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Crush
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
2319 E Madison St(between E 23rd Ave & E 24th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98112
Neighborhood: Central District
(206) 302-7874
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
309 reviews for Crush
Review Highlights
"Chef tasting menu paired with wine."
(in 50 reviews)
"Braised shortribs, foie gras, halibut - all to die for."
(in 33 reviews)
"This was the most perfect piece of pork belly I ever had."
(in 36 reviews)
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309 reviews in English
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Review from Robby C.
11/23/2011 Seated via OpenTable
A couple months ago, we decided to splurge a bit on our close friend for her birthday and we knew that Crush was on her list of restaurants to try. For one reason or another, our expectations were for a large modern restaurant, but the reality was that the environment was charming and quaint. The décor was sleek and modern contrasting the typical wood siding exterior that we have become familiar with in suburban housing.
Apologies for that brief architectural tangent.
At a bit over thirty dollars per an entrée, one would expect the service to be exquisite and it indeed was amazing. Our waitress was both attentive, the glass of water test prevailed that day, and knowledgeable about the items on the menu. Although we opted out of a wine pairing, our waitress offered numerous suggestions of dishes that complemented well with each other though remained modest and reserved towards our lengthy selection process.
For those that are reading and wondering where the food review begins; it starts here.
Our order of the raviolo, ravioli is plural for those who are wondering, was a delicious serving of smoky prosciutto complemented by a neat little package of creamy Mascarpone cheese in pasta with a hint of citrus presented over fresh watercress and onions. In addition to the amazing sauce and the raviolo, the crush chefs take it a step further with a duck egg that inconspicuously hides beneath the edges of the raviolo to add a further creamy texture to the sauce to balance the initial smoky flavor of the prosciutto. In addition to the raviolo, we also ordered an entrée of short ribs which we were initially disappointed by only because we are all too familiar with hefty racks of barbecue ribs rather than the petite portions of ribs at upscale restaurants such as Crush. However, the braised beef short ribs is an entrée definitely worth the thirty dollar expense and is available throughout the year whereas other items are often rotated relative to the various seasons. Tender braised ribs that required nothing more than a light touch of the fork to pull the meat from the bone; the dining experience was absolute heaven. With a hint of truffles and a bit of horseradish, it was nearly impossible to drink water after the fact in fear of possibly removing that blissful experience from our taste buds. Although the entrée was served with potatoes and carrots, both of which we would have gladly replaced with even an additional nibble of ribs, it was the protagonist of the dish that made our trip to Crush memorable.
Our birthday companion also made the experience memorable, but we would have possibly traded her for another entrée of ribs also if the opportunity arose. -
Review from Andrew E.
Los Angeles, CA
2/7/2012
Say this for Crush: it lives up to its namesake. I visited on a recent trip to Seattle, and like any crush, found this one marked by dizzying, near-breathtaking highs and devastating disappointments.
Ok, perhaps that last bit is a tad melodramatic. Neither my girlfriend nor I left Crush heartbroken, but when I spend nearly $500 on an anniversary dinner, I expect a superlative experience in every way. On that front, at least the food delivered.
We each ordered the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Credit to the chef; the food was almost uniformly immaculate. Highlights were the cauliflower soup amuse-bouche, their signature "bacon n' eggs", foie grois, duck cracklins with potato agnolotti, and lamb with purple cauliflower and a date-espresso reduction. The lone dish that was unremarkable - a side of hamachi in an edamame broth - was still quite good but so delicate that it paled in comparison with everything that came before and after.
So, how does a restaurant serve some of the best food I've eaten, get me pleasantly tipsy on high-end wines and champagne, and still squander most of the good will they've engendered? For starters, by ignoring the one request I made when I booked the reservation nearly a month in advance, namely a romantic table for our anniversary dinner. Perhaps their concept of romantic is slightly different than my own, but in no case does the table directly across from the noisy, open kitchen and nearest to the bathrooms fit the bill. Still, my girlfriend and I were in great spirits and excited about our meal, so I resolved to look past the perceived slight, assuming that our location would at least give us the full attention of the waitstaff.
This was true nearly to a fault in the early going when a constant rotation of different servers streamed to our table, hustling us through bread and our first few courses frustratingly quickly. Most were quite pleasant, but one woman (whom I later learned was the manager) was brusque and failed to adequately explain the dishes and wines she was serving us. There was a dispiriting air of pretentiousness to her service.
Perhaps sensing my displeasure, yet another waiter, Pulani, came to our rescue and provided us with truly excellent service for the rest of the evening. However, as my girlfriend neared her limit on wine I specially requested light pours for the remainder of her meal. Pulani dutifully obliged, but the manager returned to inflict a little more of her unpleasantness on the evening. She poured a full glass for my girlfriend over Pulani's protests and my own, snapping back, "It's dessert!" with a tone usually reserved for four-letter words. Who knows what she poured, since she didn't bother to tell us.
At another restaurant, on another night, these might have been minor quibbles, but the expense and the occasion qualified them as major failures. In the end the stellar food and company still made it a great evening, but with Seattle in the rearview I can safely say that I won't be pining for Crush from afar. -
Review from Sandy L.
1/8/2012
It doesn't hurt to check out this place for couple entrees and a bottle of wine. But i don't recommend to come back or drop big bucks there!
Food: 3.4-4/5. We had 2 appetitizers to start with and then follow by 6 course tasting menu + wine pairings. Beef tartar and Ahi tuna had nice presentation. The beef came from snake river farm so no doubt about the quality however the tartar itself needed some seasoning while the tuna had abit too much five spice powder. For the 6 course menu, duck breast was way too tough to cut through although it wasn't overcooked. Salmon was nicely cooked but it needed some salts except the skin. The dessert is was ok definitely not `wow'. I would say all the dishes were nicely presented as fine dining standard. The food was either overly seasoned that i can't taste much of the food natural flavor or some food was just simply bland. Wine pairings were good but not great.
