4. Restaurants

Crush

2319 E Madison St, Seattle, WA, 98112
  • (206) 302-7874
  • Store is closed

Crush Menu

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  • Anonymous X.

    Miniscule portions and service tends to dip a bit when busy. Food is tasty, though!

    (2)

  • Kelsey K.

    YUM! I took my ex significant other here for his birthday dinner. We were lucky to be on vacation when they had the 3 courses for 40 dollars menu in place. Everything was lovely food wise. We were stuffed at the end. (We did order desert on top of the 3 courses.) My favorite bite the whole night was the amuse busch. The waiter was fabulous! He brought out special chocolates to celebrate the boy's birthday. Such a lovely night! The only negatives: The ambiance was not quite my thing as it is a old house with a very modern decor. The modern part was not really to my liking. Can be a bit tricky to find.

    (4)

  • Vanetta W.

    The short-ribs are to die for! Melt-in-your mouth yummy.

    (4)

  • Karen S.

    Quite possibly the best meal I have ever had. Definitely a splurge, but I would highly recommend this for a special event. We went out for my 40th birthday, and a very rare date night away from our two-year old. Bread plate was very good. We ordered one more ($5). Surprise ramekin of soup sent out to all the tables by the chef. Cream of leek with white truffle oil and chives. You tasted it before it even touched your tongue. Sublime. Foie Gras - melted in your mouth. Excellent. Poached Hen's egg with black truffle oil. Very Good. Scallops - Cooked to perfection. Halibut - Excellent Spoonfuls of Grapefruit sorbet sent out by the chef. Palate-cleansing and refreshing. Valhrona Chocolate Desert platter with Happy Birthday written in chocolate sauce - Delicious Carrot Cake - I didn't try it but my husband loved it. I couldn't figure out why everybody else around us wasn't licking their plate. The service was prompt, knowledgeable and NOT pretentious. Noise level was just right. My husband had 2 beers and I had a sparkly drink of some sort. The bill was just shy of $200 before tip. Well worth it!

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    I had a great meal this weekend at Crush. The duck comfit was delicious, they have a nice selection of cocktails (the Bourbon Bliss was a great combination on flavors, like a slightly sweet Manhattan), the service was excellent, and I'm always happy when I can finish off a meal with a cheese plate for dessert. There was a slight wait (~15 minutes) for our reservation, but I don't begrudge it, and I was just happy to get a Saturday reservation in the middle of the week.

    (5)

  • Brian Q.

    Brought my girlfriend here for her birthday. Made reservations for a Friday night at 7pm and we were quickly seated. Drinks were very well made, but I cannot recall what we ordered. We ordered the duck and the barramundi and loved it. Wonderful presentation and extremely satisfying. We also ordered desert and they were nice enough to make a birthday presentation on the plate for us after overhearing it was her birthday. Service was very attentive and friendly. Atmosphere was comfortable, appealing, and just the right noise level where we didn't have to yell nor whisper to remain private. Overall a great place for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Susan L.

    I was in Seattle before leaving for an Alaskan Cruise, but spent a few days in Seattle before the cruise to visit with my niece that lives there. I had told my niece to pick a restaurant to go to. Her foodie friends recomended Crush. It was an excellant choice. We did the tasting menu and the wine pairing. Which was wonderfull, but the regular menu looked great too. I had seen some reviews complaining about the service, but the Friday night we were there the service was fantastic. The night we were there was nice enough, we could eat in the patio outside, which is a beautiful setting. I would highly recommend this and it is close to downtown in Capital Hill so easy to get to from downtown.

    (4)

  • Danielle S.

    Each dining experience at Crush is an occasion I look forward to and find my expectations are exceeded each visit. The cuisine is always based on the freshest ingredients available. Each entree is well composed and thought out, always paired with the most creative and complementary accompaniments. The wines offered are some of the finest available, ranging from well-known favorites to specialty wines that are difficult to find. I enjoy asking the sommelier for new recommendations. After years of dining at Crush I recently tried a cocktail which the bartender had created from scratch, I was astonished with the quality and creativity. I can't wait to return and share my favorite restaurant with friends! Remember to call for reservations

    (5)

  • Nita M.

    I took my crush to Crush, and though the company was absolutely wonderful and the ambiance very nice and date like, I think the James Beard award winning chef could have produced better food. My boyfriend thought overall his meal was above average and I thought mine was just average. It seemed like there were some silly mistakes (oversalting) and more effort could have been put into some dishes (cold hard brownie? come on, warm that baby up). We had: - Plancha Asparagus with Goat Cheese and Salad: Good. The asparagus were nicely roasted but the salad dressing was way oversalted. The presentation was nicer than the taste. - Duck Confit Salad: My boyfriend had this, and liked it enough to finish the plate and he isn't much for salads so it must have been good. - Gnocchi: Really great melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi swimming in a delicious creamy flavorful sauce, nicely complemented with thin slices of chanterelle mushrooms. I didn't love the combination with the sweet fruit garnish on the dish, but ate it separately and enjoyed it. This was was easily the standout dish from the night. - Pork Tenderloin with Couscous: The couscous was absolutely gorgeous with bright reds, oranges, and a deep red purple sauce but it tasted like regular couscous you can make at home or get from Whole Foods. - Cheese Plate: The cheeses were great but I think they could have done a better job with the accompaniments. The gouda came with an Indian spiced nut mix, which was just ok. - Peanut Chocolate Ice Cream with Brownie and Salted Caramel: I expected to love this because I make ice cream sundays at home frequently consisting of ice cream, peanut butter, chocolate, warm cookies or brownies, and caramel sauce...I figure the fancy version of that would blow my sock off. Well this dessert was disappointing. The brownie was hard, cold, and not particularly flavorful. The ice cream was good but there needed to be a lot more salted caramel sauce. I really don't know how it's possible to mess up a brownie sunday, but they managed to do it. I'm glad I went and tried Crush, but I don't think I'll be returning. The ambiance is very nice and it's a good date spot (minus the especially long tables which makes it a wee harder to hear your partner...which can work by getting them to just sit next to you instead of across from you). The drawbacks is that the portions are really rather small (after bread, appetizer, entree, dessert, and second complimentary dessert I was still kind of hungry) and I don't think the quality of food justifies the cost.

    (3)

  • Josh H.

    Excellent. Every bit of food I ate was delicious, well prepared, and presented well. Atmosphere was a bit over the top given the space (I would drop the funky futuristic white chairs), but it was also cozy, clean and well thought out. Service was attentive, patient and helpful. I had the Japanese Hon Hamachi Crudo appetizer. Very good. The preparation was fresh, and accented the mild flavor of the fish. For a salad I went with the Winter Garden Greens Salad. I wasn't a fan of the baby beats, but otherwise if was excellent. My Rosemary & Cinnamon Roasted Venison Loin? Wow. So good. I grew up in the midwest, and I have eaten my share of Venison. This was absolutely top flight. My wife is a vegetarian, and they did not have any veg entrees listed. The waitress spent about 3-4 minutes asking my wife what she likes, what she doesn't like, talked about options, then told her the kitchen would come up with something good. What came out was a risotto dish that was scrumdiddlyuptious. So tasty. Extensive wine/cocktail list. This would be a good place to take a hot date (yes, its going to cost you some $$$), or a romantic evening for 2. Large groups? Probably not the best in the main dining room. They do have a larger space upstairs you can reserve for parties. We will be back, no question.

    (5)

  • Bethany W.

    this comes a couple weeks after i went, so the memory's not as fresh as i would like. I was fortunate to have a friend treat me to dinner here for Seattle Restaurant Week. It's pricey for me, I wouldn't go otherwise. This was a rare and enjoyable experience. PROS: Lady Luck was with us for parking. We went there just before 6 pm and managed to find street parking within two blocks. Usually, I'd imagine it's a challenge, considering the location. We were seated promptly. The restaurant is inside an old house, so there's a cozy feel and they've managed to make the most of the space. The decor, however, feels very modern. LOVED all the natural light coming in through the windows. The restaurant was appropriately lit when the sun went down. A lot of white, so Okay, FOOD. It was one of those dining experiences where I'd try a bite of my friend's order and prefer what he was having. :P My pork belly was delicious, I will say that. However, I really remember my friend's squash soup. Coming into fall, it was such a perfect dish for that evening. We decided to do the wine sampling along with the dinner and our server was SUPERB at matching up the wine and food so they complimented each other so well. He was well informed and very attentive throughout the evening. Again, this review is coming a bit late, so I don't remember the specific names, but I stuck to white all evening. CONS: Not necessarily a con, but i don't think I'd go back when the menu is at the regular prices. The food was good, but I don't know if I'd think that if it wasn't Restaurant Week. However, that could be my inexperienced (but steadily developing) palette, so how dare I! All in all, a good dining experience. I liked getting "crush"ed. The bad jokes start, and I must go.

    (3)

  • Mili V.

    I love this place! Chef Jason is AMAZING. I had the "Carlton Farms Suckling Pig" and it was absolutely fantastic!

