Crush
Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Central District2319 E. Madison Street
Seattle, WA 98112 (206) 302-7874
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
60 Reviews for Crush
Beautiful restaurant. Amazing octopus. My hubby almost licked the frois grois plate. I took my husband to 3 restaurants on his birthday, Harvest vine, Lark, and Crush and this was his favorite. Our bill was in the high $70 for two glasses of wine and 3 small plates. This place does not have a bar but it does have a clawfoot tub in the bathroom.
I am giving it 5 stars for not having a vegetarian dish on the menu! Go eat some tofu while I savor my red meat!
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Crush is a very unique dining experience. It starts from the outside, which looks just like a residential house. There is free street parking nearby.
As I walked through the door, I was struck by a cacophony of noise. Having being born in Malaysia, I'm used to noisy restaurants, which is regarded as a good sign of guests enjoying themselves in the Far East. However, it may not be the best place for a romantic tete a tete! The noise was mainly from the bar area just on front of the open kitchen.
I was seated in the ground floor room but the restaurant is divided into several rooms, reflecting its residential home layout. As commented on by previous reviewers, the chairs are rather funky to look at and may not be the most comfortable to sit on for the whole meal. I however was able to sit on the bench seat by the wall.
Service was quick with an explanation of the menu with various options of how to order. I decided to create my own menu combination by choosing 3 courses for $48. The portions weren't huge but big enough for me in combination with a dessert course as well. However, they were all packed with flavour and there were some nicely thought out combinations.
Another plus was the freshly squeezed orange juice. There was a nice rosemary bread with Hawaiian sea salt.
I started with some wonderful sweetbreads, fried to a crisp perfection on the outside but lovely and creamy on the inside, accompanied with a combination of contrasting tart yellow sauce and sweet brown sauce. The dish was served on a nice salad with apple and bacon bits.
There was then a bit of lull to my next dish. The waiter then came up to explain that the sauce had gone wrong for my seared foie gras dish and chef was having start the dish again. To make up for the delay, chef sent across a complimentary torchon of foie gras to tide me over while they remade my seared foie gras! The foie gras was lovely and very rich but the rhubarb compote helped to cut through the richness.
My seared foie gras then arrived. A generous slice of heavenly creamy rich foie gras offset by huckleberry compote and berries and the unique (in my dining experience) doughnut! Yes a real whole doughnut. It did add a crispy texture to the dish but maybe it was a little too large for the amount of fie gras.
My last chosen savoury dish was lovely lamb, cooked to pink perfection, served with some nice gnocchi, broad beans and olives.
I couldn't resist some dessert and finished my meal with a moreish rhubarb cake with anise cream and crumble topping.
I was able to thank Chef Wilson in person in the open kitchen, which was nice. Overall lovely flavours in a lively restaurant!
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My dining companion said about Crush, "if I were on death row, I would request what we just ate as my last meal."
"Which part?" I asked.
"All of it," he replied.
I agree. We had superb foie gras, ribs, a reisling & a sangiovese/merlot. Suffice it to say that this dining expereince made a lasting impression as it redefined my standards for a good meal. Please be sure to try the foie gras. It's the best preparation I've ever had.
The vegetarian argument seems a little shortsighted. This is a restaurant where the chef is always coming up with new things. He also talks to all the patrons. You could easily call ahead and ask if the restaurant can accomodate a vegetarian. I would bet money that they can. When we were there, the chef (justin wilson), sent out a cauliflower flan and an asparagus soup (just to make sure we had a nice dining experience. It wasn't something we ordered). They were both heavenly, and I am a confirmed meat eater. You probably need to give them more of a chance. Try talking to someone first. Just try one phone call.
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After a really fun day spent riding the ferries to and from Bainbridge Island, we hopped on the bus near our hotel and ventured out to Crush rather late (8:30 p.m.) on a Sunday evening. We chose Crush based on Rachel Ray's Tasty Travels television show.
