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Sitka & Spruce
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
1531 Melrose Ave ESte 6
(between Minor Ave & Pine St)
Seattle, WA 98122
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
(206) 324-0662
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Tue-Thu 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Classy, Trendy, Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
215 reviews for Sitka & Spruce
Review Highlights
"But most small plates are enough to share."
(in 21 reviews)
"The menu changes daily, but here's what we had."
(in 8 reviews)
"...if you sit at the communal table you can watch the chefs..."
(in 13 reviews)
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215 reviews in English
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Review from yekta a.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!
This was such an amazing place to go, the food was super delicious and super fresh.
But, you have to have to have to make reservations as they don't have a lot of tables, literally.
This is a cozy & intimiate place you will find on top of Still Bar and inside the Melrose Market building.
Make reservations and enjoy! The best part, they change their menu everyday for lunch + dinner, what a brilliant concept! -
Review from Jenny R.
Lexington, KY
1/9/2012
I'm surprised that others have rated Sitka & Spruce so low on Yelp, though I can identify with some of the comments. The first thing I'll say is that the dishes are *delicious*. For lunch, we had smoked trout, pickled sardines, chicken and lentils. Everything was just perfect.
The restaurant is small, and it's hidden away inside the market. That didn't bother me, though we had a hard time finding it initially. We were visiting Seattle with our kids, who are quite young. I realize that children are informally "banned" from fine dining establishments, but we think it's important for them to get an education in food. We take them everywhere. That seemed to annoy the server to no end, and she was quite unfriendly. This won't matter to most of you, but I found it obnoxious.
We were a little disappointed at the lack of pork-free dishes on the menu. Again, most people won't care. But we don't eat pork, so that really puts a dent in our ordering plans.
But, if I was to suggest a list of places in Seattle to a friend, I'd put this on the list. So take that for what it's worth. -
Review from David P.
Seattle, WA
12/15/2011
The "waitstaff" is so bad I laughed. When we arrived, the waitress/hostess just stared at me like I was interrupting her morning. I had reservations, which confused her so badly she had to consult with the other wait person. It was Sunday brunch, and fairly quiet. We sat & asked our waiter what he recommended, and he listed everything on the menu. Come on! Pick one or two.
Most of the food was fabulous; interesting, beautiful, & well prepared. The scone was nicely browned, but did lack currants, which I think are essential. Smoked trout-- excellent.
Except for the OJ which was horrid--thin, bland, flavorless. Do not serve crap!
And would it kill you to do a sandwich board, sign, or something to announce your presence?
Finally, took forever to get a check & settle it. Train your waitstaff for heaven's sake! And expect them to do a whole lot better -
Review from Yen D.
Seattle, WA
12/14/2011
I went to Sitka and Spruce because it was on tripadvisor's top 20 restaurants and in the Seattle Met magazine.
First of all, there is no sign from the outside to let you know where it is.. it's inside the Melrose market in the back so it took my friend a while to find it. Ambience is very homey, open kitchen where you can watch the cooks by just turning around right behind you if you're in the communal table. There are two choices to sit in the bar like area next to the wall or communal, we got the bar like area since that was the only one available. Their menu changes every day/week so here's what we had.
We ordered the
1) smelt--wasn't fishy or overly salty, but just simple with some citrus and a bit of sweetness to it. Wasn't amazing.
2) half dungeness crab cooked in the fireplace with some spices with a cooked potato.. honestly it just tasted like a boiled dungeness crab probably because it wasn't marinated long enough. Didn't feel like it was worth the $29
3) roasted guinea fowl with sorrel. The fowl was moist, but didn't care much for the sorrel combo.
4) got the bay leaf/quince ice cream on a ginger cookie. Very delicate flavor. Thought it was very nice, but found it hard to cut the cookie with a spoon. I would definitely order this again.
With our check, we got some housemade salted caramels. Definitely a plus.
