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Art of the Table
Category: Restaurants Canadian (New) Canadian (New) [Edit]
1054 N 39th St(at N Woodland Park Ave)
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 282-0942
- Hours:
Wed-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
225 reviews for Art of the Table
Review Highlights
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"Bravo Chef Dustin-you create art with your food." In 40 reviews -
"and each menu, each COURSE blows me away every time." In 35 reviews -
"Eating at AOTT (supper club) was such a great experience." In 31 reviews
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225 reviews in English
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Review from Tom L.
5/11/2012
My fiance and I went to this restaurant with a friend for her birthday. The Art of the Table restaurant is a small space just north Lake Union. The interior of the restaurant is warm and inviting. The space is small with limited seating, so I would really recommend making a reservation.
The staff there is very friendly and inviting. They seem very knowledgable of the food that they prepare and serve. They are also cognizant of food allergies and ask before you order anything.
One of the starters that we had was the a breaded oyster that had been fried. It was delicious. Can't say a bad thing about it. We then had some foie gras salsamic which was good, but foie gras is not my favorite food. We also had some fish, which was flavorful, moist, and flakey The last dish we had was a braised pork jowl. This was my favorite dish of the night. It was perfectly cooked, juicy and tender. It was also extremely flavorful. I could have eaten more of these. For desert we had some homemade sherbert ice cream. It was a good way to end the meal.
Overall my experience at the Art of the Table was really really good. I loved the food there. I also really liked the staff and there explanations . Everything about Art of the Table was fabulous. I would definitely go back and advise anyone in the area to give the place a shot. -
Review from Jessica N.
Seattle, WA
5/15/2012
We recently joined friends for dinner here and had a hard time finding this hole in the wall because it's a bit hidden, but we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. We went with the five course tasting menu, which was the perfect amount of food given the relatively small portion sizes and the timing of when each new plate arrived.
This place is pretty pricey and the food portions aren't large, so if you're looking to eat some "fancy" food, this is a great place. Expect to pay at least $100 per person. If you're lookinng for a casual dinner with relatively American-sized portions and pay less than $50 a person, this is not the place to go.
The space is pretty small, so make a reservation. -
Review from Krista S.
Seattle, WA
4/16/2012
We visited for Restaurant Week and were very pleased. We were seated at the counter looking in to the kitchen, which is always fun to watch the food being prepared. It also gave us a chance to chat with Chef Dustin. He told us they typically serve a tasting menu, but have some nights that they serve a la carte as well (or smaller tasting menu options).
For the appetizers, we couldn't choose, so we got three: the charcuterie plate, a salmon dish (parmesan encrusted & lightly seared on kimchi, and a salmon belly), and a nettle soup. All were incredibly delicious! For entrees, we had the seafood stew (mussles, prawns, beans, with a crouton and a wonderful broth), and lamb neck, which was rolled in a corn crepe. Dessert was a dish with a muffin, cinnamon ice cream, and poached pear, and a dish with a chocolate mousse and cookie.
All of the dishes had a wonderful combination of flavors from different cuisines that complimented each other beautifully. I can't wait to go back again and try the full tasting menu! -
Review from Amy N.
Seattle, WA
4/24/2012
The food was delicious. At Art of the Table they have a new menu everyday made from fresh local ingredients. I was really impressed with the creativity of their menu.
I went here for SRW, and I can't wait to come back on a weekend! -
Review from Katie H.
Seattle, WA
3/22/2012
Hands-down the best dinner I've had in Seattle.
My boyfriend took me to Art of the Table last night, 3-21-12, for a celebratory birthday dinner. He made reservations on a Wednesday night so that we could enjoy the chef's tasting menu, which proved to be a wise choice on his part - I think it was the best way to enjoy everything the chef was offering that night. We were finishing up with our dessert course when another table was seated, and they ordered a la carte dishes - I actually felt sorry for them for not being able to enjoy all of the dishes!
We had a drink at the restaurant's new 4-seater bar at the front while our table was cleared. The staff person at the door was super-attentive and had poured us both a glass within a few seconds of sitting down at the bar and taking our orders. We were seated soon after, and an amuse bouche of homemade potato chips and herbed aioli was set in front of us. I think that lasted about 2 1/2 minutes between the two of us - delicious way to start an incredible meal! The chef's tasting menu was $65 and we opted for the wine pairing with each dish for an additional $40. I highly recommend the chef's tasting menu with the wine pairing - fantastic way to sample everything Art of the Table has to offer!
Next up was foie gras...sometimes foie gras can be just overwhelmingly rich and too much is served on the plate, but Art of the Table got it right by melding the foie gras with an amazing combination of other components (balsamic, pea shoots, crostini). A spring salad with wheat berries, feta and beets followed (also delicious!), and one of my favorites of the evening, a potato leek soup with lamb neck, followed. The main dishes were a delectable sturgeon - again, perfect size - and a pork tamale that had just the right amount of spice and flavor.
Usually I'm a fan of chocolate or other creamy-style desserts, but Art of the Table served up blackberry sorbet between two sugar shortbread cookies with an orange sauce and it was the absolute best ending for last night's dinner: festive flavors and perfect for rounding out the meal. I walked out feeling full and completely satisfied but not overly-stuffed.
Also, the service at this restaurant was terrific, from being seated at the bar to presentation and explanation of each dish, to having my coat retrieved from the closet and ready for me to grab at the very moment we got up from the table... Would highly recommend dining at Art of the Table - it's a truly exceptional, memorable dining experience in Seattle! -
Review from clint w.
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wasn't sure what to expect but AoT received great marks on Yelp so this became the destination for the last of my birthday dinners. We made it to one of the last communal dinners and ended up at the largest table. Aside from the large table, there's only another 4-5 tables in the entire restaurant.
The food is locally sourced and Dustin explains a bit about the what, where and who before each course.
