12/19/08

Terrific food, reasonable portions and very convenient parking

by fujioka

This is a truly great restaurant. It is a formal setting with a tremendous wine list. The portions are resonable and the service is very good. I have been to Bis on Main for both dinner and lunch. The quality and service remained the same, either time of day.

• Pros: Great food, good portions, convenient valet parking

10/05/08

In my top two

by schweze

Up until last night, I didn't think anything in the area would compare to The Met for me--I'm a huge fan of high-end steakhouses (but not lame-ass pompous showoff places like el gaucho). However, last night the boys and I went out to Bis on Main and we all had great food. I had the duck, which was amazing. The boys had the cassoulette and the jirk prawns(mis-spelled on purpose since City Search didn't like the word), which were both extremely good, but it was agreed that I definitely had the winning dish. I've had some great meals at many of the restaurants in Seattle and other places, as well as some great home-cooked meals in our dinner club, but I can honestly say that this is probably the best meal I have ever had. The duck was prepared perfectly (which is not often experienced anywhere) and the root-vegetable hash it was paired with was incredible. We had a bottle of Syrah (very reasonably priced compared to the same wine at Seattle restaurants) and a few cocktails, all of which were excellent.

I'm not ready to call this the best restaurant in the area yet, but this was the best single meal I've had anywhere around here.

Appetizers included the Salmon Gravlax and the Ricotta & Spinach Gnocchi. The Gnocchi was okay, but the salmon was off-the-hook amazing. I'm not one to dole out words like excellent and amazing unless they are warranted, and Bis definitely warrants them.

Desserts were good, not great. Pecan pie was good, and the chocolate souffle was better, but these weren't up there in the amazing range....

Atmosphere: Classy and relaxed...

Service: Knowledgable, attentitve, but not in-your-face...

Food: Very good to Amazing...

Bread: Average...

Wine: Excellent selection at good prices...

Cocktails: excellent...

Desserts: good...

Stay away from this place, so I can go back and enjoy it more.

• Pros: Free Vallet parking, food, atmosphere
• Cons: good, but not great desserts

08/07/08

An Eastside Gem

by johncleaver

A few things of note: house cured Salmon Gravlax - superb! Potato crusted goat cheese, crispy sweetbreads and pepper crusted Ahi Tuna: fantastic! All salads well worth it. Main Entrees are mostly executed at the level one would expect at a restaurant of this caliber. Usually busy, Bis on Main is one of Bellevue's, and increasingly, Seattle's favorite restaurants. Great wine list. Highly suggest for special occasions, business dining, dates or a great Friday evening meal...

• Pros: food - very professional service - increasing "history" in Bellevue