It was fairly quiet -- there were probably no more than twelve people dining. The general atmosphere was thoroughly enjoyable. We ordered short ribs and they were delicious. Our server was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and pleasant. As mentioned by other reviewers, the portions were small. Because we were still a little hungry, we ordered dessert -- warm chocolate cake flavored with bacon and a cheesecake, and both were really tasty. Surprisingly, we had a hard time finishing them. The overall presentation was a little pretentious and probably unnecessary. The food stands by itself without the "trying too hard" aspect thrown in. I agree with other reviewers that it really is pricey, considering the portion size. Definitely not for a modest budget, but if you want to treat yourself, you won't be disappointed.
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My entree was good. I had lamb. The other thing on the menu that interested me were the scallops whcih they were out of. I started out with the beet salad that was ok...Maybe I had high expectations because I have wanted to go there for such a long time; and I wouldn't say I was disappointed, just not satisfied with my experience.
The portions were rather small. With great food I think small portionas are appropriate because there is such thing as "too much of a good thing," and I think its good to be left wanting more. With that said, restaurants with small portions should have more, less expensive small plates to create a well-rounded dining experience. The entrees were appropriately priced, but the salad/appetizer/soup (all in one section) part of the menu was over-priced.
I think its worth another try...Like I said, I am just not satisfied and one more visit will either help me put my finger on WHY, or I will have a better experience all together...
I'll keep you posted.
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Inventive menu. It appears to be a destination for special occassion dining as pricing is on the expensive side and not really the type of food I can eat regularly. Fresh ingredients, small portions, nice presentation, with good service. The modern, minimalist decor is nice. I thought the room was a bit on the loud side and the plastic chairs were not super comfortable. Will definitely return.
I was tempted to give this place 5 stars for its cheese plate alone. But I decided to temper my rating as this is based on just one visit. It's definitely good enough for me to return for another meal, or two.
I started with a sweetbreads appetizer, moved to a scallops main course, and finished with the aforementioned cheese plate. The sweetbreads were deeee-licious! Crispy exterior, creamy insides, and tasty accompaniments (I don't remember what they were, I just remember mmm-ing and ooo-ing and aww-ing during the course). The scallops were good, but didn't stand out it my mind. And, finaly, the cheese. We opted to try each one because they all sounded good and ended up complimenting each other. Each cheese selection was paired with a different and sweet fruit. There was actually more cheese than we could eat (and that is saying a lot); so that speaks for a very good meal that was of great value too!
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Parking is awkward in this "edgy" part of Madison Ave & 23rd. The restaurant is a house and garden--whose entrance is very inviting. Unfortunately, the front door opens smack-dab in the middle of kitchen noise, bar noise, and waiters weaving through you with nicely plated dishes. The word reservation should be taken loosely here, since chances are your table will not be ready when you arrive and you'll have to wait. If they offer you to dine at the bar, stay clear of the traffic and draft from the door. Personally, for $35 a person the experience I want is more cozy and less plastic bar chairs and posing chatter. The food is solid reduction fare--though nothing really "pops" as innovative--surprising since Harvest Vine and several other foody haunts are just down the road. May come back in 2010 if they're still there.
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There is no question that this is of the top restaurants in Seattle. The food, the quality service, the drinks, all are amazing.
I recommend going in on a week day evening, and sitting at the bar. The bar faces an open kitchen so you can see the development of each dish. Not to mention their cocktails are prepared by a handsome gracious and extra attentive bartender, and are all made to perfection.
They use an immersion peculator as an infusing device for cocktails, which is a medical device that keeps liquids at a steady temperature for periods of time. (which i thought was pretty cool) They're ingredients are always fresh and uniquely incorporated.
Sure, it is pricey, but you get what you pay for.
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Far and away, hands down the best restaurant in all of Seattle. Crush offers the modern sensibility and deliciously complicated food of a true contemporary-American establishment, with the warmth and comfort of home.
