The Downtown Issaquah Association is taking a delicious new approach to showcasing the town’s vibrant culinary scene with the launch of the Issaquah Restaurant Spotlight series. The series, now streaming on the DIA’s YouTube channel, highlights 14 downtown restaurants and food suppliers with the help of local celebrity host Troy ‘Salon’ Kline.
Kline, a long-time Issaquah business owner and musician, guides viewers through interviews with restaurant owners while sampling some of their signature dishes. Kline’s love for Issaquah shines through every episode, offering an intimate look at the diverse eateries that give this historic town its flavor. The series is filmed by Giovanni Jennings, owner and director of Middle Fork Films and a proud Issaquah graduate.
The inspiration behind the series goes beyond just highlighting good food. As Kline explains, “The Downtown Issaquah Association is really all about maintaining small businesses and helping them become vital from year to year because we know how the ups and downs of small businesses are.”
The initiative arose from Kline’s desire to give back to the community and support local restaurants still recovering from the impact of the pandemic. “It was his idea as a small business owner himself to help other businesses and his neighbors. He’s very much in love with his city and wants to give back,” says DIA Executive Director Corby Cassler.
The selection process for featured restaurants was refreshingly organic. “We went down the street, and everybody knows everybody in a small town. We’d pop in and say, ‘Hey, we want to do this,’ and they said, ‘Okay, let’s make it happen.”
This casual and collaborative approach reflects the strong sense of community that defines Issaquah.
The restaurants featured in the Issaquah Restaurant Series range from hidden gems offering family-style comfort food to fine dining establishments serving haute cuisine. With businesses like Fins Bistro, Stan’s BBQ, and Levitate Gastropub, the series reminds locals and visitors alike of the unique dining experiences Issaquah has to offer.
“Sometimes small restaurants that are family-owned are some of the best. They’re unique, there’s nothing like them and they make you feel at home,” Kline says.
Featured restaurants:
The impact of the series is already evident as the community rallies behind its small businesses. “The highlight was just how amenable everybody was to filming it… they just put everything aside and embraced it,” Casler says.
A behind the scenes look at the filming of Issaquah’s Restaurant Spotlight series.
For Kline, it’s not just about promoting local cuisine but celebrating the people behind these businesses who work tirelessly to create a welcoming atmosphere for diners.
The Issaquah Restaurant Spotlight series is more than a showcase of food – it’s a love letter to the town and its residents. With the backing of the DIA, this series aims to remind everyone that some of the best dining experiences are often found in small, family-owned restaurants that offer a sense of home and community.
Catch the latest episodes of the Issaquah Restaurant Series on DIA’s YouTube channel and discover your next favorite spot to eat.
