94 Stewart Restaurant

06/21/2008 Posted by jtflynn

Just ate at 94 Stewart this week after reading about it in various magazines. What a find! Although our server had a bit of an odd demeanor, he was extremely knowledgeable about the food and helped us pick some excellent wines. The food was outstanding in every respect, from the seafood chowder to the black cod to the steak. I can't wait to return to 94 Stewart again and again - this will surely become one of our favorite places in the city.

Pros: Setting, menu, wine list

Cons: Parking can be tough during the day

02/28/2008 Posted by foodandwine1

Let me start by saying we eat out quite a bit. My wife and I visited 94 Stewart for the first time on Valentine's Day 2008. At first impression it is very quaint and cute with a walk through hanging drapery separating the entrance and the dining area. After we were seated is when we started to feel awkward. Every table had free-standing reservation cards with a heart and the party's name on it (which was a nice touch) however, on the back side facing us was the time of the reservation as well as a "Out Time". We already felt rushed and we hadn't even seen our waiter yet, according to the card we had 1 hour 15 minutes to eat and get out. Anyway, we thought it was just overlooked and that the waiter would pick it up. They didn't, and it was placed prominently on our table and everyone else's table for our entire meal. I understand that Valentines Day is a busy night, however not what I would have expected on such an occasion and for a restaurant of this price level (my wife and I spent $150 for our meal with tip for two). There are several other restaurants at this price that would have given us the experience we desired. The food was again just OK, and not breathtaking, the fried avocado was the only uncommon treat. We had the scallops and steak (I can't remember which cut it was). The scallops were pretty salty for my taste and would have much rather been able to taste the scallops than only the salt. The steak for my wife was prepared a little better but still left you thinking of other things. Overall we felt very blatantly rushed in and rushed out. Didn't enjoy the feeling of "dining out" on such a special occasion with the time cards on our table and the food was just average for an above average price. I would have much rather gone to Campage or Canlis for the price.

Pros: Quaint

Cons: Average food for the price, Thought of other places we could have been for the price while we were dining there

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful

01/31/2008 Posted by joanna1515

I love taking business associates and friends to 94. I always know we'll be treated like real people, not just dollar signs. I don't think I've ever seen the same menu item repeated a single time. The kitchen limits their selection to whats fresh. Our server is always willing to stand behind every single one of them too. How many times have you been out to eat to ask the server about a particular dish and they have to have a side bar with you in order to tell you to avoid that sub-par dish. NEVER at 94. Sometimes the soups aren't for me, but I still steal a little bite if I'm with friends and EVERYtime I've been blow'n away no matter what it is. I'm sure the kitchen does just throw in a little of this and a little of that. If they ever made a manual on everything they put out of that small kitchen I'm sure it would be in volumes that had to be added to every month. And get real, if I was the cook down the street I'd NEVER walk up to another in the business and demand a recipe. A good chef doesn't even have them, it is just a little of this and a little of that. I've learned that much watching my father cook when I was a youth. I'd suggest reading their website if you haven't had a chance to join this family. It's as honest as they are in side that door.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

01/28/2008 Posted by cmhee

We were attending the PCMA Convention in Seattle when we decided to take a free afternoon to check out Seattle. There were 3 of us, and all being from other cities Conventin & Visitors Bureau's, we dine out a lot and love to check out the local cuisine. We had heard that this restaurant had very good food. Yes, this was true; the food was good, but wow the attitudes there were so snooty. Our server was very condescending. When we asked what a "must have" was on the menu, his response was a very haughty, "everything on our menu is good." After dining, I asked if the Chef would share the recipe for her soup. Instead of handling this diplomatically, he just hedged by saying that she just "throws stuff in there." So I went and spoke to the Chef herself telling her how much I enjoyed her soup and could she tell me what she puts in it. She was just as haughty and kept answering me that she uses spices. When I asked which spices, she finally said, "I don't share recipes." She said this so rudely to me that I was taken aback. It wasn't like I was from the restaurant down the street and planned to steal the recipe. I felt that I was complimenting her, and she was simply rude about it. Whether she shares her recipes or not (and really get over yourself), to speak rudely to someone who has just complimented you isn't very smart business sense. We left feeling that our experience was less than positive. If you want good food, by all means check out this restaurant - just don't expect to be treated kindly.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

09/29/2007 Posted by mgarland

I absolutely loved this place. The food was well prepared, timely and un-rushed. The wait staff are not only friendly, but truly like doing what they do... and it reflects in their service. In a city bowled over with chowders, this one is certainly the best!

