"Overman opened L’Oursin with chef and co-owner JJ Proville in November 2016. Food can mean a full five- or seven-course tasting menu experience (Proville worked at NYC’s Gramercy Tavern before his move to Seattle) or light bites accompanied by a changing wine list at the zinc-top bar, led by wine director Kathryn Olson. “We get everyone from bartenders stopping in for a quick glass or cocktail on their day off to folks celebrating anniversaries,” Overman says of the casual, golden-hued space, accented with globe lights and brass fixtures. With 15 to 20 wines available by the glass, the selection is, for Overman, far more than the “gnarly, funky, chewy” side of natural wine. “We love that stuff, but that’s not all natural wine is,” he says. “We try to balance our list with clean, classic, beautiful natural wines that anyone can love.” All by-the-glass offerings, and then some, are also available to go as bottles, thanks to L’Oursin’s small retail component." - Lauren Sloss