Our table mates were very talkative, while we were a bit more on the shy side. But once the food and drink came, all was better. Each dish was paired with a wine and were really nicely matched.
There was a small salad, filled with different textures and each bit seemed to bring different flavor. Included within was a farro like grain that made it toothsome and filling, adding a bit of a nutty taste. A black cod chowder followed and this was the dish I liked the least. It was part salt cod and part black cod, and the fishiness and saltiness (although classic) was still a little too much for me.
The main entree was a goat wrap, which wasn't as good as the goat I had at Terra Plata, but better than most of my other experiences. It was tender, but like pulled pork with a bit of gaminess.
This was a lot of fun and I would do it again. This would have been 5 stars for me, except for the gong that Dustin rings in between courses and the overall noise level in the restaurant. -
Review from Ray P.
So it's taken me some time to write this review --sue me. But, the meal I had there left such an impression on me that I can still recall the fine details of that experience, which I want to share with Yelp.
To begin I would like to state that dinner at the Art of the Table was a life altering eating experience. Here is why:
Shrimp Bun, Red Miso, Cabbage Slaw, Cilantro, Chili Aioli, Curry Oil (paired with Alois Lageder Vogelmaier Moscato Giallo '09, Alto Adige, Italy)
-- Essentially a two-bite bao, with intense shrimp and miso flavor, couple with the muted power of chili and curry
Fried Oysters, Green Onion-Quinoa Waffle, Leek Puree, Wild Watercress (paired with Abbaza di Novacella Kerner '09, Alto Adige, Italy)
-- Southern-style meets Seattle-style; a beautifully fried oyster, which was still "oyster-y" and silky within it's crispy, crusty fried cocoon and married to that onion-y, crispy, tender waffle....I wanted to scream, "More!!!"
Green Garlic Flan, Morel Mushrooms, Pickled Mushroom-Truffle Vinaigrette, Pea Vines (paired with Facelli Bacchus Vineyard Chardonnay '08, Columbia Valley, Washington)
-- More like a panna cotta to me, but to each his own, and every single flavor work together to create a symphony of delicate vegetable flavors working in exact harmony with each other. I cried with every bite, like I did with Violletta in La Traviata
Herb-Crusted Halibut, Asparagus, Fiddleheads & Ramps, Chick Pea Puree, Fingerling Potatoes, Red Wine Reduction (paired with Nicolas Potel Vielles Vignes Cote de Nuits-Villages '04, Burgundy, France)
-- Seattle-ites take their seafood seriously, and this was no exception. The freshest halibut, perfectly sauteed with a delicate layer of herbs...Fiddleheads and ramps and chick peas, oh my! I don't think I ever lifted my head to speak to my dining companions...I was kind of, well, busy....
Rhubarb Soup, Mint Ice Cream, Rhubarb Sorbet, Lavender-Lemon Sable, Vanilla Oil (paired with Elio Perrone Sourgal Moscato d'Asti '09, Piedmont, Italy)
-- Dessert, oh dessert, you little minx. The title of the dessert describes itself...I was with one with my bowl....I stopped short of lifting it to my face to lick out the last remnants.
And, that menu really was art -- each dish was beautiful in taste, presentation, and ingredient. No pretentiousness. No attitude. There were no foams, or emulsions, or stuff to suck out of a straw, or micro-staged on pin heads, or served onto a single plate by five servers all pouring something from a mini vessel. Nothing was smoking (except for the beer label that my brother-in-law accidentally set aflame with the centerpiece candle). No "essence" of food made to look like the food that, well it is. But, this was far from simple...only simply delicious. And unique. Chef Dustin and his crew are to be commended, and applauded, and celebrated! They made everyone in the restaurant feel so very welcome, and were eager to describe each course as they came out, then equally sought our feedback once we devoured each one.
IF you live in Seattle and enjoy your dining scene, as you ought to, you owe it to yourself to go to AOTT. IF you don't live in Seattle, but plan on visiting, I can't more highly recommend that you make a reservation and go to AOTT. And get the wine pairings - GREAT value, and very well done.
It really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which, quite frankly, I plan on repeating sometime before I die, which then negates the idea that it's once-in-a-lifetime I suppose...but I digress. Seriously, do not miss Art of the Table....it might one of the great regrets of your life. -
Review from Max M.
Kirkland, WA
3/6/2012 3 photos
My wife and I enjoyed an amazing meal here on Saturday, 3/3/12. A late bday present for me. The five course meal with wine pairing was fantastic. We were also treated to an amuse-bouche course of that was equally amazing. This is my new favorite place.
I love chef menus and search them out. This is the best I've had in a while. Top quality food without being over the top. The casual but upscale-ish atmosphere was nice. It is a small place so reservations are a must.
Instead of the one meal time for everyone, the restaurant had changed to a two times per night format. Dustin the chef did deliver a couple of the course himself, which was nice. We were in and out within two hours, which was perfect in my book.
You won't be sorry if you go here, just make sure to bring your wallet as it is on the high end. -
Review from Capri S.
Bellevue, WA
5/11/2012
Fresh, local, rotating menu. Difficult to get reservations. Delicious.
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Review from Rachel H.
2/16/2012
I was lucky enought to attend a private event catered by Chef Dustin Ronspies and his crew this year, and I was pretty darned impressed.
If you check out Art of the Table's website, you'll see that "private functions" is a tab, and an offering of the Art of the Table, and if our experience is any gauge, these functions are well worth having!
The highlight of the event (besides the adorable couple getting married) was the locavore friendly, innovative food being produced by rockstar Chef Dustin and his crew of merry food gangsters, servers and sous chefs.
The seasonal spread included fiddle ferns, wild mushrooms, garlic snipes and a mass assortment of new and fantastical ingredients, new to us folks who are new (somewhat) to the Northwest. Made me want to get a burlap sack, some waders and a book of local ingredients and head off into the woods to forage for dinner, in order to recreate it, although I'm sure I could not do those ingredients the same service.
