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Seattle Times food writer Nancy Leson serves up the best info and tips on Northwest food, cooking, dining and restaurants.

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January 8, 2009 2:38 PM

R.I.P. Vito's, Austin Cantina

Posted by Nancy Leson

The hits just keep on coming. And I'm not happy to report them, either.

Cathy Frannson wrote this morning, wondering: "After a week of the phone not being answered here, and glimpsing a sign in their window, can you confirm that Vito's has closed? How can that be? It's an institution!

It certainly was, Cathy -- as this Seattle Times review makes clear. Seattle Weekly's Voracious has the scoop today about the closure. Thanks for the heads-up.

And a nod to Kit Warfield, who emailed with kind words for Austin Cantina, whose website offers confirmation that "Jefe" Birkner has finally called it quits:

"I'm sure you've heard by now, but Ballard's Austin Cantina has closed. I'm really sorry, because it was such a fantastic place for authentic, home-cooked Tex-Mex. Everything was cooked with such care, and the owner/chef really wanted his customers to enjoy their dining experience. Alas, they appear to be a victim of the financial situation. I'm just glad we stopped off for dinner in December during a snowy walk home!"

Jefe's been surprisingly upfront about his financial woes all along, as I pointed out on this recent post, and he describes the particulars regarding the closure on his blog. I wish him well and am sorry I missed my chance to have one last taste of these memorable fixins:



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Comments
austin cantina had awful food. im not suprised they didnt make it in the sea of great ballard eateries.  Posted on January 8, 2009 at 7:47 PM by tls10. Jump to comment

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