I hate washing dishes

I hate washing dishes
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I had an absolutely wonderful experience here. From the moment we walked in on a chilly evening and were greeted with a sifter of warm numminess to the last sip of wine, I felt spoiled. I think... More

I had an absolutely wonderful experience here. From the moment we walked in on a chilly evening and were greeted with a sifter of warm numminess to the last sip of wine, I felt spoiled. I think the key to enjoying Elemental is to give yourself over to Phred and Laurie. They know what they are doing and you will be in good hands. I loved the simplicity of the decor, using a maglight to view the menu and the lovely way every course was paired with a delicious glass of wine. Truly special!
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Just like a small fine restaurant in Europe Elemental provides a quiet, intimate fine dining experience for those with an excellent palate. The food and service are well worth any wait. It is for... More

Just like a small fine restaurant in Europe Elemental provides a quiet, intimate fine dining experience for those with an excellent palate. The food and service are well worth any wait. It is for a sophisticated client wanting a truly exquisite experience. Here you are not rushed. The goal is not to turn over tables but to provide a fine dining experience, relaxed and friendly. Two seatings is designed to improve the quality of the experience not to focus on money. If you don't understand fine dining, I suggest you go elsewhere.
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There seem to be a wide variety of opinions about this restaurant. It is run by Phred Westfall and Laurie Riedeman. It is a bit quirky, it does have a bit of an attitude, but my wife and I had... More

There seem to be a wide variety of opinions about this restaurant. It is run by Phred Westfall and Laurie Riedeman. It is a bit quirky, it does have a bit of an attitude, but my wife and I had a truly fun dining experience there and will go back soon. What's quirky? They take no reservations. They only do two seatings - one at 6:00 and one at 8:00. You had better show up quite early to get a seat (by 5:00 or so), given they only have about 20 seats. They have a pretty limited menu - no surprise given how tiny their kitchen is. Also, they don't really have a wine list, they just figure out what you might like and give it to you. If you don't like waiting and you don't like others choosing for you, then don't go. But, they made it really nice for me while I waited, and I have to say, the choices they made for us were great. In particular Phred kept me well lubricated with really creative drinks and wine - all after he got a sense of what I liked. Each little new drink or bite was really fun. Made a great evening.
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Last night marks the 4th occassion we have tried to go have a meal here in the last 4 months, to no avail. Several times we've called and been told that, despite not taking reservations and having... More

Last night marks the 4th occassion we have tried to go have a meal here in the last 4 months, to no avail. Several times we've called and been told that, despite not taking reservations and having exactly 4 chairs inside to wait for a table, their current wait time was AT LEAST 2 HOURS? Last night we showed up at 8:30, saw 2 people waiting for a table, and were told (contrary to a little sign posted outside indicating that 9:00 would be the next avail table) that it would be AT LEAST AN HOUR AND A HALF wait. WTF?! Unless they are serving crack-laced manna and 1-hour souffles at this joint, I don't understand how they can't figure out how to turn their 5 tables faster than 2+ hours each - especially after being in business for a year now in a little suburban neighborhood. I just don't get it - maybe after I've lived in Wallingford another 5 years I'll someday get to taste their 2-hour-wait-worthy fare, but anyplace that can't figure out how to get a local in for a meal in less than 90 minutes on a freakin Wednesday may have earned my feared "lifetime ban" in favor of the many other delectable restaurants in jet city....
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...it might make it harder for my wife and I to get a table. Thanks to Nancy Leson of the Seattle Times for pointing out an amazing pick right in my own backyard. Owners Phred Westfall and Laura... More

...it might make it harder for my wife and I to get a table. Thanks to Nancy Leson of the Seattle Times for pointing out an amazing pick right in my own backyard. Owners Phred Westfall and Laura Riedeman have turned a hidden storefront in a North Seattle condo complex into a haven for excellent euro-american food, coupled with equally excellent (even extraordinary) wine pairings. I read about them Friday, walked over on Saturday, and am writing them up Saturday night (yes, they are that good). They may not want me to suggest this, but I'm convinced that part of my great experience is due to the fact that I told Phred I was in his hands - I wanted to see what they were all about, and I asked him to select both food and wines to show me the way. Two half-course starters, one entree, one dessert, five wines and one liqueur later, I'm prepared to anoint Elemental the best overall dining experience in North Seattle. Not every dish was a slam-dunk - all were very good, and two (the goat cheese salsa and the banana-rum bread pudding) were exceptional. But the overall experience was what I think all restaurants should be about -- a highly personalized passion for food and wine, made plain in both execution and presentation. Among the many charms of this restaurant is its intimacy (I counted five tables, two pairings of cocktail chairs and two counter stools as the total available seating) and its open kitchen. Reservations are not taken, so be prepared to wait. But if you choose to wait, you can count on personal service from Phred, including unannounced wine selections that reflect both his mood, and his assessment of yours. And if you eat at the counter (as I did), you can see the entire operation in action - from Laura manning the gas burners, to her assistant plating the composed meals, to the dishwasher scrubbing up the completed rounds. If you're looking for something to complain about, the only thing I can offer is this: Phred and Laura are clearly pouring their hearts into this restaurant - which is why you should go as soon as possible. I don't think anyone can maintain their combination of a high-quality dining experience, great hospitality and very fair prices without being forced to make changes out of sheer exhaustion. So go soon (just not when I want a table...)
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