Rhein Haus Opening in Tacoma; Herb & Bitter Pub Opening on Capitol Hill

TACOMA — Rhein Haus is at it again. Capitol Hill's busy bier hall (formerly known as Von Trapp's) announced last year that it was setting up a second outpost in Denver, and now comes word that a third will root in Tacoma next year. Executive chef Pete Fjosne will remain at the helm and the cuisine will be familiar (housemade sausages, pretzels, etc.), but the Tacoma branch hopes to add its own brewery. In addition to Rhein Haus' own brews, it would serve other local beers and Bavarian ones, both bottled and on draft.

CAPITOL HILL — The team behind Belltown's Rocco's has quietly set up shop with a new project on Capitol Hill: Herb & Bitter Public House. Owner Jesus Escobar will focus on Spanish-style plates and amaro-filled cocktails at 516 Broadway E (formerly a Than Brothers pho shop).

PIONEER SQUARE — In December, Eater reported that a new Indian outfit, Nirmal's, was in the cards for Pioneer Square, and now comes news that owners Gita and Oliver Bangera hope to open by the end of this month. The new restaurant in the old Soup Daddy Soups space (106 Occidental Ave. S.) will feature the cuisine of its namesake Mumbai chef Nirmal Monteiro, who has been cooking all over the world for three decades, from prominent hotels in Bombay, to Disney in Japan, to Iraq during the war (where Monteiro set up the main kitchen for US Armed Forces).