Civility & Unrest Reopens in the Heart of Bellevue
October 11, 2021 - by Sandy Vo
Civility & Unrest Reopens in the Heart of Bellevue
In April of this year, the craft cocktail destination known as Civility & Unrest closed its doors after a long battle through the COVID global pandemic. After nearly seven long months of closure, Bellevue’s independent and locally driven bar returns on October 14 with a new culinary team run by Executive Chef Scott Emerick and pastry chef extraordinaire Tanya Emerick. They are bringing new flavors to entice and a new boldness that they hope guests will embrace. After planning and repositioning, Proprietor Jason Wilson is ready to invite guests back into the beloved bar.
"The world was changing when we closed. I knew that keeping the community, staff and guests safe was necessary,” Wilson said. “I am looking forward to reopening and seeing how the place will be received by visitors. We’ve all been working so hard.”
Wilson will still keep the title of owner, but has decided to pass on the torch to Tanya and Scott to continue managing after opening. While they say to expect the same feel, Wilson has been focused on evolving the space with new people, new dishes and a new retail aspect. From an industry standpoint, he recognized the opportunity for them to evolve and strive to learn more in such a life-changing time.
Scott has not let any time go to waste. His restaurant, The Lakehouse, will offer its dinner menu at Civility & Unrest with late night dishes that elevate the typical bar food. He found that people want the full dinner experience in a tempting setting alongside its famed drink offerings.
“My career has taken me to so many amazing restaurants in the U.S. and France. This opportunity brings me back to the Seattle area where I can drive the menus with hyperlocal and hyper-seasonal products along with fun dishes such as Charcuterie in la Parfait jars,” Scott said.
General Manager, Josef Dietrich, has been hard at work too. Steeped in discovery, Civility & Unrest offers a new daring exploration into cocktail culture. In addition to some old favorites, such as ‘The Tale as Old as Time’, ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ and ‘21st Century’, Josef said he looks forward to demonstrating new seasonal menus and exclusive spirits.
“I am working on a menu called “A bridge to another world” where we feature the amazing apples we grow in Washington as well as some incredible local honey. The focus will use both local products with different spirits in preparation to celebrate the season,” Dietrich said.
Sights set on a new horizon, Dietrich isn't afraid to do things differently than the established norm. At Civility & Unrest, you won’t find the typical traditional seated service or sports blaring in the background.
“I didn’t want to cater to peoples’ concept of what a 'Bellevue bar' represents,” Dietrich said. “We dare to follow our hearts and create a new type of bar experience focused on outstanding service, product and atmosphere.”
Wilson places the most emphasis on the staff and guests that makes Civility & Unrest what it is. He has implemented a new wellness program to support mental health and wellness for staff by promoting a safe and sustainable work environment. Wilson also discussed the legacy he aspires to leave behind.
“Restaurants come and go, but the memories of family dinner over Beef Short Ribs, or a first date with your future husband or wife while sipping champagne alongside Salmon Rillettes, or even enjoying perfectly grilled octopus at a chefs counter. Those memories are irreplaceable, and touching those lives is meaningful -- and that’s what I feel fortunate to be part of,” Wilson said.
Join them on October 14 for the grand reopening and experience the new cocktails and dishes served.
This blog is part of the Heart of Bellevue: our campaign to showcase local businesses while connecting you with stories of activity, creativity and recovery. Find out about our campaign and explore more of what’s happening around Downtown.
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Civility & Unrest
10455 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