A reservation is a must... but honestly, my suggestion would be to sneak in early (before 6pm), and sit at the bar. This is the only true way to experience the innards of Crush, its friendly staff, its impeccable kitchen, and its killing-me-softly food. There are also a number of specialty cocktails that are bound to knock your socks off. Their spin on the greyhound is especially impressive with a house-made green foam caressed over the top. If you get the chance, you must also try the house-made chocolates. I'm still dreaming of the, who would have thought?, earl grey chocolate! Skip the chocolate all together if you can be lucky enough to try the blood orange sorbet wrapped in the most amazingly delicate foie gras ever to exist. I would eat nothing else for the rest of eternity if possible.
The last time I dined at Crush, I actually overheard someone complaining about there being TOO MANY shaved truffles over their lobster gnocchi. Are you KIDDING ME!!?!?!
Hats of to chef Jason Wilson, you are perfection.
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I haven't been this disappointed in a place since... well, actually, I have never been this disappointed. We had been wanting to eat here for YEARS just based on the amazing reviews/awards/menu, and finally came by last Thursday.
I started out with a cocktail- "Modern Way" I think it was called. It was the tiniest $10 drink I've ever seen, but it was tasty- grapefruit rum, lime juice, topped with a maraschino cherry liqueur foam. Tiny but good.
My husband and I both did the 3-for-30 dinner. I started with a seared sea scallop with some asparagus puree- super rich, but very yummy. I was definitely wanting more than just the one scallop.
The entree was the biggest disappointment. I had the crispy skin cod with potato and bacon and other little things with it. It was the tiniest little piece of fish I've ever seen, and the dish just didn't taste good. I usually love fish, and my husband does too, but neither of us liked this at all. It was very "fishy" and weird- not good. Super disappointing- I didn't even finish it. I would have said something, but a table of 6 had been seated at the table beside us, and our waitress made it pretty clear which table mattered to her. She pretty much disappeared. At least my husband's gnocchi was good.
For dessert I went with the plate of sorbets and ice creams, because it sounded really interesting. Pinot Noir ice cream, some kind of pinot gris sorbet, and a chocolate ice cream- a tiny spoonful of each. The pinot noir ice cream was really weird, and tasted like someone had poured wine and cream into an ice cream maker. Okay, it was an interesting taste, but not something I would willingly order. The pinot gris sorbet was the same way- weird. The chocolate ice cream was really tasty- BUT it tasted exactly like the chocolate ice cream I make in my own ice cream maker at home. Nothing special about it. Okay, it's fun to experiment with different ice cream flavors, but none of these warranted being on a menu this expensive. Not good. My husband got the buttermilk doughnuts- 3 doughnut holes on a plate. They tasted like doughnuts. Seriously, nothing special. You can go to any doughnut shop and get something better tasting for about 1/15th the price.
I noticed the couple next to us was doing the 3-for-30 as well. That guy got 4 doughnuts for his dessert, instead of 3. I wonder why we got less?
The restaurant is suuuper tiny, with those weird plastic chairs. Luckily I was sitting on the booth side of the table so I didn't experience the chair, but my husband said his butt hurt 10 minutes into dinner, and was completely numb by the end of the night. Service here was incredibly slow, and I think I already mentioned our waitress disappearing. They did a good job keeping the water glass filled, which I appreciate. But as far as the nice restaurants we've been trying lately, this was by FAR the biggest disappointment of them all, and it's not worth a return trip to try out their regular menu.
One other thing- we've had smaller portions at all these restaurants, which is fine- we've always been satisfied without being stuffed, which is ideal. But the size of the portions at Crush were ridiculous. We were still hungry after paying over $100 for dinner. We went straight to a Mariner's game after Crush, and just ate dinner there. Unbelievable.
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We were out celebrating the gf's birthday and subscribe to the "what my baby wants, my baby gets" philosophy. And my baby wanted dinner at Crush and cocktails at Havana's. All I can say is we had an utterly fantastic meal at Crush this weekend (Plus a little make out session at Havana's in the upstairs lounge after a few El Floridita's. But, that's another story.)
I can't exactly remember how they worded the menu, but that probably has more to do with the cocktails at Havana the the bottle of Pinot Gris than anything else. But, I digress... this is pretty much what we had Saturday evening.
Baby beets with thinly sliced Yakima pears salad...