    (5)

  • Andrea J.

    At Crush, with a little help from the sommelier and a glass of chenin blanc, I bid good-bye to my mid-twenties. Its just too bad I had to do this while sitting next to the bathroom, in quite possibly the worst seat in the house. IT WAS MY FUCKING BIRTHDAY and as you only begin the inevitable slide towards your thirties once, I thought it should be in a marginally better seat--like maybe the second worst seat in the house? Oh well. I didn't let the flusing toilet distract me from the hamachi crudo with castelvetrano olives (my favorite kind!) and preserved lemon. It was undoubtedly the best thing I've eaten since a dinner at Art of the Table last summer. I also had some of my boyfriend's octopus and it too was explosively tasty. The entrees however, did not blow me away. I had the sea bass, and while it was cooked perfectly, the flavors were very muted. I also tried the rabbit roulade and found it a little tough and chewy. Desserts were good, but nothing out of the ordinary; sorry but I don't even feel like bothering to write about them--lazy me. Cocktails...I like to write about those, but I like to drink them more. I was excited to see a rhubarb drink on the menu, but it was way too sweet. Its a little obsessive of me, but I hate that rhubarb doesn't receive the respect it deserves. Yes, it is tart, but so is grapefruit juice, and most good bartenders don't cover that up with two pounds of sugar (I'll come off my soapbox now)! If I return, I think I'll do what the couple next to us with the better seats did: order four appetizers and one entree to share. I'll also try not to throw my knife across the entire damn restaurant. It was embarassing, and so loud that the waitress came running.

    (4)

  • Lisa B.

    Normally this place would be out of my price range, but the happy hour is doable. The sliders and the salmon gravlax were truly amazing, and although they were still pricey (a little over $10 for what is basically an appetizer) I felt like I got enough bang for my buck in terms of quality. Service was good, and happy hour wine prices are fine if you get the trio. A nice outdoor patio on a sunny day made it the perfect meal. (it also helps if you're not super hungry to begin with).

    (4)

  • Sherah S.

    For our 2-year anniversary, I reserved a table for my boyfriend and I (online), noting that we were celebrating this occasion. To my delight, Crush really went out of their way to make it special for us. When we arrived, the hostess congratulated us (my!), and once sat, our server set a couple of glasses of champagne, on the house, in front of us. She wished us a happy anniversary, and we felt all special and cool and stuff. The food was great! We had a cheese plate, the gnocchi appetizer, I had the pheasant, and the Bordello I had with my meal was perfect. I don't really have much to add. All was good, and of excellent quality. Worth the $$$. The dessert was pretty special, even though I didn't really love it. We ordered the eggnog custard (this was the end of December), and it was too spiced for my liking. However, the "Happy Aniversary" written in chocolate ganache on our plate was so sickeningly awesome that I didn't care. I was full anyway. A very good choice for romantic dinner, especially an anniversary. Would do again.

    (4)

  • Francesca S.

    Went here last night for a girl's night for SRW. The fact it's in a house and the interior with all of the white and wood enticed me to give it a 4 star. It gives you a feel that you're really not in Seattle, you're at someone's house in another country. They have a really large bathroom that has a tub in it! In all my years eating out, I have nver seen such a thing and I kinda like it. Service was great, we got sat upstairs, which was fantastic. With regards to food it's in between 3-4 stars. I would give 3 1/2 if I could. Off the SRW menu we ordered the leek and potato soup and the pork belly with polenta. The ladies loved the pork belly/polenta, my girlfriend and I liked the soup, the flavor was great, the only odd thing was it was bordering warm/cool on temperature which threw it off. Some bites were warm, some were cool. Entree we ordered the ling cod, braised short rib and the bolognese. The cod was good, moist flavorful as was the short rib. I had the bolognese. It was just ok. The pasta was very al dente, which I do not know how they get it that way being fresh pasta. It had a very sour taste to it, like it was simmered with lemon juice. It had potential, but not something I would order again. For dessert we got the chocolate beignet's and the pumpkin cheesecake. The beignet's were good. They tasted like a hot chocolate doughnut. The pumpkin cheesecake was eh. Literally...EH! I've read other reviews on here and I agree with them all, this was not a cheesecake, it was a pumpkin flan. The texture was nothing of a cheesecake. The presentation was adorable but the only decent thing about it was the ginger ice cream. I would like to come back just to have some drinks and transpose myself to another time, but I'm on the fence if I would come back to eat. Food was good, average so maybe something off the normal menu might tip the scales for me. We shall see.

    (4)

  • Shane S.

    Great vibe inside a small house!! The staff is friendly and kept nice attention to detail. During the summer make sure you ask for a table outside to get the true romantic Northwest experience! It is Seattle and it is hardly available!! The food was very good with exceptional presentation... the open kitchen (same size as mine haha) was a real treat. They also add a few complimentary "little bites" which is cool.... for us a sip of asparagus soup and a little chocolate. Our entrees were the strip steak and the 48 hr short ribs which were both very good.... however not the absolute best I have had. The other small item for me was a few dishes were a bit sweet for my tastes such as the foie gras pate (seasonal cherries I assume). They do vary some of the dishes a little as the seasons change!! I really like places that keep things fresh! Anyway a great representation of "Northwest cuisine"

    (4)

  • Gabriela S.

    The food is amazing. That being said, the service is snooty at best. I went there during Restaurant Week and my mom and I were treated like crap. I gladly go out for dinner and drop $200 for wine and dinner for two. However, the waitress assumed we would not be the kind of people to return and spend any money since we were there for Restaurant Week. She is right, I probably won't be back to Crush to spend anything. Why should I if they assume I won't? This city has far too many amazing places with way better service to waste my time with Crush. I would have given a 1 star review had the food not been amazing.

    (3)

  • Navin C.

    Seattle's hottest restaurant is CRUSH! Chef Jason Wilson provides the answer to the question... "Whaaaa??" Drive up to a questionable area, park in a place you're not sure you can park in, and then walk up to what feels like someone's house... but I kid (not really). Oh but from the moment you walk through the door you are transported to another world with a welcoming staff, cozy ambiance and a semi-casual but eccentric contemporary space. This place covers it all with the menu - very light and delictable starters and great wine selection to get you started. Then on to the main course where we had the lamb chop and the braised and glazed beef short ribs - absolutely perfect on both! And just when you thought it was finished they hit you with a flourless chocolate cake with a caramel glaze and sherry soaked cherries... I think I'll be thinking about that meal for a while as I invent a new special occasion that warrants going back for more!

    (5)

  • Meredith K.

    A cold cucumbery gin cocktail, a lovely patio and a hot summer evening... what more could you want? I've been impressed every time I've been to this restaurant. It's nice to sneak in early without a reservation and sit at the bar thingy where you can see the open kitchen. Being the oldster-early-birdies we are, that's often where we end up, but on Saturday we sat on the patio out back. The chef was feeling inspired that night and we were delivered an appetizer, fried salmon skin chips (think pork rinds, but fancy) with two dips, an avocado one and a creme fraiche fish roe one. We had a couple small plates, sweetbreads and the octopus/pork belly dish... both fantastic. The wine we ordered was not properly chilled, so they delivered us a lovely rose bubbly on the house, nice! While the wine sat in the ice bucket, along came the main course, sea bass. It was so perfectly prepared with a lovely golden crust to the top, ah! it was great. So we sucked down the wine, finished the fish, and it was on to dessert. My hubby loves chocolate, but I wanted the peach pie, so that's what we ordered. What's this?? Out come BOTH desserts because our server felt so bad that the wine wasn't ready on time. Okie dokie! And they gave us port to go with the chocolate gratis too. That, plus the dessert wine and brandy we ordered and, whew! at least we did the responsible thing and called Seattle Town Car to come pick us up.

    (5)

  • Riani I.

    Overall was good. I went there for my anniversary dinner and we both had really good meals. The only thing unsatisfying is the portion of the food. Dessert and appetizer was fine. I ordered the rabbit roulade and the 48 hour braise pork.

    (5)

  • Jerry N.

    Crush(ed). I ate here with Wesley C. way back in early November of 2010, and had solid food with rotten service. For greater detail, check out his review. Here's my take: Excellent food. Perhaps not precisely my bag, but I can recognize and appreciate excellent food. Terrible service, especially for what this restaurant purports to be. Staff attitudes left some to be desired, and the kitchen was very inconsistent on what they were willing to accommodate for our party of 7. We were told that the individuals in our party would not be permitted to order anything other than the 6-course prix fixe dinner because "it's too much work for the kitchen". Then, they express willingness to completely change each and every course of the prix fixe menu to accommodate food allergies/aversions...huh? Then, despite their award winning status and "$$$$" on Yelp, they botched 1/6 of the courses for 3 of the diners at our table. Probably the final thing that chapped me was that they also made a big deal about not allowing anybody at the table to simply order a meal that wasn't part of the prix fixe menu because they were concerned about how long that individual might end up waiting around without food. Ignoring the fact that this made no sense to me (I can sit and watch other people eat, I'm a big boy), they didn't seem to care when two individuals added an additional course to their dinners (served between the 3rd and 4th, I think), which left 5 of us sitting for 45 minutes (I kid you not) while they ate their foie gras (20 of which were spent eating; the rest was waiting for clearing and serving). Huh. My final complaint is in regards to time. I understand and appreciate that a nice dinner--nay, an award winning dinner with 6 courses should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. To do otherwise would be an injustice to the chef, the establishment, and the company you've chosen to spend your evening with. As it turns out, your entire evening. Dinner took 4.5 hours. That's half a work-day, y'all. And that's just a little excessive.

