Sweet Hubby and I had our anniversary dinner at the uppitiest restaurant in Seattle, and it was glorious, dimmed slightly, but only slightly, by the fact that my upcoming colonoscopy (so glad that's over with!) meant there were a few things I couldn't eat. The food was magnificent. Six courses, and the first course consisted of three different bites.
Seeing the extensive wine list (think telephone book or Cheesecake Factory menu) had me almost wishing I drink wine. It seems like a lovely habit to have for one with a trained palate. But I settled for a single glass of champagne and a glass of non-alcoholic Riesling.
I can certainly understand why there are some who recoil from the idea of paying so much for something as ephemeral as a meal, but of course it's not just the meal one pays for, it's the experience. The food and wine are only parts of what makes this place special, and has allowed it to survive through three generations of a family. The service is what really made the meal. Although it was formal, it wasn't at all stiff. Even though I'm sure SH and I were instantly recognized as Nouveau and Not Very Riche, we were treated as honored guests, with humor and grace all around. We tend to interact with waitstaff at eateries of every kind, and all the people who came to our table (and there were a handful of them) were lovely and smiling and never seemed rushed and absolutely never snooty.
It was a beautiful evening, and the restaurant has a great, unimpeded view of the changing, darkening sky. To top off the excellent service, when we walked out, the valet had already brought our car to the door. I'm not sure exactly how that was managed, but it gave a sort of magical ending to what was a very nice splurge.
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