Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Norovirus,Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on November 24, 2025
King County Public Health has officially closed the investigation for norovirus at Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar after their final follow up investigation. But not before 16 people fell sick with the contagious, foodborne infection.
The investigation has been issued a “complete” status and will resume a normal inspection schedule per King County Public Health operating rules.
So, how did this outbreak start? Did you get sick?
Here’s what we know about the outbreak investigation of norovirus at Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar.
It started out like any other Saturday with diners enjoying their meals at a popular local restaurant.
Two separate groups ate at the restaurant on October 18, 2025. The meal may or may not have been memorable. But it certainly became that way over the next two days.
At least 16 people from those groups reported becoming sick after dining at the restaurant that fateful day. Sick people reported symptoms of nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, chills, and headache. Two people tested positive for norovirus. The remaining 14 were considered presumptive positive due to common factors.
There were no hospitalizations and no deaths reported in this outbreak.
Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar
205 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, Washington 98004
16 people sick with norovirus
This prompted a King County Public Health investigation and restaurant inspection.
On October 24, 2025, King County Public Health investigators visited the restaurant. Several factors that could have contributed to norovirus at Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar were observed.
The biggest being violation was multiple restaurant workers who reported being sick with symptoms consistent with norovirus dating back as early as October 8, 2025.
Other violation included:
During the closure restaurant staff performed a deep cleaning of the kitchen and dining area. The restaurant reopened on October 27, 2025.
In addition to food safety and restaurant sanitation training, a follow up inspection was performed on November 4, 2025. Public Health investigators explained to restaurant staff the steps to report when they hear about customers being sick after eating at the restaurant. During the inspection, investigators observed proper cleaning, disinfection, and handwashing practices were being followed.
King County Public Health reports that “this outbreak appears to be over, and our investigation is complete.”
But this isn’t the first time Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar received Public Health violations.
The last routine inspection performed at Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar also recorded notable health hazards with the potential to spread foodborne illness.
On December 11, 2024, the restaurant was cited for:
Norovirus is a viral infection. While often called “the stomach flu” because people experience many of the same symptoms between the two illnesses, it is a gastrointestinal virus. As opposed to a respiratory virus.
Outbreaks are often foodborne because it is highly contagious and transmitted via fecal-oral route.
You become sick with norovirus after touching something an infected person has touched without effectively washing their hands and then eating or touching your own mouth.
It doesn’t take much to become sick either. Health experts say that you can become infected with as few as 10 viral particles. Even trace amounts that you cannot see, taste, or smell can be enough to spread infection.
There are likely more cases involving norovirus at Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar. This is because most norovirus infections go unreported.
For the most part, norovirus symptoms are mild. Most people recover on their own without medical intervention. They hydrate, eat light, and wait for the illness to run its course, so to speak.
Most normally healthy people with mild infections do not report these illnesses. Therefore, they never have their sample tested for norovirus. For many, it is more trouble than it is worth.
For those more vulnerable to serious infections, they are not so lucky.
Some people experience more severe illness, become seriously dehydrated, and require hospitalization to recover.
So, how do you know if you have norovirus?
Norovirus symptoms come on fairly quick. People usually begin feeling sick around 12 to 48 hours after exposure.
Common symptoms include:
Most people recover within a few days (one to three).
But be careful!
You are most contagious and likely to transmit your illness to others while you are actively sick through the first few days of feeling better. So, keep that in mind.
If you work in a food, childcare or elder care industry, notify your employer and stay home from work until you are cleared to do so. Do not prepare food for other if possible, and exercise great care when up after yourself in the bathroom and washing your hands.
If you were impacted by norovirus at Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar and have questions about making a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a norovirus lawyer that can help!
An experienced norovirus lawyer can help you through the difficult process of gathering all of the information needed to successfully hold those responsible for foodborne illness accountable.
Call The Lange Law Firm, PLLC at (833) 330-3663 for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation and determine if you have a legal case. Or click here for the online submission form to send an email instead.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)