Would I come here again? Sure, if I hear something on their menu is excellent.
They only take reservations if you have 6 or more people in your group. -
Review from Talbot S.
Seattle, WA
12/15/2011
So, I guess on a number of things in which you should be making it clear that I thought the food was very good.
But nothing else can carry the restaurant.
Confirmed reservations for 5 people at 8. We were sat at 9.
The small menu kept its descriptions vague and brief. (It supposedly changes weekly, so maybe I just didn't like what I saw).
The server was pretty indifferent and not extremely knowledgeable about the menu.
The space we were sat was cramped for a 6 person table, and navigating with sharing dishes was difficult.
The portion sizes were tiny for the amount that was being paid ($15 for a few ounces of chantrelle mushrooms and gravy).
So, 1 star for the food tasting good (despite pretty much every dish coming with mushrooms, which I found kind of strange).
2 for the price of the wines being reasonable (or so I'm told, I don't really drink wines).
3 for the caramels which the bring to you with the check (yes they were that good). -
Review from Lauren B.
1/9/2012
Went for brunch. The ambience is great - very airy and sort of farm chic - but the food was a mixed bag. The buttermilk scone was delicious and the ful medames was good, but the hot Blue Bird Grains cereal had a very unexpected and unusual flavor/texture which I did not enjoy and the service was slow. Not my favorite for the price.
-
Review from Molly B.
Anchorage, AK
1/8/2012 2 photos
One of the highlights of my long weekend trip to Seattle was having lunch at Sitka & Spruce. After reading the reviews here, I knew I wanted to take the time to go there. All the dinner reservations were booked so I snagged a reservation for lunch. t wasn't exactly what I expected it was going to be. I was expecting something a little more formal in a stand-alone building and thought it would perhaps be a little snooty. But instead it's nice and casual, the service was really good, it was tucked away in the back of a market with lots of other interesting shops and restaurants. Everything we ordered was top-notch - simple, healthy ingredients served up in a fresh and inventive way. I think if I had a restaurant I'd want it to be just like this.
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Review from Felicia C.
Seattle, WA
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great if you have an reasonably adventurous palate and are in the mood for some tasty bites.
-
Review from devin g.
Santa Monica, CA
1/13/2012
So damn good. The menu changes weekly. All plates are tapas and very shareable
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Review from Derek S.
Seattle, WA
11/19/2011 4 Check-ins Here
We went to Sitka and Spruce based off a recommendation from a friend. Our initial impressions were that we enjoyed its interior design and open layout within a converted warehouse space shared with other cute shops. Second impressions confirmed our first -- great light, laid back atmosphere and wonderful food, making it one of our favorite places to come for brunch. The format is "small plates" and the menu changes constantly. The set-up is very much like being seated at the chef's table where, depending on where you sit, you can see the food preparation in action. The service is friendly and relaxed.
One word of warning for anyone who may be allergic to hazelnuts -- this place has an unnatural obsession with hazlenuts. -
Review from Jill L.
Redmond, WA
1/9/2012
Go on Monday. It's Taco Night & it's delish!!
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Review from Blake B.
10/30/2011
A client of mine recommended Sitka & Spruce when I was visiting Seattle and I had a great experience here. The building alone that it is in is great and has a few other stores that looked enticing as well. We went on a Monday night which is Malafacha night.
The plates are relatively small but oh so tasty. Having a michelada to start off was perfect. We also had the quesos fundidos which I could have made a meal of by itself. Then we split the cochinita pibil and carne asada tacos. The pibil had a great habanero flavor but not too strong.
The servers were super nice but definitely a little slow as we tried to get their attention multiple times to pay the bill or get more food. I'd also recommend sitting at one of the tables versus the on the back bar if you can.
I'm curious to come back on another night other than Monday to see how the rest of their food is as I've heard it's really good too. -
Review from Jeff R.