Service: 3/5. For a fine dining restaurant where patrons can drop $300-$500 for dinner for two, i feel the service was just average. There were some areas lacking last night: 1. there was only one host (usually two elsewhere) there and seemed he waited tables sometimes as well, this means the host counter was empty for very long time. I had to wait more than 10 mins to get to our table and we were not offered coat check (?) at all 2. our wait staff seemed very new, she reached across the table to pour us wine, seemed no sommelier on staff. When we requested the name for one of the wines we like, she seemed clueless about our reqest. 3. We mentioned the dinner was to celebrate my birthday, however i didn't see any compliment or `Happy Birthday' syrup drawing on my dessert. 4. The service seemed slow and the time between courses was a bit too long. As soon as we paid, our wait staff went completely disappeared.
Ambience: 4/5, More laid back still romantic. Don't like the plastic chair, feel dangerous to lean back abit. Since there is a minbar next to the dining area, the noise level is high.
Price: 4/5, Average and acceptable for fine dinning, Our tab was $410 including tip, we expected to spend this amount just the entire experience left something to desired.
Parking: 0/5 Very impossible, no valet, no parking lot or garage around this residential area. -
Review from David B.
Enumclaw, WA
2/1/2012 Seated via OpenTable
First of I didn't enjoy my dinner and my wife didn't like her dessert at all and I wasn't even willing to finish it. So why five stars? Well, my wifes dinner was amazing and so was my dessert. She ordered the short ribs and for dessert I ordered Chocolate, TCHO & Valrhona. They were both amazing, two of the greatest thing we've ever ate.
The service was attentive and pleasant. Nice ambiance and overall a great experience. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from MAX P.
Seattle, WA
1/13/2012
I really like this place, one of my favorite spots in Seattle. Olivia took me here for SRW and our reservation on time. The place is cozy and comfortable, great date spot without having to get all dressed up unless you want to. As for the meal, the portions were just the right size and everything tasted great. This was my second time at CRUSH and I'll probably continue to go, especial during SRW. Highly recommended during SRW and make reservations!
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Review from Bethany W.
Seattle, WA
11/22/2011
this comes a couple weeks after i went, so the memory's not as fresh as i would like.
I was fortunate to have a friend treat me to dinner here for Seattle Restaurant Week. It's pricey for me, I wouldn't go otherwise. This was a rare and enjoyable experience.
PROS:
Lady Luck was with us for parking. We went there just before 6 pm and managed to find street parking within two blocks. Usually, I'd imagine it's a challenge, considering the location.
We were seated promptly. The restaurant is inside an old house, so there's a cozy feel and they've managed to make the most of the space. The decor, however, feels very modern. LOVED all the natural light coming in through the windows. The restaurant was appropriately lit when the sun went down. A lot of white, so
Okay, FOOD.
It was one of those dining experiences where I'd try a bite of my friend's order and prefer what he was having. :P My pork belly was delicious, I will say that. However, I really remember my friend's squash soup. Coming into fall, it was such a perfect dish for that evening.
We decided to do the wine sampling along with the dinner and our server was SUPERB at matching up the wine and food so they complimented each other so well. He was well informed and very attentive throughout the evening. Again, this review is coming a bit late, so I don't remember the specific names, but I stuck to white all evening.
CONS:
Not necessarily a con, but i don't think I'd go back when the menu is at the regular prices. The food was good, but I don't know if I'd think that if it wasn't Restaurant Week. However, that could be my inexperienced (but steadily developing) palette, so how dare I!
All in all, a good dining experience. I liked getting "crush"ed.
The bad jokes start, and I must go. -
Review from Abby L.
11/4/2011 7 photos
This place is great for special occasions. The decor is very modern, but it's cozy inside and the service is always impeccable - Seattle formal. I have found that it is pretty pricey normally, although I noticed recently that the price of their tasting menu has gone down. I usually go there for Seattle Restaurant Week and their Sunday Happy Hours in the summer - it's easily probably one of the best values for SRW.
For the recent Happy Hour, we tried the Salmon Gravalax, Compressed Melon with Pancetta, Potato Croquettes, Shortrib Sliders, Chicharones, Lamb Sausage with mini pretzels, and cheese puffs, with the $12 wine flight. My favorites were easily the Salmon Gravalax and Shortrib Sliders, the chicarones and compressed melon were also really fun to eat on their new back patio. Their wine flight was also delicious too - I've always found their wine selections to be spot on.
I forgot what last year's SRW menu had, but I remember the steak being perfectly cooked and beignets. For this year, I had a squash soup, halibut entree, and ice cream sandwich with the optional wine pairing. My husband (I think) had pork belly appetizer and beef shortrib entree with the cheese plate. I thought everything we had was lovely - for $30 (not including the wine), you really could not go wrong.
If you are looking for a modern cozy Pacific Northwest restaurant for a special occasion, this is a really great option in the Madison neighborhood - or keep an eye out for the next Seattle Restaurant Week / Dine around Seattle deals! -
Review from L P.
Bellevue, WA
1/18/2012
Totally Racist. My family and I don't RECOMMEND. Very Cold Welcome! Didn't make past the Entrance. We were ignored even though we had reservations.
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Review from Suie C.
SRW round 5.
We had a large party and were seated a bit past our reservation, but the staff kept us updated while we waited.
Ambiance wise- it's cozy, modern, and can be a bit loud if it's packed, but overall, great presentation.