Seared Sea Scallops with Ritsotto...
Buttered Lobster and potato Gnocchi... T
Taste of Chocolate (5 different samples)...
and a bottle of the Van Duzer Pinot Gris...
Since it was the gf's birthday I had called ahead a few weeks back and asked if they'd do a specially printed menu with a little private message on it. And, of course they did!! It was a nice little touch that she truly appreciated. Just about everyone on the staff that we came into contact with took a moment to wish her a happy birthday. Which was sort of unexpected considering most places its usually just the wait person that says anything. They even spelled out happy birthday in chocolate ganache on our 'Taste of Chocolate' dessert.
There are two things that I would change about my dining experience and only one of them has a chance it hell of ever coming true. First, the chairs at Crush, albeit look modern and cool, are the worst. The severe curve in the chair made me feel like my ass was up around my shoulders. The other would be the people next to us. A great dining experience can almost be ruined by the douches sitting next to you. Sadly, I'm often that douche... but not in this case.
The best we came up with, as we played that game where you make up a story and or try to figure out the dealio with a couple, was that dude was a renowned food critic and she was the debutante daughter of a business associate of his. The entire evening he complained and overly criticized every single aspect of their meal. One statement he made... "the dishes are incredibly cheap and I don't like them at all. 'turns over dish and says' Figures, they're German". At that moment I took a mental note that the German's make crappy dishes. And to think, Crush almost lost a star on my rating because of this.
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It's been a few months since we ate here last and my husband and I are STILL talking about what we ate...the service...the wine... the modern and comfortable chairs... I had to chime in! Fresh ingredients are able to shine (not too many flavors on the plate - just right). Crush is fantastic and I want to spread the news. Yum!
The location: Off the beaten path, on the backside of Capital Hill. Perfect.
The decor: Ultra modern (those who describe it as "Ikea" and "Clockwork Orange" make me want to cry)
The food: Innovative, fresh, delicious, and sophisticated
The drink: New twists on solid stand-bys
The service: Very good
The value: Worth every penny
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This is my FAVORITE dinning spot in Seattle. I LOVE the food, the ambiance, and the service. I have been there many times and the quality is consistent.
I only gave it 4 stars because they have recently gone nuts with the wine list prices. It is basically impossible to find any bottle under $80!
I will continue to go there to enjoy my favorite ribs in the world and other delicious creations which I will pair with wine by the glass.
Crush is one of those restaurants that I think about anytime I want to eat somewhere delicious. And if I had more money, I certainly would eat here way more often.
I practically begged to go here for Valentine's Day but being male and therefore mostly oblivious (no offense to the guys out there) the boyfriend missed all subtle and obvious hints until I outright asked, but by then it was too late and they weren't taking reservations anymore. Sigh. But we went to Brasa instead, which is also delicious.
I enjoyed every bite of my food and if I hadn't have been stuffed would have kept on eating and eating, which is how good Crush is.
Plus, when I went I was seated next to Paul Nordstrom, who is the black sheep of the Nordstrom family for those of you who don't know, and so that was pretty neat.
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One of the very few places in Seattle where you can dress swank and experience swank and enjoy swank all at once. Sophisticated palates will revel here. Enjoy!
Basic Seattle Eatery that is Fine, But Not Great.
I've eaten here several times, since I live in the neighborhood. Every dish I and my co-diners have had, were fine perfectly good Seattle mid-expensive food. Not great, not bad, fine.
PROS - seared Ahi tuna. This is the best dish I've had here. Amazing and wonderfully cooked.
CONS - the place is a little loud.
A note on cheese plates. Buying good cheese and cutting it up, isn't the same as creating interesting dishes.
My Seinfeld-esqe streak of not throwing up was broken by Crush. I also do not like plastic chairs. I get modern. There's no reason to have a molded plastic chair in a restaurant unless said restaurant also has a Playland.
Food poisioning and comfort aside, it was a good experience while it lasted. This is why I can't bring myself to give it only one star. Typically if you throw up, its an automatic one star. But I suspect it was an isolated incident and am willing to give it another go - one day.
