By David Klotz, special to the Blog
The Angry Beaver, the beloved local hockey bar which survived both the Pandemic and the 2016 Greenwood gas explosion, has opened under new ownership. In fact the bar reopened in August of 2024, with some significant upgrades.
New owner Matt Baker has added a number of TVs for better sports viewing in what he describes as a WSU “Cougar bar”. The biggest change though is in the menu and the new focus on being “a restaurant with a sports bar”. While the standard bar fare can still be found, including the poutine which the Beaver was known for and a crowd favorite corn dog (actually a “tempura dog” says Baker) , the focus has shifted to traditional BBQ. Chef Patrick Frank has created a menu consisting of ribs, pulled pork, chicken and brisket. The brisket in particular stands up very well when compared against the best BBQ joints in the city.
The Angry Beaver also offers a Sunday Brunch menu, curated by weekend chef Emily Pfaff, and has begun experimenting with 7 course chef’s table dinners.
Baker had not intended to go in this hard with the restaurant concept initially, but when he “lucked into” chefs Frank and Pfaff he wanted to let them do what they do best. The shift in focus though has not changed the Beaver’s soul as a sports bar. In fact the addition of several new TVs means that every seat now has an easy site line to a screen, and has allowed a greater of variety of games to be shown at the same time.
In the end the primary goal is to make sure all customers have a good time. As Baker put it, “I want everyone who comes in to have a good experience.”
More info and full menu details can be found on their website at theangrybeaverseattle.com.