Starting today, the new Stoneburner restaurant in Hotel Ballard (5216 Ballard Ave NW) is officially open.

The restaurant is run by the executive chef from Bastille Cafe and Bar, Jason Stoneburner, who, as Seattle Met's Nosh Pit once reported owner Deming Maclise saying, "was born with a pretty damn good last name." So, why not name a restaurant after him and let him run it? (We hear he's a "pretty damn" good chef, too.)

Stoneburner describes the menu as "Kind've Italian, but not too Italian." He said they basically depend on the Ballard Farmers Market for their ingredients so it's all fresh and locally curated. There's a focus on seasonal handmade pizzas (for which there is a stone hearth oven) and pasta (which has an open pasta station).

There's also an impressive amount of wine on display in one of the corners of the restaurant, with mirrors that make it look like a wonderful magical endless rack. The wine program focuses on wines from the Pacific Northwest, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Not to worry, though, Stoneburner has not left Bastille. He'll be splitting his time between the two Ballard Ave locations. (The close proximity makes that fairly easy, we imagine.)

During opening week, Tuesday, June 25 through Friday, June 28, Stoneburner will be on a lunch-only schedule, open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday it will be open for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Starting July 1, the restaurant will begin full service with lunch Mon- Fri, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, and dinner daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, plus a bar menu daily 2-5 p.m.

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