Lunchbox Laboratory now open in downtown Bellevue
February 15, 2012
Bellevue, ready your taste buds. The folks behind the infamous Lunchbox Laboratory (LBL for short) have opened their second location at the Elements complex (989 112th Avenue NE) over the weekend.
The burger joint with a large cult-like following has been nationally recognized by Gourmet Magazine, Epicurious, Sunset Magazine and Seattle Magazine to name a few, and has even been featured on The Food Network’s 50 states, 50 burgers.
Fans love LBL for the unique, extra large burgers, smothered in sauces and flavored specialty salts. Every burger is made from American Kobe style beef and comes on an organic kaiser roll from Essential Bakery. One of Lunchbox’s most popular burgers, “Burger of the God’s” boasts a super beef patty piled high with bleu cheese crumbles, candied balsamic onions and a super gorgonzola spread. All burgers come with choice of skinny fries, crispy tots, potato salad, sweet potato fries or house made chips.
Lunchbox Laboratory offers a full bar with an eclectic menu of specialty drinks - another popular piece of the LBL concept. Signature Snoqualmie Ice Cream milkshakes include the Whopper Malted Milk Ball, Banana Cream Pie and Nutella (along with 20 plus other funky flavors), with the “Drunken Elvis” being a top seller under the menu’s “Boozie Shakes.” “Tails,” cocktails minus the alcohol creatively bring back the 1970s flavors of Tang, Kool Aid and fruit punch.
John Schmidt, the man behind Neighborhood Grills, along with the developed management and service team from the South Lake Union Lunchbox Laboratory opened the new Bellevue location. LBL originated in Ballard and was founded by local, famed Chef Scott Simpson, who passed away in 2011. Two of Scott Simpson’s original Chefs from the Ballard restaurant are now the Kitchen Managers for both Lunchbox Laboratory locations; Adam Berberich runs the Seattle kitchen and Phillip Twiss is the Kitchen Manger for the new Bellevue location.
The group began looking for a new site on the eastside in early 2011. “We wanted to bring this very fun, unique concept to Bellevue because there is nothing like this on the eastside,” said John, “plus the city of Bellevue is booming and we want to be a part of the action!”
Local famed restaurant consultant, Arnold Shain, who consulted on the Bellevue project, added, “Because there were so many people from the eastside hitting the website and coming into our Seattle restaurant, we wanted a central location on the eastside and this space in Bellevue fit the bill.”
The new restaurant’s interior is similar to Seattle’s with vintage lunchboxes and eclectic art on the walls. Downtown Bellevue’s Lunchbox Laboratory will be open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, serving lunch, dinner and a daily “Kick Ass Hour” from 3 to 6 p.m.