For our meal, most of us got the pork belly for appetizer. The pork itself was a bit lacking in flavor which is a bit odd considering it's usually one of the most flavorful cuts of pork, but it may have been b/c mine seemed a bit overcoked. It came on a bed of lentils which was actually really tasty.
Also added an odrder of Foie gras ($24) and tried the beef tartare ($17) off their regular menu and both of these items were very good. Foie gra was flavorful and fatty and the beef tartar well very well made.
For entrees, I had the cod and the bf had the steak. The portions were actually quite small for the entrees. My cod was well cooked, but seemed to lack in flavor. My bf's steak was also again very well cooked (medium-rare), but the accompanying potatoes and veggies were overly salty. Presentation was beautiful, but taste was just okay.
For dessert, we ordered the beignets and the vanilla icecream cookie sandwiches (2). I liked the vanilla ice cream cookie sandwiches while the bf prefered the beignets. However, neither were spectacular. The beignets were certainly tasty, but after one bite, I couldn't eat anymore b/c it was just too greasy for my tastes. Others at the table also commented about the same thing. The oil flavor overpowered any of the other flavors. It was quite a disappointment. The ice cream sandwich cookies were pretty standard, much lighter than the beignets.
Service wise-4. Our waiter was quite personable and I appreciate him explaining what each dish was, but I felt like there was quite a lag between courses at times and we did wait a full 20 min past our reservation time to be seated.
One thing that I did notice as other yelpers have mentioned was that the wine prices are quite inflated. The cheapest glass was $13 and for wine the lowest i saw was just a bit below $50. We ended up getting a bottle, but it is a bit of a determent to order any more drinks to go with an already pricey meal.
I'm not quite sure the price matches up to the quality of food and taste. I was really excited to come here, but none of the dishes on SRW were quite satisfying which doesn't exactly make me want to come back at full price. My bf and I's bill for 2 (srw x2, foie gras, wine split between 5 ppl, tax and a 20% gratuity for parties of 5 or more) was very close to $130. A bit of hefty when you leave feeling like there's something left to be desired. -
Review from Dan G.
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Our dinner at Crush was a romantic setting for one of the best meals we enjoyed in Seattle. Chef Jason Wilson was recently named 2010 Best Chef Northwest from the James Beard Foundation and the cuisine we had for the night was excellent.
We started with some shrimp and a selection of cheeses.
Fresh Spot Prawns with Handmade Potato Gnocchi
Asparagus, Grilled Guanciale & Coral Sauce
Two Faced Blue, Raw Cow/Sheep Milk, Washington
Le Delice de Bourgogne, Pasteurized Cow's Milk, France
Tomme Corse, Raw Sheep's Milk, France
We really liked the shrimp with the gnocchi. Of the cheeses, we liked the Bourgogne the best. That was a nice surprise because our server had to substitute it for another choice of ours which was unavailable.
For our mains we had the surf and turf. My wife went surfing, while I had a few nice and bloody cuts of lamb.
Sautéed Sea Scallops with Black Morels
Leeks, Preserved Lemon Crème Fraiche & Olive Oil Poached Pee Wee Potatoes
Black Cardamom Roasted Anderson Valley Lamb Loin~
Basil Artichokes, Grilled Celeriac, Currant Tapenade & Shiraz Sauce
The scallops and morels were excellent. I very much enjoyed a nice portion of the lamb, which came with that tasty tapenade.
The dessert options really were a nice selection. We didn't pass on the opportunity to get a sampling and opted for the refreshing trio.
Crush Citrus Trio
Blood orange chiffon with hazelnut sable and rosemary meringue
Frozen key lime soufflé with salted peanut crunch tequila fluid gel
Grapefruit chiffon cake with meyer lemon ice cream and kaffir foam
Key lime was my favorite of that photo finish trifecta.
We have a crush on good eating. Excellent execution from the kitchen and pleasant service at the front of the house. This was a fine night.Listed in: The Best, Jerry. The Best., Top Chef Stalker
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Review from H C.
Seattle, WA
12/20/2011
This place was great! I would definitely suggest it as a nice date night. Definitely worth the money. Cute restaurant and pretty good staff. I had pork belly as an appetizer and steak as my entree. Both were so delicious.
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Review from Erika W.
7/28/2011
The only reason Crush gets 4 stars is because the food is admittedly incredible. Every bite was pure perfection. However, I don't think I'll be going back, and I'll tell you why.
1. It's really expensive. Starters are $20-25, main courses are $30-45, desserts are $15-18 and you won't find a bottle of wine on the menu for under $50 (even though you could find them in the grocery store for $15)
2. The portions are really small. An appetizer shared between two people is gone in seconds...you'll only get about two bites a piece. The entrees are also really small. A few of us in our party had bread, an appetizer, main course AND dessert....and still left hungry.
3. It's really fancy. This is a pro for some but I felt it was just a little too pretentious
4. Service was very slow. If I'm going to spend over $100 a head, I expect my water to be filled and my wine to come out before 20 minutes (a good 15 minutes after the beer drinker at our table was served). We also waited at least 15 minutes between each course. Dinner took 2 1/2 hours all in all.
Crush is an experience and I really enjoyed the food, it's just not quite my bag. I'd prefer to go to Kingfish, Volterra or Pink Door for a special occassion, where I know the food is consistently good, reasonably priced, and the atmosphere is a little more relaxed. -
Review from Becky L.
Seattle, WA
7/29/2011
Lovely outdoor patio where one doesn't feel like they are right on Madison Ave. The server was debonair and fun. I had the cucumber infused Counterbalance cocktail - a beautiful and refeshing Hendricks drink. Then the salad, an array of greens, hazelnuts, mozzarella and crispy carrot twirls. And bread as light as a cream puff. The star was the scallop entree with slices of potatoes and delicious juices all around those textured gifts from the sea. Dinner was paired with a perfect rose wine, with a smoky color and subtle sweetness.
