Stumbletown — Restaurant in Seattle

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Joli, a culinary gem nestled in Seattle's Stumbletown neighborhood. This restaurant is not just a place to eat; it's an experience that takes you on a journey of flavors and textures, all while making you feel right at home.

Joli prides itself on its vast selection of gin, boasting the largest collection in the country. But it's not just about the gin; their focus on seasonality and New American cuisine is what truly sets them apart.

Our meal started with their fresh Oysters, beautifully complemented by watermelon pearls and a tangy ginionette. The Sea Wolf Sourdough was a delight, served with whipped butter and smoked sea salt that elevated the bread to a whole new level.

The Cauliflower Chilaquiles were a revelation, a perfect blend of salsa verde, cotija, spiced pepitas, furikake, and cilantro. The Charred Broccolini was another standout, served with creamed leeks, lardon, parmesan, chili crunch, and bread crumb. The flavors were bold and harmonious, each bite better than the last.

The Hanger Steak was cooked to perfection, served with blistered shishito peppers, tonnatto, allium butter, and sea salt. It was a symphony of flavors that left me wanting more. The Parisienne Gnocchi, with chicory, pistachio, seasonal vegetables, and herb cream sauce, was the perfect end to the savory part of my meal.

What truly elevated our experience was the warm hospitality we received. We had the pleasure of meeting the chef, who was incredibly welcoming. Our server and bartender, Leon, was a wealth of knowledge on the oysters and gin. He crafted the best gin cocktail I've ever had, a testament to his expertise and passion.

Joli is more than just a restaurant; it's a testament to the power of good food and the magic it can create when paired with the right ingredients and passion. If you're in Seattle and looking for a memorable dining experience, Joli should be at the top...

This chic, Asian/Mexican fusion restaurant is severely underrated and deserves every bit of attention and recognition! New management has completely turned this place around into a 5 star facility, and it is not common that a place can give me 5 star service.

My expectations were exceeded.

Every dish I tried was an adventure and phenomenal, I kid you not. Ingredients I never thought would go together actually worked. My biggest favorites were: 1, corn bisque, which I will surely dream about. Served cold and unlike anything I've ever tasted. The blend of sweet creamy corn bisque, chili oil, a little radish and green onion...it's the ultimate comfort food dish that pulls you in within the first bite and leaves you wanting to order 5 more after. And 2: the charred broccolini. Wow...do not pass this one up. Even the pickiest of eaters who don't like veggies will fall in love with this dish. The crunchy chili flakes are excellent enough to be paired with just about anything, and really compliments the char on the broccolini without it being overwhelming. A light spiciness with great flavor and adds to the delicious creamed green garlic sauce.

With a new curated menu about every month, you're able to try different things and find new favorites. No two dishes taste alike, they each have their own unique flavors. The servers are knowledgeable with the menu items, very personable and make you feel right at home. They also have an extended amount of 200+ gin's; if that isn't your thing, their other drinks are just as great, including lavender or sage lemonade.

Do NOT sleep on this place! Every dish is a work of art and you can taste the love that was put into it. Thank me later, you'll be glad...

I really wanted to love Joli and came away a fan, but with caveats.

The atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed. The bartender and server were very pleasant and my drinks were excellent.

It is a little funky in that there is a movie with no sound projected on the wall. We were watching Dr. No a bit here and there in between conversation and conversation about it.

We ordered the beet salad with whipped chevre, pickled fiddleheads, and chimichurri. Each contributed to a balanced salad and both my wife and I really enjoyed it.

I ordered the house-made noodles with pork ragu of sorts. In my first bite, which was heavy with meat, there was a strange burst of intense flavor that knocked me off my bottom. I thought it was a juniper berry and that was later confirmed. It did not please my palate and set me back. Trying again, the juniper blew me away in an unpleasant way and my palette had to recover yet again. It was a major distraction in my enjoyment. I have to say that despite loads of meat, the sauce lacked in complexity. There were depth and unctuousness that I kept looking for and did not find; it tasted of pork, but little else.

I envied my wife's burger in a lettuce wrap which was very tasty. Her fried green beans were also desirable.

We'll likely be back and choose other dishes. I'd like to try the...