Don't recall going to any wedding with this level of love in the food --and we have have some friends who made food the center of their celebration.
The eats were wonderful, and it was clear the tight knit crew of chef and posse were having a great time creating and producing unique local and fresh tastes.Listed in: Foodie Tips
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Review from S K.
Seattle, WA
3/30/2012
I was not overly impressed, but the I did not think it was bad either. If you are a vegetarian, not sure if $100 per person on a meal is worth it here. Since I am one, I will take my business elsewhere in Seattle.
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Review from Holly P.
Seattle, WA
9/19/2011
I have had very few experiences where I have cried with my food. Noma in Denmark, Per se in New York, Willows Inn in WA and Art of the Table.
I love bright beautiful food. -
Review from Chris D.
Seattle, WA
11/21/2011
Celebrating an anniversary with the lovely gf. We wanted to go somewhere special, but didn't want to go somewhere that was fancy just for the sake of being fancy... we wanted something that would be memorable. Well, this place delivered. It's like being a judge on Iron Chef - you're in a small room with a handful of other people and one by one courses are plated and brought out for you to taste. The menu changes daily depending on what's in season and what the chef feels like whipping up. There were 5 official courses plus an amouse bouche and an intermezzo (and a small bowl of really kick ass chips that were at our table when we arrived) I can't say that every course was a grand slam, but they were all really good and/or really interesting. Just keep an open mind and enjoy the experience.
Along with the meal you can either do the wine pairing (extra $35pp) or select wine/champagne/beer from an extensive drink menu. I'm more a beer drinker myself and the beer menu did not disappoint.
Doors open at 6:30p, dinner started at (roughly) 7:30p. Everything happens very informally and leisurely; expect for it to be an all-evening affair. We got there around 6:30 and didn't leave till 10:30.
Also, take advantage of the access you have to the chefs. They're super cool and totally fine with you hanging out and talking with them in the kitchen as they're prepping dishes. -
Review from Kirsten B.
Carnation, WA
4/18/2012
Truly my favorite restaurant in Seattle. I love having dinner with a friend and all we can do is purr at each bite. Simply magnificient. Chef Dustin and his entourage are the bomb. I feel he does not receive the true recognition that he deserves. Sadly, it appears in Seattle that you need a PR crew if you are a chef today! Of course, if everyone knew what they were missing I could never get in again! BRAVO!
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Review from Amy G.
Jackson, WY
10/26/2011
The BEST dinner I've ever had! Chef Dustin is a cool dude who can seriously cook! I went there to celebrate 4 years with my boyfriend and it was a wonderful experience. We started off with a little bubbly then chose to do the wine pairings with dinner. I thought it would be more beneficial to try lots of different types of wine rather than try to pick something that would taste good with the whole meal.
The setting is a tiny space, almost like your mom's living room set with a bunch of tables for two. They make everything right that night and the menu is always different so I literally felt like I was hanging out at a dinner party. We were able to go up to the kitchen and chat with the chefs throughout the night and it made for a really personalized experience.
Dustin and his sous chef Phil started the evening with an amuse bouche of tomato consume. It looked kinda weird and watery with what looked like dried oversized raisins floating in it. My first bite blew my mind! I knew I was in love with the place from that moment on. So much flavor!
The rest of dinner -
First course - Green bean salad with pancetta, treviso, peppercress, caramelized onion, pickled sunchokes, hazelnuts & tomato sherry vinaigrette - paired with a Provence Rose.
2nd Course - Stuffed Poblano Pepper (my favorite dish!), stuffed with white shrimp, ryeberry, triticate, chickpeas, kale, preserved lemon, served in a corn emulsion with chili oil topped with pea vines - paired with Alexandria Nicole Sheperds Mark - to die for!!
3rd course - Pacific Black Cod with mustard braised cabbage, yukon gold potato puree, cider-duck jus reduction, fried spigarillo leaves - paired with a Kerner (Italian varietal that I hadn't heard of and loved, kind of like riesling...)
Intermezzo - Cantaloupe Sorbet, some Tanzanian black pepper on top.
4th course - Smoked Turkey Masa Crepe with green mole, chantrelle mushies, pickled red onion and queso fresco - paired with a Dry Creek Valley Zin. The wine was a little too dry for me but nevertheless tasted great with the crepes.
Dessert - Almond brown butter cake with caramelized cinnamon apples and star anise-plum ice cream. The flavors really danced around in my mouth on this one. I usually don't care for anise but it was so interesting with the apples and plum. Dessert was paired with Pedro Jimenez - a thick syrupy sweet sherry that I'm just in love with.
Not only was this menu incredible, the ingredients are all sourced locally and they are fresh. As Dustin's menu says, "eating raw or undercooked foods could make you sick. But so can eating over-processed, preservative-laden, GMO-loaded, feed-lot raised and caged foods...think about it." Love it. Go here!!! -
Review from Chet F.
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the most enjoyable dinners I have had in Seattle. The owner is a stand up guy. It all prefix and you really need reservations as there are around 20 seats.
Each choice is introduced by the Chef will a little background of the food and the preparation. Very intimate setting, and a slow paced meal.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the dinner. -
Review from Jeff B.
Redmond, WA
9/4/2011
The two of us had dinner here Sep 3. Great slow food experience--the meal unfolded at a leisurely, intimate pace, and the 3 hours went by too quickly.
The food and paired wine were excellent.
Our private table in the small dining room (about 20 total people) next to a window was perfect. Due to the small space the noise level was a bit high, but within limits.
Tip: if you have reserved a private table for 2, arrive early to have a choice of tables. All were fine, but there is one table for two that is side-by-side seating and sits on a small platform overlooking the rest of the dining room. Some might prefer this arrangement, but when we were there it was the last table occupied.