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Every bite was fantastic! I recommend the warm crab salad, lobster, and short ribs. Maybe skip the bacon chocolate dessert in favor of sorbet. We had a green apple sorbet intermezzo that was quite tasty. The chairs look a little funny but are very comfortable, and it's nice to eat such great food and be able to hear your dinner companions. Definitely check this one out (get reservations first!).
*sigh*
What an amazing experience Crush was. This renovated home turned restaurant was classy but cute. Homey but sophisticated.
The service was impeccable and the food was nothing less of perfect. A delightful treat and an amazing meal that has changed my palate forever.
The menu was a seasonal menu and each order was made and tasted perfect. Our favorites of the evening were the seared sea scallops and risotto. A perfect blend with the risotto, this was the dish that won me over. Scallops were cooked perfectly and risotto was flavorful and rich. A perfect blend of flavors, this dish was amazing.
Also among our favorites were the spiced duck with a gratin of brussels sprouts and crispy Alaskan black cod with cured pork belly. (Note: All items are based on memory, so descriptions are very general).
Each meal was made with love and delighted each of us three girls. Definitely a night to remember. The night began with a delicious array of sweetbreads and samplings of meat. The main courses were an artistic display of warmth and fine dining and the meal was then topped off with an amazing trio of desserts. Ice cream sandwiches, pear tartin, and pumpkin mousse.
A great meal in a delightful setting. This was a great and delicious meal. I could positively say I have a crush on Crush. *swoon*
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The food at this place is fantastic - everything we had was perfect, from the appetizers to the delectable lamb. The wine list was more than extensive enough for us to find some great choices too. Some of the best food I've had outside of Canlis in Seattle.
It's not what you'd expect from the menu or the outside - the decor is quite modern, despite being in an old crafstman-y house between Capitol Hill and the Central Area/District. The bar is tiny, so don't expect to wait there (but we made a reservation so that was no big deal).
I only deduct one star because it was so loud inside there I couldn't really have a conversation with the other two people my wife and I went with. Not the end of the world, but would be nice given the price.
Love Crush! Guaranteed food orgasm's every time.
I do have to admit I was not impressed on my first visit and owe it to my friend Rob in reforming me. Had the tasting menu and have been a convert ever since. Of recent visit I had the Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads with Celery Root Slaw. Sweetbreads were crisp on the outside but still retained it's creaminess on the inside. The flavors were spot on as with every dish on the menu. Other favs include: shortribs, duck, tuna tartare, and of course foie gras.
FYI- one of the few fine dining establishments that offer a late night menu.
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Good solid food in a very charming setting
Food pics - http://www.vintnersgro...
Beautiful food, shlubby service.
Wife and I went to Crush last night for dinner. 630 rez - promptly seated.
Sat down and BOOM - waitress was there in no time. Excellent - so far, so good. Offer of sparkling or tap - we went tap - we're in Seattle, after all.
I started with a Gin drink (plum, champagne, Gin - superb). Wife had a white - don't recall what, but it was fine.
We both had the Chef's tasting dinner. 6 courses:
* Hamachi with caviar
* Grilled prawns with butter salad and pumpkin
* Sweatbreads
* Scallops and foie gras
* Lamb Rib Eye over potatoes
* Chocolate mousse with huckeberry chocolate something
Every dish was executed very well - really superb. Nothing was overdone - everythng was delicate and unique. Even something that could have been a disaster like Scallops and Foie Gras (could you make a richer dish?) really popped and had nice acid to cut thru the richness.
We opted not to go with the wine flights just because I had to drive and I frankly didn't feel like drinking that much last night. Mistake - the waitress forgot my wine the first time (meaning I went thru two courses without a drink).
This was the failing of the place - if I pay $200++ for dinner (tasting menu, two drinks each) - I expect much better service. They almost seemed short staffed even though I saw a ton of servers running around. There was a six-top next to us that seemed to be monopolizing the server, but again- this just isnt acceptable for that calibre of dinner. I expect my drinks to always be topped up, the cadence of the meal to be right - and I didn't get it.
