Queen Anne
She Said:
Brett and i had attempted this place a few times, on a whim, and were always turned down without reservations. This place is popular! So, i decided to plan ahead, make reservations for Date Night, and try this place out once and for all.
We'd been to the space countless times when it was Julia's, and were dying to see what renowned chef Seth Caswell had done with this sweet little 100-year old Victorian home up on Queen Anne Hill.
When we arrived, we were sad to see - nothing! It looked almost identical to when it was Julia's, except for a few frames of beans and grains hanging on the walls. No worries. It's a great old house, so there isn't much you can do to the place without ruining the integrity... (or is there?)
We knew that we didn't come for the decorations, but we came for the food. So we continued on.
We had done a bit of research on the place (after realizing how popular it was!) and read that Caswell opened emmer&rye to further his vision of "locally derived, seasonally inspired" cuisine.
Caswell creates dishes that showcase the best ingredients the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
We liked the sound of that!
When it was time to order, Brett and i, with the help of our waitress, each ordered a beer and some apps. The garlicky clams (ham, chilies, toasted baguette $7/$12) and their special, the artichoke hearts salad with goat cheese and vinaigrette.
We devoured them upon arrival. Both were heavy in salt and oil, but the flavor of the clams was extremely delicious. The salad was very small, probably not a great dish for sharing (we were done in two bites!).
Our mains arrived shortly after, and were also very salty.
Brett got the whole roasted chicken ($23) and I chose the wild mushroom dish (goat cheese, new potatoes, wilted greens, $18).
Again, great flavor, but just a little too salty for our liking.
I think we went in with EXTREMELY high expectations, having been turned away twice due to popularity.
We weren't overly impressed, but the reviews on Yelp and various culinary blogs, periodicals, and papers beg to differ with us.
So, perhaps we'll have to try it again.
It's certainly not the most romantic of spots, or the best meal we've ever eaten, but it's definitely worth trying. Chef Caswell has a great story and a great vision, so i'm happy to see the popularity of this place, despite perhaps an off-night when Brett and I visited.
xo,
Mandy
Brett and i had attempted this place a few times, on a whim, and were always turned down without reservations. This place is popular! So, i decided to plan ahead, make reservations for Date Night, and try this place out once and for all.
We'd been to the space countless times when it was Julia's, and were dying to see what renowned chef Seth Caswell had done with this sweet little 100-year old Victorian home up on Queen Anne Hill.When we arrived, we were sad to see - nothing! It looked almost identical to when it was Julia's, except for a few frames of beans and grains hanging on the walls. No worries. It's a great old house, so there isn't much you can do to the place without ruining the integrity... (or is there?)
We knew that we didn't come for the decorations, but we came for the food. So we continued on.
We had done a bit of research on the place (after realizing how popular it was!) and read that Caswell opened emmer&rye to further his vision of "locally derived, seasonally inspired" cuisine.Caswell creates dishes that showcase the best ingredients the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
We liked the sound of that!
When it was time to order, Brett and i, with the help of our waitress, each ordered a beer and some apps. The garlicky clams (ham, chilies, toasted baguette $7/$12) and their special, the artichoke hearts salad with goat cheese and vinaigrette.
We devoured them upon arrival. Both were heavy in salt and oil, but the flavor of the clams was extremely delicious. The salad was very small, probably not a great dish for sharing (we were done in two bites!).
Our mains arrived shortly after, and were also very salty.Brett got the whole roasted chicken ($23) and I chose the wild mushroom dish (goat cheese, new potatoes, wilted greens, $18).
Again, great flavor, but just a little too salty for our liking.
I think we went in with EXTREMELY high expectations, having been turned away twice due to popularity.
We weren't overly impressed, but the reviews on Yelp and various culinary blogs, periodicals, and papers beg to differ with us.So, perhaps we'll have to try it again.
It's certainly not the most romantic of spots, or the best meal we've ever eaten, but it's definitely worth trying. Chef Caswell has a great story and a great vision, so i'm happy to see the popularity of this place, despite perhaps an off-night when Brett and I visited.
xo,
Mandy
RATINGS:
Emmer&Rye
1825 Queen Anne Avenue North
(206) 282-0680
Romance: 2 - not really a 'romantic' restaurant. high lighting, uncomfortable old chairs, and not really very intimate seating arrangement. COOL old house. Just not super high on the romance scale.
Cool Ambiance/Interior: 2 - see above
All Around Service: 5 - service was great! Our gal was very sweet and helpful when we asked for advice on what to order.
Cost: $$$ = entrees from $14 - 22
Would we recommend it? 3: Maybe they were having a rough night… but certainly not our favorite "date night" spot.
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