six months ago, it was in business since the 1940's. When I was on the West Hill council, prior to the city of Renton annexing the Freakazoid homestead, there were a few "after" meetings at the Beachcomber. They had better than average, inexpensive bar food. And the clientele represented the ethnic diversity of the area. But it's gone, now an empty space. Maya's in Rainier Beach is gone since November, the owners retiring. I'm pretty sure they were there at least thirty years. They served better than average Mexican food, had multi colored chips, and great Spinach enchiladas. But now they're gone.
And in Renton, the Hangar 205, formerly Love's Landing, has closed. Yes, it was a dive. Yes, it attracted it's share of motorcyclists. But the people were friendly, it was an accepting place, and they had some of the best burgers I've ever eaten. I'm more of a vegetarian now, and can't tell you the last time I had a burger. It might have been at the Hangar. But as places close, other intrepid entrepreneurs are opening places, foolish though they may be. The long vacant space that housed the late Shuga's Jazz Bistro is now open as O-Cha Thai restaurant. It's a huge space, and the food is good.( 317 Main Ave S, Renton). I was a huge fan of Ma Prang on Park Avenue in Renton, but now they're gone, replaced by Nice Thai, which I haven't tried.
The former Pizza Hut, 261 Rainier Avenue S, is now Sansonina Ristorante Italiano. It's an amazing transformation from Pizza Hut, both decor wise and food wise. We tried it once and will be back. Great steamed mussels, and complimentary bread with herb butter.
A little further south, in the even more ethnically city of Kent, a new Afghani place recently opened called Afghan Cuisine. I haven't been. But Afghani food is so good! Kent also has a Persian restaurant, and at least three Iraqi owned Middle eastern places, as well as the Alhamdani Iraqi bakery, where they have delicious and addictive pastries. I don't want to live in Kent, but it's an unsung foodie's paradise. Renton also many good places to eat and drink. I'd love to see a Greek restaurant, and a bakery where I can get a good loaf of rye bread. But you can't have everything.
In Seattle, it costs more to operate a restaurant because of the higher minimum wage, and there is a larger percentage of people in Seattle who make more money, so too many restaurants are catering to the well heeled, places that serve things like "marinated wild harvested pigeon entrails in a beurre blanc reduction served with roasted radicchio on a bed of farro" , for 43.95, and then charge an extra surcharge/service charge. Don't get me started. Food service workers deserve more money. They should get it. But don't add on a "service charge" and blame the law for it . Just raise the prices. By adding a service charge, it draws attention to the fact that the workers are being paid more. Fine, brag about it, but don't politicize it, don't blame the workers for it. It makes me not want to patronize places with a service charge, unless it specifically states that it is in lieu of a tip. I've heard restaurant owners claim that they can't raise prices because it is such a competitive marketplace. But what are they doing when they're adding a 7% service charge? They're raising the prices, but not on the menu, because they think their customers are stupid and can't figure it out.
That is just one more reason to dine in Renton.
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