Lexington, KY
1/6/2012
Expensive, but very good small plates place. Sardines, smoked trout, and chicken and lentil salad for lunch. All very tasty. No highchairs for kids. No beer list (in Seattle??? Why not some local beers on tap or bottle?). Still, well worth a visit.
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Review from Dustin J.
Seattle, WA
11/19/2011
Sitka is amazing. I'd suggest going with someone, ordering a few things and sharing. And don't pay attention to any preconceived feelings you might have about the ingredients on the menu... I've quickly realized that the dishes I read and say "I've had (blank) before and hated it" or "ugh, I can't stomach the taste of (blank)" are usually my favorites at the end of the meal. Matt is a true artist - he's got the most remarkable way of combining flavors you'd never think to mix and making them into complex, rich and savory dishes. His food is an experience... Plain and simple. I love the open air feel of Melrose Market and the community table in Sitka. You meet fun people, can watch the kitchen make your food.
I'm not sure what some of the reviews are saying about taco night... I've been several times and each time is amazing. Plus it's not that expensive and it's incredibly filling. I'd recommend taco night to anyone - and I usually can't get enough of their homemade guacamole and chips - WOW!
Oh, and ALWAYS try the gato-basque (spelled wrong I'm sure) for desert - especially if there is a berry topping! -
Review from Min P.
Seattle, WA
12/21/2011
Food was good but not amazing. Menu is fine but lacking in ambition. Ambience was fine but a bit cold. Service was slow and even worse, snooty. Practically had to wave arms to get the waitress to come to us. What's with the air of pretentiousness? There are plenty of other restaurants that emphasize fresh, seasonal local food in Seattle so if they want to be recognized as exceptional they will need to up their game. Overall not worth a repeat visit.
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Review from Alison W.
San Francisco, CA
10/9/2011
It gets 1 star because it looks like a nice place.
We were a party of 8 and we were seated at 9:45pm our first course didnt arrive until 10:30. The service is less to be desired. I wouldn't come back . I found a curly hair in my salad. The waitress didn't even care. Took my plate and didn't even get me a new plate until I asked for one. The portions were bite sizes and for the price... I think there are better restaurants out there.
look for something better!! -
Review from Emily W.
Seattle, WA
10/1/2011
Despite watching famous M.D. peruse the selection of ladies at the Market rather than have a hand in making my meal, the food was wonderfully unique and service warm and personal.
M.D. is a genious... we tasted each dish in it's separate and together parts... Oh the surprising lemon zest in one dish, a walnut surfacing in another, and the smokey/vinegar/earthy/sweet/nutty/creamy effortlessly accomplished (and balanced perfectly) in our entree left me.. left me... well just sitting there in awe as I sipped the spicy Barberra our sweet blue-bloused waitress chose for us. Everything was beautiful and delectable and I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Oliver S.
8/28/2011 3 photos
We didn't recognize half the ingredients on the menu and we ended up being pleasantly surprised.
The plates were deceiving small, but we were filled after ordering two main dishes and a side dish (see pictures). the waiter suggested we share what we ordered, family style, and it was a good way to experience a lot of what the place had to offer.
In terms of atmosphere, it was like I was eating in someone's kitchen with other people. We were seated right next to the kitchen, which gave us a great view of all the cooking action. I felt right at home...with 15 other people.
For brunch, the place was moderately priced, prices a tier above the average brunch locations. That was okay for us though because the atmosphere and food made up for it.
We definitely plan to come here again. Maybe for dinner next time. -
Review from Anke B.
Irvine, CA
1/11/2012
Sitca & Spruce is an aesthetically pleasing place in a mall reminiscent of San Francisco's Embarcadero (though much, much smaller). The space is beautiful, and the food quite tasty. However, a few things seriously detracted from my experience at lunch there.
* I don't mind small plates, but the amount of smoked trout was ridiculously small - maybe three to four bites. For $14, I would expect more.
* The menu is not informative, and the wait staff didn't help.
