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Purple Café and Wine Bar
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Canadian (New), Wine Bars [Edit]
14559 Woodinville-Redmond Rd N EWoodinville, WA 98072
(425) 483-7129
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
141 reviews for Purple Café and Wine Bar
Review Highlights
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"I got their amazing Lobster Mac N Cheese." In 14 reviews -
"The chicken marsala is unlike anything you've had." In 11 reviews -
"Also, the prix fixe menu is excellent." In 4 reviews
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141 reviews in English
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Review from Liz P.
4/9/2012
When a meal truly compensates for subpar service, you know it MUST be a good meal! And it was.
Their chicken marsala dish is worth every penny. Just under $20 if I remember right... with flavors from the sauce, the chicken, and the mashed potatoes that mix so well together, you want to savor every bite and finish the entire plate & then some. I don't typically order chicken entrees, especially when there are steak options. I'll consider myself lucky to stray from the usual this time around.
Next trip I'll pass on the Gewürztraminer. I'm used to Gewürztraminer being a bit sweeter, and this one just had too much tartness for it.
Server was nice, but it took at least 20 minutes to be asked for wine choice, and awhile for it to be served also. Considering that they were not extremely busy, I was disappointed here.
But that chicken marsala... oh my gosh!!! 5 stars to the chef! -
Review from Morgan L.
3/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
My mom knows it, my brothers know it, my friends know it, my doctor knows it, my favorite bartender knows it, Wikipedia may know it... I am *always* with my boyfriend. We are best friends and happen to be in love, so we pretty much are always together!
BUT on this rare occasion, Kristin C and I decided we were through with flirting over Yelp compliments and agreed to meet for some wine! I have been to the Bellevue location and enjoyed the wine very much, so I was excited to try Woodinville. Having been to both now, I can assure you Woodinville is better than Bellevue!
Our server was very nice and didn't mind when we STILL hadn't decided what we wanted to order after checking on us a couple of times. Finally, we pulled it together and order some wine and food. My salad was perfect, not overly dressed and had a good balance of cheese and walnuts. I really loved my pinot grigio, I believe it was tavo or tevo-- it was on the drier side- which I appreciate.
I can see myself coming back here for a date (hint hint) or meeting up with some girlfriends to connect over some good wine and great convos!
And I must add: I highly recommend their wine flights- I find this to be a rare thing in Seattle. They have both white and red, you get 4 samples. You can't go wrong!
My one regret is that I didn't spring for the Dine around Seattle... every year their menu looks soooo amazing. -
Review from Kristin C.
Kirkland, WA
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a great place for a date. Both of the Cute boy, and the sexy lady variety. Last night, I went with the sexy Lady variety with the amazing Morgan L. (Thanks Alex for dinner and drinks!). I got great company, fantastic dinner, delicious wine, and I didn't even have to put out at the end of the night! Maybe I am doing this whole dating thing wrong after all.
Anyways, according to Yelp, this place is basically inside Columbia Winery, which I can assure you it is not. It's located near the Tullys, if that helps at all. Once inside though, this place is gorgeous! I loved the ambiance, and the upstairs loft looks great.
The service was fantastic as well, I didn't catch the girl's name, but she was sweet, and fun, and very patient with us while we were too busy talking to order wine and food. I finally decided on a glass of the malbec, which was delicious. She gave me a great recommendation! I also tried the four cheese pizza, it was the first thing on the menu that looked good, and I didn't want to spend 4 hours over the menu trying to decide. I was happy with my choice, it wasn't the best pizza ever, but it had a lot of good flavor, and I am definitely looking forward to my leftovers for lunch later on.
Turns out, I live really close to this place, probably closer than the Kirkland location, so I imagine I will be here again soon!
I definitely want to try one of their wine and cheese flights next. -
Review from Katherine C.
Seattle, WA
Went here twice...first for Restaurant Week...$15...what a sweet deal!! I loved my experience! I ordered the crostini as a first course, the turkey and havarti for main, and creme brulee for dessert...It was so good I brought my friend here for lunch...We tried the stilton salad...very tasty! The same sandwich because it was SOOO good! And my friend agreed!! For dessert, I ordered the sour cream chocolate cake and my friend ordered the caramels. The desserts were awesome!! Left with a box of caramels because they were so good!!
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Review from Victoria R.
Kirkland, WA
5/7/2012
So incredibly yummy. The staff was nice and helpful. Great drinks. Great food. I'll be back.
