Times are tough these days but that hasn’t stopped two new Mountlake Terrace restaurants from succeeding. The Enterprise just ran a great article on two new MLT restaurants which we have recently covered, The Red Onion and Johnny Spuds. Read the excerpt below or read the entire article at the Enterprise.

“Two Mountlake Terrace restaurateurs are bullish on business, despite the sluggish economy. One is a seasoned 25-year veteran of the turbulent hospitality industry. The other is a first-time owner who has earned his stripes working up from washing dishes. Both are delighting neighbors with their recently opened small, casual concepts.

“We thought it would take three or four months to educate the neighbors and we would ease into our new business. Word of mouth has hit unlike any of our previous five restaurants. The community response has been phenomenal,” Richards said. On a Friday night in July more than 160 meals were served. “We feel our personal recession ended (when the restaurant opened).”

Open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the 38-seat Red Onion’s menu is burger- and barbecue-centric with sandwiches, salads, chowder and chili. Beer and wine will be offered when permitting is finalized.

Just a few blocks away, John Hertrich has opened a restaurant with multiple concepts within a 25-seat cabana-sized spot. “Despite the economy, I think people will still go out and eat,” Hertrich said.

Yearning for a bricks-and-mortar restaurant, Hertrich partnered with a relative, who has the regional Sahara Pizza franchise rights, found the location and learned the pizza business.

A beer, wine and full bar license has just been approved. The full menu will be served 11 a.m. to midnight, all days of the week. Breakfast will be served Saturday and Sunday.