Bites Nearby: Gabriel's Fire Serves Up Authentic Barbeque in the North End

If you are a fan of barbeque and work in downtown Seattle or Bellevue, you have options. If you live in Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Edmonds, or Mountlake Terrace, you don’t – that is, you didn’t … until now.

Co-owners Monty and Gabe Slimp have brought an authentic, multi-regional, family-oriented barbeque concept to south Mountlake Terrace/ north Shoreline.

What you will find at Gabriel’s Fire, may not be the standard barbeque fare to which you’ve become accustomed in the Seattle area; but if you are content with a single sauce choice that ranges simply from regular to hot, you may be disappointed.

Gabriel’s Fire provides selections for even the most discriminating barbeque connoisseur: from Kansas City to the Carolina-style, to the spicy southwest and the even Caribbean, Gabe and Monty Slimp deliver sauces – all made from scratch – from virtually every barbeque tradition in the northern hemisphere.

Try the Traditional KC Style or Carolina Vinegar Style for a regional take on the classics, or the Teriyaki, Southwest Chipotle, Thai BBQ or Earl’s Corona sauce, the latter naturally sweetened with honey; or for the more daring try The Diablo, Jamacian Jerk, or The XXX – all habanero sauces – or even The Fallen, which combines habanero and ghost chili peppers for a unique, fiery experience. Whether you choose their succulent brisket, juicy pork, or tender chicken, Gabriel’s Fire enables you to select one of 10 home-made sauces to impart the regional flavor (and spice level) you desire.

Even without sauce, the meat served at Gabriel’s Fire is without peer. Each cut is selected from local producers and is guaranteed to be free of preservatives, antibiotics, and hormones. This quality is the trademark of what Gabe and Monty provide to each person who visits their restaurant.

“We strive to offer the highest quality food, service, and dining experience,” says co-owner Monty Slimp. “Our mission is to have our family serving your family with the highest quality food in a family-friendly environment.”

Gabe and Monty bring to their new Mountlake Terrace location a tradition of excellence started in their Ballard restaurant. After four years there, with a growing and loyal community following, electrical issues in their old building forced the brothers to seek a new location. Ballard’s loss is the North End’s gain.

Gabe and Monty Slimp attacked their new building with the same relentless pursuit of perfection for which their award-winning food is known. The inside of Gabriel’s Fire was completely remodeled by the same hands that painstakingly prepare and serve each dish therein. From the new floor and hand-built bar to the redone walls and décor – complete with original artwork from local artists – each detail of the Gabriel’s Fire experience conforms to the vision and personal pride of the brothers Slimp.

Once inside, each visitor to Gabriel’s Fire is greeted and served by at least one of the owners, usually Monty – though Gabe, the master of the kitchen, can often be seen roaming the dining room to ensure the expectations of hungry patrons have been exceeded. And the real crown jewel of the Gabriel’s Fire experience is the exceptional cuisine. Though known for their traditional barbeque staples – such as brisket, ribs, and sandwiches – Gabriel’s Fire offers provides a smoked component throughout their menu, including barbeque-infused options such as Smoked Chicken Alfredo, Blackened Catfish, and a Black Angus Brisket Italiano, the latter served over penne pasta and a home-made marinara sauce.

Regardless of the menu option selected, the locally procured beef, pork, and chicken is all smoked on-site using a whole-log mix of the finest woods, while the vegetables are selected exclusively from local growers, when in season.

Even the wine and beer selections available at Gabriel’s Fire represent the best of local vendors. On-tap beers served over the hand-built bar come from local brewers in Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace, with more to come.

The entire Gabriel’s Fire experience is built upon a foundation of local spirit, family pride, a passion for excellence and the feeling that in a community, people care about other people. For Gabe and Monty Slimp, that desire to share their passion is not a marketing slogan; it’s a philosophy that supports everything they do. When Monty Slimp says, “come to Gabriel’s Fire and have a good time,” he doesn’t ask you to simply swing in, eat, and leave; he’s offering you a unique, local restaurant where you can leave the stresses and calamity of today’s world behind for a time and be welcomed to dine, and relax, as part of the family.  

If dining-in is not an option, you can still enjoy Gabriel’s Fire cuisine as take-out, and call ahead for maximum convenience. If you would like to have a catered barbeque experience for your friends and family, the brothers at Gabriel’s Fire can accommodate you there as well.

Regardless of how you choose to experience the newest and most authentic high-quality barbeque in the north end, Gabe and Monty Slimp hope that Gabriel’s Fire becomes a place where you can come and feel like family.

Gabriel’s Fire is located at 5803 244th St. SW. in Mountlake Terrace.

Check them out on the web at GabrielsFire.com, http://www.gabrielsfire.com/, or on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gabriels-Fire/118415671503710