Moxie

Back in Cleveland, a friend highly recommended Moxie. I was surprised and delighted to see a locale in Queen Anne. The gist of the review is that you should DEFINITELY go for the appetizers and desserts (during happy hour) but choose wisely on the entree. The Bleu cheese flan appetizer was EXCELLENT. It was SO tasty and went well with the teeny tiny salad of spring greens and pear slivers. You could almost taste what you were paying for. My fiance got the seared scallops and was not impressed. They were small, overcooked and had WAY too much pesto on them. We've made better at home. I can't even remember what the side dish was on that. Spinach? From what I could see, it was plate of green paste everywhere. I was very tempted to get a traditional steak and garlic mashed potoates but my adventuresome nature got the best of me and I opted (last minute under pressure) for the quail stuffed with semolina. I had read a review about how it was highly recommended. It was disturbingly similar to dissecting the actual bird. It was served in its bird shape and was stuffed with a bland semolina paste. The meat was very tender so when I tried to cut into it, it kinda "squished" as if the innards were being displaced. It didn't help that the stuffing paste blobbed out like...poop. Ugh, so disturbing. To make the experience even MORE enjoyable, the leg bones were intact (though broken at the ankles) and I had to gnaw and suck on them like a maniac to get the tender meat off them. The side vegetable was some sort of green leafy deal (Spinach? Kale? Kelp?). It was sauteed/wilted with barely any seasoning. The saving grace was the DESSERT! Oh luscious dessert, how I love you. We decided on the Pumpkin Creme Brulee and it made the evening almost worth it. Couple more comments: bread was good, place gets LOUD LOUD LOUD. But from some kind of dimensional warp or from being seated next to a wall, I could still kinda hear my dining partner. I expected a hefty price tag to this meal and for *that* they met the expectation. If I go back, it will be to try again with the different entrees or just give up and do appetizers and desserts at happy hour. more

My wife and I ate at moxie last week before heading to the Rep. I had noticed it for several months and finally got around to giving it a try. I was not disappointed. The bar at the front is open and feels friendly while the small back room restaurant is perfectly lit and arranged, making it feel cozy and intimate but not cramped. Wine selection, while small is interesting and offers a chance to taste some new varieties from a wineries world wide. The menu is also small but has range...from their signature mac and cheese to dungeness crab, shrimp cakes, and mussels to meatier fare. My wife had the lamb burger with fries (to my surprise, since she eats like a bird). The fries were perfect and the lamb burger (she gave me tastes and took half of it home for next day's lunch) was perfectly done and creatively seasoned...and I don't usually like lamb. I ordered a sea scallop and trumpet mushroom dish off the specials menu and it was delightful—served with a dollop of mashed potatoes...which I certainly would not have believed to be an accompaniment to scallops, but the flavors balanced quite nicely. The wait staff was friendly and attentive and we felt well served from the time we walked in the door. Entrée prices are what I would call high but not outrageous, averaging around $18 (a guesstimate). I understand that moxie has a less pricey happy hour menu also. I would give the overall experience 4+ stars and definitely worth a visit. more

Maybe this makes me an alcoholic, but I was very thirsty and it took a good 15-20 minutes to put in an order for a cocktail. However, our waiter was very nice -- he was quick to recommend dishes and also told us which ones to avoid and he suggested a decent bottle of wine. The food was kind of hit-or-miss -- we had the blue cheese soufflé which was excellent but the mussels were so-so (too much tarragon or something). I had the ribs which were good but the polenta side didn't quite taste right. The desserts were good but my favorite one wasn't even on the menu or specials -- sorbet + sour cream ice cream -- it was a suggestion by the waiter. The ambiance of the place was so-so -- the ceilings reminded me of an office building and it is kind of cave-like in there. more

Moxie, the new addition to Queen Anne-does not dissapoint. I wanted to try almost everything on the menu at this small new restaurant. Between 4 we did manage to try the blue cheese flan (not to be missed) with asian pears, the duck confit (good but not great) and mussels (superb) as well as monkfish wrapped in prosciutto (shouldn't everthing be wrapped in prosciutto?), pork tenderloin (excellent), halibut special and whole trout (both of these were just ok). We managed to save room for dessert and had the tiramisu (not my favorite) and the chocolate cake (delicious). Decor was modern and warm and service was great. Entrees were about $18-$22 which I thought were worth every penny. I think Moxie gives nearby Crow a run for the money. Moxie also offers a pork sandwich and lamburger for around $12 so it's a good place to visit before or after an event at the key area when time is tight. more

This is a new joint in lower Queen Anne where Nonna Maria used to be. I went with a big group of girlfriends and many of them got the scallops which they found too salty. I got the pork which was incredible. Salad was fine, nothing special. Desserts were to die for -- we were all moaning and groaning at all the different ones we tried including a great chevre cheesecake. Atmosphere didn't seem very Seattle - a bit stark and space was oddly laid out. more

Moxie is trendy but casual new restaurant that's just a block or two from Key Arena. I stopped by there with a friend recently after a Sonics game. It was a great spot for a late night dinner and drink. The lamb burger was perfectly prepared and the staff was friendly. I would recommend trying this out pre or post game. They also have a happy hour menu with great deals until 5:30 every night and from 11-midnight. more

Moxie has all the right components to become a new standby on Lower Queen Anne. The chef/owner duo cut their teeth at Matt's and Chez Shea, and have brought some of the better qualities of both those eateries to Moxie. The standard menu looked good (we tried a prix fixe on New Years Eve), and the wine list is solid. Service was great, and the decor of the place gives one a sense of intimacy without being stuffy. Although moderately priced for a white table cloth style dining experience, it would be easy to spend more than you planned. Regardless, its a great date place. Moxie is in the right place at the right time, and will definitely appeal to the theater crowd. Although its been easy to get a table early on, I suspect that evenings before highbrow events at the Seattle Center will be busy. Plan a dinner after eight or on off-nights if you don't make reservations. more

if you do then stay the heck away from this place! moxie is very new - just opened up mid-december. i usually stay away from new places and give them time to work out the kinks, but i felt like being adventurous. i'm glad i did - they don't seem to have any kinks. the food is delicious! and they stand by their name and motto 'moxie - food with nerve' by serving dishes like blue cheese flan and goat cheese mac & cheese. they have a full bar with a good bartender, and the waitstaff that we encountered was terrific. looking forward to going back there again, but this time i'll leave room for one of their insane desserts more