Bellingham is a town that has no reservations about staying up late. The multitudes β relative to our size β of bars and clubs are a testament to that. But, with a population of night owls, one would expect there to be more options for late-night dining. With that in mind, I reached out to people in my circle with an unscientific poll asking the following: What is the best late-night eatery to you in downtown Bellingham?
Armed with a loose plan, I drank some water, ate some toast and phoned some friends. We started our night at Bellingham Bar and Grill. While the name gives that away, much of the popular culture surrounding them revolves around low-cost beverages. My previous experiences with Bellingham Bar and Grill were primarily to drink, so I was surprised to see a robust menu of pub classics, with a couple surprisingly tasty-sounding options.
Ordering is simple. You will be handed a plastic clamshell box with generously curry-dusted dumplings, a drizzle of the house hot sauce and a handful of cilantro. A small slice of rye bread tops it all. Bottles of oil and hot sauce sit on the counters next to a tub full of containers of sour cream. Everyone fond of this place has their own specific way of eating these dumplings. My personal method is to get one on my spoon, scoop a dab of sour cream, then pour hot sauce straight on top.
Across from me, one of my friends poured everything into his box and stirred it into a slurry β evenly coating every square inch. There is something supremely restorative about these dumplings, an effect I credit to the beautiful simplicity of the food and the carb bomb they represent.
They serve up nine different sausages two vegan! With a presence in Bellingham for more than 20 years, many a sausage has been consumed beneath the flag of the dread pirate. The sausages are premium, the toppings generous, the staff patient and friendly. The astute among you may have noticed that, so far, most of these locations have barely qualified as a restaurant.
