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My husband and I went to Elliott’s Oyster House for dinner last night while in Seattle, Washington.
Fresh Seafood – Yes Please!
Fresh seafood is a must while dining in Seattle, and there are several great choices all around the downtown area. We had been several years ago and tried some of the waterfront restaurants. All were delicious, of course!
So Many Dining Options
But this time, we decided to try a different restaurant. Elliott’s Oyster House. They are located on the waterfront. Dining is available inside in the dining room, the bar area and outside on the patio. No worries about cool weather, as they have patio heaters to help keep their diners warm.
We decided to sit at a hightop table in the bar. It was nice because we were close to the bar, but had a great view of the water. After introducing himself, our waiter, Rich, took our drink order. He also explained the different menu options available, highlighting the current market menu. And, he provided us with some of his favorite items on the menu.
Recommendations Are Great
I really enjoyed hearing about the different options, and it’s always great when the server provides that kind of personal insight. I mean, menus can sometimes be completely overwhelming. Especially, when the seafood is this fresh, and every item sounds mouth watering.
Upon presenting us with our drinks, we explained that we wanted to start with a cup of the clam chowder, and take our time with ordering the remaining courses. However, Rich wanted to get our full order and “manage” the courses for us. We agreed to go ahead with the soups and the oysters, and wait for the main course.
The soups arrived and were piping hot, which is wonderful. Many times, when you order soup, it comes out semi warm, which is not how it should be served. The flavor was very nice, the soup creamy, the potatoes chunky, but not too firm, and the clams plentiful. I added pepper to mine, and it was perfection in a bowl!
Timing is Important
Moments after the soup arrived, the oysters were served. We would have preferred to have them after the soup, but they were served on ice and could sit for a few minutes. When Todd asked for Tabasco sauce for his clam chowder, things took a little bit of a turn for the worst. I get it, I don’t like Tabasco sauce on my clam chowder, and apparently, Rich doesn’t either, because he seemed to be a little upset with Todd.
Cold Beer is a Must
Additionally, Todd’s beer was not very cold, and when he stated, “my beer isn’t very cold” (mainly because it sat on the bar about 10 minutes before it was served – both times), which we could see from our table. However, his comment was not acknowledged. Therefore, I turned to Rich and asked if he could bring Todd a cold glass.
Rich then said, “I heard him, I am standing right here.” “We don’t have chilled glasses, but I will chill one for him.” Talk about being in an awkward situation. I get it, he probably deals with grumpy customers all the time, but that doesn’t mean everyone is going to be grumpy. At the very least, be polite, and serve your customer.
Everyone Has Different Taste
While enjoying our oysters, Todd asked for horseradish sauce and crackers, which, again, is how he eats his oysters. Rich was really not happy with that request either. So much so, that at this point, we kind of felt like we were hicks and were in a restaurant that was too fancy for us. But, we continued on.
I personally like to eat the dish as the chef serves it. There is a reason the chef puts all the different flavors together. This has sometimes been great and other times not to my liking. But I always say, at least try it the way the chef created the dish.
Oysters, Oysters and More Oysters
The oyster sample is put together by the Chef. Since we ordered a dozen, the sample had two of each kind. The flavors ranged from sweet to briny and were served with a frozen champagne lemon sauce. Very different, but absolutely delicious. The frozen sauce complimented the flavors of the oysters very nicely, with a cool and tangy flavor that I enjoyed immensely. But I too enjoyed the horseradish sauce on an oyster or two.
Steamed Mussels
For our “main” dish, we decided to try the Steamed Penn Cove Mussels that were served with a black bean sauce and had Fresno peppers, cilantro, and lime. The sauce was super spicy and had a wonderful depth of flavor. I like spice, so it was delicious for me! The mussels were perfectly steamed and not chewy. There was a little sand to deal with, but that was minor.
Clam Steamers
Secondly, we ordered the Steamed Manila Clams. These were served with a Tequilla, bell pepper, and lime sauce with chorizo sausage. There was a little bit of bitterness to the sauce, and some sand in these as well. With that being said, I preferred the mussels more than the clams.
Both the mussels and the clams were served pretty large portions, which made them ideal for sharing. We had a lot of them left, as we were too full to eat them all. So, if you order them, a bowl will feed about 3 people as an appetizer.
All in all, the dinner was a success, the food was delicious and the service was fine. Rich, if you read this, please understand that people have different palates, and it is not a bad thing. Our differences are what make us all unique, and keep the world an interesting place.
Give them a Try
I probably would go back for the oysters and the clam chowder, but not for the mussels or clams. I hope you decide to give this restaurant a try. If you do, let me know how you liked it. I’d love to hear from you.
Enjoy,
Sherri
Elliott’s Oyster House: 1201 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101 | Phone: 206.623.4340 www.elliottsoysterhouse.com #elliottsoysterhouse @elliottsoysterhouse