    (2)

  • Emily C.

    We walked in for our reservation a few minutes late and were greeted by the chef, with a welcoming smile. I apologized for our tardiness and Chef smiled, stating that he was just glad we were there. We proceeded to our table and picked our dishes- all appetizers because they seemed more intriguing than the mains. Our server approached and was extraordinarily friendly, informative and helpful (as opposed to the haughty server we have experienced at many Seattle establishments). We were were still debating among the appetizers and the server was forthcoming with advise, without being pushy. We chose three and ordered. A few minutes later, another staff member came over and apologized that they were out of one of the dishes we ordered and asked what she could get us instead. We waffled a bit and were choosing between two other apps. We decided on one and ordered. We were brought some lovely breads- there were some small cheese puff-like pastry rolls, some miniature pretzel shaped rolls and sliced bread. The cheese puffs were delicious. The pretzels were a bit dry (granted, it was the end of the night) and the sliced bread was nothing special. We also got an amuse bouche from the kitchen- a small spring ramp soup that was warming, creamy and delicious. The server brought out the first dishes and the kitchen kindly gave us both of the two apps we had been debating between in replacement for the one app they had been out. The tartare was flavorful, chopped a bit more coarsely than what I have typically been served, but the chew was exceptionally tender. There was a garnish of lightly pickled beets and ramp, which added just the right acidity and bite. There were three slices of a carpaccio atop very finely chopped egg as well. savory and satisfying. The other plate was a lovely Hamachi. A fantastically balanced dish with radishes, carrots and micro greens. There were three stripes of saucy garnish on the beautiful plate- one that seemed to be of cocoa and cumin, another with curry and cardamom and another foam- possibly of celery. Delectable. The next two plates arrived- the foie gras was probably the best I have had in Seattle- nice sweet/savory balance and perfectly cooked. Along with the truffled duck egg with spanish jamon and asparagus. The texture of the duck egg was beautiful- popped open the yoke that oozed and flavored the rest of the plate. It felt decadent. (it was.) It also was garnished with a prosciutto powder that was the essence of flavor. We did not really have room for dessert, but decided we had to try the carrot cake (with carrot gelee, cream cheese, and walnut mousse) It was balanced, fresh, sweet and satisfying. I have to say, I had not expected to love this place- but, i am thrilled to have found it and will definitely return. It had a great mix of classic and new gastronomic approaches. It was a really fantastic experience.

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Simply put, the tasting menu at Crush was one of the best meals that I have ever had. I walked into the nondescript house on Madison, not knowing what to expect, and found a very nice "New York style" interior. They take our coats and seated our party, and that is where the awesomeness began. Their cocktails were great (I had the Orange Crush, which was not at all over the top with its orange flavor). The bread was amazing (these little gruyere stuffed rolls -- omg). The wine list looked good. So we ordered the tasting menu with wine pairing. From the start the dishes were a great combination of flavor, visual appeal, appealing ingredients, and in portions that were completely appropriate -- not too much and not too little. Everything was prepared to perfection, and the pairings went quite nicely with the dishes -- in some cases contrasting and in others complementary. Topping it all off was a wonderful array of desserts and some great espresso. We were in heaven. Oh, and the service was some of the best I've ever seen. Professional, friendly, and accommodating. I am adding this to my list of favorite restaurants, and I encourage you to get over there asap and explore. It's exquisite. (make sure you get the braised beef short ribs, please!

    (5)

  • John M.

    Our daughters gave us a certificate for Crush to celebrate our 38th anniversary. What a special place! Each course was perfection and the wine list is very well balanced. Service was warm and professional. Clearly one of the top restaurants in Seattle!

    (4)

  • Kathy C.

    I have been here twice, once for work and once personal. Good: - Food was delicious. I ordered the 48 hr braised short ribs. DELICIOUS. Had asparagus w/ truffles and eggs. That was great too. - Service: waitress was really nice Bad: - Slow: We had an appetizer each, a main and dessert. We arrived at 8pm and didn't get done till 10:15! After we ordered and got our bread, the next course didn't arrive for at least 15 - 20mins. - Chair: The white chairs was not comfortable. My tall husband found it hard to sit for 2 hours in. - Manager: When I went there for work, my group was a little loud. The manager didn't like that. She literally GLARED at us for a good 5 mins while my boss made a speech. When I went back for my personal visit, I expect her to be nicer. Nope, still rude and very pretentious. Would I go back? Yes - the food was REALLY delicious. I'll put up with slow service and uncomfy chair any day. My husband's opinion - meh... he'd rather try other restaurants.

    (4)

  • Jamie B.

    I went with my boyfriend on a busy Saturday night. We had reservations and were seated immediately, but we waited over 40 minutes for drinks and bread alone, by then I was starving. The service was deplorably slow. I had to call someone over to the table to get a second glass of wine while it seemed like tables around us were also either not getting serviced or being serviced much quicker. Very strange. When we got the food it was underwhelming. My date's dish was lukewarm. While tasty, prices were quite high for the food and level of service overall. We were there 2.5 hours just to finish a meal. I will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Austen H.

    I am emotional about the experience I had a crush tonight. I made a reservation for 6:15, with the intent of celebrating a belated Valentines Day with my Fiancée. Traffic was obviously terrible, and when i called to let them know that we may be late, the host was such a gentleman, and reassured me that our table would be held. Upon arrival, the host brought us two glasses of champagne (per my online reservation request), and the service was amazing from that point on. A note to everyone: This is how dining out should be experienced. The service was remarkable, the food gorgeous and delicious, and overall, this place is a true Seattle treasure. A very sincere thank you to our server and the rest of the staff at Crush. You made our (belated) Valentines day so special.

    (5)

  • Jeannette C.

    I'm surprised to see this place with such a high average rating. Based on the informed opinion of a foodie friend, I gave Crush a second chance last night after a disappointing first experience there (which entailed undercooked risotto and gritty scallops). It was still disappointing. This time there is no amuse-bouche (the best part of my poorly prepared meal last time). None of the starters are appealing--I do not care to start a meal with raw or organ meats. Short-ribs alleged to be braised 48 hours are not fork-tender, and their fat and tissue are not broken down as expected. Wines I recognize on the list are marked up *300-400%*. And if you can't puree a potato without turning it into glue, then you should not puree a potato. The ambiance is nice, except for uncomfortable seats, and the music is good. The wine list is well-informed, if marked up more than usual. So it's not a bad place for a pretentious date with no real palate. I was neither offended nor impressed with the service either time I went. You can get better New American or French fusion cuisine for less money several places in town.

    (2)

  • Chet F.

    "Chef tasting menu paired with wine. Foie, sea bass, lamb" Those are the only notes I had in my phone from our dinner. Here is what I remember... The best meal I have had in Seattle, it even beat the duck for 2 at Canlis. Unfortunately I had a couple drinks pre dinner, a scotch on the rocks right before the first course and wine paired with the next 49 courses. The food was PERFECT. Nothing more need said. Actually if you are going to eat at a place like Crush, you probably are not making your decision by a couple Yelp reviews anyways. Go enjoy an epic meal, and bring your checkbook.

    (5)

  • Jonathan R.

    My Seinfeld-esqe streak of not throwing up was broken by Crush. I also do not like plastic chairs. I get modern. There's no reason to have a molded plastic chair in a restaurant unless said restaurant also has a Playland. Food poisioning and comfort aside, it was a good experience while it lasted. This is why I can't bring myself to give it only one star. Typically if you throw up, its an automatic one star. But I suspect it was an isolated incident and am willing to give it another go - one day.

    (2)

  • Eric K.

    I went to Crush once a little while after it opened and actually remembered liking it quite a bit. So I was excited to try them out again during restaurant week. Unfortunately it turned out to be pretty disappointing. First of all, the chairs! The white crazy chairs are not made for tall people. My butt was hurting along with the rest of my body after we finished dinner. It felt like I was getting punished for eating there. I'm 6'6" so hopefully most people don't have as many problems as I did with them. Then there was the service. Everyone was nice but whenever they plated a course they would basically turn and leave right away. No asking if we had what we needed or anything. Plate down and run. I must have smelled. And then there was the food. While it was not bad by any means it was definitely not worth the price. You can get similar quality food at other restaurant in the area that charge in the upper teens. Here are my thoughts on the dishes we tried: dungenoness crab ravioli - One ravioli and kind of bland honestly nettle soup - a highlight of the night pork belly - meat was decent quality but the overall dish wasn't inspiring hanger steak - I liked how it was slices so it was easy to share and it was good but not worth the normal (non restaurant week) price Trofie Pasta in Nettle-Gruyere Cream - the other highlight of the night but not exceptional cheese plate - one type of cheese and not a very unique or delicious cheese doughnuts - OK but nothing compared to the $8 donuts at Lola (that can also be bought from Dahlia Bakery) I walked away from Crush feeling like I had had a decent meal but not really excited about it. I also felt it ended up feeling that it wasn't worth the price we paid and definitely not worth the normal prices. I doubt I'll be back unless I hear things have drastically changed.

