10/26/09

Pretty much the best meal of my life

by Miss E

I was fortunate enough to go with someone who had been before, along with another friend, so was warned as to what to expect. Laurie and Phred are the owners and they were both in house and some of the nicest people I've ever met. We had delicious wine in our hand almost as soon as we sat down. We were asked how hungry we were and if there were any dislikes or allergies and then we were completely in their hands. Course after course both of wine and food and it was all delicious. The ravioli especially made me get a little weepy it was so good. I can hardly wait to go back!

• Pros: Epicurian adventure
• Cons: you have to give up control.... I didn't mind but some might

06/21/09

Ah, there's no '0'-star rating, I see.

by Bee681

Having seen Mr. Hyde, I wonder if I should go again and see if the 5-stars people heap on this nauseous hole is associated with a Dr. Jekyll. Nah! Life is way too short.

Apart from the much-reported wine snobbery, this place took the cake for the relative indifference extended to a customer (wife) that got sick.

Oh, add me to the list of people that were mysteriously overcharged.

• Pros: Unique experience, for sure
• Cons: Not in a good way

06/10/09

Completely Unique (good), Completely Affordable (better)

by winegeek12

This wonderfully unique restaurant hidden away serves right up until 11:59 pm with out a rolled eye or evil glance from an irritated waiter, and without a single sacrafice in the quality of their 3 hour dinner service. Imagine a place where you go for the experience of food and wine paired for you at every meal. While Phred's (co-owner/waiter/sommolier) style as described by other reviewers herein seems off putting at first - once I took a deep breath and gave up control, I found that I loved the little surprises he came up with. It blends all the best parts of going over to your favorite neighborhood spot and eating dinner at your best friends house (the one who knows a lot about wine). Once I got past what I thought a restaurant meal should be and focused on the amazing food and great decor - I really enjoyed myself as much as a multi-course chef's dinner at a 5-star reasturant without the 13 peices of silverware next to my plate. And just when I got scared to death of what the bill would look like with this guy pouring me what seemed to be bottomless glasses of wine over 3 hours - he gives me a check for what could have easily been tax alone at some of its competitors. With only a handful of tables, I guess I understand the no Rez. policy, I just wish I could get in more - althought the wait in the bar next door was quite pleasent - just don't expect to be seated right away. All in all - I was blown away and haven't been able to stop telling people about a dinning experience as unique and fun as The Ruins is quirky, or Canlis is formal. If you like to show off for your company on what wine you order or are a controlling type in general - this is not going to leave you a happy camper, but if you go out to eat as much as I do and find even the best reasturants in town blending together - then you've got to go to Elemental.

• Pros: great food, free your mind wine-paring, screaming deal bill
• Cons: you want to eat (like right now - my blood-sugar's low)

01/21/09

This place way over served me. This is not hospitality, it is dangerous.

by areneel

I enjoy fine dining. I enjoy delicious liquor, unique flavor combinations, and creative menus. This restaurant has those things in spades. I wish I could recommend it, but instead I must give a warning: they served me far too much to drink. I blacked out by the end of my meal. I do not remember paying. I do not remember getting back to my hotel room. Anything could have happened to me between the restaurant and my room. Luckily my dinning partner chose not to drink the last three drinks that were brought to the table, and he thinks he remembers that we were perfectly safe. I have no idea. The waiter did not find out if we were driving, did not find out if we had a cab, just allowed us to walk out the door when we were visibly too drunk to be safe.

Obviously it was my choice to drink everything that was brought to the table, and doubtless many of you will disregard this warning. But I am not an inexperienced diner or an inexperienced drinker. I was caught off guard by the fine dining atmosphere, and I wasn't expecting to have to watch myself. I never have encountered this level of automatic serving. I was served three drinks, within fifteen minutes, before any food was brought out. Then one or two glasses of wine arrived with each course. I don't remember how many courses there were. I was given no warning that the drinks would continue to arrive in such copious amounts, so I did not begin with caution, and by the end of the meal, all caution had flown out the door. Yet I continued to be served.

This is not hospitality. Everything was delicious, the tastes were superb, the presentation was flashy. But that was all it was. Flash. I would have been safer in a bar in Pioneer Square than I was in that establishment.

01/02/09

Wonderful Dinner

by jaeule

We went to New Years Eve dinner and yes we did have to wait. We simply went and had a drink then came back at the time Phred suggested. Each course of food was truly amazing. Small portions, sharing plates, and very interesting flavor combinations. I went with someone who knows wines and they loved the wine pairings.

The chef came out and talked with us as the evening wound down, she very friendly and pleasant. Phred came by and said that he had another wine for us to try "just for fun."

