First and best find during the home-buying process: our real-estate agent, Eva, who came recommended from another couple. Most recent example of her fabulousness: cheese and wine at her place, then dinner at Stumbling Goat with that helpful couple who recommended her to us, in celebration of all our fabulous new north Seattle houses.
Stumbling Goat is well-established as a cozy but fairly high-end Seattle neighborhood place. Organic, local, seasonal ingredients with unpretentious preparations. They underwent a recent change of owners and some staff, but kept it within the Seattle restaurant family: the old chef went to a new place, and the new chef came from some old places, and our server (who's been at Stumbling Goat since the previous owners), told us all about the changes without any hint at major shifts in the restaurant's focus. The lighting was flattering, the decor was clean and warm, and the view into the kitchen showed a happy family of chef, cooks, and other staff.
And dinner was excellent -- not just because it was free or accompanied by bottles of wine. The tiny menu doesn't offer much variety (a few proteins accompanied by a little starch or vegetable), but I loved everything. Wild-boar "rillettes" (a word I've never heard before but apparently means tasty spreadable meat) was surprisingly delicious. Another appetizer of fig and arugula pizza was not complex, but anything with a delicious fig and a bit of cheese is pretty near perfect. My seared salmon with crispy skin came served over sweet -- almost syrupy --roasted beets (I rarely turn down a roasted beet). Brian had a pork porterhouse, which he refused to share even a bite of, but I heard was pretty great. And for dessert, Bailey's bread pudding, which I would probably eat by the pound if I had any idea how to make such a deliciously creamy thing out of bread and liquor.
The friendly staff was sweeping the floor and stacking the chairs when we left at midnight. Prices ($20-25 entrees) were too much for frequent dining, but I would happily go back for my next special occasion. Maybe in celebration of ... Monday? Who wants wild boar, anyone?
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