Delightful staff, killer food, tucked right into our Hillman City neighborhood. I've done both with wine and with the non-alcoholic choices, and thoroughly enjoyed both. read more

Out of sheer luck, a friend of mine invited me to join her reservation at Archipelago this week when her spouse was unable to make it. She let the restaurant know about the swap the night before and asked if it would be possible to accommodate my pregnancy dietary restrictions. Despite the last-minute change and not insignificant list of modifications, the team assured us they would be able to accommodate everything. The moment we sat down at the "chef's counter," I was met by a kind, thoughtful team member who was clearly knowledgeable of each of my dietary limitations, yet still took extra time to ensure they were aware of everything. They explained how they were adjusting my courses and double checked specific menu items were safe for me to eat. As specific courses and their Filipino histories were introduced by each of the team members, Sous Chef Ronnette took the extra care and effort to stop by my seat to describe the particular adjustments they had made to my individual dish. Dish after dish that I expected to have to skip was adjusted to ensure mine and my baby's safety. Steamed instead of raw oysters. Fully cooked wagyu beef. Substitutes for any raw cheeses. I didn't expect this level of attention or care. Pregnancy and all the specific dietary restrictions that come with it make eating out, especially fine dining, feel like such a precarious experience. At Archipelago, I never had to ask or worry about whether I was eating safely and could truly relax and know I was in competent hands with Chef Aaron's team. To have a group of kind strangers tell you for a night, "sit back, we've got you" was one of the greatest gifts I could have received as a mom of a toddler and with a baby on the way. When I shared with Chef Aaron how rare it is to have this experience at a restaurant, and how I had assumed fine dining was off limits while I was pregnant, he told me how families and children are an honored part of Filipino communities and how they believe in that tradition in their restaurant as well. He shared the ages of his own small children and credited his wife for making his life's work possible. I never expected a 2+ hour dining experience to be such an intimate exchange with members of my community, in addition to a nourishing and caring meal. Huge shout-outs to Chefs Aaron and Ronnette, as well as the entire Hillman City team. Five glowing stars for Archipelago. A standout community and business that more than exceeds in their mission. read more

I have to voice my opinion and warn people about this restaurant's mediocrity because this dinner was not cheap. The dining experience here was underwhelming for what I paid, $262 after tax and tip (no alcohol). This is the most expensive tasting menu restaurant I've been to in Seattle for just food. The food however tasted and looked just average like it belonged in a $$ Asian fusion restaurant. I was not impressed except by maybe the small chunk of halibut in one course. The ingredients for most of the dishes were pretty commonplace. At other $$$$ restaurants I'm eating sea urchin, spot prawns, oysters, crab, foraged mushrooms, truffles, or A5 wagyu. There was no fancy stuff here, just some salmon with a sprinkle of caviar and local collards. They served this broth in a tea mug with the fish course and it was literally just boiled collard green water. I was paying $$$$ for the water they cooked my veggies in. I can't believe they didn't even make a proper soup! There was lechon for the final main course but again, it didn't taste any nicer than lechon from a hole in the wall Filipino place. The halo halo dessert was different and creative from what I was used to but overall only 1.5 courses out of the whole meal stood out. The rest was a flop. I would describe the whole meal has having humble peasant vibes but marked up to be 4x the price. During the whole meal they were trying to sell the farm to table "we source everything locally" story to hype up the meal. They plated everything on native earthen and wooden bowls and on rocks, which I assume were local, too. Who cares if my rock is local? Can I eat this? Am I paying for your food or your hipster interpretive dinnerware? Meanwhile the food portions were tiny. For the last entree they asked us to rate how hungry we are from 1 to 5. I put I was 1, starving, hoping to get a bigger cut of meat and it was still kind of average sized. Lastly, the meal came with a culture lesson. They proselytized with each course about how amazing Filipino culture was with random facts that had loosely to do with Filipino people and the PNW. They talked about inventor of the Filipino Banana sauce and how she had a PhD from UW, the Filipino slave nanny that lived in the PNW who had the Atlantic article written about her, and how their Filipino friends owned a farm for some ingredient that was in a dish (I don't even remember what). With each course, I felt more and more manipulated into having to love the food because of the stories. The food tasted and looked honestly so mediocre. Was I supposed to like your food better because you named the dessert after grandma? It felt so forced and disingenuous. Imagine me as a Chinese person were to open a Chinese restaurant in PNW, serve you okay tasting dim sum from somewhere like China Harbor but just plated it only slightly better, mark it up $$$, then while you're eating a dumpling, I educate you about Bruce Lee and how he went to UW and how he is buried in Seattle. Or, imagine you're going to a vegan restaurant and being reminded every course they are so thankful you're not supporting the slaughter of innocent cows and chicks. Yeah it felt like that. The decor in the restaurant was cute but everything else they did felt like they were trying to add inflated value to the dining experience and detract from how mediocre the food was. The team even did this thing where they would set up all the plates, make eye contact and push every plate through the plexiglass divider towards the diners all at the same time. At first I didn't know how I felt about it because it was strange but now I realize it felt robot and forced, like they were trying to fabricate this impression of having consistency like at a Michelin star place when the meal was meh. We were dismissed with a parting dessert and menu wrapped and folded very intricately. I was impressed by how they designed menu, but the dessert tasted like a piece of corn bread. It was very buttery but again just corn bread. I did not even bother with an alcoholic pairing because they offered only wine and beer. I don't feel wine should go with Southeast Asian food and beer does not belong in such an expensive place. I wish they had Asian inspired cocktails and it feels low effort here for them to not have that. The kicker to all this was when I made the reservation, the payment page said there will be no refunds, and that you could opt to buy dining insurance in case you caught covid. Wtf is dining insurance? Every fancy restaurant I've been to allows for cancellations up to 48 hours in advance except here. What are you selling, a plane ticket to the Philippines or a meal? I can't understand all the 5 star reviews on Yelp. I honestly think there are no bad reviews because of the sappy stories they told. I briefly felt like a bad person for wanting to leave this 3 star review because how could I leave a bad review for grandma? I refuse to be emotionally blackmailed though. read more

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I was trying to get a reservation here for almost a year and could not done it without the help from Chase Sapphire (Yes, if you have Chase Sapphire, you can make a reservation for 2 people thru their reward programs page). I was extremely excited and have high hopes but unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to the expectations. The place is very small and have poor ventilation. I can smell the fish sauce the moment I stepped in (my husband can't smell anything; but I have a dog nose...so I don't know). I am Asian, and I know Asian food usually have pretty strong smell; so it's not a big turn off to us, but just want to give everyone a head up, that your clothes will smell at the end of the night. All the dishes are beautiful and very flavorful but the portions are very small, and they don't have that many courses. I have been to many fine dining places and I never left hungry. They did try to offer everybody more meats at the end, but we still left hungry and have to go home and make some ramen. I don't drink, so I can't comment about their wine pairing but their juice pairing is EXTREMELY good. Please get the juice pairing. The chefs explained every dishes very throughout and gave us some stories about Filipino cultures with picture and drawing about their cultures, which I think is pretty cool but somehow feel a little bit forceful, like we are sitting in history class, not a fine dining experience. It's an experience worth to try once, but don't think I would come back. read more

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If you enjoy an immersive dining experience then this place is PERFECT for a special occasion date! Not going to lie its expensive (~$260s per person + more if getting beverages) but definitely worth a unique experience and tour of the Filipino cuisine. I enjoyed the various flavor profile. As someone who has very little exposure to Filipino history and cuisine this is incredibly helpful as if I'm being given a tour by the culinary team at Archipelago. I did love how the menu tried to hit every flavor profile you can think of and a lovely story to complement each dish. Had a great date night thanks to Archipelago+ read more

Incredible and unique dining experience from start to finish. Loved the history, fresh ingredients, attention to detail, and warm service. I don't eat meat and they were super accommodating. Everything was delicious. Hard to get reservations but worth it - I highly recommend Archipelago. Salamat! read more

Archipelago - Sweet spring menu dishes - Filipino Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Kudos to the amazing experience that Chef Aaron and his team at Archipelago are providing their customers! As someone that is Filipino American I had grown up with preconceived notions about what Filipino can be and what it can't. It wasn't until recently that I saw amazingly talented Filipino chefs put their take on Filipino food that I realized the potential of Filipino food as elevated fine dining. Each course was presented beautifully and accompanied by great storytelling and excellent preparation from the staff. I recommend the drink pairing for an even better experience. My lady and I were simply stunned. The flavors harken back to our heritage but the presentation brings it to the modern day with crafty ornamentation and intricate styling, thereby giving me hope for the future of Filipino cuisine. Job well done Archipelago, looking forward to the next one! read more

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A very long overdue Yelp review for Archipelago. I had the opportunity to snag a lone reservation back on 5/11/19. It has been a little over a year ago and this culinary experience still resonates strong with me. And yes, all the sincere praise and kudos for Archipelago are well deserved. This special restaurant brings immense Filipinx, UW Alumni and Pacific Northwest pride. Chef Aaron Verzosa, his wife Amber Manuguid, and their FOH manager, Gracie Santos create literal culinary magic in such a small, intimate, well conceived and executed multi-course dinner. An archipelago of over 7000 islands, Filipinx cuisine is rich and diverse by historical colonization, region, and seasonality. The same goes for Pacific Northwest cuisine with contributions from Native American influences, migration of various other ethnic groups, and seasonality of cultivated and foraged ingredients. Meld these together with the intent of educating our minds, amazing our palates with sublime flavors, coupled with impeccable service and presentation, a definite yes, you are in for an unforgettable evening. Like my experiences with other multi-course tasting menus, it is really difficult to convey every tiny detail with such minutiae. Flavors, textures, scent, visual cues, food and beverage combinations, and how each course is delivered and executed, these all affects us individually. Unless one is wearing a GoPro throughout the evening, this is one of those dining experiences that one has to be present and in the moment. It is an artistic presentation that demonstrates the immense and intricate planning involved well before all of us were seated. They are literally creating and serving each course in front of you with extreme attention to detail. I will list the various courses, but note this varies with the seasonal menus offered throughout the year. By all means, read through various Yelp reviews and scan through all the posted photos to get a sense of what you might experience. That's the beauty of Filipinx cuisine - it is approachable, it is complex, it is simplicity, it is family, it is community, it is celebratory, it is nourishing, it is tactile, it is significant. This is to be at least experienced once or as often one desires. It is delightful dining solo for absolute full immersion. It is also a memorable evening that can be shared with others. From the May 11, 2019 menu Pandesal - hand mixed, milled WA wheat, Cherry Valley butter Kinilaw - WA ver jus, red rock fish, wild knotwood Anak ni Bet - brilliant play on pinakbet with bagong ong, oyster mushrooms, carrot and spring greens Miki - handmade miki noodles, adobong itim, bacon longanisa Sinigang - wild sockeye salmon, Ridgetop Farm greens, and cranberry rhubarb Maria Orosa - phenomenal 29 day aged ribeye with Orosa sauce, escabeche Prutang Hielo - brown sugared pear, tiniest cubed pink lady apples, huckleberry ice Condensed Milk - brown sugared pear, set Earl Grey cream, hazelnut biskotso Pasalubong - parting gift of a beautiful menu memento, gorgeous designed box with mamon "Sonny" style Served with either a juice or wine flight Fast forward to the pivot during the Covid-19 pandemic, Archipelago is offering an inaugural Mahabang Buhay Take-Home Program via Tock. This is a balikbayan box meal kit including a green garlic adobo sauce, mechado, wild rice, fresh produce, and other surprises for a set price. Add ons are also offered with various cuts of Anderson Ranch spring lamb, and a wide assortment of carefully curated wines and ciders. I just placed an order (5/17/20) and will report back with an update in the near future. read more

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Incredible experience and food. Also appreciated the very attentive service and the background behind the dishes that were presented in a very thoughtful and nostalgic way. Great place to take a date or someone you really want to impress. read more

A lot of fine dining places charge a lot simply to appear fancy, such as dish presentation or potentially unnecessary use of expensive ingredients just because. But here, the atmosphere is full of modesty, focusing on the storytelling and the history and significance, the struggles while chasing the American Dream. My dining experience here is definitely the best out of all the places in Seattle I tried so far, a culmination of the highlights in a lot of the fine dining in Seattle. For each course, not only do they describe the contents of the dish, but also, similar to my experience in Sushi Kashiba with Chef Shiro, they talk about where they sourced the ingredients. Additionally, they provide a little bit of narrative to the history and inspiration of the dishes, some of which from prominent Filipino figures such as Maria Orosa, the inventor of banana ketchup, that made an impact in the Pacific Northwest. Hence, each course is served with a picture or article. Each course also uses different bowls and plates - standouts include a dish with a sardine can base which is generally repurposed to make leche flan, hand selected rocks for each guest, and a delicate bowl made from capiz. To an extent, these varying bowls and plates remind me of a similar experience at Taneda. I made the reservation for August 4 on the July 1 release for the late summer tasting menu, eagerly waiting for this day. I took the light rail down, walked 20 minutes, and waited outside until 8:30pm promptly. When the doors opened, I was the first to go in, and was warmly greeted and sat down at the right side of the counter, right in the middle of the action, with enough space to take great pictures unobstructedly. Here, we were introduced to the chefs and employees by name, and each of them played an integral role of the dining experience, including the dishwasher. Over time, I was able to talk to most of the employees, sharing my experiences and also learning from them some of the Filipino history and more details of the specific ingredients of the food. I opted for the juice pairing, as enough places offer wine pairing already - this was a great call, as the juices are not the simple pineapple or watermelon or orange juice, but rather complex combinations such as "cucumber sorrel eucalyptus," "lingonberry sage elderflower," my favorite "raspberry blackberry magnolia jalapeno" which had a nice spicy kick, "blueberry lavender," and for dessert "honey crisp apple lemongrass." For the food, you will have the taste buds taken to a whole other level. However, if it were just the food without the experience and education, I would not justify paying $300+ after tax and tip for the tasting + juice pairing. There are 9 courses total, some parallels to 9 courses when I went to wa'z, a selection of seafood (e.g., Alaskan wild salmon), meat (lechon liempo - pork belly), a soup (sinigang), and 2 of the courses were dessert courses. However, technically, there is a 10th course here, a third dessert course, but it was in a box as a gift after the experience. Pasalubong (Not related to the quality of the restaurant itself but my experience was amplified when some friends happen to (coincidentally?) book the exact date and time reservation. Though I sat separately as I was at the counter while they were at the table, we got to chat before and after the meal) read more

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Archipelago is easily the best fine dining experience in Seattle. Described as "Pacific Northwest cuisine through progressive Filipino American flavors", their tasting menu ($210/person) is completely unique. Chef Aaron Verzosa utilizes local ingredients in creating thoughtful dishes, inspired by his heritage. The elegant restaurant seats just 12 people, guaranteeing a personalized, intimate experience. Reservations are released on the 1st of each month at 2pm, for the following two months. For example, June and July reservations open on May 1st at 2pm. Seats go quickly, so be ready with fast fingers and internet right at 2pm. I attempted and failed to get a reservation for 4 people, but kept trying and eventually got one for 2 people (sorry friends). Upon being seated, my husband and I were welcomed, and presented beverage options. We did not plan on drinking, but the wine pairing ($86 per person) was too interesting to forgo. It featured exclusively wines from the Pacific Northwest! All of the selections paired wonderfully with the food, and we loved one of the Rhône varieties from Walla Walla so much that we took a bottle home. Every one of the 10 courses was not only delicious, but accompanied with a story. I loved how personal the meal felt. Stand out dishes included "Alaskeros" (Ivory salmon, Kamayan Farm ginger, raspberry escabeche), "Palaman", a simple yet deeply satisfying bread made with Edison heirloom wheat and topped with radish, and WA wild sturgeon with lingonberry sinanglaw and stinging nettle. Service was polished and professional, but just as much down to earth and relaxed. Chef and the entire staff were genuinely friendly and personable, making conversation with all of the guests seated at their table. We look forward to returning the next time we are in Seattle. read more

