Sitka & Spruce
Sitka & Spruce
2238 Eastlake Ave. E.
Seattle, WA 98112
Website: http://www.sitkaandspruce.com/ (not much there yet)
There are so many things that I loved about this restaurant that I hardly know where to begin. I love the unpretentious nature of this tiny and upscale yet casual cafe tucked into a rundown stripmall. I loved the light pouring in through the huge mull-covered windows and bouncing around off of the brilliant lime green walls. I loved that each dish, of the few seasonally selected options handwritten on a small chalkboard propped in the corner, could be ordered full sized, or in smaller sizes for sharing. I loved the vinyl turntable cranking out cool east-coast jazz followed by earthy-zen ambience. I loved that you could see what was going on in the kitchen, and chat with the chef about the nights dishes. I loved that the wine came in little Italian-style wine glasses, homey instead of fine. I love that it’s only a bit further than a mile from my house, much more convenient than Matt Dillion’s previous haunts Stumbling Goat or Herbfarm.
But, more to the point, I loved the food: Bufala mozzerella with a fragrant lemon/olive oil and slightly thick pastry dough crackers, garnished with beautiful lavender edible flowers; Grilled octopus, perfectly charred and moist without being chewy on a light and creamy bed of polenta; A side of grilled asparagus, well-charred and packed with flavor; Moist, delicate and perfect salmon with a spring-green stinging nettle and sliced tender young bamboo shoot partner; and finally, succulent venison medallions and a grilled raddichio that was so balsamicy-delicious I didn’t want to stop eating it.
There were only two problems with my dinner at Sitka and Spruce. First, that I didn’t have a bigger stomach to get to try their desserts. And Second that I forgot to bring my camera to take photos of this amazing food. The good news, is that I’ll have plenty of opportunities to try again.
BTW - in case you are curious, the Sitka Spruce is one of the largest of the spruce tree family. Next time I plan on finding out why they gave the restaurant that name.
UPDATE: Sitka & Spruce is now open for espresso (Yay!) and lunches! Check out the write-up from espresso guru extraordinaire, Tonx.
Technorati Tags: Food, Restaurant, Review, Seattle
May 24th, 2006 at 10:13 am
Sounds wonderful. I thought that Mr. Dillon was at Crow now. Has he left to start this, or am I thinking of someone else?
May 24th, 2006 at 10:50 am
I figured it out myself — it was Dillon’s predecessor who left Stumbling Goat for Crow, and he’s still there.
May 24th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
Ah yes, I saw this the other day and put it on my list for next week (this week is French week). But looks as though you beat me to the punch. Sounds like it’ll be good stuff when I finally make it there.
May 30th, 2006 at 10:28 am
Art - yes… it’s funny how small the Seattle chef world is… seems like there’s always someone from Herbfarm heritage moving around. (BTW - Crow is also one of my favs).
R.G. - I’d recommend getting there soon… there’s a been a lot written up on S&S lately, and I’m betting it’s going to be packed soon. Hopefully, they’ll keep up the great stuff!
August 5th, 2006 at 9:30 am
I realize that this thread is aging, and I haven’t tried S&S yet, but I recently returned from Napa and San Francisco and revisited a couple of my favorite Seattle restaurants–Volterra and Harvest Vine. Maybe it was the California experience (where food seems to be better and cheaper than in Seattle), but I was disappointed with both.
Is it just me, or has there been some seismic shift in the food scene here? I complain about living on the eastside, but I’m not sure it’s worth crossing the pond anymore for arrogant, mediocre food in small plates at high prices. Maybe it’s time to learn how to forage and cook using all the wonderful ingredients, recipes, and tips that you so generously and eloquently share herein.
I really enjoyed your recent homage to Vashon, by the way, as I did Madeleine’s, although your experiences were quite different. Who knows what will happen when you leave “civilization”?!