Chris Howard, editor
Most of us are either busy or aspire to be busy. We may overlook the simple joy of taking the time to savor a good meal. The Seattle area has quite a few places where it is worthwhile to take your time. Any meal (or between meals) may be an appropriate time to linger, depending upon the restaurant. We have tried to find excellent options to cover any time of day.
Morning
Brunching at West Seattle’s The Bohemian (3405 California Ave. SW; Seattle; 206-938-2646) is a sublime experience — one of comfortable excess. Falling in love is seldom as satisfying as lingering over the Boho “Sangre de Maria” or savoring the crisp and refreshing kick of the “Four Berry Bellini.”
The Bohemian has the feel of a neighborhood getaway. Behind its long bar, often stands its proud owner, who operates the charming establishment with his brother. He never fails to show his pride in their meals and drinks.
This pride is evident when you bite into one of their brunch menu options. Try the “Wild Samon Duo,” a hot-smoked and lox-style salmon with herb-and-garlic chèvre, tomato, capers, niçoise olives and red onion, served with a toasted bagel. Another excellent option is the Boho stuffed French toast, made with rustic Columbia bread filled with your choice of four combinations such as the Mr. Elvis Presley (made with peanut butter, banana and bacon filling) or the fresh berries and cinnamon crème filling. It is this pride that makes The Bohemian a fulfilling place to waste away your Sunday hours in bliss.
Midday
One of our favorite leisurely lunch spots downtown is the Capital Grille (1301 Fourth Ave.; Seattle; 206-382-0900). The Capital Grille does many things that encourage you to take your time. We came up with three reasons why we go here for special occasions. First, the service is top notch: genuine, friendly and knowledgeable. We were celebrating a birthday, and were greeted with a card and immediately served complimentary champagne upon arrival.
Second, the food was wonderfully prepared. We had an inspiring starter of beef Carpaccio served with arugula. The rib-eye steak sandwich was excellent as usual, and the addition of the truffle french fries made it a decadent treat. The salmon salad was perfectly cooked; the steak salad equally delicious. One of us ordered the dry-aged sirloin steak and pronounced it superb: tasty, tender and served with a delicious au jus.
Third, the Capital Grille’s atmosphere contributes to the temptation to have that second drink and put off the afternoon phone calls. It is not too brightly lit, but not dreary; somewhat conspiratorial and comfortable. The next time you have an extra hour for lunch, consider taking your time to try out the Capital Grille.
Happy Hour
If you are looking for a relaxed happy hour to spice up a rainy Seattle afternoon, look no farther than La Isla (2320 NW Market St.; Seattle; 206-789-0516). La Isla, located in downtown Ballard, is Seattle’s only Puerto Rican restaurant and is the perfect place for a mini-tropical getaway. The restaurant is cozy with a Caribbean flair, and it has recently expanded, allowing for larger groups and more seating.
La Isla features an amazing happy hour, which runs from 3–6 p.m. and 10 to midnight. We stuffed ourselves with delicious, half-price appetizers, including empanadillas (dumplings fried and filled with chicken, pork or shrimp), bacalaitos (fried cod cake with creamy aioli) and maduros (fried, ripened plantains).
La Isla’s happy hour also features a number of drink specials, including tropical delights such as mojitos, daiquiris and its own “rumgria.” The restaurant also boasts perhaps the best selection of rums in the city. Take the time to discover La Isla, a little bit of island paradise right in your own backyard.
Dinner
Sitka & Spruce (1531 Melrose Ave.; Seattle; 206-324-0662) should be at the top of your list for a unique and delicious dining experience. In case you haven’t been there recently, the restaurant has moved. It is now housed within the hip, urban Melrose Market in Capitol Hill. The space is warm and welcoming, with long, communal tables, bright leaded windows, and an open hearth and kitchen.
Sitka & Spruce takes its food as seriously as its ambience. The chef takes culinary influences from around the world, combines them with the best and freshest local ingredients, and comes up with some unique and delicious offerings, including salmon lox with honey and tangerine marigolds, or dried, local albacore with shigoku oysters and picked watermelon rind.
Our server led our leisurely culinary experience, suggesting dishes to us and bringing us things to try that he thought we would like. The restaurant features a variety of small plates to sample and enjoy. We were able to spend three hours talking and eating, and still be left with a reasonable bill at the end of the night.
The menu rotates daily, so there is always something new to try. Reservations are limited and the wait can be long, but a visit to Sitka & Spruce will be worth your time.
Late Evening
Finish off your evening at Clever Bottle (2222 Second Ave., Suite 100; Seattle; 206-915-2220), a hidden gem in Belltown. The location used to be an art gallery, so the bar has a minimal, yet inviting feel.
In addition to a wide selection of excellent wines, Clever Bottle has creative drink offerings such as its “Lavender Current” cocktail and candied ginger ale. It also offers appetizers and cheese plates made with all-local ingredients purchased at Pike Place Market. Clever Bottle is the perfect place to wind down your night in style.
Contact Chris Howard with comments or for more information at choward@schwabe.com.
Originally published in the November 2010 issue of the King County Bar Bulletin. Reprinted with permission of the King County Bar Association.
The Bulletin in Bend, Oregon, quoted Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt Shareholder Jill Gelineau, on Sunday, November 28, 2010, in an article exploring the fairness of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s eminent domain practices.