* Not much in terms of vegetarian dishes, other than salad.
* Service was spotty. The waiter seemed uninterested and somewhat blasé about our questions. Plus, they didn't manage to serve three people at the same time so that two of us were sitting and staring at our food for 10 minutes.
Overall, I don't think I'd go back. There are many, many good places to eat in Seattle, and in order to be really great, you just have to do better. Hip is one thing, caring about what you serve and your customers quite another. -
Review from Mario G.
Santa Barbara, CA
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sitka & Spruce was a great find. The menu is actually somewhat deceiving, as I personally had never heard of some of what was on the menu. But, i can tell you, whatever you get at Sitka & Spruce, it's going to be good.
The place is situated at the back of Melrose Market. It's a family style restaurant, meaning that the plates are meant to be shared. Definitely choose to share a few plates, it's the best way to get the most of the menu.
There is a long counter that is in the middle of the restaurant that seats around a dozen people, and maybe half-a-dozen tables otherwise. The kitchen shares the floor with the patrons, and it's an awesome sight to see your food prepared while you wait. However, keep in mind, the restaurant is tiny. I tried to come here for dinner and there was an hour-and-a-half wait. My recommendation is to come right when this place opens at 11:30. No wait and great food right away. -
Review from Theodore S.
Seattle, WA
10/26/2011
The food gets five stars, no question. It was great! It's the type of place where you are supposed to order a few plates. Very small and intimate, which is a good thing except...
I'm giving them 3 stars for service. I didn't have a reservation but called ahead. They said we could get a table for 4 if we arrived right at 5:30 when they opened. So we did - and were seated at a cramped bar with the sun directly in our faces and a curtain blowing at us for the first 45 minutes of the meal.
I would recommend going, but make sure you get that reservation and a real table! -
Review from tiara a.
Tacoma, WA
1/17/2012
My sister was in town from the east coast and found this place on chow-hound. Im from Tacoma and always go to yelp for a place to eat when I venture up north to Seattle. My sister is a conissuer of good food and cafes and she did not fail me! We both ABSOLUTELY loved Sitka & Spruce! We went there for weekend brunch and ordered about 4 or 5 small plates, all of it was divine. The winter legumes were kind of weird, we didnt realise that it was going to be a blended -as in food processor/blender kind of plate, but she was able to eat it with their yummy bread- and was happy with it, but wont order it again. She couldnt stop raving about the sardines, which I opted out of having, I'm more of a bread-y, oatmeal, fruity person so those are the plates I chose. And we were amazed by their delicious chamomile ROSE tea, it was one of the best teas we'd ever had, we even came away with a purchase of it. Their menu selection is not large but we ordered half the menu and left happy and talking about how great it was. I can't wait to go their for a late meal because that menu looked good as well! Will absolutely go back.
p.s. i loved that they played johnny cash and elton john for the first few song selections, they get 5 stars for their music choice, oh and and our waiter was REALLY great and helpful. -
Review from Heather B.
Seattle, WA
7/27/2011
I had really high hopes for Sitka and Spruce after reading some pretty great reviews on here and in some foodie magazines. I was especially excited about Taco Mondays because, let's face it, Seattle is not world-famous for its inventive mexican faire. Unfortunately, every aspect of the experience was abysmal (to steal Asela's word).
First off, two of us arrived at 6:45 pm expecting a wait for a table. We were told 30-40 minutes, which was fine. However, an hour rolled around, then an hour and fifteen minutes, and still nothing. Beware, it is a small restaurant and, having been a hostess, I know it's difficult to predict how long guests will linger. 1 1/2 hours after putting our name on the list and following up multiple times, we were seated. Finally. Needless to say I was excited and hungry and hoped the wait wasn't a harbinger of what was to come...