Compare this to my Tokyo Michel Troisgros dinner last week - I had six waiters hovering (ok - it was a little much) throughout the whole experience for not much more than I paid at Crush. That is what I expect, and baby - I didn't get it.
Go - just kick some server tail if you need to.
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I went to Crush with my girlfriend with the intent of trying something new. The atmosphere was great, it was a little crowded, but had a great contemporary, yet classy, feel. The food had the price tag of a suit-and-tie place, but definitely didn't require the attire.
We started off with a Shrimp Ravioli with Leeks and Celery Root ($13). It was delicious; the sauce comprised of the leeks and celery root accented the shrimp perfectly, I would've been content with a soup of just that.
Along with that, our other appetizer was the Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads & Celery Root Slaw ($13). It wasn't what we had anticipated, they were meatballs comprised of baby cow glands (which I didn't know until the next day). This was on a bed of the celery root slaw that has parsnip puree and honey mustard on the side. It was very moist and delicious, I could personally have done with a little less oil.
My lover enjoyed the Maple-Bacon Sausage Stuffed Chicken Breast ($24). It was cooked to perfection, the bacon and sausage didn't overpower the flavor of the chicken, which I was little concerned about. The truffle tagliatelle, chanterelles, sugar peas, and baby squash was an awesome combination. It was a good side to go along with the chicken.
I had ordered the Lavender Roasted Duck Breast and Bing Cherry Sauce. It came with sweet corn pudding and sauteed dandelion ($26). I also took the opportunity to add the Sauteed Hudson Valley Foie Gras (add'l $16). The duck breast was a little tough, but succulent and seared perfectly. The cherries and the cherry sauce fits perfectly with the duck and the sauteed dandelions contrasted the sweetness with a slight bitterness. The sweet corn pudding served as a sauce for the duck and altogether these components created a flavor explosion in my mouth. The foie gras was very rich, however very delicious. It was a good portion, because any more and I think the richness would have been overbearing, I can only handle so much at a time. It was seared, amazingly tender, and topped with rock salt. The rock salt added a nice contrast as well.
For beverages, I decided to keep it non-alcoholic and I ordered Dry Soda Co. Lemongrass ($5). It's more of a lightly flavored sparkling water, it was great because it wasn't overbearing at all. My companion ordered the Lavender Lemonade ($6), which was absolutely delicious. The lavender really came through in the flavor and accompanied by the refreshing lemonade. Ordering a beverage isn't an option because their water is straight tap water, and you can taste the metallic goodness.
As for desert we concluded with the Crush Ice Cream Sandwiches ($9). It was made of up 3 sandwiches that infused two flavors each. There was Earl Grey & Honey, Chocolate Chip & Orange Blossom, and Double Chocolate & Espresso. The Earl Grey cracker/cookie was interesting because it was like an air-puffed crunchy pastry, which sandwiched the honey ice-cream. The sandwiches for the most part were good, but not very memorable.
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If you're a fan of watching reality shows like "Top Chef" and you're wondering where you can go in Seattle that serves food at that level or above? Crush. All the way.
Starting off with the drinks..... innovative remakes of classics and new tasty treasures.
Appetizers - Fantastic flavor profiles. The Chef here is willing to put items like Sweetbreads on the menu and make them taste FANTASTIC.
Main Courses - Each plate had all of the aspects of a perfect dish: presentation, flavor, aroma, THE WHOLE SHA-BANG.
Deserts - I have to admit that after an evening of getting my socks knocked off by the food and drink, the deserts didn't meet expectations. That's not to say the deserts were bad, they were just generic. I ordered the trio of deserts (tasting menu of sorts) and it was just a trio of things we've all seen before without much innovation at all.
All in all I would highly recommend checking this place out. It's great for large and small audiences alike but make sure that you grab a reservation in advance.
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It's been quite a while since I've had a meal that cost that god damn much money, but it was worth every penny of it (don't take this to mean that I don't eat at nice restaurants....this place was just even more expensive than most).
Very classy place for a date; quite a unique room. A few nice beers in the bottle even. Extensive(By that, I mean expensive...) wine list, but a bit limited for by-the-glass selections.