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Review from Deborah T.
Redmond, WA
5/6/2012
Very good food. Wine flights are fun but a few things keep me away:
1. Prices are high. Lunch can run to $40 or 50 for two. Dinner is much more.
2. The chairs are too big and heavy. I'm not terribly short, but my feet don't touch the floor! -
Review from Lindsay T.
Auburn, WA
2/11/2012
Went for a girl's night but would be also be a great place for a date or romantic celebration, or for our of town foodies and wine lovers.
Tips: They have wine flights (four 2.5 ounce pours), tasting menu ($5 each with recommendation of getting three items), and Three course prix-fix menu ($28 or $40). Go for tasting at William Church Winery next door while you're waiting for a table and the hostess will come get you when its ready. Several other tasting rooms within walking distance- although most only open until 5pm.
Unparalleled wine selection with selections locally, regionally, and internationally
Paul was our server and he was more than ready when we asked for suggestions about wines and food. His descriptions were detailed, down to the aromas, depth, body, and flavors. Although it was a very busy night he was attentive and his service was excellent.
Though the food was on the expensive side, it was FABULOUS. We had:
Calamari- moroccan tomato aioli. Breading had flavor to it also. Would definitely recommend if you like calamari.
Lobster Mac and Cheese- it made with creamy, melty Gruyere cheese and had finely shredded, fried carrots on top. This was very rich and I only was able to eat 1/4 of it, but would make awesome leftovers.
Flank Steak Sandwich with shoestring fries-
Chocolate sour cream cake with marshmallow fluff and peppermint ice cream- The ice cream had large pieces of peppermint crunch in it and the marshmallow fluff was slightly caramelized on top. We shared among three but this could easily be eaten by itself.
Wines: all three that we had were good.
Syrah- LE JAJA DE JAU: Vin de Pays d'oc, France '10
Cabernet- GRAMERCY CELLARS 'LOWER EAST': Columbia Valley, Washington '09
RENACER 'PUNTO FINAL': Mendoza, Argentina '10
Will definitely go back again! -
Review from Rachael F.
Tustin, CA
4/3/2012
Amazing food! Don't miss the Gorgonzola stuffed dates, the lobster Mac and cheese and the flourless chocolate cake with peanut butter ice cream. Definitely worth writing home about! Great service too!
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Review from Amy L.
3/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
OK I absolutely love Purple in Kirkland and this location has a lot of the same perks. The wine options are fantastic, they have some great food choices, and I like the atmosphere (except for the stupidly heavy chairs.) I've just had too many little things that just aren't up to snuff at the Woodinville Purple.
First off, the Kirkland location has a few beer options which the Woodinville location does not and the server was kind of snooty when my husband asked about the beers acting like they were too good for beer. There are some fantastic microbreweries in the area that should get the same respect as the great local wines. I would understand disbelief at wanting a Coor's Light but how about a local beer? My second issue was few months back I had a duck breast entree and the skin was rubbery and inedible. Finally on my last visit we had two problems. First the fabulous crispy mozzarella bites were served in a tiny cast iron skillet which was cute but made them very greasy compared to when I've had them in Kirkland. Finally I ordered the "caramel apple" bread pudding with an "apple gastrique." I could have let the other issues pass if this hadn't been so very "meh". There was no apple or caramel that I could taste in the bread pudding itself and the nail in the coffin was the "gastrique" that I swear just tasted like everclear with not the slightest hint of apple or vinegar, it was just bizarre. The top tasted like a good (not apple or caramel) bread pudding but I was unable to eat the bottom because it was apparently soaked in booze? I had to go home and google "gastrique" to make sure I hadn't misunderstood what it was supposed to be for many years.
I think I'll give them one more shot to see if they can live up to my expectations before I close the book on the Woodinville branch for good. -
Review from Tom B.
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Definitely not a place to go when on a budget if you intend to try lots of things. It's not that their prices are really unreasonable, it's just that they tend to focus on things that are more on the indulgent side. They really do make an effort to get out and get their hands on nice bottles and they compliment those with high-quality stuff from the kitchen. It's not a place to come for a sparklingly creative meal, but what they do, they do very well.