Crush is a treat that is well worth the uphill climb from the Valley. Neighborhood gem, for sure. -
Review from Brian B.
Houston, TX
10/6/2011
Parking around the restaurant was pretty difficult as it sits in a neighborhood so parking is all street with no valet is a crap shoot of where and how far you might end up. I ate here on business travel so maybe the joke's on me and there was a lot across the street I missed, but in case there's not just be prepared to get crafty on parking.
I liked the old house it was located in and thought the decor was different that what I expected. Fit the area around the restaurant iby being a bit quirky with the chair selection.
What you really want to know: started with the Wagyu Beef Tartar which was very good. My version had a vinegar foam and a small egg of some type along with it. It all blended together nicely.
I had the Sauteed Sea Scallops as my main course and was very pleased and the portion size was perfect. They were cooked perfectly and the sides were also tasty.
My only negative was the price of wine both by bottle and glass. Never a fan of restaurants trying to gouge customers by jacking up the bottle price 3x retail. -
Review from Adam D.
Seattle, WA
11/26/2011
Chef Jason is a genius. Not only does he prepare a heck of a meal and experience. He is approachable and loves to chat about food. I have got to know him over the last couple of years and I highly recommend Crush. Chef Wilson is a James Beard award winning chef. He is very charitable which is something I like to support with my consumer dollars. He is what I classify as good people. If you want a 5 star meal with a great chef at the helm this is your place. It is also very easy to get to from anywhere in the greater Seattle area. I look forward to my next night out there.
Regards,
Adam -
Review from Dainty D.
Edmonds, WA
1/10/2012
We went to Crush for our Anniversary and was very pleased with the entire experience! Fresh modern design and impeccable food. The staff was very courteous and friendly. We will definitely be back!
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Review from Kurt A.
Seattle, WA
8/21/2011
The food was very very good. We had perfectly seared piece of salmon and a gnocchi dish with morrel mushrooms and escargot.
The bill was on the steep side. Expect to drop $300 to $500 for dinner for two.
The big disappointment was the service. There was no sense of warmth, of we are going to take good care of you. Instead the food was just delivered, with the wait staff (two different people, same experience) quickly reciting a list of ingredients like it was a speed quiz.
Great food, low service. -
Review from Tanya J.
With much anticipation, a group of us Crush-virgins made a date to venture out to this highly acclaimed restaurant. The restaurant was a house-converted-restaurant and the décor inside was ultra-modern and really fabulous. We were seated (though not together - sad) and perused the Seattle April Restaurant Week's prefix menu of 3 courses for $28.
I had...(drum roll please):
*First Course: the asparagus with balsamic reduction minus prosciutto - super delish
*Second Course: the potato gnocchi with greens, fiddleheads, mushrooms and apples on top - quite bland and had a combination of ingredients I felt were not friends
*Third Course: the peanut butter brownie and ice cream - quite tasty and not overly sweet at all -- just the way I like it.
All in all, I found myself crushin' on the marinated asparagus spears the most. Yeah, I'm shocked too! The server was fun and friendly with a dry sense of humor and very attentive. We loved him!
Crush having been on my Seattle Restaurant bucketlist for awhile now, my expectations might have been a little high so I was expecting to love Crush more, but I'd definitely come back to see if something more substantial could out run that asparagus. My gut feel is that a 2nd trip could potentially turn my 3 stars into a 5-star update because I can see (with a few changes) how I might have one serious Crush on this place.
P.S. A super romantic spot :)Listed in: Vegelicious, Food Loving Friends
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Review from katya l.
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicate, subdued, restrained: all adjectives that can be applied to Crush's kitchen and the restaurant itself.
Gorgeous space, very modern, airy, clean lines, cream walls and dark wood, decorated only with bouquets of branches. White square tables and art deco chairs (not the most comfortable; a bit cold), beautiful tableware. Servers in waistcoats and hosts who look more put together than half of the diners. It was just comfortable enough for me not to feel awkward, as I tend to do in refined, elegant restaurants.
My dining companion was a half hour late, but our lovely server was very sweet and understanding, even giving me a pat on the back when I made a face at him 20 minutes into the wait to show my displeasure. When my friend finally showed up, I made him buy me a glass of wine as an apology, and our server recommended a nice, medium-bodied, balanced red that went perfectly with all of my courses. The bread basket (plate, really, but 'bread plate' sounds awkward) had warm sliced baguette and these puffs with shaved cheese and green onion on top - amazing. Salted butter was a definite plus.
I had the nettle soup to start - creamy, pale green with a dollop of herbed creme fraiche, lightly sauteed onions and another salty green - a seaweed of sorts? I can't recall. The flavor was very mild and light - delicate comes to mind again, but the mystery green added a salty bite that was necessary. It was a little too mild for my palate, but undeniably well-done. My friend had asparagus, which he enjoyed, and he pawned off his proscuitto to me. It was baked until crunchy, delightfully salty. Yum.
For the main course I had the black cod with fingerling potatoes, bacon, pearl onions and celery in a lemon-y sauce. Again, light, delicate flavors with the bacon providing a salty kick. The portion size seemed small, but was actually just perfect for a three-course meal. We ended up leaving full, but not stuffed. Comfortable. Friend had gnocchi and said it was delicious. It came with fiddleheads, which were googled and turned out to be baby ferns. So I ate a fern. It was tasty, nutty almost.