Pros: Ambience, service

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

09/01/2007 Posted by restcritique22

Before going to most restaurants that are over the range of fast food money, I usually check their reviews. And i must say 94 stewart had award winning raves, with their wine menu and many advertised statements of being a family ran and owned restaurant, that I'm sure every restaurant would love to be labeled as. The first time dining their I was semi-fascinated about what lurked beyond the burgendy and gold curtains, to the dimly lit dining room. But when entering, the one thing that confused me the most had to be the cheaply cut paper coverings with crayons on the table. Now I'm all for entertainment throughout dinner, but what the hell? Theres a difference between denny's and a supposed fine dining establishment, I'm an adult or was the place attracting strictly children... again the confusion. The servers were attentive enough, I drowned in water, and the pacing back and forward with the hostess was a little bit too distracting for me. I wanted to tell him to sit down somewhere and let the servers serve... OH the food was okay, over priced for its portions are true, i read it in a review but experiencing it in real life cements the fact. I'm paying alot, i mean can i get some seconds maybe? lol... being that it looked like all the servers were gay... I love gay men mind you... being overly vulgar about it is the difference. I know your gay... it is okay.

Pros: Wine list and the cheese stewart

Cons: Chef never on the floor, crayons and paper

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful

06/18/2007 Posted by inthebiz2

Ahh Valentine's... or as we in the industry refer to it - Amateur Night. As one in the biz, this restaurant is such a breath of fresh air. A staff that is honest and always tells you like it is. In my visits to this local favorite I've overheard the servers successfully convincing the guests to just leave the menu as the chef intended it. I only wish I could be that honest at my job and have the backing of a kitchen that puts their all into every dish they put out. Those with a sense of adventure and an understanding of what it takes to be this passionate will love this restaurant as much as the many regulars I see on my far too infrequent visits. Hmmm... I wonder if they're hiring?

Pros: Real people with a passion for what they do.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

06/11/2007 Posted by pmshaw

Besides the fine food (I had sea scallops and my friend had copper river salmon), the service is excellent. Our waiter was patient in helping us select the perfect wine to go with our seafood dishes--a pinot noir from New Zealand. We felt transported to another land because of the decor and containment of the space. The lighting (or lack of) also contributes to the atmosphere. The best thing of all is we were left to dine for over 2 hours with little interruption except a check on needs such as water refill, completion of a course, etc. It is rare in most restaurants I have been to in the USA for such a luxury of time. I had eaten lunch at this restaurant over a year ago and that positive experience motivated me to return for dinner. I was not disappointed.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

05/31/2007 Posted by zotmama

This was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. My husband and I love to come to Seattle frequently and stay at the Inn At The Market. We had never tried this restaurant but it’s close proximity to one of our favorite hotels meant we had to give it a try. We had reservations which had been re-confirmed the day before and we arrived 10 minutes early. Even so there was some confusion as to where we would sit and it took several minutes to be shown to our table. When we were seated our server turned the reservation card around to show the next reservation for our table which included the name and time of the next reservation and he drew our attention to it while mentioning how much time we had to order, eat and get out. While ordering I asked for a different side dish than what came with my meal. Our server commented that I really didn’t know what flavors went together or I wouldn’t have asked for the change. When one of our table mates asked where the restroom was located she was corrected with a sneer and told that the WASHROOM was located at the back of the restaurant. Our entire meal was a study in how to treat people as though they were ignorant, unsophisticated, and beneath contempt; at one point our servers huffing and puffing became so outrageous that we all began to chuckle. The food was OK. The fried avocado was bland and greasy, the beef dishes were well cooked and my side dish wasn’t too bad despite our servers warning to the contrary. However, it is hard to appreciate the food when you are being so ill treated. So while we will continue our patronage at the Inn At The Market we will explore other dining options.

Cons: Poor Service

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

05/17/2007 Posted by kipvan

One of the more interesting hors de ouvres i have had in my travels is the fried avacado and crab. The corn relish mixed with the lime dressing was a delight. As well, the Halibut in champagne sauce was fresh and perfectly cooked. However, the dessert was a disapointment. Im not usually a dessert fan but the plate of tempting treats was just that! Alas i was disapointed in the blackberry slump, the crust was chewy and hard to cut, perhaps due to a microwave zap or just not perfected, but it was the only part of the meal that was not up to par. Sitting at the bar which overlooks the grill was a treat. the service was friendly and prompt. the location is nice for a decent walk to the market and back up Pikes and i would recommend the place as a romantic spot to take a date. The price is at the highend of the spectrum but the end result was well worth it.

Pros: Good food with a flair, excellent service

Cons: Dessert

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful