Hungrygrrl

I was totally unprepared for what I saw when we walked into Ten Mercer. Outside it looked suave, sophisticated, modern.

Inside? It was like Denny’s — worn wooden chairs, dated 1970’s patterned cushions, the clientele mostly in their 60s. The bar wrapped around in a faintly modern way, but was again all wood. Only the lighting above the bar was new, colored glass lights hanging down from a wrought iron rack. Even that looked tacked on, as if someone had thought to redecorate but couldn’t begin to think about replacing the chairs.

Sadly in the dim light my camera couldn’t capture it.

Our bartender came over to take our drinks, his shirt unbuttoned a little too much. He gave us the “you got it” salute after taking our order, pointing both index fingers like guns.

Just like Larry from “Three’s a company.” It almost made me like the place.

My drink was horrific, a pear scented vodka martina with a sugared rim that tasted like splenda, but what did I expect. I ordered something called “Pearadox.” Cobe’s “Fresca” was better, a vodka sour with homemade sour mix.

We both switched to wine (Yalumba and Inkberry) and started with the pancetta wrapped dates. These were incredibly rich, the date searingly hot and sweet and blending with the salty pancetta and small bits of cheese. It needed more bacon to balance the sweetness. Or maybe more cheese. Still we both liked them, cleaning the plate in 5 minutes and burning our mouths in the process. Cobe was charmed by the bits of basil.

“It really lightens the flavor.”

Entrees proved not so successful. The black cod was meltingly soft with a nice (if bland) flavor, but it was served over precooked polenta (the kind you buy in a roll) and had a mishmash of flavors. Were those really undercooked beetgreens? And thick sliced onion?

I ate the fish and left the rest.

Cobe had the salmon. As a true seattlite, he can eat salmon no matter how it’s cooked, but this was bad. They coated it with a melange of spices (like blackened salmon) and then cooked it to death. And served it with more polenta rounds and some sauce that didn’t blend. And a garnish of fennel greens.

All in all, not a bad place for drinks, especially if you like your bartenders kind of smarmy. I’d skip the meals though. Unless you’re over 60 and used to eating at Denny’s.

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Ten Mercer
10 Mercer St
Seattle, WA 98109
www.tenmercer.com
(206) 691-3723