Surrell — Restaurant in Seattle

We were so excited to dine at Surrell to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary but unfortunately we were very disappointed in our experience. The food was good and the welcome + farewell drink was a nice touch, but the entirety of the experience did not meet our expectations of a fine dining establishment.

On the day of our reservation, we were moved from the patio to indoor seating due to light rain. We had called a week prior to confirm our patio seating would stand and they assured me over the phone their patio is covered and heated, so we should not have a problem. When we got to the restaurant, they insisted on seating us inside where the tables were cramped together and it was so loud we could barely hear each other. They did surprise us with setting up an outdoor table for the last course, which was a nice gesture, but it didn’t make up for the 2+ hours we spent inside in a noisy and cramped environment. Given we were perfectly comfortable outside during the last course, we don’t see why the restaurant couldn’t have just taken a customer-first approach and seated us outside to begin with. We felt they prioritized their own convenience over the diner’s experience. The communication was very poor. They had emailed us earlier in the day about the seating change but titled the email as “Cooler fall weather has arrived,” resulting in the email getting buried in marketing clutter. A more accurate positioning would have been helpful, like “Update to your patio reservation” or an outreach via phone or text. Some of the staff members were lovely but the service was inconsistent and lackluster and attention to detail was seriously lacking. The table was not cleared in an attentive or timely fashion as it became cluttered - and every new course that came would be placed around the clutter instead of staff offering to move things out of the way. We had to keep refilling our own water and had to ask for bread service three times before it was finally delivered to us - cold, so we had to send it back for warm bread. One of the servers offered us a complementary pour of wine, but only poured it for one person, not for both of us sitting at the table (so tacky!) There was also no consistency in where/how the silverware was placed with the meals. The servers just placed it around the clutter instead of clearing the clutter to present the meal with silverware in a presentable way. The 3-hour meal felt like it dragged on. It didn’t feel well timed or paced. The waiting period in between meals felt long and boring. We also requested menus for the meals which they refused to provide to maintain secrecy/intrigue, but we would have appreciated each course more if we had a proper menu (vs. poem) alongside each course to follow along and immerse ourselves.

As other guests mentioned, at a price point of $500+ per couple, you’re buying into the entirety of the experience, which should feel effortless and you shouldn’t have to make significant compromises. We absolutely didn’t feel that was the case. We tried to voice some of the feedback to restaurant management towards the end, but it was met with arrogance, defensiveness and a lack of empathy and warmth, which is surprising especially for a premium hospitality and customer service-based establishment. They mentioned the service we experienced is by design to keep the experience casual. However, there is a difference between showing up as casual vs. sloppy - and the details matter especially at that price point to make an experience feel premium vs. average.

We’ve tried tasting menus around the world and this was not up to par. In Seattle area, at the same price point, we’ve found our experience at Herbfarm, Altura and Canlis to be far superior. In fact many premium a la carte restaurants in Seattle to be better value for money with superior overall experience. Overall, we just didn’t feel good about how much we spent at Surrell for what we got. I hope their leadership considers the end-to-end diner’s journey through the evening vs. only focusing on food...

I attended a tasting dinner at Surrell in Seattle on Saturday, May 23, to celebrate a special occasion, filled with anticipation and high hopes for an unforgettable evening. Let's start with the highlights: the food was nothing short of spectacular - creative, delicious, and generously portioned. Opting for the wine pairing was a decision well made, as each selection beautifully complemented our dishes, enhancing the overall dining experience. Additionally, the restaurant's decor left a lasting impression on us, stunning in its presentation, promising enchanting summer evenings on the back patio.

However, it's with a heavy heart that I note the main detractor of our evening was not related to the culinary arts but rather to service and operational efficiency. Despite the restaurant's policy of a single seating at 6:30 PM, which we diligently aimed to honor by arriving at 6:25 PM, we were greeted by an unwelcome queue outside. While the warm greeting and hot wine were appreciated, they hardly compensated for the discomfort of waiting in the rain and cold for 15-20 minutes.

Our disappointment was compounded by the seating arrangement. Despite requesting seats at the chef's counter upon reservation—a request the restaurant does not guarantee—the lack of transparency and explanation regarding their seating policy was disheartening. Instead, we were escorted to a regular table without any form of communication.

Service, unfortunately, continued to detract from our experience. Our waiter's demeanor was aloof and unwelcoming, significantly lacking the attentiveness and warmth we anticipated. The absence of an introductory explanation regarding the meal—its duration, course count, or what to expect—left us in confusion. This lack of communication led us to prematurely delve into our appetizers, only to receive belated explanations.

The oversight extended to our dietary preferences, which were selected but not confirmed upon our arrival, leading to multiple instances of incorrect dish placements, notably affecting one of us who abstains from fish and seafood.

Lastly, a necessary early departure was met with rudeness from our waiter, an attitude unbefitting of such an establishment, further marring our experience.

In conclusion, while the culinary prowess of Surrell is undeniable and truly a gem Seattle should pride itself on, the overall package was regrettably overshadowed by the level of service and operational mishaps. It's a bittersweet feeling, acknowledging that the excellence of the food couldn't fully compensate for the evening's shortcomings. Surrell possesses the potential to be a pinnacle of Seattle's food scene, yet without addressing these critical areas, the complete experience...

Hugely Disappointing After Years of Anticipation

My husband and I love tasting menus. I’m a vegetarian, and he’s a devoted carnivore, so we always seek out places that can accommodate both of us. When my husband has an acquisition, we take his whole company out to celebrate. We had been looking forward to dining at Surreal since before COVID, and when we finally got the chance on 10/5/24 at 6:30 PM, it was an absolute letdown.

We arrived a little late due to construction—completely out of our control—and we sincerely apologized, as we were the last of our party of 10 to arrive. From there, the experience quickly went downhill. The server rushed through the courses, barely describing what we were eating or specifying which dishes aligned with our dietary needs. This was a major issue given our table’s restrictions: I’m vegetarian, one guest has a severe pollen allergy (EpiPen-level serious), and another is gluten- and dairy-free. For a restaurant charging $400 per person, attention to detail should be a given, but instead, it felt like an afterthought.

When I asked for clarification, the server was rude and dismissive. At dessert, my husband requested an apéritif—none available. I asked for decaf coffee—also unavailable. Yet, the moment we stepped outside, there was a coffee cart offering coffee to-go. Why couldn’t I have coffee with my dessert? It was baffling.

The whole experience felt rushed and impersonal, and we all left hungry and unimpressed. For the price and the hype, it was one of the worst tasting menus I’ve ever had. Such a disappointment after years of anticipation.

If you’re looking for exceptional value, service, and food, skip Surreal and go to Corson Building instead—hands down the best experience...