But it was. The server was extremely rude (petite, dirty blond hair, late 20s) . It took 10 minutes to get menus, and an extra 5 minutes to get water. Once she finally returned to our table, we ordered only to find out they'd run out of some of the main dishes we came to try (suadero, mushroom tacos). The server was very rude about this and condescending. In total over the course of the meal, she said less than 20 words to us. Definitely not the service I was expecting after 1 1/2 hours of waiting and considering the price of the meal.
We order chips and avocados, carne asada tacos, and carnitas as these were some of the only items they had by 8:30pm. Honestly, the guacamole was the best part of the experience, as well as the fresh salsa on the tacos. My 3 tacos came full of meat, while my boyfriend's had a very small amount (less than a tablespoon on each). I've gotten much better tacos from trucks and hole in the wall restaurants. I was so disappointed and I actually left the restaurant nearly as hungry as when I was finally seated.
All in all, I would never return to this restaurant for Taco Mondays and, based on the rudeness of the servers, I don't think I'll return for the regular menu. My suggestion to S&S is to have at least 2 additional staff members on hand in the future to avoid turning off potential repeat customers. -
Review from Alice B.
9/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I don't remember the names of the plates I had, but they were incredible! I stopped by for a late lunch by myself since I couldn't wait for someone to come with me.
This place was hidden in the back of the market, and other than the menu in the window with Sitka and Spruce on top, I wasn't sure I had the right place. The cheeses with pickled cherries were fantastic. I also had this tomato and wild mushroom dish that was amazing. I should have asked for the smaller size as it was quite rich, but I didn't want any to go to waste.
Next time, I'll bring other people along so I can sample more plates. I think it was somewhat pricey for lunch though, as I spent close to $25. -
Review from Nicole S.
Seattle, WA
11/16/2011
Honestly, I don't know what the big deal is with this restaurant. A group of four of us went for Monday night taco night. Ok, they should just forget about taco night. There are many places you can get cheap, good tacos on Capitol Hill. Sitka and Spruce is not cheap, and the tacos were not good. Zero flavor. Surprising, considering their origin. Also, the service was slow, and even though taco night only consists of about 6 things on their menu, they ran out of a couple of them, including one of their two kinds of beer that night. We got there at 8:00pm. What the hell.
-
Review from Paul H.
Middleton, WI
8/7/2011
My wife and I recently spent two nights in Seattle on the way to a hiking vacation on the Peninsula. Trying to acclimate to the wonderful weather in Seattle compared to our humid drought conditions in Houston, we ventured out for a lovely evening. I made a reservation at another food establishment based on reviews. But after walking by the place in the center of touristy fare during a 10-mile urban hike around downtown Seattle, I made a quick change to Sitka and Spruce. What a great decision.
With no reservation, this very small venue still made room for us. Very casual, laid-back demeanor of the waiter set us at ease. Choice, though small, wine selection. We looked over the menu and made selections. When we ordered, waiter opined we had ordered too much food and suggested we might consider splitting items. Seriously, a waiter saving us money?
We took his advice. We split an ample order of steamed king salmon w grilled cucumber, purslane. Beet greens with preserved lemon (fantastic!), anchovies with sea beans (say what?), and a perfectly done green goddess salad.
All incredibly fresh, unique combinations and exposing two foodies to some new choices...
One of the most delightful dining experiences...and we weren't stuffed...price was a pleasant surprise. Waiter was outstanding.
Definitely returning every time I'm in Seattle...for business 3-4 times a year. -
Review from Asela G.
Seattle, WA
7/12/2011
Hurts me to say it, since I really used to like this place, but the condescending, abysmal service means that I won't be back.
We called for a reservation for their Monday night taco night, and were told it was walk-in only, so we arrive at 8 pm (they're open 5:30-9:30 Mondays). We got on the list, and were told it would be 40-45 min, so we got a drink at the nearby Bar Ferdinand. At 8:40, we were told it would be 10-15 min more. And again at 9. We were finally seated at 9:20.
