Sitka and Spruce

The place we used to go to get donuts is now quite the gourmet destination. Boy chefs and staff, some of them covered in tattoos, dish up some of the fanciest and most delicious food I’ve eaten in Seattle in – well – a long time. And Seattle is no shabby town for food, so this is high praise.

The place is tiny, I think the whole dining room seats about 20. I imagine if you’re waiting for a table, you think – they could seat more people in here – but when you see what’s coming out of the kitchen, you think, “Yeah, they could seat more, but could actually feed more?” The combinations are so elaborate – but don’t think fussy, this is not fussy food – that you can see why they only feed a small number of diners in a seating. They write up new menu every night, so if I recommended that you try the beet risotto – which is a spectacular fuschia and tastes just as incredible as it looks – you might not be able to order it.

Since we were four people, we had a chance to taste about half the menu. On the table we had greens that were perfectly charred on the grill, sockeye cooked just past pink in the middle, baby turnips braised with the greens still on them, guinea fowl served with some kind of goat cheese amazingness and a carrot and bean salad, pork medallions with apricots and caremlized onions… Everything was perfect, there wasn’t a second best dish on the table. For dessert, we had the crepe with strawberries and the elderflower sorbet. The crepe was tiny – this is the only criticism I have.

Sitka and Spruce set us back about 40 dollars each, with wine, dessert, coffee, and tip. It’s worth it. Go early to get in on the first seating at 5:30 or be prepared to wait. Sitka and Spruce is at 2238 Eastlake Ave. E.