It's a little bit hard to find if you don't know the area. Not exactly a maze, but there are a lot of zig-zagging roads through here, sweeping corners, and roundabouts until you hit the new strip mall that Purple calls home. There's parking, though, and once you're inside it's quite nice. Rough wood construction, heavy iron tables and chairs, heavy iron napkin rings, heavy iron bread plates, heavy iron crackers baskets--you get the idea. Even the menus are sturdy, bound in heavy chipboard. If you're willing enough to suspend disbelief, you might almost feel like Beowulf will be slaying Grendel any minute now.
The people are super nice. Cheerful, and they know their menu and their approach cold. They put in a complete effort even though we sat upstairs (where no one else was yet) and didn't order much. Really a thoroughly well-tuned floor staff.
And the kitchen staff is good too. We focused on snacks for the most part, some of us ordering cheese plates, others caramels, and I think maybe one prepared dish. The cheeses are well selected here, and they present well--on a nice wooden cutting board with fig jam and green apples complimentary. There are also nice sturdy crackers in the aforementioned woven iron basket. Yeah--woven iron basket. Kinda cool. Must get tiring slogging up and down those stairs with such heavy serving ware, but I guess they know what they're in for.
I ordered a flight of "burly" reds, which turned out to mean very acidic, tannic, peppery reds. Interesting stuff from hot dry Mediterranean and South American regions. Not stuff I'd necessarily order again, but my curiosity was piqued and then satisfied. And they come out in a little caddy for four miniature glasses, made of--wait for it--iron. You get a card on nice card stock tucked in, telling you which is which. They had me tasting from most powerful wine to least, which struck me as odd, but it seemed to work well enough.
All in all, this place definitely focuses on the wine, even including a few pages in the wine book devoted specifically to Woodinville. Everything else around the wine is well considered and worth enjoying, but you come here primarily when you're in the mood for a good glass. It delivers. -
Review from Bob A.
Lynnwood, WA
3/28/2012
Love this place. have been there for date night, with friends and for business. several favorites are the chicken madiera and burger (i know but it's a 1/2 pound of fresh ground goodness)
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Review from Lindsay P.
Lynnwood, WA
11/24/2011
I went to Purple the other day with a group of Yelpers, and I loved it! I wish I had a little bit more money so I could have tried all sorts of things because between the extensive wine menu and the food options, I think I could have been even happier.
I ended up getting the Caveman Blue Cheese and the suggested Red that went with it (I don't remember what it was and if I did I couldn't pronounce it.) Tom B was very generous and shared his cheese plate with me as well, which included two other blue cheeses (one of which was a blue goat cheese) and a hard yellow cheese and a slightly softer white cheese. All of them were fabulous. Nancy H's sea salt caramels looks fabulous and Inna B's tenderloin skewer looked awesome too. Kevin had the baked brie I believe and that also looked like cheesy heaven.
Service was great, despite the fact that we were all alone in the loft for a while. Our water was kept full, and we had bread and butter to feast on before our foods came. I liked the cozy cabin like decor, and the upstairs loft was very warm!
I can't wait to go back and try more cheese, wine, and other items on the menu.Listed in: Noms, Drink, drink, and drink…, Yelp Events
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Review from Susan B.
Palmer, AK
Went in for dinner last night on a double date. Wow is the best word to describe our experience. Except for the noise level (which wasn't a deal breaker) it was awesome. We were able to make a reservation earlier in the afternoon for 8:45 the same evening. With all the good reviews I wasn't sure we'd even be able to get in.
Every bite we took was immediately followed by "wow" or "OMG" or "amazing." None of us could resist trying a bite or 2 from everyone else's plates, and the portions were large enough we could have easily shared. Three of us ordered from the Everyday Three Course Menu and the other ordered just the filet and a dessert. I had the calamari appetizer and couldn't get over how tender and perfectly cooked it was. And that curry on the calamari - has to be my new favorite flavor combo. I also had the lobster mac & cheese, and vanilla creme brulee. The lobster mac was amazing. Huge chunks of lobster all through the pasta and just the right amount of cheese to compliment but not overpower.
The service was great. Our waiter was just the right amount of attentive w/o being there too often. We sat and talked for a while after we finished eating and didn't feel rushed at all.
The only thing that bothered me a little was the lack of space for patrons that are waiting for their table. There seriously is no where to stand inside the door. On a warmer night I wouldn't mind standing outside, but in December come on. We were waiting about 15 minutes for a table we had reserved and had to stand right inside the door in a very small space surrounded by tables of people eating and in the path of servers trying to get upstairs to serve.