    (2)

  • Katy C.

    Came here for Seattle restaurant week on a random thursday night. I had the blue hubbard squash soup with bacon and sage cream Seared pork tenderloin with maize foie gras sauce, grits and popcorn sauce. My boyfriend had the roasted beet salad with truffle sauce and beef strip loin with carrots, kale and bordelaise. The soup was a bit cold, tasty and very rich. I don't like beets but it did look good and my bf liked it especially with the truffle sauce. The pork seared a bit rare (not exactly in my taste), but was delicious with the foie sauce and most interesting popcorn sauce that tastes like popcorn. The beef was tasty as well, but I feel like all the dishes were a bit colder that I would like. I would say the dishes were all warm. Dessert: Chocolate coffee flour cake with candied cranberries and vanilla chantilly and Pumpkin Panna Cotta. the cake was really sweet to which my bf thought it was too sweet and he has a sweet tooth. He really enjoyed the panna cotta, which I did not taste. (I'm not a big fan of pumpkin anything). The dishes here were rather small, and okay tasting, looking at the regular menu a bit pricy. Just glad that I went when it was restaurant week, which was a great deal for the three course meal.

    (3)

  • Randi M.

    How disappointing. Overrated. Overpriced for what it is. Ruined our New Year's Eve with a trip for Malox to calm an upset stomach. It should have been a red flag for me that it was easy to get reservations for New Year's Eve at any hour I wanted them the day before the event, and that they did not put their New Year's Eve menu on their website. Alas, I was tempted by a foodie friend who said this is the place people are talking about. Well, talk no more! New Year's Eve 5 course meal with 3 glasses of wine between us for $350. That would be just fine if it was good food. Instead it was largely bland tastes (or worse, BAD tastes -- I will elaborate below), we are both hungry afterwards, and my poor husband's stomach hurt so much we had to run to the store to get Malox. We think it was the lobster that had gone bad and made him sick, which was so rubbery, it was actually a gummy bear consistency. it was so chewy. Really. Strange. I felt like I was chewing bubble gum while eating it. I see that they served that for Christmas dinners as well -- perhaps the same lobster, a week older? and overcooked? I don't know enough about cooking to know why it was so rubbery, but it was. Lobster was served with a "foam" sauce that was very good tasting, but some parts of it were overwhelmingly lemon flavored, some no lemon at all -- inconsistent. The cod served was so sweet that neither one of us cared to eat it. Perhaps that's why we are both still hungry. When the woman came to take it away, and saw that neither one of us had eaten this course, she didn't bother to ask if it tasted OK. Guess she knew we hated it. She was the 5th staff member to have come to our table. Not one staff member ever introduced themselves by name to us, and just as other reviewers have stated, there was a strange number of people coming to our table without introduction to serve different pieces of the meal. Gives you a strage "well served but under cared for" feeling. There were two highlights of the meal -- an appetizer called "bacon and eggs" made of salmon roe over flan -- inspired, sweet and deliciously different. Also, the dessert chef is to be commended -- the mini-muffin-sized chocolate lava cake served with a spoonful of salted caramel, huckelberries and homemade ice cream is amazing, and the browned butter ice cream served with brandy soaked berries over peanut brittle is a near-miss -- the peanut brittle was too strong of a flavor for the very subtle brown butter ice cream, but still good, In summary, if this place won a James Beard award, unfortunately something dramatically bad/wrong has happened since the time the award reviewers ate here. Also, the dessert chef is talented -- if he is the owner, he should turn this place into a bakery or dessert place instead. If he works here, then his excellence is being showcased at the wrong establishment -- he should go into business for himself -- again, Seattle needs a bakery! Revision to my review -- the owner reached out to me and asked us back to try to make the experience better. Although it is doubtful that my husband will ever want to set foot in this place again, I do appreciate the offer to try to make things right -- at least they do care that much. Therefore, I've raised my star rating to 3 stars -- any place that really cares is still trying to make things right, and in my book, that means their offering may improve.

    (3)

  • Sarah C.

    Crush is a dream - though not one you'd have every night. I think cost is significant, but so are value perceptions. If you aren't happy with exquisite ingredients, perfectly cooked, in portions that could never be called 'gut-buster', and then paying for the excellence put into it, you aren't going to be happy here. I'm a college kid, I don't have any money. Someday I might do this kind of thing more regularly, but even now, a few hundred for exquisite immediate gratification and beautiful memories, is worth it. This has also been one of the most winning first dates I've ever been on. (Granted, I'm not with that guy any more, but it was a good start.) Tips to get the most out of a Crush experience: design your own tasting menu. (If you have an eye for it.) Any of the dishes can be split and offered to two as a course. 4 entrees and you've got four perfectly sized courses. Select a bottle, enjoy the amuse, add a palate-cleansing cocktail or two, and share a dessert over candle light. Order some of their in house glass bottled water - still or sparkling, or both. You'll spend a lot, but you'll get a lot too.

    (5)

  • Linda C.

    Chic little place tucked away in seemingly the middle of nowhere. Atmosphere is trendy -- like NYC, LA, SF kinda trendy -- refreshing! Seattle restaurant week menu was tasty. The portions seem small when you first see them, but at the end of it all, you're in that perfect place where you're not too full. The whole thing seemed just a bit rushed -- plates were cleaned as soon as the last bite was taken, and the next entree immediately appeared, but service was gracious otherwise. Look forward to trying their set menus.

    (4)

  • Methinks S.

    Can we say "a crushing disappointment?" This place is in the Central District so I hoped it was just far enough past Capital Hill to escape the snooty pretentious service and "modern" minimalist vibe. Alas no. In an effort to look modern and chic this place of course looked like an Ikea rip-off mixed with the set of Beetlejuice. The overall effect if awful, cold, stark, uncomfy, mildly trippy but in a distracting way, not a cool way. So, negative points for ambience. The food was also unremarkable and overpriced. I had the Hawaiian Sea Bass, which the server described to me as "buttery." Not even close. It was completely bland, cold, and lifeless, and $32. Very disappointing. Also the service was wretched. One of my friend's daughters is lactose intolerant so she asked if she could order the little girl some sorbet. The server said they didnt carry sorbet, but when we opened the menu there were two desserts that came with sorbet, green apple or raspberry, right there. My friend inquired again, and the server still refused to give in, stating something about "precise portions" and "only as a side." Ridiculous! What kind of cold hearted Beetlejuice meets Ikea restaurant would make a little girl sit there and watch while her friends wolf down cheesecake and not spare her a spoonful of sorbet? Hideous. All in all this place is a cold fish atmosphere that incidentally serves cold bland fish as well. We accrued a $150 bill somehow and were still starving when we got home. Never go here!

    (1)

  • Iris M.

    My Husband and I finally got a chance to go to Crush for Seattle Restaurant Week. Although we had reservations at 6:00 pm, we unfortunately, did make it until 6:10. Luckily we didn't have any issues being seated right away. I didn't really care for where we sat because it was right in front of the "staging area" on the second floor, but the place was packed when we got there and I'm happy we got a table right away. The service was good. I just wished that our dishes were explained more because I love listening to people describe food. This is what we had: Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras "Steak" with waffle and huckleberry compote. We ordered this in addition to the 3 for $25 menu. This dish was an amazing way to start off the meal and definitely the best foie I've had in Seattle. It was a very large piece for the price and I loved the seared candied crust. The center was still cool, which I've never had prepared that way before, but I liked the contrast in temperature. The huckleberry compote was a nice acidic contrast the the rich butteriness of the foie. The waffle aided in the soaking of the foie juice. Yum! 5-stars! PORK BELLY!! served with farro, golden raisins, candied bacon in a rich demiglace-like sauce. This was the most perfect piece of pork belly I ever had. I love the contrasting texture of the farro as well. My only complaint was that after the foie and the pork belly, I was craving acid like a madwoman. It was still a very good dish. 41/2 stars! Gnocchi with Pumpkin and Trumpet or Chanterelle mushrooms. This dish didn't wow me like the others. 3 stars. ***My husband shared a piece of his savory bread pudding that came with his steak and it was delicious to the EXTREME. Vanilla Bean custard Beignets with caramel and a fruit compote. I can't fully describe how awesome this dessert was. It was awesome at the ultimate level. Imagine a cube of delicious vanilla custard with real vanilla beans coated in a crusty layer of golden panko breadcrumbs dusted with powdered sugar. 80 MILLION STARS!!! I didn't even care about the caramel or the compote after I had one. I would definitely go back to CRUSH. If you decided to go for SRW , then, jump on those beignets!

