An old favorite: Boat Street Kitchen (Cafe).
It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been to this little jewel but my first experience was when it was in the U District….the Cafe. It’s always been a unique experience. I think it’s best described as New French….expect French cuisine with a twist. They also offer cooking classes from time to time.
The restaurant is basically in a basement in lower Queen Anne but the dining area is very open so if it’s sunny there is plenty of light…and on a really nice day the alfresco area is quite lovely….almost garden like. On weekdays they only serve brunch/lunch from 10:30 to 2:30. Dinner is only served on Friday and Saturday nights.
We had lunch this visit and started with the tomato bisque…tart with a bit of creaminess. This was followed by the smoked trout…nicely done with a light side of greens and a bit of horseradish. The main plate was braised pork shoulder served on a bed of Moroccan couscous…currants added a mild sweetness, a side of harissa roasted carrots and very nice mixed green salad. What made the dish was the North African Chili sauce….very flavorful but not spicy. Wine was a very light vin de pays Rhône Rosé of Tempranillo, Grenache and Cinsault.
Dessert was vanilla ice cream (not house made) topped with strawberries…described as balsamic preserves but the taste was not what one would think of based on the description.
Service was very good.
