Local Tide

Located in a new heavy-timber building in Fremont - within sight and sound of the Ship Canal - Local Tide has a passion for Northwest fish and shellfish. Their goal is twofold: serve approachable but well-crafted dishes that draw inspiration from the world’s great street-seafood, but more importantly, provide a venue for Seattleites to discover the fresh flavors that have always been nearby and underappreciated.

Heliotrope was tasked with designing a thoughtful but uncomplicated home for this to happen: a kitchen to crack fresh crab, a line to grill and stew the daily catch, and a bar-counter to sit and watch it come together. For this first storefront we focused on doing more with less, allowing simple, sharp forms and elemental materials drawn from local industry - wood, steel, and glass – to be the backdrop for the many colors and textures of fish on offer. Bright display fridges let fresh ingredients color the scene. A window to the Aslan Brewery Taproom next door lets light - and flavors - pass back and forth. A large table and timber bench at the front window reflects on the warmth of the kitchen as a gathering place, and offers a friendly spot to grab lunch, while a small number of additional tables along the eastern wall provide more opportunity to stay awhile.