Dustin was a wonderful, sincere host--and obviously delights in sharing an exceptional eating experience with others. Sarah was our skilled, enthusiastic server.
We had a glass of sherry as we waited for dinner. First time I had ever drank sherry, and relied on Dustin's recommendation. The taste matched his description and was a nice new experience.
The food! Over 90% local-sourced. Five courses in a set menu. Started with chilled cucumber soup--the amount of chili oil approached the edge of my comfort zone, but was offset by the paired white wine.
Next was a small salad that featured wonderfully lucious tomatoes.
After this was a very tender black cod with a perfect hint of Tasso Ham. Dustin was right about the skin--it was crispy and delicious.
Intermezzo was a small melon sherbet with a tiny bit of ham inside.
Fourth up was my favorite--Harissa Smoked Goat, paired with a Tempranillo. Dustin and team smoked the meat themselves, and it was so so good.
The meal concluded with a fruit dessert--strawberry ice cream, raspberry jam, blueberries and shortbread.
We didn't miss (and didn't even notice until well into the meal) that there were no starches--bread, rice, or potatoes. -
Review from Liwei Y.
9/24/2011 8 photos
delicious!!! great experience! I thought that since the group was small and everyone shared the same meal, it was almost communal. I also loved the fact that the chef introduced himself and introduced all the dishes. See posted pics of these dishes.
What was on the menu:
Appetizer: peppers from spain (good by itself and good breaded) has an excellent spicy type of smell, but is not spicy
first: bristol bay wild sockeye salmon--salmon was really good and really fresh...wasn't as big of a fan of the radish and cucumbers that came with the dish, but overall good
second: summer vegetable gazpacho--excellent!! interesting combination of cucumber pepper salsa, cilantro cream, chives, and ancho chili oil. flavors came together and almost tasted like hummus
third: wild marbled king salmon--my favorite course of the night!! soo many different ingredients coming together...so many different flavors, sweet, savory, so good!
intermezzo: sorbet (very refreshing)
fourth: harissa smoked goat--my first time eating goat, tastes like lamb but less strong (maybe they just cooked it really well). tasted like indian food, probably because of the cumin and coriander spices. loved it!!
last: shortbread biscuit, raspberry jam, poached peach, berry salad, sour cream ice cream. shortbread biscuit and sour cream ice cream was excellent. sour cream ice cream tasted like vanilla ice cream but slightly better. -
Review from Alexis F.
Seattle, WA
2/17/2012
A night at Art of the Table was probably the best dining experience I've ever had. Chef Dustin and his team are absolutely wonderful and brilliant. We were served five courses and a starter. I would highly recommend opting for the wine pairing with each course if it is offered. Each dish was cooked to perfection, perfectly proportioned, and served at just the right point in the evening. You can tell that Chef is passionate about what he does and takes pride in quality, innovative dishes.
The one downside is that this place is extremely pricey. The food and wine is very high quality, so some of it is justified, but for a special occasion the prices are raised and it can cost you a near fortune. But every cent will be worth it! -
Review from Steven D.
I can't understand how anyone could have anything but a 5 star experience here!!!!!!
Was here on a Saturday night for a special occasion with a buddy and the entire wine-soaked evening, from start to finish, was simply enchanting. Chef Dustin, Sous Chef Sexypants Phil, and the Gorgeously Delightful Waitress/Hostess with the Mostest Sarah really put on a wonderful dinner, and if these folks are still going strong next time I visit, this will DEFINITELY become a tradition for when I visit Seattle.
The evening course-by-course breakdown:
upon arrival, there were toasted hazelnuts, and we decided to have a champagne aperitif.
amuse-bouche: fried oyster from taylor shellfish, cornmeal and maize, aioli mustard, chive, house pickled shallots
first: beef steak tomato salad, chevre mousse, radish, turnip, frisee, pistachio, preserved lemon, vinaigrette, wine was domaine de terrebrune bandol rose 09, from france
second: housemade duck yolk noodles, asian pork broth, grilled shrimp, mussels, sausage (housemade from freshly-slaughtered pig), seabean-bok choy slaw, chili oil, wine was domaine weinbach reserve personelle clos de capucins riesling 09, from france
third: english pea panna cotta, morel mushrooms, porcini oil, housemade gouda chips, pea vines, wine was facelli bacchus vineyard chardonnay 08, columbia valley
amuse-bouche: bing cherry gelato
fourth: pan seared wild sockeye salmon, corn, leek, tomato & pancetta fricassee, smoked tomato cream, basil pesto, wine was nicolas potel vielles vignes cote de nuits-villages 04, from ? (france?)
last: sable cookie sandwich, raspberry jam, poached apricot, sour cream ice cream, mint syrup, wine was chateau les tuileries sauternes 06, from france
All the food was AMAZING. Delicious. Fresh. Presented nicely. Introduced by Chef Dustin. My favorite was the savory panna cotta (have never had), and the salmon which was so so so good! My buddy didn't want his salmon skin so I gladly devoured his!!!!! -
Review from Thor T.
Philadelphia, PA
8/25/2011
We came here for Happy Monday when a small à la carte menu is offered, together with some special wine and beer offerings. Even though we came close to opening time (a couple minutes after 5 pm), our group of five was not accommodated. After just having played a live version of the frog crossing road game to get across horrible Aurora Avenue, we were deflated by the news until we came up with the great idea to split our party in two (duh!) - problem solved, seated right away.
The choices included duck egg noodles with roasted (confit) duck, fresh king salmon, ox tail tamales, all very delicious and cooked with panache. The borscht soup was a stellar example of the genre and the salads lovingly and carefully composed with beautifully ripe tomatoes and a colorful arrangement of vegetables and greens. Pefect.
