Starting the soup again and the first stop was "E" for Elemental in Gasworks park in Seattle.
Before you can even make the decision on what to eat you first need to figure out how to get there and then what door to enter at Elemental.
My trusty GPS took me there but the address is a bit deceiving as the location is actually at the top of the stairs where my GPS ended. If you are directly across the park dont' wonder into the park turn towards the condos/apartments and head up the stairs. What you won't want to do is call for directions as the guy is super rude and will act like both you and your GPS are idiots for not realizing where this not packed restaurant is at. Now that you made it to the restaurant, hang a left for the chef's tasting menu (one fixed price for all courses) or hang a right to go to the "wine bar" where you can pick and choose small plates to share. Note that I did stop in the "chef's table" entrance and asked for a table of four and at what point the rude man (think we found who answered the phone) said "there's the tables, grab one." Wasn't going to spend my money supporting someones therapy sessions - on to the "wine bar" next door.
Food: 4
The way it works is there is a long list of items listed on the scroll as you walk in (see photo) and you get to pick and choose items from the list. You can pick all at once or as you go. All the food was delicious, different, and fun to try. The wine "list" is also fun as there is no list, you simply walk to the wall of wines and choose one for $30!
What we had:
Truffle popcorn
Spicy Goat cheese salsa
Duck
Porcini with black rice
"Link lab" tube for today (German sausage with mashed potato)
Cheese board
Service: 2
I give this a two as I was so turned off by the guy on the phone and the entrance. You can't be this snotty and rude for a restaurant that is this dead. However I must mention that I did, as well as all my girlfriends a complimentary glass of champagne and when we didn't like the first bottle of wine they happily changed it out.
Atmosphere: 3
Ikea modern if you will. Simple, white, fun but not anything special. I did really like the wine wall - who wouldn't?!
Price: ~$38 for 4
Awesome deal for all of us girls, two bottles of wine and many tasting plates.
Recommended: I would go back to the Wine Bar again for a chill night out with some girlfriends but wouldn't go for a special occasion. This reminds me more of a "happy hour" type place where you want to chill, get a few different things, and decide to stay another hour and get another bottle of wine.
For more reviews on Elemental check out Yelp.
Until letter "F" readers clean your plates and never accept bad wine!
Rude is their thing. It's VERY intentional and by design. The guy on the phone was probably Phred. He's also the server at Elemental. His wife is the chef. Apparently the experience if you choose the other door is that way the whole night through. Phred will actually choose your drinks for you and you better not ask what you're eating because he won't tell you. Strange, I know, but snotty brings big business for them.
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