For dessert, cheese plate for me and actually I completely forgot what my friend had, that's how much I care about dessert. The cheeses were both mild but with good flavor, a soft French reminiscent of brie and a hard one (er, that's how much I know about cheese). The crostini that came with it was the thinnest, crispiest, tastiest crostini I've ever tried. Spiced nuts on the side for a palate cleanser. With our check came a little dish of cookies - a tiny brownie, a meringue-type pouf and a couple of butter cookies. Cute.
Overall it was a great experience - excellent service, perfectly striking that balance between friendly and professional, wonderful ingredients prepared as to ideally showcase their natural flavors, with just a hint of spice to provide a contrast. I came to realize that I prefer my flavors rather more robust, but there is certainly something to appreciate in a kitchen such as this. -
Review from Carlos C.
Beaverton, OR
1/2/2012
We had a nice dinner at Crush last weekend. I agree with most of the reviews in that the food is impeccable and worth of a 5-star rating. The service was good, although not excellent (with high prices come big expectations). Where I disagree with many of the reviews is that I think that the pace of the dinner was appropriate. We had a 3-course meal in about two hours, which is about standard for a fine dining experience. At no point did we feel that we were waiting too long for our food to arrive. We also evaded the parking problem (and built a nice appetite) by walking from downtown.
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Review from Anjali D.
Seattle, WA
4/28/2011
Let me start off by saying that the food was excellent. With the food alone, this place holds a 4 to 5 star rating.
However, the service left much to be desired.
We came for a special occasion and had asked for a romantic table when making the reservation. We were seated at the table closest to the bathroom and one of us had a view of the wall the entire night... Personally, I do not like how all of the tables are large because that decreases the romantic feel. The decor is pretty romantic though.
When we were seated, we were asked what the special occasion was; however, this subject was never revisited during the course of the evening. Why ask?
When we took more than 3 minutes to decide on drinks and appetizers, the waitress abandoned us for a good 10 to 15 minutes before coming back.
We ordered one appetizer (the tartar was delicious!) and our entrees came _very_ shortly after. The food was well presented and was done well. Their signature short rib was one of the richest meals I have tasted. The halibut was clean. Our entrees were delivered by a 3rd party who was not our waitress. Bread was brought to our table (nothing special) and when we finished that we were asked if we'd like more (and we said yes).
We waited a considerable amount of time and then were offered a dessert menu. We ordered dessert, waited a while and the third party returned and tried to deliver our dessert to the next table...When they declined, we got ours. The desserts were fun because four different items come in one order. They are creative and fun but some are better than others.
Our check arrived promptly after dessert. An expensive meal - to be expected. We were rather disappointed and shocked by the extra $5 charge for "additional bread". It would have been nice if that were disclosed to us before we asked for bread #2. At such a high caliber restaurant, I find it appalling that they would charge for bread (and the bread's not even that special!)
We waited a good 10-15 minutes for someone to actually pick up our check. Our waitress was nowhere to be found so yet another unfamiliar face processed our check. As we gathered our things to leave, staff members and waiters/waitresses were occupied with their own duties and we almost walked out without anyone saying thank you or goodbye. At a restaurant of this caliber where you drop a good amount of dough, we expected better service.
From what we could gather, it seemed like the other tables around us were getting subpar service as well. Even when our waitress proper was serving us, there was something sterile and unwelcoming about the service.
I certainly would try some of the other high end places on my next special occasion before heading back to Crush. -
Review from Jason R.
Natick, MA
8/9/2011
We got the tasting menu plus appetizer & entree a la carte. They did a nice job of serving the dishes, mixing in the a la carte at reasonable times. They also split the dessert on to two plates. Generally, service was good and at the level you'd expect for such an expensive restaurant.
But, the food was very underwhelming. Seasoning was very spotty, from too salty to underseasonsed. Lamb was dry. Pasta was stuck together as if it was made the previous day and left to sit. The sous vide egg was overcooked by frying pan finish; it also had enormous chunks of salt that made it inedible. They put bacon in over half the dishes---we were often left wondering why. Ingredients weren't connected very well. For example, in "bacon & eggs", salmon roe and maple syrup do not go together. Two good dishes were short ribs and spring pea soup, but neither made us salivate. We expected at least a few outstanding dishes at this price level, but didn't see any.
Dessert was funny---chocolate wafers, topped with whipped cream and strawberries. It felt like almost no thought went into it. OTOH, service was again nice---they gave us two plates of (half of the?) dessert.
Felt like a lot of ingredients were there for presentation (looks cool/interesting/unusual), not for taste. What do cherries have to do with underseasoned fish and overseasoned tomato chunks? Yes, that was a dish. -
Review from Jamie B.
Seattle, WA
8/13/2011
I went with my boyfriend on a busy Saturday night. We had reservations and were seated immediately, but we waited over 40 minutes for drinks and bread alone, by then I was starving. The service was deplorably slow. I had to call someone over to the table to get a second glass of wine while it seemed like tables around us were also either not getting serviced or being serviced much quicker. Very strange.
When we got the food it was underwhelming. My date's dish was lukewarm. While tasty, prices were quite high for the food and level of service overall. We were there 2.5 hours just to finish a meal. I will not be returning. -
Review from Beth H.
Seattle, WA
6/23/2011
I was taken to Crush last night on a surprise dinner date and I couldn't have been happier with the choice! It was one of those dining experiences in which everything from pacing to service to food and drink suggestions were top notch. The kitchen staff kept at eye on us (we were seated at the bar) and timed all of the dishes perfectly. "They're finishing with the cheese, get the scallops and duck going!"
I started out with their Orange Crush cocktail which was bright and summery. It went well with the 5-cheese plate we ordered as a starter. This, by the way, was a dangerous choice. I nearly filled myself up on some of the stinkiest, creamiest blue cheese I've ever had. There were lots of goodies to pair with the cheeses as well, including a caramel smear and some champagne jelly.
