“Gilt”y Dining

I’ve been a Gilt fan ever since Katetuomimonster  turned me on to the wonderful designer bargains that are only a click away. I almost didn’t believe the offers were true until a brand new pair of New Balance shoes arrived at my door for half the price.

It looks like that business model has been successful and is now expanding into the restaurant world, courtesy of a new start-up, VillageVines, which offers reservations at high-end restaurants in New York at a discount.

The site just opened on Wednesday and plans to expand to more cities in the next couple months.  I’ll be sure to check it out next time I’m in NY, but would love to hear if anyone has already tried it out.

Lisa’s Top 5 Seattle Restaurants

I am proud to call the Pacific Northwest my home. I love the mountains, the ocean, the rain, and especially the food. Seattleites are spoiled by fresh seafood, an abundance of farmers’ markets, local wineries, and an assortment of highly acclaimed restaurants. I took this as an opportunity to compile a list of my top five favorite Seattle dinner restaurants.

Anchovies and Olives (Capitol Hill): Chef Ethan Stowell’s new restaurant features fresh Northwest seafood prepared Italian nouveau cuisine flair paired with an extensive wine list. The dining room is elegant and modern, yet has a very welcoming and down-to-earth atmosphere. Most of the dishes are small plates and meant to be enjoyed family-style. I would recommend ordering two or three dishes per person. Many of the dishes have unique, bold ingredient combinations for adventuresome diners.

Bastille (Ballard): Bastille is a charming neighborhood restaurant featuring delectable French cuisine. The black arches, ornate ceiling molds, and crystal light fixtures give this restaurant a great ambiance that evokes Paris’ Gare du Nord. In addition to its stunning dining room, Bastille also has a swanky back bar and rooftop garden where Bastille’s chefs grow the lettuce and herbs. My favorite menu items include the beat salad, mussels, and their winning French fries. Bastille also features a $5 happy hour menu daily from 4:30pm-6pm and Sunday-Thursday evenings from 10pm-1am.

Dahlia Lounge and other Tom Douglas Restaurants (Belltown): Tom Douglas is known as Seattle’s culinary entrepreneur. His restaurants are considered an essential part of the Seattle dining experience. The Dahlia Lounge serves quintessential Northwest cuisine, complete with local wines, fresh seafood,  and organic vegetables. The coconut cream pie is a Seattle icon and will satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. Other Tom Douglas restaurants include Lola, Palace Kitchen, Etta’s, and Serious Pie. 

 

Lark (Capitol Hill): Lark has the style and grace of a fancy restaurant without feeling formal or stuffy. The creative menu focuses on local ingredients. While the food isn’t necessarily fancy, the dishes demonstrate a sense of classic combinations and original innovations. Lark serves small plates (think tapas) that are designed for sharing. I recommend ordering two or three items per person and the local artisan cheese plate is a cheese-lover’s dream.

 

Matt’s in the Market (Pike Place): Matt’s in the Market is another quintessential Seattle restaurant focusing on farm-to-table food. Also, the view of Pike Place Market is unparalleled as you can practically reach out and touch the infamous red market clock. The dinner menu is based on whatever own Matt Janke finds at the market earlier in the day. Since Matt’s can be quite expensive, I recommend their happy hour from 5pm-7pm Monday-Saturdays at the bar. Gourmet bar food is served with cocktails, local beer and wine and offers a great introduction to Matt’s.

This post is by Lisa, special to the Event Services team.