Waitress comes up, and proceeds to tell us that they were out of over half the tacos listed on the menu, the beer, and the agua fresca. She proceeded to tell us that this is pretty normal for this time of night, and we really should come in earlier if we wanted the full menu. Of course, there was no mention of running out of half their menu as they strung us along for an hour and a half, selling us drinks at their (very nice) sister bar. Besides, she says, "Monday's our crazy Malafacha night, anything can happen," and proceeds to tell us we should hurry up and order before they run out of everything else. I didn't realize that I shouldn't expect food at a restaurant.
The tacos we got were meh, no better than Rancho Bravo, who're way cheaper, actually have tacos, and serve them up without the heaping side of condescension. Maybe the ones they ran out of were fantastic, but it's too bad when a supposedly nice restaurant delivers a sub-fast-food experience. -
Review from Erik B.
Seattle, WA
9/24/2011
This review applies to dinner on August 24th, 2011 (Wednesday).
I've had several 5-start meals at Sitka over the last couple years, and I usually count it amongst my favorite restaurants. We took out-of-town guests there for a special occasion expecting an equally great meal.
Unfortunately, it was an off night for them and left us disappointed. The tomatoes, watermelon, and dill salad was very good, and the bread was fantastic (as always), but everything else was either "meh" or simply bad.
Pita with yogurt & garbanzo beans was fine, but nothing special. Ditto the pickled smelt. The Moroccan beef plate was bland, boring, and strange - an experiment that shouldn't have made it onto the menu. And the worst was the heinously overcooked local albacore - a shame to see such a promising piece of fish grilled to the dryness of a rice cake.
Service was great, as always, and I love the atmosphere.
Sitka has built up enough goodwill will me that I'll go back and give them another chance. Another meal like that, however, and I'll bump them down another star. I hold them to a higher standard than what they showed that night. -
Review from Sunee M.
Seattle, WA
12/9/2011
This place is tucked in the back of a little indoor market/mall, so that you can easily miss it from the street. In fact, my husband and I spent a good 15 minutes walking up and down the street in freezing cold weather because we totally missed the signage. Once we got inside and sat down we were both impressed with the hip and welcoming decor with a big open-air kitchen in the middle of the room. I loved the red door at the entrance.
The menu was not for the close-minded or picky eater, as they unabashedly incorporated offal into many of their dishes. We ordered a half-dozen small plates and shared everything. You could tell that they have some very talented people creating these innovative and seasonal menus, but I think that sometimes they got a little overzealous and the plates got too complicated and ambitious for their own good. Flavors competed with one another instead of blending, and a few of the dishes just plain didn't work out. It's not that the ingredients weren't top quality or that they weren't cooked to perfection. The problem seemed to be that the dishes had too many elements with too many disparate flavors. Overall, though, I walked away feeling that the restaurant had potential and I would be willing to go back and give it another shot (especially since their menu is supposed to change constantly). -
Review from Sarah S.
Seattle, WA
5/3/2011
Food: 4 stars
Service: 1 star
Came to Sitka & Spruce for the first time for my birthday dinner. It was a Monday night, and we heard good things about Mexican Mondays and decided to check it out. Our party was made up of Southern California natives, and still we were impressed with the food. Solid portions and authentic flavors. The halibut tacos were a particular favorite.
The service, however, nearly ruined the meal. The server who waited on us could not have had more than three tables, so there was no evident reason to be stressed. We had to request to see a drink menu, and once she came back to order drinks, she took the order of 2 of the 4 people at the table and then walked away, not asking the others if they wanted anything.
Right after, we asked for an order of guacamole and chips, to which she responded that she would take our full order once we decided what we wanted for dinner "so it would all come out together." It does not take a restaurant industry insider to comprehend that people prefer appetizers before the main course while they're still perusing the menu.
She did not come back to the table to check on us during the meal, and never asked if we wanted a second round or to order anything else. She dropped the check on the table without a word.
