Hungrygrrl

Cobe and I were given tickets to a few plays at the Seattle Rep for a wedding gift and we’ve used it as an excuse to check out restaurants in Queen Anne. Or I should say I’ve used it as an excuse. Cobe is just along for the ride. But he’s okay with it as long as we don’t repark. “How to Cook a Wolf” is just too far.

Crow, on the other hand, is the perfect distance. I went to Crow several years ago when it opened, but I just never think of driving to Queen Anne for dinner.

So last Saturday when the weathermen were still threatening snow instead of being covered by it, we trudged off to Queen Anne. Crow has this very cool thing, a “chef bar.” You sit on stools overlooking the kitchen and the view is so good it’s almost like you’re in the kitchen. Like watching Top Chef but without the drama.

It’s very comfortable at the Chef bar, the seats have backs, the bar is the right height, the lighting’s good. We ordered some wine and a mediterranean platter, and then watched as the chef pulled the pita off the grill, snugging it next to smokey baba ganoush and homemade hummus. Tapenade, roasted garlic, fresh feta– it was comforting and sophisticated at the same time, that perfect mix of creamy, sharp and salty.

Our entrees were sadly not so successful. Cobe’s gnocchi were precooked and then pan sauteed with kale, browned butter and squash, but they needed more flavor, perhaps a sauce. My scallops were well cooked, but a bit cold because (as I could see from my bird’s eye view) they sat while Cobe’s gnocchi sauteed. The bed of brussel sprouts and bacon was too heavy and overwhelmed the delicate scallop flavor. I wished I were eating that perfect farro and scallop dish at the Bohemian.

Staring at our neighbors dishes, I saw where we had gone wrong. Crow seems to excel at fine comfort food. The woman beside us was tucking into a beautiful beef tenderloin served atop mashed potatoes and roasted mushrooms with a lush gravy. My mouth watered.

Next time, I’ll go for the gusto.
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Crow

823 5th Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
www.eatatcrow.com