I've been on a foodie's tour of Portland and Seattle, and this restaurant was better than any of the places I've eaten in both of those food cities. Why? Because the food had heart, there was passion in the menu, and the wait staff of ONE was managing the whole room and yet attended to our every need. Wow!
We started with two appetizers, an exotic mushroom dish cooked in sherry and basil and served over warm brie. The mushrooms were fresh, perfectly cooked, and the flavor was amazing! The brie was the perfect compliment and yet not too heavy that we weren't hungry for our entrees.
I had one of the specials of the evening, which was hazelnut-crusted chicken with lemon parsley brown-butter and Gorgonzola, served with potatoes and veggies. Everything came out piping hot, which I love, and perfectly cooked. Everyone who tasted my food said "Oh my God" which is definitely the measure of a well-prepared dish! The chicken was super tender and juicy, and the crust was absolutely perfect. The potatoes were crispy and almost burned on the outside but tender on the inside, another thing I love! The veggies were perfectly cooked zucchinis and carrots, bursting with flavor and freshness. It just so happens that my idea of a perfect meal is a super-fresh but simple veggie side, a yummy starch, and a perfectly prepared chicken, so I was in foodie heaven. Did I mention everything was perfectly cooked? Oh yeah, I think I did.
My dad had the duck salad, which looked like it had pecans and strawberries in it, and I know he likes it because when the lovely server came to our table, she said, "I know what you're ordering!" because apparently he eats the duck salad every time. He raved about it, but I was too engrossed in my own meal to weigh in on his.
The service was impeccable. This was especially impressive because the talented and friendly woman serving us was managing the whole room by herself and didn't miss a beat. All I can say is wow. Wow. All my special occasions will be held at this place for a while until I find my next restaurant to fawn over. Yum yum! Mimosas tomorrow! $2.00 on Sundays!
The chefs here capture that elusive alchemy that happens when great ingredients are combined with a true passion for food. It's hard to attain, difficult to describe, and rare to find. There's love in the food and you can taste it. They're the kind of chefs who inspire foodies like me to try to capture that essence in the meals we prepare at home for the people we care about. And I'll definitely be trying to re-create their dishes... the highest form of flattery.
P.S. Great shopping at the two vintage / second-hand stores up the street, and candles, yarn, and herbal potions all on the same block. Gotta love Port Townsend! read more