    (4)

  • Maria A.

    Food is very good. Presentation is beautiful - and the flavors of everything we ordered was innovative - and worked well together. Service is good - but NOT wonderful like Canlis. They start you off with a plate of different breads. They gave us one soft pretzel like bread - it was warm, very good - but nothing special. Then they also give you these, Pastry Puffs with Gruyere and Chives - I could eat those things all day long. So good! They also have some other normal breads - which you'll find at any restaurant. For an appetizer we ordered the hand rolled Gnochii with Brown Butter, Honey thinly sliced crisp apples, wild mushrooms, argula, and small shavings of foie gras. The flavors all worked well together. It was wonderful. They also split the one appetizer - into two separate plates for me and my hubby. For my entree - I ordered the 48 Hour Braised Beef Short Ribs - you will LOVE this. The beef short rib was so tender, melted in your mouth - and was bursting with all sorts of flavors - with the sauce, potato puree & baby carrots. It all worked well together. My husband ordered a pork dish (can't remember the name), but it had pork made three different ways. He liked his dish - but overall wasn't anything special. The dish came with a pork sausage, a pork belly, and pork lion. The best was probably the pork belly. I had a bite and liked it - but I've also had better. He enjoyed his dish - but wasn't blown away with the flavors or innovation. My husband and I will probably return - one day. This restaurant is good - I believe it IS a neighborhood gem, and fit for foodies. My husband and I love trying different restaurants around Seattle. My favorite restaurant is #1 Canlis, #2 Serafina - but I have yet to try many more - which will knock those two out. They do offer an extensive wine list - varying prices - all of coursed marked up more than 50%. I don't think I saw a bottle less than $55. At the end - we intended to order dessert - especially since all the portions were very small, but we were too full - surprisingly! (Plus at home - we had Trophy cupcakes waiting! ) Anyway, our waitress gave us a complimentary plate of different homemade chocolates. It was my birthday - and they wrote Happy Birthday with chocolate on the plate - very special. They were all wonderful and bursting with flavor. A great way to end a meal. Our bill (including a bottle of wine, tax, tip) came just under $200. :) .

    (4)

  • Adam D.

    Chef Jason is a genius. Not only does he prepare a heck of a meal and experience. He is approachable and loves to chat about food. I have got to know him over the last couple of years and I highly recommend Crush. Chef Wilson is a James Beard award winning chef. He is very charitable which is something I like to support with my consumer dollars. He is what I classify as good people. If you want a 5 star meal with a great chef at the helm this is your place. It is also very easy to get to from anywhere in the greater Seattle area. I look forward to my next night out there. Regards, Adam

    (5)

  • Lexy W.

    Food was tasty but the portion size was on the joke-tiny side and the bill at the end was really high -- $400 for 4 people who didn't have much alcohol. I thought the chairs were extremely uncomfortable -- form over function trying to go for a modern, all-white look. And the service wasn't great -- waiter had an odd affect bordering on pretentious though my water glass was nicely refilled frequently. There were some empty tables so it seems like Crush's time might be passing. The are so many good restaurants in Seattle, I can't believe they'll stay in business in such a high price range. My husband summed it up "I don't ever need to go back to Crush."

    (2)

  • Christine T.

    We went here for Seattle Restaurant Week with my boyfriend and this place was a steal for the SRW offer! They were pretty booked so our reservations for 9:45p, we arrived at 9:45p on the dot and got seated right away. Unfortunately, their menu posted on the Seattle Restaurant Week website is NOT accurate. I originally chose this place because of the reviews and of course the menu and was a bit disappointed to find out at the restaurant that it was totally different. Nevertheless, I did not let this take away from my experience or affect my review. What I really liked was how they served us a couple of taste dishes before our appetizer and after our dessert. That was the cherry on top of the sundae for me. APPETIZER We both got the Pork Belly and it was delicious. I've had a lot of pork belly in my lifetime and this was not the most tender and juicy piece I've ever had but it was executed very well and the sauce made the dish. ENTREE Grilled Skate Wing with Couscous - I'd never had stingray before and decided to give this a try. It was cooked perfectly, texture is similar to a white fish but not as flaky. Tastewise, it reminded me of crab. I was definitely a fan of the cream sauce that the couscous was cooked in. Steak with Bread Pudding - Ordered medium rare and got it perfectly medium rare. This was the first test. Tender and flavorful but didn't blow me out of the water. It surprised me how good the bread pudding was, though. DESSERT Blondie with Salted Caramel Ice Cream - Not overly sweet, pretty darn good. The salted caramel in the ice cream balanced out the sweetness of the blondie. My only request would have been for the blondie to be warm but besides that, this hit home. Vanilla Custard Beignets with Caramel and Huckleberry sauces - As Iris M. said about these, they were absolutely scrumptious. I thought service was delightful. We got an explanation of what each dish was, water refilled promptly and plates and new utensils exchanged before each dish came out. We received just enough attention without overdoing it. Though regularly a bit pricey, I would definitely like to come back here again.

    (4)

  • Karl H.

    We were out celebrating the gf's birthday and subscribe to the "what my baby wants, my baby gets" philosophy. And my baby wanted dinner at Crush and cocktails at Havana's. All I can say is we had an utterly fantastic meal at Crush this weekend (Plus a little make out session at Havana's in the upstairs lounge after a few El Floridita's. But, that's another story.) I can't exactly remember how they worded the menu, but that probably has more to do with the cocktails at Havana the the bottle of Pinot Gris than anything else. But, I digress... this is pretty much what we had Saturday evening. Baby beets with thinly sliced Yakima pears salad... Seared Sea Scallops with Ritsotto... Buttered Lobster and potato Gnocchi... T Taste of Chocolate (5 different samples)... and a bottle of the Van Duzer Pinot Gris... Since it was the gf's birthday I had called ahead a few weeks back and asked if they'd do a specially printed menu with a little private message on it. And, of course they did!! It was a nice little touch that she truly appreciated. Just about everyone on the staff that we came into contact with took a moment to wish her a happy birthday. Which was sort of unexpected considering most places its usually just the wait person that says anything. They even spelled out happy birthday in chocolate ganache on our 'Taste of Chocolate' dessert. There are two things that I would change about my dining experience and only one of them has a chance it hell of ever coming true. First, the chairs at Crush, albeit look modern and cool, are the worst. The severe curve in the chair made me feel like my ass was up around my shoulders. The other would be the people next to us. A great dining experience can almost be ruined by the douches sitting next to you. Sadly, I'm often that douche... but not in this case. The best we came up with, as we played that game where you make up a story and or try to figure out the dealio with a couple, was that dude was a renowned food critic and she was the debutante daughter of a business associate of his. The entire evening he complained and overly criticized every single aspect of their meal. One statement he made... "the dishes are incredibly cheap and I don't like them at all. 'turns over dish and says' Figures, they're German". At that moment I took a mental note that the German's make crappy dishes. And to think, Crush almost lost a star on my rating because of this.

    (5)

  • Heather R.

    Tasting menu...unbelieveable. Chef is personable, relatable and engaging. Staff is authentic, enjoyable and passionate about what they do. The restaurant uses a local (within blocks) garden for their produce...they tell a wonderful story. I encourage anyone going to Crush to be open to the experience, and to listen closely to the story they tell about their food. I travel all over, and this restaurant delivers a dynamic experience at every touch point. Try the outdoor patio if the weather / time of year permits. Well done Crush! I'm a fan!

    (5)

  • Pooja S.

    We went to Crush for our 3rd wedding anniversary... and we were blown away by the food! We had the 6 course tasting meal while the husband also added the foie gras... everything was beautiful and super tasty. It might have helped to tell us which course we were on... but on the whole they were amazing. The servers were super attentive and sweet. Even though I am pregnant, they made allowances and avoided giving me any raw fish or eggs. My fave couses were the duck confit and the crab and fish combination... I would go back here in a heart beat. Thank you crush for making my anniversary dinner such a special one!

    (5)

  • April L.

    The first time I came here, I was impressed beyond belief with the food and the ambiance. Fair portions, superb plating, etc. Everything you could want, hidden in a house on East Madison. I then came here with a friend to treat her for dinner and was given a mind blowing experience with so much food I could barely move later on that night. But the most recent time I went to Crush, I was beyond disappointed. Absolutely lousy service. I WILL notice when everyone around me is being attended to, and I will in fact notice what you aren't giving my party the same attention. Other parties also had their coats checked, and my party was left with out coats on our chairs. Sloppy. The food was edible, but nothing near as delectable as I remembered it being. Needless to say I was turned off, and subsequently had no intent thereafter to dine at Crush.

    (3)

  • Tialen K.