A bottle of Feudi di San Gregorio's Lacryma Christi Bianco went well with the food. Service was kind and efficient, taking a bit of time to inform us of the chef's food ideas (local, fresh, sustainable) and we left the small restaurant with a great feeling of satisfaction. -
Review from David F.
Seattle, WA
10/24/2011 1 photo
We had a lovely, leisurely five course meal at the Art of the Table last night. Dustin Ronspies really cares about food and its origin. I really respect that. We were greeted graciously by Abe, who appeared to be filling in as the front of the house (their Facebook page says they are looking for a front of the house person). The whole house is Dustin Ronspies (chef/owner), Phil Lehmann (sous chef), and Abe (front of house). Abe recommended a Belgian ale to start that was complex, malty, and delicious (nice start!).
At the table was a delicious bowl of potato chips. They were lovingly prepared with a good crisp, a bit of oil, and just the right amount of salt and pepper.
Our first course, announced by Dustin (as were all courses), was a "hidden course". It was a consommé of tomato stock. He reported pureeing tomatoes and letting them sit upon cheesecloth for a ridiculous amount of time. He heated the consommé with some cherry tomatoes that he dried at a low heat (tomato-sins?) for a long time. It was finished with a lemon thyme oil. I loved it. The broth was intense and delicious. The tomato-sins added a sweetness and intensity that complimented the broth. Lovely!
The second course was nominally a green bean salad. The accompaniments were great - house-made pancetta, traviso, peppercress, onion, pickled sunchokes, and hazelnuts. The dressing was a perfect balance of oil and vinegar. Sadly, the green beans were lost in the salad and the pancetta, while delicious, left me hunting for more.
I ordered the wine flight. Sadly, for me, it was mostly whites. The second white, an Alexandria Nicole Shepherds Mark, was relatively sweet. It was paired with a spicy dish, a stuffed poblano pepper. The pepper was roasted, skinned, and then stuffed with shrimp, rye, triticale, kale, preserved lemon, and chick peas. It was floated in a corn emulsion with chili oil. The dish was a touch on the spicy side of enjoyment, but the sweet wine cut through the spice.
The next course was Pacific sablefish (aka black cod), sautéed in a cast iron pan, skin side down. It was paired with mustard braised cabbage, Yukon gold puree, cider-duck reduction, and fried spigarillo leaves. The cabbage and cider added too much acid and my mouth was puckered. The fish was lovely, but overwhelmed by its accompaniments. The wine pairing was Abbazia di Novacella Kerner; it was drier by far than the previous course's wine pairing and was more enjoyable, even without a bite of food.
The final savory course was a smoked turkey masa "crepe" with "green mole", chantrelle mushrooms, and pickled red onion. The masa was very thick and somewhat soft. It sucked the flavor out of the rest of the components on the dish. When I tried the rest of the components without the masa, I was very pleased; my mouth was happy. With the masa, the flavors were lost. Fortunately for me, this course had a red wine - a Quivera Dry Creek zinfandel. I liked this wine better than all the whites that preceded it.
Being sensitive to dairy, egg, and gluten, I was given a sorbet for dessert (unlike the others). I normally don't care for dessert and here I didn't care for it either. It was served with a "sticky" that found cloying and could have done without. It was a Bodegas Hidalgo Triana Pedro Jimenez. Instead of dessert, I would have loved a simple Scotch on the rocks. But, that's just my taste.
Overall, the meal was a lovely experience. I'd go back again, most any time. -
Review from Meana k.
8/23/2011
One of my new favorite restaurants.
This place is tiny, easy to miss if you drive by, and very cozy and intimate once inside. Seating for only a couple dozen people at most. Mostly small tables, but one larger table for 6 which is used as a shared table if there are no large party reservations.
The decor is simple, appealing, and inviting. The food -- oh man, the food. Each bite better than the last. Each dish full of surprises. I met an old friend there after reading the Yelp reviews and learning of the Happy Monday special. Small plates and happy hour prices. Wow, what a great deal. I would pay much more for food this good, and have paid far more for food far less tasty or inventive.
We ordered three small plates to share. A veggie plate that was so complex in flavors that each bite was like a discovery session for my taste buds. The salmon in corn fricasee that we ended up asking for spoons for so we could savor every last drop. The oxtail tamale with such tender, juicy meat. I wish I had a menu to describe each dish to you, but it wouldn't matter, the menu changes all the time. I can't imagine anything coming out of this kitchen that I would not love.
We had to then order both the dessert -- basil ice cream, peach sorbet, fresh berries and pound cake -- and the cheese plate -- camambert drizzled with truffle honey and candied walnuts. Both were just lovely, perfect for sharing.
Service was great. The ambiance was good. We were able to enjoy great conversation with amazing food. With 5 dishes off the menu, tea, coffee, soda, and wine, our bill came to only $80. We both left feeling satisfied, not overly stuffed and definitely not hungry at all. Quite a great deal, if you ask me. I will definitely be back.
Keep in mind they're open Monday/Thursday for the small plate deal, and then Fri/Sat is a different menu. -
Review from Laura M.
Wind, fire, water, earth. Those are the words I would use to describe my recent meal at Art of the Table. Well, not exactly. But, let's just say I was KIND OF impressed!
Approximately 6 hours before the big event, I sat at my desk with my ritual cheese sandwich and tortilla chips, to preview the menu. My first thought was, HUH?? I didn't know half the words on the menu. What are TERRINE, celery cream, arctic char, SQUAB, emmer, panna cota, and tuile?!! I knew I'd be in for an adventure that evening.
When we arrived at the restaurant we were the firsts guests of the evening. Immediately my heart was cheered by the warm glow of candles and fresh tulips on the tables. I felt like they were waiting for us. We sat to sunchoke chips (another one of those words I didn't know).
GONG. A harmonic ring sliced through the restaurant, the owner and chef wanted our attention, and our meal began.