We will definitely be back! -
Review from Inna B.
My first Purple experience has resulted in this thought frequently crossing my mind: "I'd like a cheese plate and some red wine."
The service was fabulous! They were very helpful and very nice each time they visited our table. The interior looked really nice, too, but it was a beautiful day so my cousin and I decided to take one of the tables outside in their sidewalk/patio seating area.
Food to love: The Baked Brie didn't need the extra bread, so that was left over, but it was still delicious and I loved it. I would definitely order that one again. And probably some of their other cheese plates. They sounded great!
Instead of extra cheese plates, however, we had the tenderloin skewers as our other main food dish. They were very delicious, and came on top of a lot of greens. (I love unexpected salads.)
For dessert we had the chocolate truffle brownie and a wonderful creme brulee. The brownie was very rich and slightly overcooked, but it was still quite good. The creme brulee was... perfect. Absolutely perfect.
The one thing we regretted was ordering the calamari. Not to say it wasn't good... it definitely was... but, calamari just didn't seem to fit with the the wine or the cheese or the other food we ordered. It made me realize I need to think twice about what I'm ordering sometimes to make sure it all "fits" together.
Oh, and wine. We definitely had some wine. I mostly enjoyed the "Off the Beaten Path" red wine flight, and my cousin had a Summer special white flight, of which she enjoyed the reddish wine the best. If you love drinking a lot of wine or plan to sit and chat for a while, I recommend trying a flight. As for me... well, it's probably better to just go for one or two glasses.
Before I went, I asked some friends and co-workers about their Purple experience(s). One person said "They have heavy chairs." I agree! -
Review from Nancy H.
8/16/2011
My hubby and I have been here a few times, just us, when our kids are off at sleep-away camp. It's kind of our date night place. And it's wonderful!
We were most recently there two nights ago and had their set-price 3 course meal. Hubby and I chose the exact same three dishes: the Purple chopped salad (amazing! Great combo of lettuce, chick peas, chopped bacon and other goodies. I opted not to have the blue cheese on it. The dressing was delicious!); the chicken marsala (I didn't have the marsala sauce on the chicken, as the chicken was SO moist and tasty, it didn't need it. But hubby SWOONED over the sauce, commenting on its woodsiness and depth of flavor); and, my absolute FAVORITE dessert on this planet, their sea salt caramels!
I must tell you, I'm a caramel snob. I love caramel much more than chocolate. It's my absolute favorite treat in the world, and I've had caramels all over the world. And Purple's sea salt caramels are, for me, the best in the entire world. Hubby is a chocoholic but even he admittled, these caramels are to die for. (He had the creme brulee last time here, and that was fabulous, but even he preferred these caramels!). I can't talk them up enough.
Our waiter was Mike, who usually works the bar. He ROCKS. He knows his wines, that's for sure, and he has a fabulous personality. He made our meal fun.
The only reason I'm giving this place 4 stars instead of 5 is because, last time we were here, our waitress only addressed me and totally ignored my hubby. Wouldn't even look him in the eye when hubby was ordering. It was wierd. Food was great as usual, but the waitress must've had "issues".
Oh, I must add that the fixed price menu is QUITE the good deal: your choice of an appetizer, main dish and dessert from a fixed menu, for either $25 or $35. And the portions are very healthy ones (not "here's a pretty plate with a lettuce leaf and a perfect cherry tomato and let's call that the salad!").
If you go, ask for Mike. And try the caramels!!! -
Review from George C.
Seattle, WA
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I reserved the semi private dining room for a 15 person birthday dinner. The calamari and crab cakes were good but my favorite appetizer was the baked brie. I had the chicken marsala for dinner and it was delicious. The side of mashed potatoes and green beans were very good too. My wife really enjoyed her pancetta and gorgonzola pasta dish. The wine list is solid but I was in the mood for a beer so I ordered a hefeweizen. Purple does not serve liquor, beer and wine only.
The staff was great and the food was good. The atmosphere is cozy and our group had a nice dinner. The restaurant was packed so I would recommend making a reservation on a Friday or Saturday night.
I will be back! -
Review from Elaine K.
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went there twice. The first time it was just my husband and I and the second time it was for my friends birthday. it was a total of eight people.
The food is good, nothing spectacular but good. The menu is a little bit small. I think they should have more options, but it is not a big deal.