    So went back to Crush, this time with a couple friends that we had Raved about the place to. We all ordered the Chef's 11 course menu. The night we went the actual owner was there cooking, so I don't know if that made a difference, but let me tell you, it was a night and day difference between this trip and our 1st trip. the amuse bouche was not one of the 11 courses our 1st trip, this last trip evidently it was. The complementary bread was also not part of the 11 courses our 1st trip, this time agian evidently it was. So over all, we all ended up leaving totally unsatified. We even tried to point out to our waiter that they had not served us the # of courses advertized and were just stonewalled. Very Very Very disappointing.

    (2)

  • Allison A.

    Best food I've had in the city so far. The cocktails were delicious! The staff were not at all pretentious, and while they were very busy on a Saturday night, making for a leisurely meal, there is no reason you wouldn't want to sit and spend some time here. The decor is tasteful (the chairs are absolutely fine -- comfortable), the service is friendly and professional, and the food is worth any wait. Excellent night, can't wait to get back! And if you need a pre-dinner drink, Bottleneck is right across the street. How great is that?

    (5)

  • Joyce J.

    For the price, the service is ruining this restaurant. I went with the tasting menu and everything was good and great (although I really think they should do a 4+1 course tasting for $65) until I was ready to leave. I had to wait forever for the hostess to give me my coat. My waiter passed me and my friend and said, "Still waiting for your coat?" then proceeded to do nothing while we stood awkwardly in the lobby trying to leave. For a high-end restaurant, I find this unacceptable. Don't get me wrong, the food is amazing, but the whole package is not worth the price.

    (2)

  • Rrr V.

    HOST: 3.9 WAIT PERSON: 3.7 FOOD: TASTE, PRESENTATION: 4.5 PROPERTY: AMBIANCE, STYLE, DECOR: 4.0 Crush has stood the test of time. From the very beginning they have maintained excellence in their service, mainstay and seasonal menus. It's high expectations, delivered.

    (4)

  • stacey t.

    We had a fabulous evening with both exceptional food and service. We celebrated our anniversary out in the garden by enjoying the chefs tasting menu. This is the most inventive food in town. Which is what we were looking for. It was a delicious and fun eating experience and I highly recommend to anyone who truly appreciates great food.

    (5)

  • Letha F.

    It's not hype. It's not contrived. It's delicious food creatively prepared. If you're a gourmet and you're in Seattle, Crush is a lovely choice. And if you truly love food, if you find pleasure in exploring a wide variety of flavors and textures, then you must order the chef's tasting menu. This is a culinary journey that ranges from delicious to ::thunk:: (that was me fainting and falling off my chair). What I love about Crush is how they demonstrate a respect--no wait, a LOVE--for the ingredients. Nothing is taken for granted. Every leaf, every cut, every bean, every berry is carefully chosen and expertly utilized. Crush isn't for everyone, though. If large portions and free soda refills are your measure for the quality of a restaurant then I would skip it. But if you are serious about pleasing your palette, do yourself the favor. Eat at Crush.

    (5)

  • George L.

    +0.5 might be too much food for the tasting menu but its quite yummy. sommelier is awesome

    (4)

  • susan j.

    *sigh* What an amazing experience Crush was. This renovated home turned restaurant was classy but cute. Homey but sophisticated. The service was impeccable and the food was nothing less of perfect. A delightful treat and an amazing meal that has changed my palate forever. The menu was a seasonal menu and each order was made and tasted perfect. Our favorites of the evening were the seared sea scallops and risotto. A perfect blend with the risotto, this was the dish that won me over. Scallops were cooked perfectly and risotto was flavorful and rich. A perfect blend of flavors, this dish was amazing. Also among our favorites were the spiced duck with a gratin of brussels sprouts and crispy Alaskan black cod with cured pork belly. (Note: All items are based on memory, so descriptions are very general). Each meal was made with love and delighted each of us three girls. Definitely a night to remember. The night began with a delicious array of sweetbreads and samplings of meat. The main courses were an artistic display of warmth and fine dining and the meal was then topped off with an amazing trio of desserts. Ice cream sandwiches, pear tartin, and pumpkin mousse. A great meal in a delightful setting. This was a great and delicious meal. I could positively say I have a crush on Crush. *swoon*

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    fantastic, romantic, high touch restaurant. well worth going to for a special evening

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    I took a friend to Crush for her birthday recently and can honestly say it was the best meal I've had in years. The 3 for $30 promotion was happening so we agreed to each get our 3 and split everything. We also each ordered the wine pairing to accompany our dishes. The food was outstanding. We started with sweet breads, pork belly and a spring greens salad. I had the flank steak, and my companion had the rock fish. Desserts were amazing! Our server was amazing - recommended a good wine to start off our meal before our wine pairing came. Very attentive and courteous. Our water glasses were always filled promptly. I will definitely visit Crush again.

    (5)

  • Brittany S.

    Wow! Crush was everything I expected and more! 3 other people and I went to Crush for the restaurant week to take advantage of the good deal for normally a costly restaurant. First impression: It looks like a house, walk inside, it's definitely a house converted into a restaurant. The Decor is very urban and chic, all black and white, and the staff is a younger and hip crowd. They also had really modern looking chairs, but I think a taller person would have trouble sitting in it. I noticed from the other reviews, people have said this place is costly and overpriced. I gave Crush 5 stars based only on the restaurant week menu, which was only $25 for the 3 course meal. I had the pork belly, the handrolled pasta and the seasonal sorbet. All of it was very delicious and fresh, and different from other restaurants. The staff was very attentive, I noticed when one of us left to go to the bathroom, a server would come by and refold their napkin and put it on the table. They also had great timing on when to come to take our orders, when to ask how our meal was and when to take our check etc. I had a great experience and I would go again to try their regular menu. It would be a great date spot!

    (5)

  • Karl L.

    Why add a review for some place I ate at three months ago? Because I want to give some relevance to my four star ratings. Crush is one of only two restaurants I would give five stars to. The other is Victoria and Alberts in Orlando. Crush cost us over $500 with wine pairings, and was well worth the price. Innovation and freshness were the order of the evening. Try Crush, but bring your Visa AND American Express!

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Went back with friends on Saturday 5/7. Food still excellent. But the service again very inconsistent. In particular, the wine director really should consider if this is what she wants to be doing. I wont go into details because that's just mean, but I do think the restaurant should help her be better at her job - for example by not asking her to also be a a waitress. And perhaps learning what decanting means. Won't be back.

    (2)

  • Joshua B.

    The food at this place is fantastic - everything we had was perfect, from the appetizers to the delectable lamb. The wine list was more than extensive enough for us to find some great choices too. Some of the best food I've had outside of Canlis in Seattle. It's not what you'd expect from the menu or the outside - the decor is quite modern, despite being in an old crafstman-y house between Capitol Hill and the Central Area/District. The bar is tiny, so don't expect to wait there (but we made a reservation so that was no big deal). I only deduct one star because it was so loud inside there I couldn't really have a conversation with the other two people my wife and I went with. Not the end of the world, but would be nice given the price.

    (4)

  • Adam M.

    Excellent. Amazing food, great service, cool restaurant. The vegetables were fresh, we had sweetbreads, salad, duck & short ribs. Absolutely nothing to complain about. Do yourself a favor & eat here

    (5)

  • Robby C.

    A couple months ago, we decided to splurge a bit on our close friend for her birthday and we knew that Crush was on her list of restaurants to try. For one reason or another, our expectations were for a large modern restaurant, but the reality was that the environment was charming and quaint. The décor was sleek and modern contrasting the typical wood siding exterior that we have become familiar with in suburban housing. Apologies for that brief architectural tangent. At a bit over thirty dollars per an entrée, one would expect the service to be exquisite and it indeed was amazing. Our waitress was both attentive, the glass of water test prevailed that day, and knowledgeable about the items on the menu. Although we opted out of a wine pairing, our waitress offered numerous suggestions of dishes that complemented well with each other though remained modest and reserved towards our lengthy selection process. For those that are reading and wondering where the food review begins; it starts here. Our order of the raviolo, ravioli is plural for those who are wondering, was a delicious serving of smoky prosciutto complemented by a neat little package of creamy Mascarpone cheese in pasta with a hint of citrus presented over fresh watercress and onions. In addition to the amazing sauce and the raviolo, the crush chefs take it a step further with a duck egg that inconspicuously hides beneath the edges of the raviolo to add a further creamy texture to the sauce to balance the initial smoky flavor of the prosciutto. In addition to the raviolo, we also ordered an entrée of short ribs which we were initially disappointed by only because we are all too familiar with hefty racks of barbecue ribs rather than the petite portions of ribs at upscale restaurants such as Crush. However, the braised beef short ribs is an entrée definitely worth the thirty dollar expense and is available throughout the year whereas other items are often rotated relative to the various seasons. Tender braised ribs that required nothing more than a light touch of the fork to pull the meat from the bone; the dining experience was absolute heaven. With a hint of truffles and a bit of horseradish, it was nearly impossible to drink water after the fact in fear of possibly removing that blissful experience from our taste buds. Although the entrée was served with potatoes and carrots, both of which we would have gladly replaced with even an additional nibble of ribs, it was the protagonist of the dish that made our trip to Crush memorable. Our birthday companion also made the experience memorable, but we would have possibly traded her for another entrée of ribs also if the opportunity arose.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    I really wanted to like Crush more than I did on my first visit but it had promise so I will try, try again, but not soon. I went as part of the 3 for $30 Urban Eats promotion which is a most excellent way to try a restaurant out. I had recently read Crush named as one of the top 10 restaurants in Seattle (!!!) so I was so excited to try it for myself. What was good? The food was all above average and there were some really inventive dishes. The pasta, pork and sturgeon were excellent. They served small gougeres before we even ordered to accompany our drinks which was a nice touch. My 'Dark and Stormy' cocktail was tart and lovely. I think I liked the ambiance although the outside (older house) didn't match the inside (cool, modern, nice Ikea). The bathtub in the bathroom was fun, too. We took pictures! What was not good? The service was snooooty. My friend and I are, in my humble opinion, easy diners. We always laugh and joke, never demand, say please and thank you, etc. Our waitress and the bus-girl were very rude, seemed inconvenienced by us and were just not happy to have us there. They weren't even busy! And, I am sorry, I am just not that thrilled to have the least expensive glass of wine on a menu be $14. I have been to many a fine, fine restaurant that had glasses under $10. My alcohol bill was THREE times my food bill and that is not ok. I know that during the 3 for $30 a restaurant has to make money somehow but I felt taken advantage of in the booze department. I am struggling between giving Crush three or four stars. The food definitely should get four if not five. But, to me, a dining experience is just that - an *experience* - and I left Crush feeling kind of cold and not too hip on returning any time soon. Very disappointing!