We had a quick started of panfried oyster on an asian pear SLAW. It was delicious. The root vegetable terrine with celery cream sauce and lemony calamari salad woke up my SENSES. The flavors were delicate and the root vegetables sang along side the perfectly tender calamari salad.
Arctic char was my FAVORITE dish. A tasty piece of fish with creamy cauliflower risotto, topped with perfectly seasoned kale chips and homemade fruity pancetta. To SLICE through the heaviness of the dish, a deep wine reduction ran across the plate.
A grapefruit ginger sorbet cleansed the pallet between 4th and 5th courses. NOM NOM NOM NOM.
Oven-roasted squab. Okay, I can say I've eaten squab and I'm not a huge fan, but it was accompanied by some delicious bright orange butternut squash, nutty emmer cake, and chunky fig vinagairette.
To finish, orange panna cotta with a citrus salad. Yum.
I can overall say that this meal was an experience, a true splurge, and a delight. My one complaint was the temperature of the meal. Everything was about the same lukewarm temperature. They do a very nice job showcasing the local food, giving thanks for it, and hosting people like it's there home.
Peace and love. -
Review from kathy m.
3/5/2011
OK. Five stars. Easily the second best meal I've ever had in my life. I can't imagine how great it would have been if I'd actually liked the food behind all of the art.
We made reservations for our birthday dinner about a month in advance and I was pretty disappointed when the menu was posted. I took particular issue with calamari (which in my experience are tough and chewy--why not eat a flavorful gummi worm instead?) and "oven roasted squab" (which I've heard is the poultry equivalent of veal and is basically a pigeon--ick). But I persevered! I have faith in my Yelp community! After all, I'd never had calamari that hadn't been breaded and deep fried and most likely previously frozen. And the squab, well, I was certain it would taste just like chicken.
So when we arrived there was a surprise starter. An oyster (which I hate). One of my life's mottos is to "always trust the chef" so I ate it. That single oyster, dredged in cornmeal and pan-fried and placed artfully on a bed of Asian pear slaw turned out to be one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten in my life! If I could have I would have ordered about a dozen of them as an entree.
Everything was sublime. The flavors were ummmmazing! The calamari was fresh and tender. And the squab...well, I can't say I'm a fan. Kinda like a pomegranate--tastes OK, but too much trouble.
I can't wait for our next visit to Art of the Table!Listed in: The best, Jerry!
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Review from Danielle J.
Seattle, WA
5/25/2011
What a night. Honestly, I have to say this was my number one dining experience for several reasons.
Firstly, Chef Dustin is such a cool, laid-back guy that makes you feel completely welcome in his restaurant. His descriptions of the dishes and his history are colorful and animated. You can see his true passion seeping forth with every explanation of the food.
Secondly, the food. WOW. It is one thing to go to a restaurant and order a dish with ingredients that you know you will enjoy, and then love it. It is another thing to have every single dish crafted without your knowledge of what will be served to you and then aboslutely gushing over how perfect and tasty the dish is.
Not a single plate in that entire restaurant went back with food on it. I wanted to lick every plate clean, it was that good.
Thirdly, the atmopshere. Quaint, quiet and charming... it is the perfect setting for that special date occassion.
I would highly recommend to anyone and cannot wait until my next visit to Art of the Table! -
Review from Wes N.
Seattle, WA
6/1/2011
My vote for the best restaurant in the entire Seattle area, as well as the entire Pacific Northwest, and indeed one of the best in the country. My wife and I have been going to Art of the Table since shortly after it opened, and every meal has opened new vistas in what food can be all about. The entire meal is both a culinary exploration and an explosion of intense and wonderful flavors, marvelously paired and counterpointed, over a magical several hours.
How Chef Dustin and his Sous Chef Phil manage this will always be a mystery - as true brilliance always is. But they do, night after night, combining the very best and freshest of local ingredients (and well before 'locavore' became the catchword it is today) into astoundingly creative and stunningly flavorful creations. Indeed, we have had dishes there that left us - and as well as the entire restaurant - speechless at first bite, subsiding into moans and murmurs of "Oh my God, this is amazing".
If there can be genius in food and in cooking, this is where it is. Dustin and Phil - you guys are totally amazing - and we are blessed to have you as the centerpiece of the Northwest restaurant scene. -
Review from Linda C.
3/15/2011
AOTT!
Ya'll know that I'm relatively liberal with the four stars, but am stinge-a-roo with the five shiny ones.
This places ROCKS all five stars.
Small, unassuming place that one could easily pass by.
Interior is oddly shaped, but in a cozy, sitting in somone's (tight) living
room kinda way.
Food is AMAZING. We were there for happy hour Monday, and shared most of their menu. Every single plate was amazing. Great flavors, super creative mix of flavors that totally worked.
And now they have small plate Thursdays -- woohoo!
Rock on AOTT... it's OOTW! (Out of This World!) -
Review from Mandi M.
Seattle, WA
3/29/2011
Ah. Maze. Ing.
I had the pleasure of attending a private dinner here and it is a meal I will remember for the rest of my life. Each course was impeccably paired with a complementary wine, and the descriptions of the food had me frantically taking notes on my iPhone so I could document the unparalleled level of awesome. It's great to eat an entire meal and know where every ingredient came from and that everything was collected in a sustainable way. Two enthusiastic thumbs up! -
Review from Josiana Janel I.
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
5/2/2011
I was a little worried when we drove up to the restaurant and when we walked it. Its a homely little place; being adventurous reassured myself with the 4.5 stars on http://Yelp.com. I was also nervous as I was taking a staff member to dinner who isn't normally a culinary adventurer.
I was not disappointed. The food was phenomenal. My staff member loved every plate. "Gustaf" was a great chef, Patrick was a fun sous chef/waiter, Laurie's photographs were spectacular.