My problem with that place is: first,it is too loud. I can barely hear myself talking. Second, the tables are too close to each other. it feels like they are squeezing everybody together in order to get more space available. I just don't like the atmosphere because of it. I just don't feel comfortable at all.
The staff is good. hey are overall nice and efficient and the food is good. -
Review from Joshua B.
1/26/2012
I love the sandwich, soup and salad lunch special. Good food and service. The crabcakes are delicious but a little small. If you are a wine lover they have huge wine and cheese list.
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Review from K.Allen E.
Lynnwood, WA
10/25/2011
I've been to Purple multiple times, and each time I've enjoyed the experience. Keeping this simple and to the point, the food is good to great (loved the lobster mac and cheese). The wine list is OK, and the service sometimes can be a bit lacking, but I'd attribute it to how packed they can get at times.
I'd recommend going and trying, I'll go back again as well..... -
Review from Max M.
Seattle, WA
11/16/2011
I've been to 3 of the "Purples" and this is my favorite. In fact, although maybe I haven't been to many (I have tried the Black Bottle though!), this is the best wine bar I've found anywhere around Seattle. If you prefer a smaller more intimate setting, still with some architectural complexity and... warmth? then you may like it too.
It's expensive and their wine selection isn't as vast as you'd find at the bigger joints, but it's a romantic, serene place to spend a special night off the beaten path. -
Review from Jerry M.
Kirkland, WA
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great service with excellent food.
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Review from Stef M.
8/29/2011
Sold 4 stars! Love this place; the only issue can be on busy summer nights - they have extra seats outside (which are GREAT) but clearly don't bring in extra waitstaff to handle things. We spent 2 hours having dinner here tonight. Thankfully we weren't in a hurry, and we were with good friends, but I could see how people might get frustrated if the circumstances weren't as ideal.
Food is great, and Sundays are half price wine night! If you pick up a bottle of wine at a local winery, there's no corkage fee for the first bottle. Our waiters have always been friendly and professional, and at least keep us informed if things are slowing down in the kitchen or whatnot.
I like that they have a prix fixe menu available for $25 or $35 ($35 for the more expensive offerings) which includes an appetizer, main, and dessert. Very cool!
I tried a blue cheese, which came on a small bamboo cutting board with some thick, crunchy crackers dusted with salt AND sugar (great combo) and some fig spread.
Their BLTa (avocado! yeah!) was awesome, and the side Caesar salad that came with it had a really fresh-tasting, bright dressing. Much better than the bland, mayonaise-y dressing many restaurants serve.
I split a small "bite" dessert ($5) with someone which was great - cornmeal raspberry upside down cake with creme fraiche. Good stuff. This is definitely a solid choice if you're out and about in Woodinville. -
Review from Ryan P.
Bothell, WA
9/29/2011 5 Check-ins Here
My wife and I have been coming to Purple since it opened. The ambiance is inviting, the decor simple yet enchanting, and the food and wine delectable. So many times we've come here and not even ordered entrees. With the complementary bread, always enticing cheese flights, plus an appetizer or two the need to order dinner was not there. The times that we have ordered are some of my favorite meals of all time. One in particular was the duck. Their brick oven pizzas are also some to try. The wine selection is outstanding as well. Choices include all varietals from most countries with varying price points along the way to fit your budget. Their selections by the glass are equally commendable as one can try a new varietal with the satisfaction of not feeling it in their wallet.
Sundays are half price bottle day with the min. purchase of $25 in food.
Best time to come is before 5:00 p.m. and an hour before close. On weekends, lunch is always fun as well. When weather permits, there is ample outdoor seating with heat lamps if needed. Inside is small but can accommodate both small and large parties. There are also private banquet rooms for extremely large parties as well as the upstairs loft area.
So after a full day of wine tasting in Woodinville, your best option is always going to be a relaxing experience at Purple. -
Review from Devon R.
Bremerton, WA
1/23/2012
My first time to visit this location onSaturday 1-14-12. We (four ladies) came in around 6pm after a full day of wine tasting and didn't want to wait for a table so we sat at the bar. Our bartender was very nice and attentive and our wine was good. However, the food was lacking. I've eaten at the one downtown Seattle many times and this just fell flat for me. It was okay but I expected better.
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Review from Suie C.
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's okay. This location of purple is decent, it's a bit more of a cafe setting without the ambiance of the seattle and bellevue locations with their giant wine racks/staircases.