Top-notch food. I had chicken stuffed with sausage AND bacon with kinds of other good stuff on the plate. My appetizer was grilled octopus, which was closer in resemblence to really good crab than like calamari. My gf had lamb that was perfect and a fig pastry appetizer with bleu cheese. Dessert was a banana tart.
Make a reservation. Not the type of place you want to take a first date, because if it doesn't work out you just wasted a whole hell of a lot of coin for nothing.
Taking a star off because they sat me right next to a hard blowing AC vent.....not too cool. Um, wait....yeah. Too cool? Whatever. Snoogins.
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I've been meaning to make it to Crush for quite awhile now. Some friends finally made a reservation for us and we set off on our trek from the city to the backside of Capitol HIll where Crush resides in this cute, Ikea furnished, little house on East Madison.
It was a cocktail night so I went with the house Pear concoction... Pear Vodka and Brandy with a bit of simple syrup and other filler made for a very good drink that warmed my belly a bit. Definitely a drink with a twist (Vodka and Brandy combo?!?).
The food was great but on par with alot of other, more affordable, restaurants in the Seattle area. I ended up trying the ravioli, duck, scallops, and stuffed chicken entrees. I didn't stay for dessert because I wasn't able to spot something that didn't have one flavor in it that I didn't care for. When I got the bill, I was charged for a cappuccino that I didn't order or receive which kinda irked but I understand that mistakes are made.
While the food was great, I feel that it isn't worth what they're charging. Look at places like Tovolata, Crow, and Volterra before Crush.
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I'd really like to give this 3.5 stars. Although the food was average, the service was wonderful -- and I loved the decor. Kind of Design Within Reach meets "Clockwork Orange."
We began with a glass apiece of complimentary champagne (we had to wait a few minutes for our table). Once seated, we ordered the beet salad (very good) and the crab cakes (which, disappointingly, showed up as a singular crab cake).
We had a look at the wine menu, which is heavy on the expensive stuff with few bottles that run in the middle. That's a mistake, in my opinion. Just because you're a "fine dining" establishment doesn't mean that you shouldn't offer a generous sampling of the very fine wines in the $25-30 range. They do exist.
Two in our party ordered the short ribs, which, as I understand it, were quite good. I ordered the crab-stuffed halibut, which came very highly recommended by the waiter. It was, unfortunately, a bit rubbery for my taste.
Dessert was an odd chocolate concoction with a pretzel (??) and wonderful, French-pressed coffee that actually inspired me to break out my old French press at home.
So, in all, not an overwhelmingly perfect experience, but enough little touches that made it a worthwhile outing.
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Fantastic! My fiancee and I went there last night after I proposed. They treated us wonderfully! The chef prepared appetizers for us that weren't on the menu and came to see us at our table. After our meal our waitress brought us a plate of house chocolates with "Congratulations" spelled out in chocolate on the plate. The food was outstanding and the service excellent. I definitely recommend Crush for anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion.
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I love this cute, romantic, mod little restaurant-in-a-house. My friend reserved the little room on the upper floor for her birthday party. We were planning on eating there for a couple hours and then going bar hopping.
We were there for four hours.
We actually didn't mind sitting there except for a few things:
1. it was really freakin' hot up there
2. the waiter was a bit inattentive as far as keeping our glasses full
We totally would have gotten a lot lot drunker if the staff would have kept the drinks coming. At one point I remember picking up my empty wine glass and holding it upside down, in the air, in hopes that someone might walk by and notice. I was a little cranky that night.
Anyway, the food was really good. I was torn between the short ribs and the salmon and decided to order the short ribs and nibble off my neighbor's salmon. The ribs were good, but once I tasted the salmon I knew I'd made a mistake. It was delicious. If I could turn back time....
So I'd give the place five stars except for the ridiculous amount of time our glasses sat empty.
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I had a triple "O" last night while eating here.
My friend needed a new job so I found her one. Daily task for me. Do you need a job?? Anyways..