For my main course I had scallops with creamed leeks and local morels. The boy had the duck which was also great but my scallops definitely stole the show as they were done to perfection. Our server was very attentive and suggested some excellent wines to go with each of our dishes.
We chose the chocolate dessert after it was recommended. In retrospect I might have gone with the rose hip creme brulee or other, lighter-sounding citrus desserts because the chocolate was a bit rich and substantial. The plate included a couple of ice creams (praline and salted caramel), a little chocolate cake with warm blueberry compote, and a creative take on s'mores with some hibiscus jelly.
To wrap up the evening we were given some comped glasses of champagne which was unexpected and very thoughtful. I will never be able to afford going there myself (thank you, very generous date!) but I would definitely consider going back for a very special occasion and will recommend it to anyone looking for a fancy, excellent night out. -
Review from John M.
Sammamish, WA
7/19/2011
Our daughters gave us a certificate for Crush to celebrate our 38th anniversary. What a special place! Each course was perfection and the wine list is very well balanced. Service was warm and professional.
Clearly one of the top restaurants in Seattle! -
Review from Brandon S.
Seattle, WA
8/15/2011
I was compelled by dining at Crush this past Saturday to open a Yelp account and put a review out there. This restaurant has a reputation for excellence as I'm sure you can see. However, what my Fiancée and I experienced was so under-par I thought it would be important for others seeking this level of dining to know.
The short version is: the food was generally terrific, some dishes were seasoned unevenly but plating, quality, and taste exuded the confidence and knowledge you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber. The service was abysmal and the seating, while visually impressive, would have been uncomfortable for 30 minutes let alone 3 hours. I would expect near flawless service but the staff bumbled around the dining room delivering our courses at an incredibly uneven pace, often times delivering plates separately and pouring wine courses as late as 10 minutes after the plates arrived or 15 minutes early (in one case). They completely forgot about a request for more bread and at one point stood at the table while I finished eating, to remove the plate.
I've heard from many people that Crush would be on Michelin's short list if they ever reviewed Seattle - I would disagree and be surprised if even a nod was written. Food alone doesn't make a dining experience and at this level of the game, the front of house and the kitchen need to be in perfect harmony. Our experience showed a major disconnect and it looks like a few recent reviews felt the same pain. Good service is nearly impossible to come by in Seattle and we were disappointed to run into it at Crush.
The details, if you care to read it: we were seated on time, poured water, and left with the menus to begin the evening. Nearly 20 minutes later our cocktail orders were taken and delivered shortly after. The drinks were smartly crafted with great balance. About 15 minutes later our server returned and we ordered the seasonal tasting menu and reserve wine paring. 35 minutes into dinner and we had a cocktail, placed the dinner order, and had nothing else on the table - we noted others were being served bread. 30 minutes later our first wine paring was poured with nothing else on the table. About 10 minutes later our first course was delivered, along with the bread. This means our first hour netted a cocktail. The lack of an amuse-bouche or any other item on the table was sorely missed.
It was 35 minutes before the next course arrived...too much time. We had also asked for more bread, which was forgotten and not delivered until after the 3rd course. The wine was poured 5 minutes after the plates came. A bit less than 10 minutes later my Fiancée's plates were cleared and I was left with a last bite. The server stood at the table while I finished this and even let me know that "the next course will be here in a couple minutes so.....". I was shocked. Never in my entire life, at a coursed dinner, has a server lorded over a table and ask me to eat faster. He wasn't joking though, the next course arrived minutes later, with no wine. The pacing for the rest of the night was much better and quite consistent. The wine was poured all over the map for the rest of the evening and to our surprise, the server didn't know anything about the wine being poured. "This is a California red" and when asked the winery, she had to read it off the bottle and couldn't describe its characteristics, or even why it's a good paring. Same situation with the food - a beautifully plated course with a variety of delicious looking ingredients and we'd hear about the main item but none of the components much less a description of the preparation. This was extremely disappointing.
The coup de grace was, when the bill arrived, being charged 5 dollars for the extra bread course. That is, very nearly, one of the tackiest things I've ever run into in a restaurant. Frankly, it's unforgivable and classless and as the service and front-of-house staff surprised me at every course, this was certainly the most memorable of the night.
If you are less sensitive to service, then I would certainly recommend Crush as the food was tremendous. If you are looking for "one of the top dining experiences in Seattle"...look elsewhere. -
Review from Caesar R.
Brooklyn, NY
2/16/2011
Truly a great way to end the day of never ending eating! Crush...you crushed it when it comes to innovative fine dining in a sleek modern setting in a cozy home. The place is really about focusing you on the food since everything is white, you are forced to focus on the food. Speaking as a jaded NYer...Seattlites...enjoy this rare gem of a restaurant.
The wife and I had changed our reservations 3 times, but the adorable host was so accommodating and welcoming and just plain happy to see us. She allowed us to take an open table right as we walked in at 5:30 instead of our 8:30 reso. Thank you, you Angel, since we were both feeling the effects of jet lag.
They have a great cocktail list and some good wine selections by the glass. I got some cocktail that was made with chocolate bitters, yellow chartruese, bourbon and chocolate shavings. Pretty darn tasty. My wife got the white Burgundy by the glass which was delicious as well.
Their bread service was unique and tasty. They had gogueres, a special herb bread and a little prezle roll. All served with butter.
Then we shared the grilled octopus and the hamachi appetizers. Both awesome! The girlled octopus came with home made pork rinds and a delicious sauce. The hamachi was light and served with celery 3 ways and a sauce I can't remember. If you like either of these items, they are an amazing exmpale of how to stimulate the senses while eating.