It was an interesting experience! We attended the Supper Club. "Gustof" is culinary genius! I ate vegetables that I thought I would NEVER eat. Loved every moment of the meal. It was 3 hours.
For all of those reviewers that complained about the tight space: obviously you've never been to NYC or anywhere in Europe. This is how the rest of the world eats, get over yourself and just enjoy the experience! If you can't go back to your chain restaurants! The community that Art of the Table creates is is warm, inspiring, and fulfilling.
May come back to Seattle just to bring my husband (a foodie and a http://Yelp.com Elite) just to introduce him to Art of the Table. -
Review from Christine F.
Chicago, IL
3/28/2011 1 photo
Wow.
This was one of the best, if not THE best meal of my life, and I've eaten a lot of food.
Before we went, the menu looked interesting and delicious, so I made a res ~2 weeks in advance. My husband was hesitant because of the communal eating atmosphere, but I assured him it would be fine. And fine it was...
My husband and I were sat at the table for 6. It's a REALLY small restaurant. It can sit about 22 people, and that's snug. I liked the intimate atmosphere. Two other couples sat at the table for 6 with us and off we went!
I don't eat meat, I do, however, eat fish. They customized the meal so that there was no meat in my portions, which was awesome. They did a great job at finding appropriate substitutions. That can be hard - but they did it with finesse and deliciousness. The following descriptions will be of what I ate, not of what was on the original menu. Between each course, the chef would come out and talk about what we were eating.
The amuse was a toast with pureed leeks, gravlox, pea shoots (?) and a white sauce (I don't recall what it was). Very tasty. The lox weren't fishy at all, and they were smokey and delicious.
Our first course was a salad of roasted beets that sandwiched goat cheese, had 3 types of citrus on the side, pea vines, pepitas and a vinaigrette. I'll be honest, I can be iffy on beets but this was delicious. The goat cheese hit the mark between subtlety and pungency and the citrus elements added a bright ZING to this first course.
The second course (I think this was my favorite) was the golden turnip bisque with hazelnuts, celeriac and leek hash with vanilla oil. Ohmygod. The hazelnuts were really smokey so it added this really comforting flavor to it. The bisque was amazing.
The third course were 2 shrimps cooked in butter and paprika served on a bed of chickpeas, cabbage, romesco and herb oil. The bed of chickpeas (it was spicy, like a curry) was delicious and complimented the two shrimp well. The shrimp were also GIGANTIC, cooked to perfection and delicious.
Between these two courses was an intermezzo, a 'sorbet' of grapefruit and prosecco topped with ginger. Mmmmm. So good.
The fourth course was halibut, polenta, melted greens, nettle puree, truffle vinaigrette and sunchoke chips. The halibut was cooked perfectly. The polenta was good as well and paired nicely with the halibut. I, of course, love truffles, so that was super dreamy as well.
The last course, dessert, blew my face off. It was hazelnut sable and strawberry jam sandwich, chocolate icecream and muscat poached pears. The sandwhich, which was a cookie and jam sandwich, was incredible. The cookies had a sweet, sandy texture and the jam was sweet and delicious. The pears added a subtle flavor and the homemade chocolate ice cream was sublime.
At the end of all this, we were full but not stuffed. I had several glasses of wine with the meal, which was delicious. My husband and I hang around, waiting for our cab and we got to talk with the head chef about food, Chicago, beer pairings, dogs....you name it. Such nice people and such a good meal. When we come back to Seattle we will be back.Listed in: Five Star Food, C FU does Seattle, WA, New American Tasties, Local-vore
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Review from Arry Y.
1/21/2011
1. Delicious.
2. Romantic and small restaurant perfect for special occasions/dates
3. Clear your schedule - this is not a place to come when you are pressed for time
4. Rotating menus (so it changes)
5. Socially conscious food - locally sourced -
Review from Ben W.
Newport Beach, CA
5/27/2011
I could not have been happier. The restaurant setting is small and cozy. Makes you feel like part of some special club or something lol.
Chef Dustin made the experience so much more personal than I had envisioned and it was a pleasant experience. The food he creates is so fresh and clean that you just can't help but want more..
Before the dinner started, we enjoyed a korean type of "taco" except it was a small fluffy outter with kimchi and all sorts of goodness within.
-Geoduck & Calamari Ceviche was delicious and tasted fresh and light
-Green Garlic Flan holy have you ever had garlic flan? if so then lucky!! This dish was seasoned with a mushroom borth and black truffles!! yum
- Marbled King Salmon. Seared skin side was crispy and as Chef Dustin was saying, I recommend even salmon skin haters to give it a twirl.
-Applewood Smoked Pork Belly WOW! This dish had to be my favorite so flavorful and most definitely hit the spot.
-Lemon-Lavender Sable & Rhubarb Sandwich with Mint Ice Cream...... Um why was the plate so small? I love dessert and this had to take the cake as far as a chocolateless dessert. My o My.
The Wine pairings were fun and love how they want to give you an extra splash halfway through each plate.
Did I mention I like sweets. The Ice Wine was $$!Listed in: Up and Down the West Coast
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Review from Ryan D.
Seattle, WA
5/30/2011
This was one of the best 10 meals I have ever eaten in my life. And I love to eat!
Dustin does things with food that I never thought possible. All of the ingredients and local and fresh and you can taste the difference. From fish to the micro-greens, you can tell the care taken in the selection of everything on the plate.
However the magic really happens when these local delicacies are turned into culinary masterpieces. Everything from the perfectly seared black cod to the decadent apple tart was perfection. Themenu changes each night to reflect what is fresh, and special dietary requests are not just tolerated but embraced with creativity.