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I am rating Archipelago a 4/5 star rating for overall experience. Staff: 5 stars The staff are knowledgeable and very friendly. They stop to chat and get to know their guests. It is very apparent that chef values his team members and a lot of training has taken place. All staff is introduced to guests before and after dinner, even the dishwasher. Goes to show how important every single person is to Archipelago. The chef himself, also personable. He engaged with each party, gives rich history on his dishes, and even does a dance for you! Atmosphere: 5 stars Archipelago is a very small restaurant. There's about 8-9 seats at the bar and room for one larger table that holds 4-6. That's it. This makes the experience more intimate by nature, but not awkward. Coming from an Asian background, I can say that having a space like this really captures our culture and makes your experience feel like home. The bathroom was clean and sanitized after every use. There were nice products in there also (soap, lotion, tampons, etc.) They've also installed racks underneath the counter for a place to store your phone. The little things count! Tradition/Culture: 5 stars The overall experience is so abundant in old stories, both famous and personal. Servers, chefs, and other staff shared personal stories about their ancestors with us and chef told us stories about important figures within the Filipino community. They innovated by using the clear, covid shields to hang art and photos of Filipino history. Learning about this culture and their traditions was my absolute favorite part of the night. They've also incorporated certain things within the dishes, like specifics plates, cans, and other serving ware. Food: 3.5 stars The food is where I'd knock off some points. There were a total of 9 small dishes. Before the main course comes out, staff checks to see how hungry you still are and serves you accordingly - which is great, many tasting menus don't do this - but unfortunately nothing really stood out to me. Everything was good, but nothing stunned my taste buds. The wine pairing was just alright also. However, I do appreciate how fresh and locally sourced everything was, including the wine. I love to hear about small businesses supporting and shining light on other local and/or small businesses, it's heart warming. Overall - Archipelago is worth everyone trying at least once, at minimum, for the history it offers on an underserved population. I am thrilled to see that Filipino restaurants are becoming more popular in this area and that we're being offered more varieties for Asian cuisine. The food is good, the presentation is better, and the staff was the best. read more

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I'll start off by saying actually read people's reviews and don't just go on the star rating. You will notice a common trend here, 3+ stars, people complaining about portion size, value for money and service. TLDR You are paying $215 per person plus $86 for wine pairing. If you choose to pay per glass, it gets expensive fast. Our experience was the same., We had a group of four (1 vegetarian, 1 no-pork) and short version is it was overpriced and under-performed. 1 diner did not eat the majority of the courses, vegetarian options were VERY disappointing. The story telling aspect and tie in with local ingredients and Filipino culture was enjoyable (although tenuous and overworked) but was generally interesting for all of our party. The restaurant has an intimate environment, and our group's table overlooked the kitchen but still provided some privacy from the communal dining bench. Let me be very clear here, you are paying fine dining prices, unfortunately, the level of refinement does not deliver. If you have eaten at places like Eleven Madison Park, The Herb Farm, The French Laundry etc prepare to be disappointed. This is not the same kind of experience. In general the experience felt over-priced and regretfully memorable for the wrong reasons. The portions are notably tiny (even by tasting menu sizes) and our party left feeling hungry and a little underwhelmed. As an example, you are asked to rate your "hunger" level (1 hungry, 5 full) towards the end of the tasting. This was awkward, with two of our guests feeling uncomfortable about saying they were hungry during their interaction and changing their number down. Another example where the service was not up to par was when one of our party was embarrassed in front of the group for not liking the food. The server did not take the hint that the person was not enjoying the dishes (all but two were not eaten) and kept persisting on understanding what they could change (the issue was the spice combinations). I don't want to be overly negative, but there were multiple misses that you just take for granted at a fine dining restaurant that were just missed here. Was the experience worth the price? Unfortunately, I don't think so. Again read the reviews, don't be fooled by the star raining. read more

One of the finest restaurants in Seattle area! Loved each and every dish, and it's connection to the Filipino American history. Sablefish stuffed with Rainbow trout in coconut milk dish reminded me of my grandma's kerala fish curry, which made it extra special. Chef Aaron made an extra spicy version of the dish for my husband, when he told about his love for spicy food. Staff were very friendly and attentive. Would definitely visit again :) read more

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I saw Archipelago only had 68 reviews after having gone there years ago, and I'm kind of shaken to my core. I guess I and every Yelper who are here was so taken with the experience that we forgot to review it after or took for granted that everyone else must have submitted a review. So I'm just here to say that three years ago they served me salmon on a rock accompanied by a tiny, green, and freshly lit aflame fir branch; and I still think about that to this day. read more

Is it expensive. Yes. Is it hard to get reservations? Not really. You just need to watch when they open them. It's a tiny place in Columbia city. The service is amazing. The stories and the staff is great. Everyone is welcoming and warm. The food was elevated Filipino. If you expect pancit you will be disappointed. Instead expect elevated dishes full of flavor. The wine pairing isn't the best. I wouldn't do it again. But I'm bias because I don't like white wine and all except one was white. The food was delicious but still hungry when we left. That's par for the course when going to a set dinner. And in their defense we eat way more than the average person! The menu changes and everything is local and fresh. I would go back and try a different menu. read more

