insiderseattle
The much-anticipated restaurant and bar will be located in the heart of Alki Beach
Washington native Executive Chef Dan Mallahan and his business partner and wife Jackie Mallahan have announced their first brick and mortar restaurant. Driftwood will officially open on Thursday January 5th in Seattle’s Alki Beach neighborhood. An expansive bar will take center stage alongside an open kitchen and two outdoor spaces with views of Elliott Bay.
Driftwood takes inspiration from the region surrounding it and aims to showcase Washington’s bountiful connection from mountain to sound, along with all the wonderful ingredients that can be celebrated. Focused on regional community partnerships, Chef Mallahan has brought eating local to new heights, partnering with farmers in the Deschutes, Green and Snohomish River valleys, as well as Vashon and the San Juan islands to grow fresh seasonal ingredients exclusively for the restaurant.
Working closely with tribal members of the Quinault, and Makah tribes allows Chef Mallahan to source some of the best fish in the world, and links Washington’s rich tribal fishing heritage to his kitchen. Expect an exceptional oyster and shellfish program and foraged wild foods and ingredients unknown to many. The menu will feature shared plates, mains, and desserts including items such as, Whistling Train Farm’s whole roasted honey bear squash, cider poached pear, house feta and pumpkin seeds, Structures Brewing steamed local clams with glazed pork belly and buttered turnips from Little Big Farm, and Mama’s apple cake with poached star king apples from Collins Family Orchards, spiced pecan, goat cheese, and burnt sugar bourbon gastrique.
The 2,200 SF space will seat 48, including bar seating and special water view counter space, and will offer additional seasonal outdoor seating for up to 22. The patio will offer semi-private dining for groups of up to 16.
“We’re so excited to be opening a space in West Seattle. We live in the neighborhood and have had a goal to serve this community for quite some time,” said Mallahan. “This restaurant is the culmination of many years of dreaming, planning, and taking time to make sure we get it right. We can’t wait to open our doors.”
An extensive bar program will feature fun coastal cocktails highlighting spirits from local distilleries and around the world, a selection of local and domestic beers, and a substantial local wine list that features crisp whites and bold reds from Washington State.
Driftwood is located at 2722 Alki Ave SW, Seattle WA 98116 and will be open from 5-10pm Thursdays – Mondays. Reservations can be made at www.driftwoodseattle.com, and gift cards can be purchased at Order | Driftwood Restaurant, Seattle WA eGift Cards (squareup.com). Follow @driftwood_seattle on Instagram for more information and updates.
Meet Chef Dan Mallahan: Chef Dan was born and raised in Everett, Washington at the headwaters of Wood Creek, a small tributary surrounded by mature forest, meandering into the valley below and flowing into the Snohomish River. Growing up, he spent countless hours with his brothers exploring the forest and stream corridor, picking wild mushrooms and berries, learning about native plants and animals, and discovering a passion for nature and its important relationship to food. In 2008, after studying Business Management at Western Washington University, Daniel moved to San Francisco to pursue cooking professionally. After graduating from the California Culinary Academy he began working at the new FIVE Restaurant, a local market driven concept in Berkeley, California. In 2011 Daniel began working for James Beard Award winning Chef Nancy Oakes at the Michelin-starred Boulevard restaurant in San Francisco. Daniel quickly rose through the ranks and earned a spot in management in this highly successful and competitive restaurant. During the summer of 2016 Daniel got the opportunity to work with world renowned Chef Cristina Bowerman in Rome, Italy. He was able to spend time with the teams from both of Cristina’s restaurants, Michelin-starred Glass Hostaria and her modern Italian space, Romeo Chef and Baker. In 2017 Daniel moved back to Seattle to open RIDER, a seafood focused woodfired restaurant in the heart of downtown. Chef Daniel has prided himself in working with the very best products and people of the PNW. Always with a focus on what’s nearby, what’s in season and what’s growing in the wild.
Meet Jackie Mallahan: Jacqueline grew up on the beach in Melbourne, Florida. She spent her days baking with her grandmother, tinkering on classic cars in her father’s garage and rearranging their home’s furniture with her mother. After studying interior design at Florida State University Jackie jumped into the culinary world attending the prestigious CIA in New York. After graduating culinary school Jackie moved to Laguna Beach to work under Michael Mina and Adam Keough at the highly regarded Stonehill Tavern. Jackie moved back to Manhattan in 2007 to work at the critically acclaimed Beacon with Chef Waldy Malouf where she took on all aspects of the front of house and cemented her love and appreciation of wine. In 2009 the California coast beckoned her back and she joined the team at Boulevard. After many successful years at Boulevard, Jackie left to pursue her other passion and opened Delightful Designs Decor specializing in furniture refurbishment, home decor curating and spatial planning. With a keen eye and specializing in mid-century and antiques, Jackie’s curated pieces and decor have been featured in homes and in print across the globe, as well as on set for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel TV series.
Jackie has personally taken on the reimagining of the Driftwood space. With a true focus on hospitality and local sourcing, she has designed a restaurant that is both comfortable yet refined. Elevated but not pretentious, with an emphasis on service. Soft wood tones, sea colors of aqua and green and stone all have their place in this beautiful design.