Now granted the supper club isnt at a price point that allows for this dining every week (unless you are a microsoft millionaire) However, I would gladly pay 15-20 more per person and feel it was a great value. The meal is 3 hours and is entertainment in itself with introductions of each course by the chef. Forget the movie...just go here for a fantastic night at not much more than dinner, movie, and a cocktail would cost at far less quality establishments.
The complaints on here regarding the seating are just silly. The experience is a supper club and not a hotel restaurant. You can wander back into the kitchen and chat with the staff between courses, talk with other patrons, or just keep to yourself.
Any special occasion or friends visiting is a call to head to Art of the Table. Reservations are limited, but well worth planning ahead. -
Review from Jeff K.
Seattle, WA
2/13/2011
Truly magnificent meal - what more can you say about the love of food and whimsy for a Valentine's weekend menu that begins with sherry vinegar-marinated duck heart and ends with house-made ginger ice cream over local hazelnut tart.
To me Art of the Table just defined the essence of everything I adore about Seattle food & dining -- it's intense passion for the food and the land and the people who bring it to life, combined with meticulous skill and inspired creativity, and then most importantly --- served with a warming humility and complete lack of pretension. Seattle to me (relative to the Bay Area or New York) defines *substance over style*, and Art of the Table really nailed it last night.
The courses were:
- Duck heart marinated in sherry vinegar, over terrine of local beets
- Parsnip bisque with barised short rib, trumpet mushrooms, and vanilla and chive oils
- Fennel-crusted albacore tuna loin with spicy shrimp, garlic kale, and house-made preserved lemon
- Intermezzo of grapefruit, ginger, and champagne sorbet
- Tobacco-rubbed duck breast (hence the duck hearts we got and the livers that Friday night's diners received) with cauliflower "risotto" and sunchoke puree
- Hazelnut salted caramel torte with ginger ice cream
Everything was great from the freshness and distinct taste of each ingredient (one of the best pieces of tuna I've ever eaten), to the delightful and surprising contrasts in taste and texture (vanilla oil with the parsnip soup was so great), to the ideal wine parings (inky, tobacco and black cherry Syrah to match the same in the duck main course), and of course the simple friendly supper club atmosphere.
If you want a phenemonal meal in a very casual "my best friend is a chef and we're just having a dinner party" atmosphere, Art of the Table delivers the goods. They are achieving what they set out to do, and we will be back for sure. -
Review from Maureen O.
Seattle, WA
4/14/2011
There are a lot of great restaurants in Seattle, but this is the only one where I can reliably enjoy even things I usually hate. Case in point: I was there during the 'sweet and sour' menu week. I loathe sweet and sour ... at least, I thought I did.
I've been here 2 or 3 times a year since it opened and I've never been disappointed. Yes, it's a fixed-price set menu many nights of the week, but it costs the same as you'd pay a la carte for an evening out at comparable places. And AOTT is so small that the kitchen can take the time to really get every dish just right and serve it immediately. Really inspired and unusual dishes. I was there on Small Plate Thursday and had some amazing lamb sausage with harissa and yogurt sauce. Fabulous! -
Review from Murat S.
San Francisco, CA
6/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Must try for any seattleite.
It is a little pricey but is worth every penny. You get a unique selection food guaranteed to taste great. The best place to go if you want to try something out of the ordinary. -
Review from Casey H.
Seattle, WA
9/22/2010
I really wanted to like this place but I just couldn't give it more than 3 stars. I made reservations weeks in advance for my wife and I for our 2nd wedding anniversary - I specifically asked for a private table (you probably know where this is going). When we got there, we were immediately told that there weren't any private tables available so that sat us at the communal table with another large party of 6 girls and another quiet couple. At that point, I was already slightly irritated...this was supposed to be our romantic anniversary and we were having to share it with a bunch of loud strangers...not very cool.
Anyway, we got over it and decided to eat some food. The food was very good. It wasn't the most original and inspiring meal I've had (we had clams, fish, salad, bread and dessert) but was very good. Was it worth sharing a large communal table in order to eat there? No.
Look, I get the communal table thing. It works in some places, but am apparently not a fan of this type of dinning - especially when paying $100 a person to eat there. I think when you go out to dinner somewhere fancy, you want to feel like you are special...you don't feel that way at Art of the Table. -
Review from Hae A.
1/11/2011
Came here for supper club in December and it was a good meal. Would love to live in Seattle and come here every month as it's only $55 a person (for the amount of courses and the food you get it's a great deal, seeing we spend the same amount at Lark for something less tasty and greatly less in quantity).
We were seated at the communal table, which was fine with me. Seems like this is a trend in restaurants. The starter, a light salad, was excellent and made me look forward to the future courses.
First course, a calamari and shellfish salad was good. A lot of seafood on one plate.
Second course, wild mushroom ragu with truffles was tasty. Not too heavy but getting really full.
Refresher course was parsnip ice cream. It was interesting ice cream but not something I enjoyed too much.
Third course, lamb merguez meatballs were okay. Not the tastiest meat dish but the veggies on this dish were really tasty. At this point I was stuffed because of the sheer amount of food for each course. He does not skimp on portions.
Dessert course, pear tart. I'm not a fan of cooked pears or apples so this course was not enjoyable for me.
Each course was brought out and the chef introduced each dish, then dined on together. I think in the interest of keeping hot foods hot, it would be great if the chef introduced each dish while it was being brought out. -
Review from Connie C.
3/31/2011
Came here for an anniversary celebration. The food was excellent! I loved how the chef explained everything between each course. He would explain where the food came from, and how he made it. Then everyone would eat. We were seated at a communal table, with other guests. That made it pretty fun, because we were all conversing throughout the meal, and met some interesting folks.
Some chefs try too hard to make things that are super exotic - he didn't. It was special, and of course wasn't something you could just make at home, but it wasn't totally wacky.
For us, it's definitely somewhere we would only go for special occasions, because it's much more expensive than we're used to. But many of the other guests around us were just there cuz they were foodies.