She got hired and in return wanted to take me out as my reward. she prefixed it by saying that I could pick any place in Seattle. Well I thought..I've been wanting to try Crush since my best friend raved about it twice.
Made reservations for two at 8..we got there 7:40 and unlike some other reviewers here..were seated immediately.
After looking at the menu my friend order a bottle of Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuve Ros champagne and sparkling water. Both came but one wasn't sparkling..you guess which one. 2 mins later we had three bottles on our table for two. A bit crowded. Thats ok.I'm flexible.
My order:
Frisee salad with grilled asparagus and crispy prosciutto
Seared Rare Sea Scallops & Fuyu Persimmon
Sweet Onion Risotto & Arugula Add Sauted Foie Gras for $15 ..as a Foie Gras lover...you know I added it on.
Hazelnut & Nougat Brownie with roasted almonds
Her order..I can't remember..something with duck and frozen carrot cake...I was to busy with my 2nd "O"..ummm..I mean dish.
Oh and if the guy who walked in looking like Eric Bana reads this..you and I made eye contact and I left my number with hostess. Please call me.
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My family came in to visit and my sister suggested we go to Crush. The family was paying so I said sure. Big mistake.
I had made reservations (be aware, they take your credit card and charge you if you don't show) and we were seated prety promptly when we arrived - good. We had some wine and started with the foie gras - good. The decor was nice, if a bit mod. Our server was fast and attentive - all good.
Once our food arrived it all went downhill from there. Some of us had a salmon dish, swimming in a rich thick sauce. My husband had the lamb. Everything was super-rich to the point of being disgusting. We all only ate about half of our food, and later that evening we ALL got sick.
We were excited to go based on the hype, but it was just not good. The meal we had a Lola the night before was half the price and 10 times as good.
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The environment is suprisingly calm in this mod decorated little house. You can fit a commercial kitchen with a view bar in the center of an old house? Great contractor!
The food is well put together and detail not spared. We dined on the ribs (house specialty and we know why) and the pork chops. Not comfort food--but instead an exquisite experience. Three cute ice cream sandwiches were enjoyed for dessert (lemon lavender is the best!). But, my fave? The bathrooms are lit with a single light bulb that adorns angel wings. Sweet.
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My friends and I decided on Crush because another friend had already made reservations to dine with someone else but then that someone else got sick and had canceled on him. He had just called to cancel his reservation but you know how everything happens for a reason, so we took it as a sign that we deserved expensive plates of overpriced tiny portions while being completely under dressed and sporting denim. Oh! And also, named after my favorite Jet's song. Hello? Sign from God I tell you.
Once inside, I realized that if Club Monaco ever opened up a restaurant this is exactly what it would look like. Modern, sleek, sparse. Good thing Kubrick is dead because no doubt he'd be asking for his chairs back. Very 2001ish. Since I wasn't wearing all white or all black or all red, I felt slightly out of place. Then I glanced at the wine list, noticed most bottles didn't have a price under three figures and I quickly realized I could be wearing flip flops and a wifebeater and who the hell cares because did you see the prices?
I ordered a fruity champagne cocktail called a Rosie Pom 75 (which I almost called a Rosie Porn because, yes, I am that dumb) and the quail followed by some pumpkin ravioli. According to my calculations whatever I ordered should have arrived gilded in gold. Shockingly, it didn't. The food was good. I'd even go so far as to say the food was really good but for those kinds of prices you expect it to be that good. I can think of a handful of other places where the food is just as good and for much MUCH cheaper. I'm not saying I wouldn't go back. I'm just saying I'd make someone else pay next time.
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**UPDATE**
When back for a birthday dinner. Oh yeah. It's worth it. Jason Wilson knows his shit.
*******
This review is just for dessert and ambience. We just popped in for a quick dessert and drink. Everyone was very friendly and helpful - not all expensive restaurant staff is this open and friendly.
We were sat close to the kitchen and chef/owner - Jason Wilson - personally came out and asked if we'd rather have a seat in the dining room, further away from the action of the kitchen. Very cool and personable.
We're definitely heading back for dinner soon.
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