Although the food was delicious, poor service can sour an entire dining experience. If you do decide to go, hopefully they realize that the restaurant industry is competitive, and that good food is not the only component of a successful dining experience. -
Review from Jamie J.
5/1/2011
Talk about a charmer. Easily sits at the top of my favorites.
I came to Sitka on a typical week night - for some reason there was a bit of a wait. But, we didn't care; there is plenty to do in Melrose Market as you wait. Once we were taken to our table, I was a little shocked.
We were seated at this long island table that sits in the middle of the room and extends into the kitchen/work area. It is really cool. The odd part is, you sit next to other people. Literally next to them. And, you obviously don't know them. It sort of reminded me of an indoor French cafe; you sit next to who you sit next to - and that's that. I enjoyed the little community experience revolving around food. (Isn't that what this is all about anyway?)
It's interesting basically being involved in other people's conversations automatically. I would fill you in on the conversation of the group next to us, but it's XXX rated, and it included the word 'blow'. I admit I referenced the group next to us multiple times to talk about what they ordered, and how we needed to get some of that!
The food was impeccable. I wish I could describe what I ate, but I honestly can't. It was so new to me, which doesn't happen often. Their food is unique and thoughtfully planned. Their dish sizes are meant to shared, and more often than not, meant to be totally grazed over by your bread when all the main pieces have been grubbed. Their menu changes seasonly, at least, so looking at the menu now I don't recognize a thing. Guess that means I have to come back?
Note to the owner: I want to thank you - you offered my roommate and I free dessert because "you don't often see such young people wiling to try such foods." Folks, this genuinely made my day. So, thank you, owner!
(I believe the dessert was pumpkin and date cake? It's been a while. BUT, It was amazing!)
Service, ambiance, food, community... it's all here. Now you just have to get over there.
YUM Eats. -
Review from Emily F.
Seattle, WA
6/27/2011
This tiny and lovely restaurant is one of my (two) most favorite restaurants. (The other is La Bete.) I have been here quite a few times by now, and have loved every item I've ordered. Everything is carefully prepared and presented.
I am also quite in love with the Melrose Market, in which this resto resides. This place has everything: unnamed wine bars, a tiny sandwich shop made out of nature, and a random meat counter with dragon flank...
In short, awesome restaurant. Oh, and make a reservation before you come, or you may have to wait a while.... -
Review from Susana H.
Seattle, WA
11/21/2011
Wow..... i have to say that we where very lucky to find taco night, this are the best tacos I had in Seattle. They are a little more expensive than the ones served in a taco truck but definitely worthy the price. Portions are good size and authentic. We didn't have to wait at all to get a table and the service was great.
Definitely going back!! -
Review from Jeff F.
7/7/2011
I know it's a sin to give these guys 3 stars, but I just wasn't impressed. Tried about 6-8 different plates and overall though it was ok. A couple of plates seemed worthy of the hype, but a lot of what I ate seemed like it could only be appreciated by a really educated palette that appreciates complex food.
Can't recommend. BTW - dessert options were lame. -
Review from Sin-Yaw W.
Seattle, WA
6/2/2011
What a surprise!
This place is well hidden. First find Melrose Market, enter the building and walk toward the end of the building. There is a section divided by glass panels and that's the restaurant.
Clearly those who come care about foods and only foods. The menu is very small, only three entrees in fact. They encourage sharing so we just order them all.
Everything was carefully and artfully prepared, with oriental, probably Indian, spices. The vegetables are so well selected and fresh that was very refreshing. You don't come to this restaurant for big portions. Instead, to enjoy foods and the art of cooking.
Desserts are probably their weak point. I should have ordered "pour over" coffee which is simply french press.
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So I came back for the brunch and its scone is really really nice. Crisp on the outside, crunchy and light inside, nice currant, excellent jam on the side. It is a must have. -
Review from alyssa t.