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Archipelago is an exceptional American tribute to the food and flavors of the Philippines, combining steller service with impeccably crafted fresh cuisine, exploring the flavors and traditions of the PH. Located in a small, fun, fine-ish dining setting. If you are contemplating eating here and are new to PH food: this is a great way to dip your tongue into the sweet, unique savories, sours, and mild pepper heats of PH cuisine. If you are Filipino, the closest I would describe this is similar in spirit to modern PH cuisine like Locavore.PH, but Archipelago differs in that each dish is hand-created and served with fresh local PNW ingredients by expert kitchen craftsmen/women, and love. Some dishes also come with a backstory provided by the Owner and Chef, Aaron, and other team members. Island archipelago food history (PH, Indonesia) is more about a preparation style (sisig) than a strict french-like list of ingredients and cooking steps. Historically island ingredients were based on what was available that day. In this senseArchipelago is highly traditional, as the best dishes highlight fresh local ingredients with perfectly balanced or contrasting flavors. The menu changes often, so instead of writing about dishes I'll simply mention our last visit. The first dish was good. Wife nodded, "yes this place is good, but is it $500 good?" and I was left with a brief pause wondering if I would end the anniversary night with a happy wife. The next three dishes were a blur: we were so engaged enjoying them we didn't speak of anything beyond the flavors, each dish raising the bar from the last. By the end of dish four, my still-current wife expressed "OMG I love this place!". Subsequent dishes continued to surprise and delight, culminating in a dessert my wife said was the best she had ever had of that type, and possibly her all time new favorite. Happy wife, Happy life. We are grateful this amazing restaurant full of talented kitchen craftworkers, who love food and customers, exists within our reach. Likewise, thankful we can afford to visit here for our anniversary. If you are reading this, we highly recommend you come here as well. For reference, work once took us around the globe, and we've eaten at everything from street food carts to five star/Michelin/fancy-MG restaurants worldwide, and can confidently say this restaurant is one of our all-time favorite hidden gems. Many thanks to the ladies of Archipelago: Heather, Carlene, Miranda, and from past visits, Hannover, Ronnette, Anna, and of course Amber and Patron Pinay Mariah Arosa. Thank you Dom, (and Ethan), as well. read more

Where do I begin? We were lucky enough to get a reservation when they first opened their doors for indoor dining during the pandemic. It's an intimate restaurant with probably about 10 seats at the counter and 2 on the side. I felt quite safe as we dined on the side. They put up plastic barriers at the counter to separate the diners from staff. They do a chef's tasting course for everyone and it's quite nice that we all eat together for each course. Everyone was very professional and throughout the night, they told a story and the influence behind different dishes. They also had pictures and made use of the plastic barriers by displaying the pictures on the barriers. Despite not dining at the counter, we still felt very much a part of the group. I was very happy with each course they presented and really enjoyed this dining experience. It really isn't just okay here's 10 courses and this is blah blah blah. Aaron and Amber and the whole team really made it an event and an experience of story telling through food. They not only care about what dishes to prepare but also the source of it. They forage and use small local farms. Sometimes during restaurant tasting menus, they're small courses and you actually don't get full.. BUT NOT HERE! For the last main course, they asked how hungry you were still and made your dish based on that scale.. and there were still extras if you were still hungry! They even gave you a little something to take home to eat! I can't express how lucky I am to have scored a reservation. Needless to say, one of my top dining experiences I've had. read more

Archipelago was an absolutely amazing dining experience. Chef Aaron and his team do a fantastic job of telling the story of each course you have during the evening. The food is by far some of the best I have had from any restaurant in the Seattle area. This small unique restaurant will not disappoint. When you see that reservations are being booked jump on them as they sell out quickly. Chef thank you for a wonderful dinner and a lasting memory. Words can not describe the fabulous mean you and your team prepared. read more

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My wife and I sat at the counter along with 3 other couples and a group of 4 at an adjacent table. In total, Archipelago had capacity for 12 diners and six staff members, which created a distinctly personal and intimate atmosphere. The service was impeccable and gave attention to the small details. For example, around the second course, they picked up that I was left handed and adjusted their table setting accordingly. They carefully substituted ingredients for folks with special requests or allergies. The stories behind the dishes were fun to hear. The food was delicious (with the noodles and rockfish being my favorites)! It combined Filipino cuisine with PNW-sourced ingredients. We did the juice pairing, which was a nice break from the usual wine pairings. They had some interesting combinations including a blueberry-chocolate-mint-maple concoction. To my surprise, the juices paired very well. My only complaint is that the dinner felt small and could have benefited from a couple more savory courses or bigger portions. The chef did provide more steak and rice to those who wanted it for the last savory course based on how hungry you said you were, but this lacked the elegance of the other dishes and felt like a bandaid for proper portioning. I've always walked away from fixed-menu meals feeling satiated, so I do believe this critique to be specific to Archipelago. Overall, it was an enjoyable, intimate experience with unique flavors and dishes. read more

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This is the best meal I've ever had. Hands down. The owners let me frantically take notes though ...knowing they were going to give me the menu later *facepalm*. I'll go course by course. Server - Gracie Wife - Amber Chef - Aaron They pick up things that look like plates (shhh). Juniper leaves come from their tree in central district. Everything is local! So sustainable and so northwest. 1: Juice: White grape juice infused with peach blossom tea Wine: Capitol fizz Illahe Pan de sal with basil salt butter on Oregon wood slab, made with WA wheat -- grains from Sequim, Fairhaven in Oregon, small millers in nw 2: Juice: Apple juice infused with pine tea for pineapple juice because pineapples don't grow in the nw Wine: Syncline 2017 Boushey Vineyard Pickpool from Yakima valley Crisp, Light, dry Red rockfish raw cooked with vinegar and apple pieces Served on a rock slab with Juniper leaves that were lit on fire and topped with Sturgeon caviar and ham 3: Caramelized squash puree, spring fiddleheads, trumpet mushrooms, stinging nettle, morel mushrooms, purée base made with rockfish 4: Juice: Tart cherry juice with tangerine and ginger tea Wine: Alpenfire Aerlie rose cider Miki noodles, and a soft egg scramble with black garlic and smoked bacon loganisa 5: pea vines, red oil, baby bok choy leaves, spinach, salmon, fish roe "Sour soup" 6: Juice: red grape juice Wine: block 3 Syrah elephant 7 (44 cases made, only restaurant to serve it) 29 day aged ribeye w arrosa sauce w banana ketchup by Mariarosa who was part of the first migration of Filipinos and even attended UW 7: Juice: blueberry juice w valerian root Wine: Kiona chenin blanc Dessert of brown sugar pear, earl grey creme, and huckleberry ice 8: A dessert porridge of hazelnut butter, cornflour porridge, drizzled raw honey from Vancouver WA. Everything was absolutely delicious and perfectly presented. So highly recommended. read more

