TASTE Restaurant
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 903-5291
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Union Street
- Hours:
- Tue-Sun 11am-10pm
Editorial Review for TASTE Restaurant – by Jill Lightner
The Scene
Spare, modern and spacious, the single room is framed with oversized windows looking out over First Avenue-it makes for great people-watching, but doesn't offer much privacy for a romantic evening. Locally made glass votives add a touch of warmth to the sleek tables. The staff is welcoming and helpful, but details are not their strong point: Menu substitutions might not be mentioned until after the food has arrived, and there are more timing problems than there should be.
The Food
With a strong focus on local sources, the menu emphasizes fresh seasonal ingredients, and during dinner service, most dishes are available in both large and small portions. Thanks to plenty of experimentation, th menu has a mix of delights-beet ravioli-and disappointments, like lamb overwhelmed by chorizo and olives. Desserts are as seasonally-focused as the rest of the menu, but expect well-prepared, decadent treats like peanut crème brulee with a Theo chocolate terrine and pink peppercorn caramel sauce.
Hits: Desserts are worthy of a special trip, blending seasonal ingredients with unexpected spices.
Misses: Small portions, which are suggested for family-style service, arrive on the same oversized plates as full potions, so tables get overcrowded to the point of absurdity.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkDrinks keep with the local theme, offering exclusively Northwest wines and beers. Cocktails include the signature "Hammering Man," made with Portland's Aviation gin, fresh lime juice, tonic and bitters.
The ExtrasA kids menu is served all day, offering items like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and organic hot dogs.
Happy HourOffering discounted bar bites, cocktails and draft beers (Tue-Sun 3pm-6pm).
ParkingThe entrance to the museum's garage is on Union, between First and Second avenues. Look for the SAM elevator signs; they're on the north side of the garage. There's no validation, but it's the most convenient option.
User Reviews for TASTE Restaurant
11/02/2007 Posted by strong35
My kids and I ate there on a recent First Thursday. The waitstaff was slow to approach and slower in the service. The kids' "mini hamburgers and fries" meal was a joke. The patty was literally the size of a silver dollar. Despite the fact that the menu says hamburgers (plural), it came with only one of these doll-sized sandwiches. I asked the waiter if there should be more than one and he said, "Oh, the menu is misleading, because it only comes with one." I am not sure what age they think they are serving this to, but a toddler could eat three of these burgers. On the upside, my son said it tasted very good (and the rosemary fries were divine), so I decided we'd better order another round of this mini burger. Somewhere along the line, the order never got placed. Finally, I asked for the bill and asked to have the second burger wrapped up to pick up later, as my son was still hungry (tiny portions!). Granted this is not a "kids" restaurant, but if you have a kids menu, you ARE trying to cater to families. My kids are seasoned in nice restaurants and we avoid fast food places. They are not noisy or messy and they use very nice manners. We were expecting normal food portions and normal, respectful service, as we are respectful patrons. I have loads of patience at restaurants, as I used to wait tables. However my patience was used up at TASTE. The service overall was horrible and slow and the portions miniscule. I will never eat there again, even if they have some of the best rosemary fries in town.
Pros: tasty fries, convenient location if you are going to SAM
Cons: mini portions, slow service, overpriced
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
08/23/2007 Posted by cristalla
The only thing keeping me from giving them 5 stars is the decor--which is just not my style--and since I've only been once I want to check on their consistency. Otherwise, the meal my wife and I had the other night was perfection. Each course was better than the last. All entrees come in half or whole portions. The ingredients are all very local, and very fresh. Our server Andy was terrific. Very knowledgable and enthusiastic about everything on the menu. The decor is just right for a museum restaurant, it's just not exactly warm and welcoming, but don't let that stop you from trying them. It's a gem. The happy-hour is a foodie's delight.
Pros: Amazing food, great service, many pricing and portion options
Cons: Sterile environment, tough parking
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