Then for our main dishes we shared: Thshort ribs with a pea reduction, yukon gold puree and an amazing sauce made from the braising liquid. And the Alaskan black cod (Sable fish) with a sun choke pure and ox tail ragu. Both were delicious. Just delicious.
We didn't stay for dessert as we had so much food already that day. The service is so nice and added that special touch . Looking for a great dinner, don't be afraid of this welcoming spot. -
Review from Minty O.
My friend and I took a trip to Seattle to basically EAT!
Crush was our destination for my friend's birthday dinner. We sat at the bar and watched all the kitchen action.
The kitchen was abuzz with an air of high-energy and efficiency. The chefs were young, fun and meticulous with their plating.
The server/bartender was very formal yet fun. He indulged our mood, which was excitement and curiosity, with information and tastings.
We ordered the tasting menu with the foie gras and wagyu beef. The meal was fantastic, every plate different, decadent and absolutely delicious (except for the palate cleanser: douglas fir sorbet...imagine running in the forest and getting clotheslined in the mouth by a Christmas tree).
I don't know which dish was my favorite: from the amuse-bouche to the oyster/hamachi to the halibut to the gnocchi, foie gras, wagyu, desserts? I guess I'll have to say all of the above?
All in all, I definitely recommend this place and I hope that we can someday return here for another fabulous meal. -
Review from Maggie B.
Seattle, WA
1/25/2011
I've been wanting to go to Crush for a long time, and last Friday, I finally got the chance. My boyfriend and I got a lovely table for two and each selected the tasting menu, figuring we might as well go for it. I knew it would be expensive, but I don't mind blowing my load on an amazing meal I'll remember forever.
Instead, we got a meal I'd rather forget. Our drinks arrived a half-hour late. Some dishes were better than others, but most were bland and arrived lukewarm. I couldn't finish my main course -- not because I was too full, but because I was queasy from the cold, SPAM-like rabbit medallions on my plate.
I understand that this a James Beard-award winning restaurant, and that it's well-loved by many. I also understand that the kitchen needs to work with what's seasonally available and continue to try new things to stay innovative and relevant. But the bottom line is that if I'm going to pay a few hundred bones for dinner, it better blow my skirt up, no matter what.
Wouldn't recommend it. -
Review from Susan L.
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was in Seattle before leaving for an Alaskan Cruise, but spent a few days in Seattle before the cruise to visit with my niece that lives there. I had told my niece to pick a restaurant to go to. Her foodie friends recomended Crush. It was an excellant choice. We did the tasting menu and the wine pairing. Which was wonderfull, but the regular menu looked great too. I had seen some reviews complaining about the service, but the Friday night we were there the service was fantastic. The night we were there was nice enough, we could eat in the patio outside, which is a beautiful setting. I would highly recommend this and it is close to downtown in Capital Hill so easy to get to from downtown.
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Review from Wesley C.
11/30/2010
Crush. This is way overdue. Sure, your food may be great (4.5/5), but your service does not match your food by any means.
Lemme break it down.
Party of 7, reservation for 7pm on a Friday night. CC required for reservation. Okay.
Service - 1/5
We arrive and are seated promptly, really, there aren't many people there dining.
When our server comes, she tells us rather brashly that because our party is so large, we will all need to order the 6-course tasting, so as to not "overwhelm the kitchen." Although I was planning on doing this anyway (as well as 3 others in our group), 3 were not. She simply walked away and didn't take any questions.
We murmured among ourselves, what we should do - should we walk out? but they have our CC number? Should we ask to speak with the manager? How come nobody told us this before? Did we miss it on the website? Anybody w/ a smartphone to look it up?
In the end, we figured we had our reservation and it was too late to just go somewhere else. so we stayed.
When our waitress came back, we asked if we heard correctly - that everybody in the party would have to get the tasting, and she said correct. However, we had some particular issues with that, because 2 of the items had pork, and another 2 items had either raw fish or strong seafood scents. 1 of our party doesn't eat pork, and the other doesn't like seafood.
Although she previously said that she didn't want to "overwhelm the kitchen" - with somewhat of an attitude to begin with - she tried to say that it wouldn't be a problem to adjust the menu for people in our party with "food allergies or food aversions." Okay - so seriously? You'll change 4 items out of the 6 for our tasting menu but 3 people in our party can't simply just order off the menu? Seriously?
Anyway - enough of the service. You get the picture (and other reviewers seem to suggest the same).
Plateware/Setting - 1/5
My first spoon had some type of crust resembling food. Please wash your utensils clean.
Also, another dish came out, with the underside of the plate also having some crusty, hard residue - not just for me, but for my friend sitting next to me as well. Please wash your plates clean.
That is just unacceptable.
Food - 4.5/5
Okay James Beard Award winning chef. The kitchen gets it done. I don't have enough words to describe all 6 courses, but the food was excellent. Also, the wine pairing was very good for the courses as well.
Accessability - 2/5
Well, for being as "nice" as a restaurant as it is advertised to be, unfortunately, the fact that it essentially is a "restaurant" in a house, limits its accessability. We happened to have a person in a wheelchair in our party with us, and there was no convenient parking lot dedicated to the restaurant, and we ended up parking in a garage a couple blocks away and wheeling through the rain just to get to the restaurant. There are a couple of street parking spaces available right in front, but good luck nabbing one of those. Also, the bathrooms were a tight squeeze for our friend in the chair - and he's as mobile as they get in a chair.
Facilities - 3/5
Although the dining areas are nicely done, the bathrooms are unfortunately a little less than expected. There was one bathroom where the light fixture was actually hanging by the wires. Hope that's fixed soon.
Overall 2/5
Seriously. For 7 of us, we dropped $1000. They need to pick up the quality of service to match the food quality if they hope to retain any customers. -
Review from Danielle S.