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Going in to this restaurant, I had low expectations because I'm usually not a fan of fine dining, and some times the hype is too much. However, I was surprised at how I thoroughly I enjoyed my dining experience here. Our friend was able to grab reservations for us 2 months in advance as they have very limited seating, so if you want to eat here, plan ahead! Also, they open right at 7, so if you come early, you will be waiting outside. Service: if this is solely on service, this place would have been a 5 star hands down. The details that the owner put in to make sure you have a good time is amazing. They hang your coats for you when you come in, there's a cellphone shelf for you to put in so it doesn't interact with the dining table, they use different utensils for each courses, they wipe down the crumbs , clean the table after each course, fill your water when it's low, etc. They even give you a small parting gift at the end of the meal! Food: if you come here expecting authentic Filipino food, you will be disappointed, as it's more of a fusion kind of place. My favorite dishes of the night was probably the first introduction course (not on the menu), Miki noodle, and the ribeye dish. The intro course was such a good start to what we be expecting, fresh local ingredients at it's finest. Miki noodle was a combo of breakfast and dinner Filipino food. I love how they cooked the noodle, it's chewy, grainy and earthy. The ribeye dish I like a lot because they ask how much you want. They ask how hungry you still are and the portion is based on what you answer. I also love that they explain every course and give you a little lecture on how it's related to the Filipino culture. A couple of things that I thought could be better: how the dining is set up, you can't really talk to people besides the person next to you. I know it's nice to have front row seats to see how the chefs cook the food, but it would also be nice to be able to discuss things with other people. Also, there's a mix vibe of it being fine dining and homey, which makes it confusing. For example, I notice during the steak course, although, the chefs said it was ok to use our hands to eat the bones, a lot of people still uses their forks and knives as it was a little awkward Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience and you will definitely get your money worth. read more

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Amazing experience, so much of Filipino history and stories were told. It's amazing to have chefs connecting food and history bringing teaching in a easy way for the clients. The whole narrative made sense, connecting Filipino culture with PNW, got the chance to learn a lot. At the end they gave a box with a dessert and had a text printed on the box that just almost made me cry. Very admirable that this groups are able to do this type of job. I had 9 course menu before but never had one like that. Another positive thing was that on the 7th dish they ask a number to know if you are still starving or full. Based on the numbers next dishes are made with a appropriate size. I was feeling full and was able to finish the 9 course but others felts hungry and had the chance to get more food. I thought this was brilliant. read more

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Filipino food not quite like your mom's yet still hits home. I've been able to sit at both the counter and the table and felt like it was home. I'd say come hungry, but if you've ever been to any Pinoy gathering- there's no such thing as too much food. The team operates like a well oiled machine and the passion for both food and the Filipino history here in PNW is just *chef kiss* they have juice and wine pairings available, I opted for the juice and they weee ALL delicious. It is quite difficult to get reservations, but if they ever do take out again- I strongly suggest their Nilaga! I can't wait to come back! read more

This dining experience is like no other. The atmosphere is inviting and everyone is so nice! I loved learning more about the Filipino heritage and how it ties back in with Seattle. The food is beautiful and delicious. sometimes I wished there were more of certain dishes since each tasting wasn't a huge portion (also so tasty!!). At the end of the night I left satisfied and they ask at the end how hungry are you and will serve you an amount proportional to your hunger level. You also go home with a little gift which is a nice touch. Lastly don't sleep on the juice pairing. All the juices were incredible and I have zero regrets adding it to my dinner. read more

Finally a real - authentic restaurant in Seattle with Michelin potential. A story, cute owners, fantastic tempo and staff. The food is historic and lovely. In 24 months this will be impossible to book. By far the best in the Seattle area and I am the consummate foodie. Waiting a month for this reservation was not a waste. 100% sure this will get a star the day Michelin travels this far West. Just fantastic!!! Come here even if it's pricy. read more

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Charming couple. We actually know them from our local coffee shop but never knew they were in the restaurant business. If you haven't made your advance reservations yet, don't wait. Get in while you can. At Archipelago, it's not just about an exquisite dining experience. It's also about this amazing couple's journey, their heritage, and their appreciation of the local culture, nature, and how we give back to the world. Each dish comes with a story; one deeper than the origins of the food or the farmer. It's more about what the food means to them. How it should speak to you. And how it honors their culture, the nature, and our relationship to the world. Such amazing care is taken to prepare the food. Everything from the tiny herb scissors, precise mini tongs, and gorgeous platters including rocks and stones they collected themselves! The dishes are well balanced and they ensure they offer the most fresh and unique options. They literally go to the farms to forage. Ok, I can say much more but I need to book our next visit! Enjoy! And write a review! This place is WELL WORTH THE PRICE AND TIME. Congrats to Amber and Aaron. You did it. read more

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This was the most amazing dining experience of my life. Every single course was absolutely incredible, which doesn't typically happen with a tasting menu. The experience also felt very personal, like we were at a friend's home for dinner, and we felt very well taken care of. I got the wine flight pairing to go with the meal, and every drink was great and went very well with each course. At the beginning of the meal I was asked about food allergies and aversions, and they very kindly accommodated my aversions with delightful substitutes. The last savory meal was also an absolutely incredible short rib and I loved that they "tailor made" it to how hungry or full you were, so if you were still hungry you could get more short rib. The desserts were also incredible and it was so thoughtful that we had a little pasty to-go, that could even be saved for the next day breakfast. I can't wait to come back and bring more friends here! read more