    (3)

  • Melissa C.

    My husband was able to nab a Gilt City deal for a 4 course meal with wine pairing at a mere $25 a person (actually he had a $25 credit from Gilt so it was only $25 for the both of us). Needless to say, we were very excited to try out this highly acclaimed restaurant. Let me preface this by saying the day we went for dinner was hotter than usual Seattle weather and we were both dressed up. Upon arrival I was a bit confused because the restaurant is located in a house... in the middle of a neighborhood. I'm already beginning to have doubts. We get inside and they promptly take us upstairs to a booth along the wall. The decor is white on white with tables side by side without any spacing. To top it off there was a single tiny window that was closed. There were no fans, no air, and no personal space. I could hear the entire conversation of the very annoying group of people next to us which completely drowned out our own. My husband suggested we leave at this point since I'm sweating and he's already stripping down but we decide we have to at least try the food. The service in the beginning was a little slow but we understood given the crowded nature of the restaurant. The bread plate arrived with two types of bread, cheesy puff and sliced with oregano(?). The cheesy bread reminded me of the bread you get at red lobster and I don't even remember the one. First course was Japanese Hon Hamachi Crudo, it was light and tasty, a good standard first course. Second course was Handmade gnocchi with morals, it was ok, I've had better at the List. Third course was their popular 48 hour braised short ribs. I'm not sure how this is possible but it was dry and lacked flavor. I basically took a sip of wine and had to mix it with the meat in my mouth to get it down. I guess I could have just let the drops of sweat salt the flavorless short ribs but that's just gross.The service had slowed down to a snails pace nearing middle of the meal, different servers were coming out with food including the head chef at one point, and no one was explaining the different wine pairings or describing the food to us. At this point, we've had enough and just want to get the hell out of there. We ask them to pack up the dessert and we got a gift bag on the way out. The heat combined with the mediocre food, uncomfortable seating, and slow service it was a pretty miserable experience. The only good thing was the wine. Each were excellent and well paired. I was actually really surprise at how forgettable the food was after reading so many good reviews. I was expecting interesting flavor profiles and combinations but everything I tasted was generic and simply boring. I'm not sure if the normal quality of service and food were impacted by the fact that it was busy Gilt but regardless, a restaurant of this "caliber" should have adapted without allowing their service and food to suffer. A little A/C or at least a fan wouldn't hurt either. All in all, save your money and go to Canlis.

    (1)

  • Paul S.

    Crush is a small, owner-chef restaurants that is a gem. The food is artfully prepared to please both the eyes and palette. It's a great place for a romantic date with a great wine list. It's a little on the pricey side but not too bad for a high-end restaurant where all the food is fresh and prepared by hand. I would definitely recommend it to others.

    (5)

  • Greg F.

    Brilliant! The ribs.. Oh the delicious ribs.

    (5)

  • jon M.

    I was a little worried going here because of all the hype surrounding it and since it's been on my to-do list forever. First off the food was really good. The pork belly was genius. Onion soup was just right. Everything was prepared perfectly. Everything was excellent except the bread and the gnocchi which was just ok. What really put this place over the top was the Service. The sommelier was also our server and she did a perfect job of explaining each dish, the wine, the pairings. The entire wait staff just was very balanced. They didn't fawn over you, but always asked or refilled before you had to ask. And they were real which I appreciate. I love it when looking over the menu and pointing something out to my Dad the waiter filling our waters says "That is Ridiculously crazy good". It's worth an extra star. The decor is funky and has a cool contrast to it. Though it it's kind of rides the line of being on the sterile side with all the white and plastic chairs, But all in all it brings the attention to the food. Love that there is a bathtub in the bathroom. I'll go there again for sure, hopefully it won't stay on my to-do list as long.

    (5)

  • Gered M.

    This is exactly what you would expect for the price. But if you look closely you will see that it just pays lip service to what it is trying to be. Crush should have a waiter who handles your table and tells you their name, a sommelier who will tell you all about the wine and give you the whole experience. The experience you expect from a place that decides to make almost every square inch of their establishment in white, lattices in white with white undertones and, you get the idea. You would expect them to be either snooty and perfect, or relaxed and friendly. They were neither, instead it is obvious that they are understaffed, so they just have anyone serve you when it is time. It is clear that the attitude is something closer to what might work in New York, but without the strict expectations of the New York patrons. This is a lazy, annoying knock off. They food is very good, and that is why they get 3 stars. Do not get. me wrong, if it is in your neighborhood and you want to impress the ex wife of one of the drummers of Opeth who is used to being flown to Paris in a private jet when she wants to go shopping. And you are on your first date with her and you make a mere 6 figures. Then it will serve to not underwhelm even her posh European sensibilities. But that was the last time I went.

    (3)

  • Tom B.

    We went to Crush for our first New Year's Eve dinner after moving to Seattle this fall, and have to say that it absolutely hit the mark across the board. We did the standard (not reserve) wine pairings with the set five-course menu, and they were very well chosen. For the pours we received throughout the night, the price was right, and it wasn't simply a nice add-on that they created for a special event menu. The portions for all of the courses were just right, and didn't leave you thinking you wouldn't have "room" for your entree (or even dessert) during the meal. The staff was beyond helpful, and it was great to sit just outside the open kitchen / bar area - it added another level of positive impression on us to see everything created on a night as busy as NYE is. Would absolutely go back again.

    (5)

  • Angela T.

    It's so yummy, If I didn't have a budget, I'd go here everyday. I came here for restaurant week, a 3 course meal for $25. While making reservations, they were booked up til 9:30! We arrived a bit early, but we were serviced right away and waited only a few moments to get an open seat. Our dishes: Bacon and Eggs- this wasn't part of the deal, but it was so great the first time, we had to have it again. (it's part of the chefs tasting menu) Pumpkin Butternut squash Soup- rich and flavorful Braised and Glazed Beef short ribs- mouth-watering, fall off the bone yummy. Gnocchi- perfectly cooked and creamy goodness Artisan Cheese- mmmm, a great ending to a lovely meal. Not only do they have great tasting food, but they have the best service. I believe they change their menu every so often. If you have time, I would definitely recommend try the chefs tasting menu, we tried it on our first trip here and we didn't expect to be there for more than 2 hours. Everything on that menu compliments each other and it was a rather great experience!

    (5)

  • Erica D.

    The food was delicious! Based on the appearance of the building, I wouldn't have expected the decor to be as modern as it was, but it was very nice. I LOVED the Gruyere gougeres and my lemon tart was nice and sour. It is pricy so its nice for special occasions! I live down the street so I will certainly go back and try the regular menu (we came for restaurant week)

    (4)

  • Natalie W.