King, WA
11/12/2011
As echoed in other reviews, the service here is very poor. It was the type of service where the server acts like you are really inconveniencing him by being there. I had been waiting a long time to come here and was really excited, so I was extremely disappointed that our server was so bad. He hardly checked on us, left our glasses empty, including wine glasses (what?!, don't servers want the wine flowing??) for at least 20 minutes, and never asked how the food was. I figured maybe the kitchen was running behind, but then our food came it was cold. I saw him chatting on his phone while we sat and waited for him to come by. I was really just confused by the whole thing. As far as the food, eh... It was okay. I don't think I will be back or recommend this place to anyone.
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Review from Jenn W.
Los Angeles, CA
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
We ordered so many things to give Sitka & Spruce plenty of chances to prove its deliciousness, but no. We came for brunch on a Sunday. The ambience was totally hipster and young (I saw many gayish dudes eating together with cuffed pants, combed hair and glasses) which is usually fine for me, but it was kind of overwhelming. The place is small but not crowded. The things I did like were:
Bread - The inside was soft and the outside was nutty. Tasty. Soft butter was really just soft butter, but with salt on the top.
Scone - BEST scone. I don't even like scones and was down to order another when we weren't full.
Water - I like how they gave you a bottle of water a the table for self-filling instead of coming around with pitchers.
The scone was the only thing I would find it worth going back for, and even then I'd probably just get it to-go.
Also, despite four of us ordering 6 things, we were still hungry afterwards and got another scone. But I still could have eaten more :(
Cost after tip was $75 for four, for brunch. -
Review from Thu C.
San Francisco, CA
4/19/2011
The vibe: very cool, inviting, communal. There's a huge open kitchen with a giant fire pit/oven. The best part is the counter, where food is prepared (NOTE: request to sit here!). It extends into a seating area so it feels as though you really are just in someone's kitchen.
The food: tacos (this Monday, at least). Yummm. Try the Suadero, beef belly, for it's traditional flavors and authenticity and the campechanos for a blend of savory, sweet and spice (a nice kick comes in at the end of every bite). -
Review from Mike U.
Issaquah, WA
5/10/2011
Probably our favorite restaurant in Seattle, and I don't say that lightly. Sikta and Spruce is a wonderfully European experience with cuisine that is decidedly Northwest. That being said, don't expect to be fawned over by the staff or be served huge & hearty portions. These are actually a pluses in my book, but some people may find it off-putting.
The new location is extremely charming, with an open kitchen, communal seating (depending on whether or not you make reservations), and modern wood decor. We've met some great people at the communal table, so we tend to opt for that over the private seating most of the time.
The menu changes quite often, so there is certainly an "omakase" feel to the dinner selections, even while ordering off the menu. Flavor combinations are imaginative and inspiring, and the dishes all feel quite light and fresh (even the "hearty" items). S&S is also one of the few places in town that has a clue how to cook fish (sad for Seattle, but true).
In terms of value, think of it as a tapas restaurant with Northwest ingredients. Most plates are definitely sized like tapas, but the quality more than makes up for the smaller portions, in my opinion. Think of it as a gastro pub, tapas bar, etc. That being said, it's not too hard to share 5 dishes for around $30 per person (alcohol excluded). Considering that this is less than half the price of many inferior tasting menus in town, I think it's a pretty good value.
My wife and I keep coming back at least once every couple of months or so to experience the change of the seasons, but we have never once been disappointed. -
Review from Evan S.
Seattle, WA
3/5/2011
Unimpressed. If the concept is family style dining, the menu needs to be cohesive, yet all the dishes (and since we're a large party we ordered one of each) came off as uninspired and gloppy. I would've killed for a decent salad and plate of fresh greens to balance out the winter mush the kitchen served up. Service was so-so and the best thing going for S&S is the dining space which felt warm and clean.
Do yourself a favor and enjoy a decent meal next door at Machiavelli and pocket the extra 100 bucks you'd drop at this pretentious joint.