Service wise, good, but not outstanding.
Had the farmer's breakfast which was meat, 2 cheeses, bread, and salad. Tasty, one of the cheeses recommended was good, but I wasn't a huge fan of the other cheese.
Also tried the steak sandwich which was good, but again nothing spectacular. -
Review from Thomas L.
East Longmeadow, MA
2/1/2012
Had the filet mignon tonight, it was better than what we had last night at Daniel's Broiler in Bellevue. Terry was our server, and she was full of awesome.
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Review from Shannon B.
Woodinville, WA
2/13/2012
Love this place!!! Hubby and I dined here for lunch. I ordered a sandwich with their Blue Cheese and it was the finest and most delicious Blue Cheese I have ever had! Prices are decent and the wine selection is top-notch. Great little gem in Woodinville.
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Review from Vanessa L.
San Jose, CA
1/24/2012
Stopped in for a business lunch and was very pleased. I had the crab cakes starter for lunch and loved them. They were more crab than cake, the way they should be.
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Review from Drea R.
Seattle, WA
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went for happy hour with a large group overall everyone thought it was a pleasant experience. The happy hour options were limited but the food was good.
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Review from Jenna K.
7/3/2011
Purple's many locations are always perfect. Long day wine tasting? Need something yummy? Purple's right there. A fun day "exploring" downtown? Awesome! There's a Purple near you too. There's a Purple in Bellevue...but what are you doing there...really?
I always got the risotto...not because I'm boring (which I am), but because I can't eat anything else on the menu. I'm not complaining. Always solid risotto and always GREAT SELECTION for wine lovers -
Review from Linnea T.
Ellensburg, WA
3/21/2012
I have been meaning to try the Seattle location of Purple for so long, so when my husband and I were staying just down the street from the Woodinville location last weekend I couldn't pass up the chance to finally sample the tempting menu and wine list! Now the only regret I have about the Purple Cafe is that I waited for so long to sample what is quite close to culinary perfection, at a reasonable price. I had the Gorgonzola and Panchetta pasta and the smokey mixture of flavors were even more wonderful than the saliva-enducing menu predicted! The crab cakes, which we ordered for an appetizer, were some of best I've ever had-- perfectly shredded meat with just the right hint of lime and spice to give them some refreshing "zip". All the food paired perfectly with a local white wine that was recommended by our very knowledgeable waiter! I will definitely visit again (and hopefully SOON!) because the industrial-chic atmosphere, attentive wait staff and scrumptious offerings cannot be beat at this price level!
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Review from Tim H.
Woodinville, WA
1/27/2012
Food here used to be four stars, but it's gone downhill. On most recent visit the Wild Boar special was served luke warm (as was my companions steaks), and had a rather soggy array of vegetables oddly seasoned with cilantro. It just didn't work. The baked brie starter was as good as always however.
I always think you can judge how good food is going to be by the bread served in a restaurant. In this case we're talking dull, verging on stale, bread that looked like a bulk purchase at Costco.
The location remains as attractive as ever (though also as loud as ever), and the staff pleasant ... pity the food lets the place down, especially considering the prices ($130 for 3 of us with just two glasses of wine shared between us and NO dessert). -
Review from Blake B.
Seattle, WA
1/23/2012
My wife and I went to purple last night with another couple and had a great time at Purple. The waitstaff was friendly and answered all our questions about the dishes.
My wife and I opted to go with the everyday 3 course option for $40. For our appetizer we ordered the calamari and the mussels. The calamari was cooked perfectly, but I would have preferred another aioli sauce to accompany the sauce they had which was described to us as a Moroccan spice aioli which overpowered the calamari. The mussels were on point and I would definitely order those again.
For our entree my wife chose the lobster Mac and cheese and I chose the New York steak on a bed of polenta with brussel sprouts that had been cooked with bacon drippings. My wife loved the Mac and cheese as many people have also stated, and my steak was a good but not great steak. The polenta was great and the brussel sprouts were ok, but I preface that with the fact I am not a fan of them.
After the 2 courses we were plenty full and if we had not gone with the 3 course option we would have opted out of dessert, but we somehow also managed to finish our flourless truffle brownie with peanut butter ice cream which I felt was good but not great, but that could have also been my bloated body telling me to stop eating.