Kirkland, WA
6/3/2011
Each dining experience at Crush is an occasion I look forward to and find my expectations are exceeded each visit. The cuisine is always based on the freshest ingredients available. Each entree is well composed and thought out, always paired with the most creative and complementary accompaniments.
The wines offered are some of the finest available, ranging from well-known favorites to specialty wines that are difficult to find. I enjoy asking the sommelier for new recommendations. After years of dining at Crush I recently tried a cocktail which the bartender had created from scratch, I was astonished with the quality and creativity.
I can't wait to return and share my favorite restaurant with friends!
Remember to call for reservations -
Review from Vanetta W.
San Jose, CA
9/26/2011 Seated via OpenTable
The short-ribs are to die for! Melt-in-your mouth yummy.
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Review from Tammy C.
Palm Desert, CA
9/14/2011
My date took me here while we were vacationing in Seattle and gulp...another wonderful culinary experience. I think our dinner for two came to over 300 dollars! It was a wonderful dining experience, the wine paired with our fish was outstanding. Excellent service, thank you!!
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Review from Jamie J.
10/29/2010
Crush is bringing back good American Cuisine. Go overseas and people laugh at the thought of American food (thank you, Mcdonalds). Come to Crush and you will be presented with an educating experience!
First of all, let me just say, the service was IMPECCABLE. Every time I used a piece of silverware, we got a whole new set. Nice. Maybe 5 different people filled my water throughout the night. Nicer. On top of that - attention to detail, folks - they make sure you have a full set of silverware, and table's cleaned before they put your plates down. They value their customers to the fullest - their attention to detail, descriptions of what you're eating, and friendliness was really amazing.
I love that the kitchen is in front of the house. Having seen Jason, the head chef, right as I walked in caused a little celebrity moment for me. Ok, the guy won Food & Wine Magazine, "best new chef." Come on now, that kind of makes him a celebrity. The decor and the coziness makes you want to stay all night. With the food they put out, you will stay all night!
First course: Pork Belly - melt in your mouth, close your eyes, heaven awaits.
Second course: Mushroom Gnocchi - hearty, classic, rich.
Dessert: Must try the beignets. Little fried pillows with marscapone? Yes, it exists.
Holy Cow ya'll, this is real food... real good... and real american. Back up Europe.
Rachel Ray's "Tasty Travels" deserves full credit for this pick! EAT big or go home, folks.Listed in: The Spotlight - As seen on TV, Reign of the Pork Belly
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Review from Sherah S.
Seattle, WA
2/6/2011
For our 2-year anniversary, I reserved a table for my boyfriend and I (online), noting that we were celebrating this occasion. To my delight, Crush really went out of their way to make it special for us. When we arrived, the hostess congratulated us (my!), and once sat, our server set a couple of glasses of champagne, on the house, in front of us. She wished us a happy anniversary, and we felt all special and cool and stuff.
The food was great! We had a cheese plate, the gnocchi appetizer, I had the pheasant, and the Bordello I had with my meal was perfect. I don't really have much to add. All was good, and of excellent quality. Worth the $$$.
The dessert was pretty special, even though I didn't really love it. We ordered the eggnog custard (this was the end of December), and it was too spiced for my liking. However, the "Happy Aniversary" written in chocolate ganache on our plate was so sickeningly awesome that I didn't care. I was full anyway.
A very good choice for romantic dinner, especially an anniversary. Would do again. -
Review from Mark S.
Issaquah, WA
Updated - 5/10/2011
Went back with friends on Saturday 5/7. Food still excellent. But the service again very inconsistent. In particular, the wine director really should consider if this is what she wants to be doing. I wont go into details because that's just mean, but I do think the restaurant should help her be better at her job - for example by not asking her to also be a a waitress. And perhaps learning what decanting means.
Won't be back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/23/2011
Excellent food - short ribs, pheasant were amazing mains. Wagyu tartare and fois gras fantastic… Read more »
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Review from Anya Z.
Seattle, WA
9/18/2011
Crush is a house that has been converted into a beautiful, vibrant restaurant. When you walk in it's very inviting and warm. The food was great and the service as well, but be prepared to take your time! The only negative was that it took a long time to get each entree and then the bill. We were there for 2 hours! If you're there with a group of friends then this wouldn't be an issue because of group conversations etc. However, this was not a positive for us. Overall, good experience but would probably only go back in a group capacity.
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Review from Helen D.
San Francisco, CA
10/7/2010
One of my friends is an extreme foodie and he has exposed me to Seattle's finest restaurants. So when he said he was super-excited about going to Crush, my expectations were high!
The staff was unusually bombastic, and for no good reason.
I like the idea of a restaurant being set up in a house (like Tilth has mastered in Fremont), but this one was not warm and inviting, but cold and sterile (i.e. the chairs were hard and plastic).
The food was good (especially a Double Chocolate Stout Caramel Tart, with sea salt - wow), but not deserving of the price tag assigned to it. I spend a lot of money on food, but this was ridiculous.
Overall, not worth it. Would recommend another restaurant over this one any day. -
Review from Austen H.
Seattle, WA
2/17/2011
I am emotional about the experience I had a crush tonight. I made a reservation for 6:15, with the intent of celebrating a belated Valentines Day with my Fiancée. Traffic was obviously terrible, and when i called to let them know that we may be late, the host was such a gentleman, and reassured me that our table would be held. Upon arrival, the host brought us two glasses of champagne (per my online reservation request), and the service was amazing from that point on.
A note to everyone: This is how dining out should be experienced. The service was remarkable, the food gorgeous and delicious, and overall, this place is a true Seattle treasure.
A very sincere thank you to our server and the rest of the staff at Crush. You made our (belated) Valentines day so special.
