It all starts with a shot...
During a previous visit to Seattle, we had a fantastic meal at Elemental. Lots of good food, interesting drinks, and the final bill was ridiculously well-priced. It’s the kind of thing that appeals to both stomachs and wallets (uh, but not my liver). So it was decided that we should make a return visit, bring some new faces, and do it all over again. Since Elemental doesn’t take reservations, we camped the door a half-hour before the place opened, as we had a larger party this time ’round and wanted to guarantee our seats. We were the second group in line.
So the evening begins with a shot and and from there, it’s non-stop, both with drink and food. Now, knowing what happened last time I was at Elemental (rip-roaring drunk, I!), I tried to pace my drinking this time around. So I clung to the naïve thought that I would be able to come through well-enough sharing a wine pairing, and went ahead and ordered a cocktail.
I got a Vesper, my fave martini.
Truffled popcorn, salty and delicous.
Stuffed calamari in a lovely beet sauce.
Whitefish and mushrooms.
Gnocchi w/carb in an uni sauce. So creamy. So tasty. Best dish.
Leek soup with chive oil.
Local chicken on a rough mash.
Lamb on couscous.
The cheese plate.
Pear torte.
Almond cookies and blackberry tarragon sorbet.
Peanut ice cream and brownie. Liked the ice cream quite a bit. Salty and sweet.
Overall, quite the meal, and every bit as fun as the last time at Elemental. Everything was tasty, well-prepared, and while we all had our favourites, there wasn’t a bad dish that night.
Highlights for me were certainly the gnocchi in that delicious and creamy uni sauce, and the leek soup, with what we guess is a drizzle of chive oil. The chicken and lamb fight for third, so I’ll call it a tie for now. Though I think I’d give the edge to the chicken!
The seats at the bar overlooking the prep space. Best seats in the house!
- Elemental @ The Gasworks 3309 Wallingford Ave N, Seattle
More Elemental photos
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