It was a great end to the night and overall I would give them 4.25 stars if I could. Another bonus is they don't charge a corking fee if you bring in a bottle that is not on their wine list, and on Sundays they have a large selection of 1/2 price bottles of wine. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Seattle, WA
3/24/2011
One of my favorite restaurants for dinner, especially after wine tasting! Be sure to make reservations since this places gets full fast. They have outdoor seating which is great for nice summer days. If you bring your own bottle of wine, they will cork it for free! But their wine selection is amazing and you will have plenty to choose from.
The service is always friendly. I love going to the Purple for special occasions.
We always get the three course meal specials. The Purple Chopped Salad is amazing. I crave this salad all of the time and you can get full just from the salad. Be sure to at least try the chicken marsala at one point in your life! No other restaurant even compares to this, it is truly amazing and the marsala sauce is sweet. Then we finish off with the creme brulee. This is my perfect meal and I would recommend this place to everyone. -
Review from Monica C.
Bothell, WA
8/16/2011
Great food as always!
if you are looking for an upscale place to have dinner; purple cafe is a great place to go.
You can enjoy a day of wine tasting (walking distance) and finish up with an amazing meal!
I have tried something new each time and loved it. -
Review from Vanessa J.
Seattle, WA
12/20/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I've never had anything at this Purple that I didn't find extremely delectable. I came here with my group from work for our annual holiday lunch, and we were all pleased. We started with the baked brie, which is a gooey, yummy, wheel of puff pastry, cheese, and apricot jam, served with long, crispy crackers. I could have one to myself and call it a meal. It was perfect with my chilled glass of Presecco.
For my main course I had a flat iron steak with green beans, which was cooked to a perfect, buttery softness (no steak knife required) and the green beans were served al dente, as they should be.
The only complaint that keeps me from being a more regular customer here is that it is always uncomfortably cold. However, this time the server graciously allowed us the place in front of the fire, which took the edge off just a tad.
Romantic date night, probably not, but I'd highly recommend Purple for lunch with co-workers or girls day out. -
Review from Veronica C.
Parker, CO
4/9/2011
My fave after-work spot. Everything you could want: remarkable oven-baked goat chz & honey app (sounds simple but it's done perfectly in a cast iron container), served with long crisp crackers (fresh bread & butter available upon request). And the Carminere, is THE wine by the glass to have ( ask for a sm taste first), unless of course you are enjoying their 4 tasting options (on menu).
If you opt to sit at the pretty bar on a night when Mike is working, you are in for a treat, he's on top of his game. -
Review from William G.
Sedro-Woolley, WA
7/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
As much as I like to try new places to eat, we can't stay away from Purple when we are in Woodinville wine tasting. A great menu, perfect for small-plates dining, which allows us to indulge whatever our palates crave at the moment. They have a big selection of artisan cheeses, and provide great suggestions as to wine parings that will complement your cheese selection.
They also have lots of entrees from which to choose, and TONS of wines to match with the meals.
We came here after a HORRIBLE experience at FX McRory's earlier, and the contrast couldn't have been greater. Our waitperson was extremely gracious, friendly and helpful, and we can't wait to go back. -
Review from Vicki K.
Everett, WA
Updated - 1/4/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Mom chose Purple for her annual birthday dinner and our place by the fireplace was THE coziest spot in the joint and for once, she didn't complain about being cold: a great start to a fabulous meal. The waitress didn't flinch at mom's elaborate tea preparation request.
We both chose the crab bisque soup, giant sea scallops and later, chocolate flourless cake. Everything was great. I mean, really great. Mom's an amazing cook herself and I've seen restaurants in every imaginable cuisine ruin scallops. This meal was perfect - start to finish.
Put simply, here's what my mom said (twice): "It just doesn't get any better than this."
'Nuff said. Happy Birthday, Mom!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/5/2010
See, that's the thing about Purple: they THINK they're great. Sometimes they ARE good but great?… Read more »
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Review from Chris B.
Bothell, WA
3/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
We went there on a Saturday afternoon. The service was poor. Most of the waiters don't speak English very well which makes it difficult for them to communicate the specials and descriptions of the food.
The food was so-so and nothing really to write home about.
Another problem was there was a screaming child sitting nearby. The staff should have seated them upstairs but no...This really ruined our lunch.
To parents, stop bringing your screaming babies and children to supposedly romantic restaurants. Go to McDonald's instead. Have some consideration for others please.
All in all, the quality seems to be getting worse over the years. Purple seems to be going downhill at this location.
