Capitol Hill’s newest dining spot has a very free-spirited past.

Any anthropologist can tell you that humans are meant to settle. Sure, we might be vagabonds in our younger years, roaming between jobs, apartments and relationships as we each take our own unique journey. Once we reach a certain age, however, the desire to remain stationary begins to overtake us. In the case of Skillet Diner, it would seem this notion applies to restaurants, as well as people.

Four years ago, Chef Josh Henderson created Skillet — one of the pioneers of the Seattle food truck craze. Using the now-famous Airstream trailer to shuttle his tasty creations throughout the city, Henderson and co. became beloved fixtures of the parking lots and empty spaces of Seattle. The legend spread, and currently Skillet routinely visits Bellevue and Fremont, in addition to its regular downtown stops. Now, the mobile favorite is going structural, with a new brick-and-mortar location in Capitol Hill. Don’t worry — the Airstream is still running, as well.

Skillet managed to become famous with just two fixed menu items: ‘the burger,’  an amalgam of grass-fed beef, arugula, bacon jam and cambozola on a soft roll; and poutine, the Canadian national treasure consisting of hand-cut fries, gravy, cheddar and seasonings. At Skillet Diner, guests can still enjoy these edibles, but there are many other options to choose from as well. Rotating dinner entrees range from steak frites to beer and wine-braised pot roast, while breakfast items, a variety of hand-tossed salads and signature cocktails round out the menu selection.

Unlike that buddy of yours who joined the Peace Corps after graduation and currently lives in a tent city somewhere, Henderson and his Skillet franchise understand a simple notion: mobility might be liberating but, ultimately, permanence is a good thing. Growing up has never been so delicious.

Skillet Diner |  1400 East Union, Seattle  |  (206) 420-7297