The Reserve at Andaluca — Restaurant in Seattle

First off, we had 630pm reservations that my date had made and she frequents the restaurant, so she already knew it'd be great. This was my first time. We were greeted promptly and friendly and were led to a corner where we were given a choice of booth or a corner table where we could easily sit at a 90 degree angle to one-another - we chose the latter.

Our wonderful server came by and told us a little about the menu and offered us a cocktail. I had brought with me a bottle of wine and we opted to have him go ahead and open and decant the wine and we might do a cocktail with dessert instead (spoiler alert - we did!).

After careful consideration, I chose for my salad course the "Shaved Bresaola Salad: thinly shaved air-dried cured beef, toasted king trumpet mushrooms, cauliflower, firm goat's cheese, arugula & truffle oil." For my entree? "Pan Seared Duck Breast, chanterelle & lobster mushrooms, red kuri squash puree, elderberry sauce." I opted for the squash puree on the side as my date doesn't like squash. I ended up never even trying the squash puree, only because the entree was so incredible and perfect in every bite that I didn't want to risk anything by even trying it! LOL!

My date ordered "Petit Rib Roast, rioja butter sauce, pavé russet potatoes, roasted pearl onions, baby carrots & sautéed kale." We traded a couple bites of our meals so I was able to try this. She says it's what she gets most of the time she dines here. It was INCREDIBLE! And the potatoes? Wow... similar to a scallop potato but yet different. Lucky for me, my date couldn't quite finish the last of her potatoes and the last bite of the roast, so I swooped in and helped her out!

My choice of wine I brought was the Hedges Red Mountain (2013) which is a blend, primarily a 60/30 Cab/Merlot but with the 10% on the end made up from a couple of other Bordeaux grapes. A very wonderful wine for a reasonable price at the store (under $30). Keep in mind that there was a corkage fee for doing this, as is usual, and they do not have this wine on the menu, though I could suggest something similar (2016 Quilceda Creek Red Blend or the 2015 CanvasBack Red Mountain Cabernet, which is almost the same blend as the Hedges but 80/10 on the Cab/Merlot instead of 60/30, hence it's able to be labeled a Cabernet. This is one of my favorites!).

The above mentioned wine we enjoyed paired perfectly with the Petit Rib Roast! It overpowered the duck just a tad, but I still enjoyed both. I think for the duck entree, the best pairing would be something a smidge softer, like a Pinot Noir, Grenache or perhaps even Tempranillo.

After the meal was finished and the wine nearly finished as well, we were brought dessert menus where we selected the Creme Brûlée as well as a nice cheese. While the cheese was simply delicious, the Creme Brûlée, in my opinion, was the only disappointment of the evening. My date LOVES the Creme Brûlée and our server even recommended it as his favorite without knowing she was eyeing it too, so it was probably just me that didn't care for it. I often have Creme Brûlée wherever I go and I just didn't fancy this one.

Along with the cheese & dessert I enjoyed an Amaro Nonino and my date had an Espresso Martini, which I was considering ordering. I LOVE Espresso Martinis and often get them when I see them on a menu. This one was perfectly balanced which, I hate to say, isn't always the case. One of the best Espresso Martinis I've ever had!

In conclusion, this was also one of the better MEALS I've ever had, and though I don't go out to eat often, I do try to make it count when I do go out and this was exactly what I needed and would expect from a restaurant of this price-point and ambiance. Sadly, I've been to plenty of restaurants in this same price-point and been disappointed, several times. If you want a very nice meal for around $200 (for 2, before tip) and you're looking in downtown Seattle, I highly recommend you stop in and...

I had an overall good experience at Andaluca, though there were a couple of minor letdowns—only one risotto option for vegetarians and a very limited selection of non-alcoholic beverages (just one or two).

What We Ordered:

Cucumber Basil Non-Alcoholic Mojito – Not the best mojito I’ve had, but refreshing enough to get you started.

Roasted Eggplant – A beautifully curated dish with subtle yet layered flavors. Each bite unfolds a new taste, warmly embracing your palate. Absolutely loved it!

Pear Salad – They were out of pears and substituted pink apple instead. Unfortunately, the dish lacked the sweetness or saltiness needed to balance the bitterness of the radicchio. It could have been better.

Soup de Saison – A carrot and ginger soup with coconut cream dressing. Warm, smooth, and comforting. Every slurp was delightful, with gentle, well-balanced flavors.

Seasonal Risotto – A rich, flavorful mushroom and cauliflower risotto served piping hot and topped with pine nuts. The cauliflower bites added a nice touch—definitely a must-try!

Lemon Mascarpone Panna Cotta – Hands down, the best panna cotta I’ve had so far! The flavors unfold beautifully—first, a palette-hugging pear essence, followed by a gentle wash of cardamom that lingers just enough to leave you wanting more. Incredibly light yet satisfying. And yes, it passed the jiggle test! [Video attached] A must-try as well.

Ambiance & Service:

The indoor seating is cozy, with a clean and inviting atmosphere. The service was attentive, and dishes arrived promptly.

Worth a visit! The prices are reasonable, especially compared to many other Seattle...

If you're staying at the Mayflower Park Hotel, this place is a must try. It's a must try in general. The booth was super comfy and private, and the ambiance of the restaurant was fancy. We had a very kind waiter who made sure our order was correct. He also gave us a birthday discount which was a very nice gesture. We both got the all American breakfast. It did take a while for the good to come out (probably because they do room service for the whole hotel) but it was worth the wait. The eggs were fresh and delicious, the potatoes were well seasoned, and they have the best VEGAN sausage in existence (better than some real sausage at other breakfast places). I will say that I should have asked for my food to be cooked crispy / well done. It's a personal preference and I'm sure they would have accommodated. My bacon was on the chewy side and the potatoes were a little soft. Completely fine taste wise; just a texture thing for me. My wife loved her all American breakfast too. Decent coffee, piping hot. The berry compote/jam was free and divine. I was tempted to ask if it was available for purchase to take some home. Not the biggest variety on menu but everyone is made in house so you have to respect the quality of the food. Will come back if we are in Seattle...