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The best dinning experience I had in a long time in Seattle, beyond the amazing food, the chefs attention to detail, and the interaction with the guest as well as educating the guest on the food makes the experience worth the price. Was super interested when I heard there was going to be a Filipino fine dining restaurant that opened, as there are so few Filipino restaurant anyway though that is changing recently. You have to make a reservation and pay in advance as its a very small restaurant and will only prepare food for the expected guest. Getting one of the weekend opening was a little hard had to go forward a few week to get a spot. Coming the the restaurant, it pretty nondescript on the out side, but very bright and welcoming on the inside. The two chef personally welcome you in and take your coat for you. Though its just the two, the service is a lot better than most places I have been to. There are only 12 counter seating, allowing you to watch the chefs cook right in front of you. This close seating is great as the meals go along, the chef will talk about the concept behind the food, the history of it, and Filipino/PNW culture. You can always ask them questions, in my meal I had an interesting talk about Jolibee, the great Filipino fast food chain. The concept behind the food is that is Filipino, but using ingredients found in the PNW, so when classic ingredients can't be found here, they chefs have to find a replacement, and it was interesting to hear there thoughts on that. read more

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Amazing experience! The entire staff was wonderful and the attention to detail was incredible. It was also great actually learning about some of the history and to celebrate the people of the Philippines. Obviously, the food was 10+/10. I'd recommend to anyone. read more

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Probably one of the best meals and dining experiences I've ever had. Every dish was so thoughtfully planned from how they source their ingredients to how it's presented to us. I love that they spoke on Filipino culture and some Filipino history that connected with the PNW. The service is above and beyond. Everyone is super attentive and warm and hospitable. I don't know what else to say. I treated myself to a belated birthday solo dinner date, and I enjoyed myself so much. The price point is high, but it was absolutely worth it for me. read more

Just wow. What an amazing dining experience. I'm not really a "fine diner" and rarely do I get excited about tweezer food but let's just say my thoughts have changed significantly! It's the smallest restaurant I've ever eaten at. You walk in and there's an open kitchen with a big counter with seating for eight. There are no tables and so it's really an interactive experience with the chefs. It's very intimate and not intimidating despite the enclosed and small space. The chefs encourage you to ask questions and speak with them. With each dish there's a story which I really appreciated. My favorite dishes of the night: *Hand mixed pandesal and cavier butter: THIS BREAD. OMG. So buttery and soooooo soft. The butter with cavier was the perfect touch. *Miki noodles: My favorite of all! There are so many interesting components to this dish and it just jives beautifully. The eggs, noodles, and crispy longanisa were delightful! *Prutang hielo: A beautiful summery dessert with a bit of sweet and a bit of tang. The earl grey lavender really stood out and surprisingly amazing. So happy I was able to visit and support a restaurant that loves the pacific NW and source all their ingredients locally. Filipino food at its finest! read more

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No surprise they have 35 5-star reviews to date. I'm from Jersey City and spend many, many weekends eating in NYC. I've experienced a decent amount of fine dining, tasting menu, and curated experiences... never have I experience quite something like this. The emotional connection you make with each and every dish thanks to the Archipelago team's literal and figurative story telling is mind blowing. I used to chuckle whenever I'd see people on Food Network getting emotional eating food, thinking they were playing it up for the camera.. but now I get it. Archipelago had me close to tears a few times learning about the history and the culture behind certain dishes and actually tasting it too. As Filipino Americans, my fiancé and I often leave upscale Filipino restaurants somewhat disappointed and finding that they were "too fusion" for our tastebuds. That their cooking wasn't meant for us.. however at Archipelago their cooking was for everyone.. including Filipinos. There were only 3 Filipinos in this room seated for 12, and it felt so special that 9 people walked away from the evening knowing so much more about my people's culture, history, and cuisine. The team at Archipelago are doing impactful, meaningful work here and I am grateful they are preserving and elevating Filipino cuisine and culture. read more

The passion of the team at Archipelago is obvious and I really appreciated the attention to detail. They make it a point to feel like you're at home with them, go out of their way to provide a good experience, and care very deeply about sharing their cultural identity through a shared food experience. The presentation of each course is inarguably the most thoughtful of any restaurant I've been to in the PNW. My palette didn't seem to be a match for the flavor profiles of some courses though, unfortunately. I totally get caring about people but the fact that a business still has plexiglass barriers and takes your temperature at this stage of the pandemic doesn't seem to be based on reasonable science, screams wokeism, and doesn't really resonate with me at all read more

Archipelago - Filipino Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Summary: Great cozy restaurant tucked in Columbia city. Worth a check if you want to try high end Filipino American/fusion cuisine The service is the highlight of the restaurant. Food (3.5/5) There were 2 dishes that stood out in the course of 6-7 we had. The chef and staff put a lot of thought into the dishes, and you can see that via the open kitchen of the cozy restaurant. However, if I were to nitpick, the food lacks a certain memorable punch for a fine dining restaurant. For Seattle, the price point for the quality of food is expensive compared to a lot of other fine dining restaurants which either offer a lower price point or higher quality (such as Tomo, Canlis, Shiro's). But, the comparison is unjustified as this is the only option available that provides a fine dining experience for someone looking for Filipino American cuisine in Seattle. What makes Archipelago so worth it despite this is the service, which is very high touch and justifies the cost (more below). Service:(5/5) There is a 2:1 ratio for guests to staff, which makes the restaurant really service. We loved how thoughtful the staff was, and they checked in multiple times, and spent time with each guest, giving stories of Filipino American history or recommendations for other Filipino American restaurants. Ambience (5/5) The restaurant has a cozy vibe with an open kitchen and seating for 12 people that makes the experience feel really personal. The staff go to great lengths to recreate Filipino American history, with mementos and stories that add to the ambience. Overall, I recommend guests to try out the restaurant once. I am excited to see the evolution of the restaurant and its food to bring up Seattle's growing fine dining scene. read more

