Last Friday night we had an incredible evening reconnecting with old friends. Canlis made the evening so special. When Mark Canlis stopped by our...
by marianmorris   More

Last Friday night we had an incredible evening reconnecting with old friends. Canlis made the evening so special. When Mark Canlis stopped by our table, his charm, warmth and friendliness made the evening even more special. He is a master host making you feel simultaneously like a VIP and an old friend. This is truly the place in Seatttle to celebrate every special event!! Pros: Ambience, service, food, wine, "extras" Cons: NONE!
by marianmorris Less

My brother and I brought our visiting parents here for our first visit. Overall it was a pleasant evening, but several dishes were notably mediocre...
by citysearch c. More

My brother and I brought our visiting parents here for our first visit. Overall it was a pleasant evening, but several dishes were notably mediocre and only a couple stood out as delicious. There is better food available in Seattle at a fraction of the cost. First and second courses were generally weak. The culinary nadir was the escargot in butter served under puff pastry: a soggy, flavorless affair eerily reminiscent of a grocery store's refrigerated dough section. Foie Gras with huckleberry reduction and blueberries was quite tasty, though Mom described it (accurately enough) as "a bit like chewing on solid beef fat". The butternut squash soup was nothing you couldn't make at home, but in combination with the island of duck confit it really came into its own. Beef short ribs were gorgeously presented and chewy, rich, and flavorful. Canlis and Pear & Hazlenut salads were fine but unexceptional - nothing you haven't tasted before. Mango, avocado, and shrimp salad was an interesting combination and all ingredients were first rate and perfectly ripe. Entrees fared somewhat better. Shrimp and prawns were of top quality and were perfectly cooked, carrying the Peter Canlis Prawns and Giant Freshwater Scampi. New York Steak ordered medium rare came to the table with a half-inch core of raw meat but was tender and pleasant nonetheless. Lamb chops were exquisite and perfectly cooked. We tried side orders of truffle fries and a twice-cooked potato. The fries were attractive and impressively long, with a unique flavor. The potato was more or less your standard steakhouse mashed potatoes with plenty of sour cream and bacon. Apple tarte tatin for dessert was a respectable end. The cinnamon was in the ice cream, which made for an interesting twist. The small serving of mint sorbet was a perceptive and highly complementary accompaniment. Service was attentive but tended toward the intrusive "Is everything all right?". The location and building are spectacular. Pros: Ambiance, view, fast service, extensive wine list Cons: The food does not justify the prices
by citysearch c. Less