The value was tremendous....4 of us ate 6 courses and drank 10-15 wines/each for $200 total. We even wrote in an extra tip when there wasn't room on the receipt.

For those who make special requests or want to be seated right away DON'T GO.

If you are okay putting your dining experience in the hands of these two food and wine experts it is a real treat.

• Pros: Food, Wines, Experience
• Cons: may have to wait for table

01/02/09

Simply amazing and best value in Seattle

by randy2300

I went into this experience mindful of all the previous reviews, not sure whether I was have the Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde experience. And, honestly, I had both. When we arrived (about 8:45), we were greeted by nothing other than a sign telling us they were full and we wouldn't be helped and that tables typically became available at 8:30. There was nary a soul to greet us or assist us, so we went next door to Elemental Next Door (which was serving the same menu that evening, New Year's Eve). We wandered over to a "bar" where two diners were eating. A real person coldly (oh, so coldly) told us there was probably about a 45-minute wait and to have a seat on the bench at the entrance (as opposed to the comfortable stools at the bar). A group of four people who were seated at a six-top invited us to join their table. We happily agreed, but the woman who told us about the wait said, "At least let us set it up." So we went back to the cold, hard bench to wait. After 20 minutes, we realized we were not going to be allowed to sit with the fun group at the six-top. Meanwhile, servers were walking in and out, completely ignoring us. Inwardly seething, I was determined to see the experience through.

Finally, after 45 minutes, a server comes, thanks us for our patience and provides us a table. From then on, it was the most magical dining experience I've ever had. As soon as we had a table, we were treated like kings. The food was spectacular, the wine pairing were perfect and the service suddenly turned warm and friendly. And we were amazed at how inexpensive it all was!

Here's the secret to enjoying Elemental -- be prepared for an ice-cold greeting and surrender completely to the experience. Control freaks will hate it, but for those with an adventurous spirit and that certain "joie de vivre," you'll have an experience of a lifetime.

• Pros: amazing food, great wine, tremendous value
• Cons: until you're seated, service borders on rudeness

11/06/08

If you can't take the heat go to frickin' Applebees

by LeftCoastGooner

Food scrumptiously and lovingly prepared- lots of it- and amazing wines paired with lots of care. If you are put off by decor or the proprietor then you must not have ever eaten at Marco's Supper Club, Matt's in the Market, or any number of proprietor fronted (with attitude) places in Seattle. And for the gentleman who mentions below about going up to the trough for more wine and being told to return to his table- where else would you behave like it was a Royal Fork buffet for crying out loud. Seattle diners - get a bit thicker skin- I hope you never venture to the east coast or god forbid someplace French speaking.

• Pros: Small room, lots of attention
• Cons: Parking, kind of cold

10/11/08

Cue choir of angels.

by hardygirl

The food was impeccable, creative, gorgeous, divine. Think of yourself as a tourist in a strange and wonderful land. Be quiet and let them drive. I manage a restaurant, and I will agree that the service is different from what you'll find at most swanky places. But I didn't find Phred rude; he was just all about the food. And he's the only one working the floor and the bar; which doesn't leave time to chat up every table, even if that were his thing. We got a few laughs out of him, and he made the best manhattan I've ever had, a preview of the four and a half hours of magic that followed. Don't be picky, don't try to be in charge, and you'll have one of the most memorable nights of your life.

• Pros: Romantic, delicous, SO REASONABLY PRICED!
• Cons: get there early or late

09/17/08

This Restaurant is NOT 5 Stars - don't be misled!

by sourgrape

Out of 50 reviews, only 28 rated this restaurant 5 stars. 18 rated 1 star. You do the math. When more than 40% of reviews are less than 5 stars, how can it be 5 stars? Obviously Citysearch computation is seriously broken. Don't waste your money - more importantly, don't waste your time.

• Pros: Fresh ingredients
• Cons: Bad attitude and overcharge

09/16/08

Brilliant and Terrible at the same time!

by travisreed

I like the concept and I'll say right up front, the food was fantastic! HOWEVER, the wine (of which you have no choice) was really bad on the night we went. I don't like every wine, so no big deal, I could suffer through several very sweet wines.... but when we got to what should have been a nice red, it was CORKED. So when we told him this, he brings out another red wine, AGAIN CORKED. I'm sorry, but he is bringing wine by the glass & should know better. Having to drink TERRIBLE wine ruined my meal.

Phred was incredibly rude & treated my friends in a nearly hostile manner. Other friends of mine have gone to elemental and really liked it. My guess is that you are just gambling at ele "mental"... maybe Phred treats you well or maybe you get confrontational Phred who treats you to some lovely corked wine!

• Pros: Great Food
• Cons: Phred, Terrible Wine that night, difficult to get in