Three Sacks Full — Restaurant in Seattle

I’m not doing myself any favors by adding to the chorus of people singing the praises of this restaurant, but it’s been discovered already, and it deserves the praise. We have been looking for a “replacement” for Pair in Ravenna/Bryant since Covid shut it down and then the owner died. Three Sacks Full (TSF), is exactly the sort of neighborhood gem that we’ve been looking for. Once a popup, it’s now in permanent space about a block west of the whole foods grocery. The ingredients are sourced from Washington and Oregon, and rotate based on what’s available. Yet the creativity of the menu elevates everything, even when winter squash is the most plentiful thing around. TSF preparations are interesting and thoughtful, but not fussy or pretentious. It’s the sort of restaurant that inspires me want to try some new foods at home. It also reminds me that we are so lucky to live where we do, with amazing food options year round. Most dishes are vegetables and grains, but there are a couple of meat and seafood options, too. Crepes w Beechers cheddar and pickled serranos? I would not have thought to put those together. And I would happily devour enough to make a meal. Grilled radish salad? I never thought of grilling radishes, but doing that took the astringency out of them. Delicious. The grilled steak was perfect. The olive oil cake is exactly the right amount of sweetness. Our server was great; she knew how to make sure we were taken care of without being over-involved. And she knew the menu and wine list well. Speaking of wine; how nice to get a chardonnay that’s not an icy oak bomb! And it was served chilled but not ice cold, which seems far too common. I don’t care what “American tastes” are, it’s nice to get a glass of wine that’s as thoughtfully served as everything else on the menu. TSF is not cheap, but prices seem aligned with comparable restaurants, and less expensive than some chains. We shared three plates and dessert, and had three drinks, and the tab was $125 before tip. We don’t spend that much on a whim. But the good news is I don’t regret it at all. It can be tough to get a seat. This is a small space. But it’s absolutely worth it. I can’t...

Cozy spot that feels like your very talented chef friend has invited you to their house for dinner.

My friend and I went several months ago and loved the place. My husband has several dietary restrictions and I quietly check their menu periodically to see if it looks like there are dishes he can eat with few mods.

As luck would have it, my my parents offered a last minute date night. I texted at 3 pm (see? It feels like visiting a friend) and they were able to squeeze us in at the bar.

Here's where sourcing from local farms and knowing them ourselves comes in handy - I already knew my browsing the menu that the Olsen Farms pork chop would be fine for my husband and the Samish Bay yogurt would not (kudos to TSF for listing the farms - in this case it really helped me!).

The menu is vegetable forward but with SO much flavor. We shared the best bread and olive oil, a salad with beets, mustard seeds and pickled kohlrabi, a wonderful vegan pumpkin soup and a juicy pork chop with grated horseradish, Brussels sprouts and a grilled potato.

There are half a dozen or more non-alcoholic options with lots of flavor profiles. It's unusual to find more than one or two at most restaurants, let alone options that aren't just juice blends or cans. I had an Autumn mocktail with a lovely bitter and herbal finish that I'd drink again with pleasure.

The service is outstanding - I overheard Michael chatting with other guests about wine in the way only someone who loves it can, and he made us feel at ease with dietary restrictions since he clearly knew the food inside and out.

10/10 recommend and will be back whenever the...

A few business notes: -They're open for wine sales 4-10pm but the hours above are 5-9 to reflect the kitchen hours. -They don't sell liquor but offer aperitif or amaro or wine based cocktails as well as lots of neat sounding non alcoholic mocktails. recommend reservations through the number on their website, they got busy on a Saturday night at least

Now onto the corny adoration: My partner described our dining saying, "it's like you're at the symphony with the composer in the audience," which I just loved. It felt like we were there for such a special experience of artistic creation. I can't find any room for improvement; what a wonderful experience!

The morels were perhaps my favorite with their richness and meatiness fabulously featured, but the rhubarb dessert was also mild and lovely. The food was so thoughtfully prepared with such delicious local ingredients and the beverages were exquisite and wonderfully recommended for pairing. Thank you for a...