Seattle Press on Line - A Sit at The Bit--the Place for Working Folks

On Ballard Avenue

A Sit at The Bit--the Place for Working Folks

By Unknown Writer #4

Oct 18, 2000 -- I spent some of my college years in Canandaigua, NY, a semi-resort town nestled on the north shore of one of the Finger Lakes. Since the campus had yet to be built, most of our classes were held at empty storefronts in the downtown core of this historic city. That made for extremely easy access to the many bars that also shared the streets. On more than one occasion, I and my distinguished colleagues found ourselves whiling away the afternoon at the Green Front, just off Main on Niagara. There, you could buy a basic green-bottled beer and get a dozen clams in a string sack with melted butter on the side. On good days, they went for a buck a dozen.

Yesterday afternoon, under bright October sun, I found myself inside The Bit Tavern. For a minute, I time-traveled back to the old Green Front. Could it be the light green walls? Perhaps the very high ceilings? Maybe it was the sun streaming through the windows...It's an old, old classic room that feels as close to the archetypal East Coast bar as I've seen in the Northwest.

As I stood in reverie, half expecting my NY bartender/friend Kevin to serve up a green bottle, The Bit's bartender, Colleen, introduced herself above the subdued din of the second Mariners/Yankees match. I asked if Drew was around. She pointed to a table in back. There was owner Drew Greer, with a pile of old frames and an older pile of photos. He'd gone to the Museum of History and Industry and picked up some incredible old Ballard shots to hang on the walls. He had the Cedar Mill, Fisherman's Terminal and the coup de grace, a photo of a whole lot of fish and a 1940s mob-looking guy standing over them, fedora and all. Drew was gleefully spending the afternoon framing, carefully cleaning each frame and proudly displaying each one. In between polishing he told me a little about biz at The Bit.

Just off Leary Way, at 4818 17th Ave., The Bit isn't quite in the hubbub of Ballard Avenue, but part of the scene all the same. It's a great spot for doing just about anything in peace, whether it be watching a game or having a quiet talk. Greer bought the place in August 1999, and has been tinkering with it ever since. There's a blues jam every Wednesday with host bluesman Greg Roberts. You'll find 15 ice cold brews on tap and if you're in food mood, Louisiana chef Nick deVille serves the $5.95 fixed price menu every day. Simple entrees include halibut and chips, double bacon cheeseburgers and grilled steak sandwiches. It's a pleasant spot for lunch or dinner, with monstrous servings and homemade soups. Guess what else? They have really high-speed Internet connections with two computers and they only charge $6 an hour. Now that's definitely not the Green Front. And when you stop in, make sure you ask about the fish and fedora photo.

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