Livbud is an exciting new restaurant concept now open in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle. Livbud features a plant-forward and pescatarian menu with a focus on tasty, nutrient-dense dishes. Serving as a café by day and a natural wine bar and restaurant by night, Livbud has something for everyone.
Livbud comes to Seattle from the local and well-loved Heavy Restaurant Group, which counts other iconic PNW restaurants like Purple Café, Fiasco, Pablo y Pablo, Barrio and Meet the Moon in its lineup. Livbud was thoughtfully designed to offer healthy and satisfying food and drinks, from Chef Sarah Hughes, that nourish the body and soul. The space is open and airy, inspired by the natural environments of Southern and Baja California.
In the mornings and afternoons, the café at Livbud offers smoothies, juices and elixirs, in addition to a large selection of coffee, espresso and tea. You can find specialty drinks like golden milk lattes, matcha lattes and chaga lattes as well. Morning treats like elderberry muffins and breakfast truffles, a wide selection of granola bowls served with fresh fruit, and egg dishes like the Spanish omelet and summer scramble are all on the menu. We also love the toasts that have toppings such as pea and pumpkin seed spread, heirloom tomato and hempseed, and avocado and fava bean mash.
There is a multitude of hearty bowls offered at Livbud, like the goji berry porridge, mushroom and summer vegetables, prawns and grits, and kelp soba noodles. Other daytime favorites include the falafel wrap, better burger and gravlax sandwich, as well as the Caesar salad with nori croutons and the melon salad with goat’s milk queso fresco.
In the evenings, Livbud turns into more of a sit-down establishment, with a delightful selection of natural wines, craft cocktails and local beers. Some of our favorite sips are the porcini martini (Livbud’s take on an espresso martini); the G & P with gin, pistachio milk and honey; and the turmeric daiquiri. Livbud offers several zero-proof options, to boot.
The nighttime food selection at Livbud is not to be missed. Start your dinner with a “build your own board,” which offers delicious spreads like caramelized eggplant, leek confit and muhmmara. Then add some “bits’” to your board like falafel, olives or Brazilian cheese bread, and “vessels” such as toasted sourdough and crudité. Moving on to shareables, we love the sweet corn ribs with gochujang, the black cod crudo and the flatbread with whipped feta and hot honey. Livbud also offers several salads and soups, which are available during lunchtime, too.
You really can’t go wrong with any of the mains at Livbud, but some of our favorites are the black rice risotto with morels, the corn cavatelli (adding prawns is a great idea) and the king salmon. (We’ve also heard good things about the seared lion’s mane.) If dessert is calling your name, try the hibiscus crème brulée. The chaga caramels and stone fruit buckle are tasty options, too.
Livbud is open Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wednesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information, visit livbudcafe.com.
3400 Stone Way N. Ste. 4
Seattle, WA 98103