She Said ...
For those of you who are familiar with our blog, you’re
aware that to us, Ethan Stowell [How to Cook a Wolf, Tavolata, Staple &
Fancy, to name a few] can do no wrong. So when we heard last September he
was opening a small intimate eatery in the already obscure neighborhood of
Tangletown, I knew we HAD to go.
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| [mkt. opens the garage door in warmer temps; source] |
Holiday madness now behind us, it was time. I
made reservations [TIP: Make reservations – this teeny eatery seats about 20
comfortably, 28 total so reservations are a MUST] for 7:45 on a Thursday – the earliest
I could get – and then we waited impatiently for Date Night to arrive.
We showed up a bit early knowing that Tangletown was also
home to an Elysian Brewery, which ended up being our first stop for some
pre-dinner tipples. [TIP: Ample street parking so no worries there]
If you do end up having to wait a while for a table, I’d
recommend heading next door as there is very limited ‘waiting’ space in mkt.,
and you’ll probably just be in the way (but their staff won't make you feel that way).
A few Elysian pints in our belly and now starving, Brett and I headed next door to mkt.
Now, a bit of back-story from their website and chats with our incredibly informed waiter Seth:
Now, a bit of back-story from their website and chats with our incredibly informed waiter Seth:
“Mkt. gets its name from Meridian, which was the traditional name for the neighborhood; the historic Keystone Building it’s housed in; and Tangletown, as the area is now known. With just 28 seats, Mkt. is an intimate space serving thoughtful, contemporary American fare with a dedication to Northwest products.”
Their menu, which we studied in depth
before arriving, includes a great variety – from olives, green beans or cheeses
to start, a great mix of seafoods (try the ceviche, it was incredible!), beef, duck and lamb for meats,
and a handfull of vegetarian dishes, which Brett and I got a few of to
share [TIP: if there is one thing you must take our advice on, it’s the smoked
mushroom and gnocchi – I’ve honestly not had a dish that complex and delicious
since Gordon Ramsay himself served us in London].
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| [Kitchen, front and center; source] |
But more on the food in a sec.
When you first walk in, this
place is tiny and intimate, dimly lit, with a calm bustle happening all around
you. In Ethan Stowell style, the kitchen plays front and center, with seating
happening all around it.
You are able to get that sneak peek into how the food
is prepared – nothing hidden here – and you feel like part of the action. All this
combined makes for a brilliant date night.
The staff is incredible. Super
attentive but not overbearing. While we waited just a few minutes for our table,
we were offered drinks and a seat at the front bar until our table opened up.
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| [Small dining area creates intimacy; source] |
Looking around at the décor, it’s not pretentious – you almost feel as though you’re
dining in a chic friend's loft – single-bulb chandeliers line the dining area
(allows for sexy, low lighting), shelves holding everything from boxed red wine
used in their dishes (rad), to a pressure cooker, kegs and cookbooks.
The back corner of the dining room there is
letter art on the wall showcasing some of the main ingredients used in the
dishes here.
We were seated and promptly started ordering (having
memorized the menu days before). [TIP: There is the option here to tell the waiter to
just bring recommendations (alert him/her of any allergies, of course) which,
if Brett and I didn't already have our sights set on a few dishes, we would
have partook in.]
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| [Winter squash Fitters and Pesto, source] |
The plates here are quite small so, as the waiter may
recommend, 2-3 per person is likely sufficient – and be prepared to share!
Brett and I got the grilled and
marinated green beans, sea salt, lemon (a small cup full for $7) and
winter squash fritters, coriander,
herb-pumpkin seed pesto (8 fritters for $9) – both a brilliant medley of
flavor – and perfect to whet our appetites for what was to come.
They bring the
dishes out as they are ready so you are never waiting. For our ‘mains’ we got
the Hamachi ceviche with citrus-cucumber ice, coriander, and pickled red onions
(small serving for $15). The plate was small, not recommended as a stand-alone
main, but the flavor was OUT of this world. Had a cool cucumber ice topping that
added a 360-degree sensorial experience.
Brett got the braised lamb shank, wild
mushrooms, herb spaetzle (lamb from Anderson Farm in Oregon, $27, good portion)
which was cooked to perfection; we also ordered a few of the veggie plates to
share – the aforementioned smoked wild mushrooms with sweet potato gnocchi ($13)
and Vegetable tagine, with rosemary, olive oil, medjool dates (holy shit these
were good), and preserved lemon ($12), which paired perfectly with the
lamb.
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| [Vegetable Tagine; source] |
As far as drinks go – they have an extensive wine list to
choose from. Brett and I went with red wine by the glass. It was a school
night, after all. J
The food – God damn the food – it was all so good. We were blown
away each dish that was brought out. We were stuffed by the end, but knew we
HAD to try dessert. We shared a chocolate mousse
which offered just the right amount of sweetness-meets-richness to finish off
this brilliant meal.
Our check came – and while it’s a bit pricey for the amount of
food you get (all of the above, plus tip, came to just under $200) it's SO worth
it, as the food was some of the best we've ever had. And i think Brett said it best: "This is a 'Guaranteed to get in her pants meal'" – and i'd have to agree.
Highly recommend mkt. for a date night – its intimate
setting, complex food flavors, and exceptional service all make for that
perfect evening we've been waiting so long for!
Xo,
- THE FINE PRINT
- mkt.
- Address: 2108 N 55th St, Seattle, WA 98103Phone:(206) 812-1580Prices:$$$$Hours:
Monday 5:00 – 10:00 pm Tuesday 5:00 – 10:00 pm Wednesday 5:00 – 10:00 pm Thursday 5:00 – 10:00 pm Friday 5:00 – 11:00 pm Saturday 5:00 – 11:00 pm Sunday 5:00 – 10:00 pm - Recommend?: YES! Intimate, amazing food, a bit pricey but WORTH it. Go now!!!
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