Archipelago was imperatively needed in the Seattle area. Aside from the elevated, refined and thoughtful cuisine, Archipelago was the representation that Filipinos and Filipino cuisine needed to share our food, history, hospitality and passion. Now, onto the experience. The dinner is by reservation only, and it's a fixed price at $126 per person. The setting is intimate and conversational--the space holds 8 people per dinner service and is an inclusive chef's table where Aaron and Amber cook, plate, converse right in front of our eyes. The food is spectacular. It is redefined Filipino dishes that strictly utilizes the ingredients in the pacific northwest. Each dish has a story. Each dish is reimagined with a local twist. The menu (which comprises of 10-12 dishes) changes seasonally, and my favorite was their Sinigang with pork and.... cranberries! (Because they only use local ingredients, they utilized cranberries from Oregon to make the soup sour, instead of tamarind, which is traditionally used in Sinigang). Overall, I definitely am going to visit again as the menu changes! There was a level of excitement, intrigue, and luxury that came with my experience, which are great words to be said about Filipino cuisine. Go. Please. read more

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My dear friend Mia and I made a reservation for this tasting at Archipelago literally 3 months in advance. Let's just say it was well worth the wait! The decor of Archipelago is superb, think Anthropologie vibes, very home-y and warm. There are only eight seats, so it felt very exclusive throughout the tasting. Aaron and his wife, Amber are a husband-wife team, and they cook all of the yummy (and local) food! They are such a sweet couple, and are delighted to answer any questions customers have about the food. This was an eight course meal with five wine (or juice) pairings. Every dish was presented aesthetically, and you could tell they put a lot of care into each one. Mia chose wine, and I had the juice. I will go through each dish and juice pairing, so be ready! If you'd like a description of the wines, check out Mia's review! 1 White grape w peach tea infusion This was probably my favorite juice of the night. Very refreshing! Pan de sal (salted bread) with basil salt butter It was so round, cute, and fluffy! I'd definitely enjoy this for breakfast or with dinner any day. 2 Apple with pine tea infusion I think my second favorite of the night. I love all things apple. Red rockfish (raw cooked) and ham with sturgeon caviar I'm not a huge caviar person, aside from maybe flying fish roe, but I liked this one. The fish was very fresh. 3 Cherry with tangerine ginger tea infusion I could really taste the ginger in it, which I liked. Squash puree with fiddleheads, trumpet mushrooms, morels, and stinging nettles The texture is a little funky, but the flavor was decent. It was also my first time having fiddleheads and stinging nettles. I love any kind of mushroom, so those were tasty. Squash puree was smooth and creamy! 4 Miki noodles with black garlic, soft egg scramble, bacon longanisa My personal favorite dish of the night. I had never eaten longanisa before, but it was so indulgent and flavorful. The noodles are irregularly shaped, therefore some ends get a little crispy, which was a great textural component. 5 Pea vines, baby bok choy, salmon, fish roe, with cranberry rhubarb broth The salmon was cooked to my liking and the broth was interesting. Veggies were tender. 6 Red grape The best grape juice I had ever drank. 29 day aged ribeye, arrosa sauce with banana ketchup, spring asparagus I only had a small piece because I was starting to get full at this point, but it was pretty good. My favorite aspect of this dish was the arrosa sauce, very unique. 7 Blueberry with valerian root I tasted a lot of valerian root (not my favorite flavor), but it seemed healthy, and would make a nice juice cleanse. Brown sugar pear, honey crisp apples, earl grey cream, huckleberry ice This served as a palette cleanser. I liked the brown sugar pear the most out of all the components. 8 Porridge (made of cornflour) with hazelnut butter, raw honey Perfect ending to the meal. I highly recommend this spot! I can't wait to come back for another experience. read more

Archipelago - Filipino Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The awards and accolades that Archipelago has been receiving are definitely well deserved. I went there in December as a birthday present for myself and wow, what an experience. I'm Filipino so I've had a lot of the food at family parties, but WOW. I was not expecting myself to be so impressed. I still cannot get over the complexity of that Cebuchon and how crispy the skin was but how juicy the meat is. Every dish was just fantastic and each meal comes with a story. There was also a part where they check in how full you are. Because if you're not they might give you a little more food, which is something I've never seen in restaurants like this. I'm so proud of how Chef Aaron and Amber are putting elevated Filipino food in the spotlight. I definitely will be coming back to see what they will have in the summer or spring. Just make sure you book right when it opens cause it fills up so fast. read more

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I was never able to nab a reservation pre-covid and I always wanted to try the food from here. I decided to get the Thanksgiving Balikbayan Box. First thing, I did not realize that part of it was to prepare some of the dishes on your own. This is my fault for not fully reading all the details. The directions that come with the box are fully detailed but if you hate being in the kitchen like me then it might be a bit overwhelming. Nonetheless, the food was amazing. Complex and great flavors. I enjoyed all the dishes especially the honey egg tarts! Those were divine! I'm really glad that I got to experience the food. I really hope to be able to dine in once it's safe again! read more

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This experience was phenomenal. Service was wonderful and intimate. Food was great. See my pictures below. read more

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