This public house could be the new community focal point in Kirkland. Friends tease Chad and Jessi Waldher that the birth of their first child prompted their decision to open a family-friendly pub, but the Kirkland restaurateurs say it was pure coincidence that their son arrived a few weeks ahead of Park Lane Public House. The laid-back pub opened in January in the former Jalisco space on Park Lane, an address the couple had long coveted.
Chad designed the comfortable, brick-walled seat space with an open floor-plan. The bar and kitchen are both visible from the dining room. Front glass walls slide open to connect with sidewalk seating for 30 more. Apparently, Kirkland was starved for a concept like this. For this to work, you need to be within 10 miles of the restaurant and hope the parking goddesses are smiling on you. Hours: dinner p. Sunday-Thursday, p.
Drinks: full bar; original and classic cocktails; beer and wine lists focus on Washington and Oregon. Our table was on the bar side, a kid-free zone just as packed as the dining room. The menu takes a broad view of pub food — perhaps too broad — embracing salads and sandwiches, seafood, steak and chops, pasta and flatbread pizzas, even falafel and tacos. Mid-March, they replaced their opening chef with JJ Ullakko. They get several big things right. Mine was well-charred yet still medium-rare, as ordered.
Skirt steak was as carefully grilled as the burger. It comes atop a salad or with frites. I chose the steak salad and loved the jolt pickled, chopped-up broccolini gave to the mixed greens and creamy vinaigrette.
A meatless Mediterranean salad was equally well-conceived. Whole stalks of pickled broccolini sprawled between a pair of terrific boneless pork loin chops and grits enriched with melted cheese curds.