    Quaint, modern, electric restaurant with a intriguing vibe. Crush is located in a house on 23rd with two stories of space and a kitchen that appears to be located in the space that would have been the living room. We used the 3 for $30 spring event as an excuse to cross Crush off the to do list. The experience from start to finish was wonderful. The starter, entree, dessert, and complementary ending taste notes were flavorful, detailed, and unique. My dining partner and I had had the Carrot Soup, Seared Nantucket Bay Scallop & Tarragon Crème Fraiche and the Braised and Grilled Berkshire Pork Belly with Pinata Apples, Parsnips and Bourbon Glaze starters. We also enjoyed a seafood main dish, and meat based main dish, Vahlrona Chocolate & Spiced Chili Cake, and another tasty dessert. Our needs were attended to through out the meal and our wine service was on time and generous. One slight note was that the main dishes were on the salty side. Based on our experience, Crush is now a favorite and high on my list of best places in Seattle. Fyi's~ * Reservations are easy to obtain on Opentable * Crush staff called me back on the day they were closed to assure me they did have the credit card I left * The available wine flights are a great way to enhance your meal at Crush and are economical- most wine individually by the glass is +10 * The "bar" is a small section bellied up to the kitchen- it would be a great place for a late night dessert or glass of wine while enjoying the kitchen view- few seats

    (5)

  • Meg G.

    Hands down the best meal I have ever had. Living in San Francisco and Traveling to NYC, Chicago and Denver frequently. I eat out a lot. The service and execution of everything was spectacular!!!

    (5)

  • Long N.

    Oh Crush... I had high expectations for this place. So much talk about it. So much press. I went to Crush for a friend's birthday dinner. There were 3 of us. After much excitement over the menu from their website, we decided to order the prix fixe menu (like all greedy foodies do). My first impression as I walked inside of the restaurant was pretentious South Beach wannabe. (Trust me, I know this feeling, I lived in Miami for 4 years). The music remained me of Banana Republic. The waitress were too cool to smile. It was a hot mess. I did not like the way this was going. But I tried to ignore all the superficial fabrication and allow the food to speak of itself. When we were seated, no one came by to ask us about drink selections or questions about the menu for about 15-20 minutes. Even then, nobody offered to explain to us the details of the prix fixe menu. The prix fixe menu highs and lows: *Parsnips creme brulee with roe: AMAZING. Truly ingenious and original. Great Parsnips flavor in the brulee. The roe was fresh and top grade. LOVED IT. *Crab ravioli: good but nothing special. *Hamachi cheeks: nicely seared, no special flavor. Had raisins with it. A BIG MISTAKE. *Ending dish: Steak and potatoes. How BORING. I could have made that at home. Where is the WOW factor? The other two dishes must not have been spectacular because I don't remember them at all. Maybe I just had too high of expectations for Crush. Maybe I've had one too many dining experiences in South Beach, where the place had pretentious modern white decor, mediocre food, and average service. I'm think its the latter. This is a place that wants to be a 5 star restaurant, but serving 3 star food, and worst of all 2 star service.

    (3)

  • Paul R.

    I should have "upped" my Crush review a long time ago, after my third or fourth dining experience. It should be clear that it must be pretty good, since I am a foodie and I keep returning to Crush. But the last time I dined there was five star. My wife and I got seats at the kitchen counter - our preference - and I had brought a bottle of wine. The wait staff were enthusiastic about the bottle and clearly aware of its quality and profile as we discussed food options and explained our past Crush experiences and general preferences. It has been too long since this dinner took place to recall many of the choices we made, but here is what I do recall: it was Restaurant Week and after looking at their regular menu I quickly decided that I'd regret coming to Crush and then not choosing precisely what I wanted from their wonderful kitchen. In particular, I noted their fois gras and the staff told me that it was a point of pride for them that they serve the largest seared fois gras in Seattle. I had to have it. My wife and I both savored every last tiny slice and practically licked the berry sauce from the plate. For main courses I can only recall that it was a very happy dinner through and through but the kicker was dessert: my wife ordered off the dessert menu and after much waffling I decided to go with my heart's desire: another order of the seared fois gras. We were told that I was only the second customer in their memory to order it twice in one meal, and they were happy to deliver! And yes, the second time around it was just as delicious as the first. My wife's dessert was incredible, too. With the ready access to the kitchen staff (though Jason wasn't cooking that evening) we had several interesting conversations with them about food they were preparing and it was wonderful to watch the orchestration and finesse and professionalism. All in all, it was one of my top five dining experiences due to the all-around enjoyment of the view, staff, food, service, cost, and ambiance.

    (5)

  • Jeff W.

    I'm going to go against the grain here and only give a two star review. There was no one major thing bad about this restaurant more of a culmination of little things, much like the meal. First the decor was interesting and nice yet the tables are sterile Ikea feeling laminate and the chairs are the most uncomfortable chairs ever. Especially since dinner service was served at a snails pace, almost 2.5 hours for 3 courses. Plastic thrones that felt like child furniture. There is a fine line that a restaurant can walk with pricing of dishes, I realize there is an artistry involved but at what price. They seem to compensate for all the "freebies" by inflating the price of the dish, as to make it palatable to your wallet. I had the hamachi crudo, black cod, and pineapple upside down cake. All of which was okay, pedestrian at best. It seemed like it was trying to hard and just wasn't pleasant to eat. Everything had a certain "slimy" mouth feel to it, for lack of a culinary term and over seasoned and then seriously under seasoned. So all together it was just not worth the $200 for two. I have had better food and service of equal quality at less esteemed and hyped Seattle restaurants.

    (2)

  • Jon A.

    Food is 5 stars! Really some of the best I've ever tasted. Service is poor!! Rude, inattentive and seem like they just don't care

    (3)

  • Stephy W.

    Perfect date night restaurant. DRINKS: Delicious. Mine had acai liqueur and kumquats and mint and other things I can't remember. FOOD: The best thing about the Gruyere and chive cheese puffs isn't that they're complimentary, it's that they're like eating cheesy puffs of air since they're so light! It's the perfect thing to nibble on while waiting for your food. The menu was definitely interesting. Who would've thought poached apples, ferns (yes..curly, crunchy ferns), and light fluffy gnocchi go so well together? I was hesitant about dessert because the brownie sundae and lemon tart sounded really sweet, but both were delicious and not too sweet at all! I loved the sweet treats that came with the bill as well. ATMOSPHERE: You would think that uber contemporary decor clashes with the quaint old fashioned house, but it works! It's modern, elegant, and comfortable all at the same time. PRICE: Expensive, but worth it if you aim to impress.

    (5)

  • Matthew M.

    I went back into the kitchen and sure enough Buddha and Jesus were cooking. For a good night you will spend about 180$ but it will be perfect. Northwest cuisine in a home that has a retro stylish atmosphere. You will not be disappointed. The waitstaff explains everything and are just lovely to listen to. I could listen to the staff tell me soothing bedtime stories about salmon all night.

    (5)

  • Juliet N.

    I've heard a lot of great things about this place and had to try it out. The restaurant is cute and the presentation of the food is nice. However the composition of flavors and size of the dishes do not match up to the high prices they charge. It was good for what it was, I would have ranked it higher if the prices were less. This restaurant does not compare to others in this price range. I would not go here and pay normal prices. I would however dine here during the 30 for $30 or other promotionals.

    (3)

  • Angela C.

    I went to Crush here with my mom, and we got the Chef's tasting menu. It was incredibly tasty and every dish looked like a plate of art that I quickly devoured. We started out with delicious variety of breads - a pretzel bread, some gruyere puffs, and some rosemary sliced bread. The pretzel bread was definitely my favorite as it tasted like a bread-pretzel hybrid. Then we had some mushroom, truffle soup and some beef tartare. That was really yummy. After that was the tuna ahi with some pomegranate seeds and sauce, thin pieces of celery, and some sort of root. That was a beautiful dish that I was sorry to eat, since it was so pretty. Next course was salmon with some gnocchi and this sauce that was AMAZING. We finished the meal with some truffled mashed potatoes and wagyu beef and that was really good. Dessert was this champagne strawberry sorbet and some sort of foamy cream that was delicious. Then we had some great chocolate cake that wasn't too heavy but wafer-like, which I gobbled up right away. Needless to say, I really enjoyed my experience there. However, with the chef tasting menu for two, one drink each, plus tea, our bill after tip was close to $300. This place is definitely pricey but worth going for a very special occasion at least once.

    (5)

  • Evan P.

    As the rating says, meh. I've experienced better. I think I will end up giving it another chance but with so many good/new places continually popping up in Seattle, why over-pay for ostensibly undersized potion sizes? I understand that Americans eat too much but if you're going to give me such small portion sizes, don't charge me $35. Service was pretty good and the interior was ok but if I'm going that's intent on "crushing" my wallet, there's a lot of other places I'm going to try first.

    (2)

  • Jen S.

    My husband and I went for my birthday when I was noticeably pregnant. The owner has a little one, so he was looking out for me all night, which made everything quite special, and I felt pampered. For example, I got up to use the loo (since pregnant women do that a lot), and when I got back my food was gone. What? I wasn't done! Turns out, it was whisked away to be reheated so that it didn't sit in the Danger Zone for too long. Wow. When we left, the owner came out to talk to us and give me a little box with a chocolate in it. Nice. The food was delicious. My husband and I shared an app, then I had lamb - perfectly prepared. For dessert, my husband asked for something special for my bday. Unfortunately, to them, that meant their special chocolates. I don't like chocolates, so I was not enthused. But I do like flavor and unique combinations, so it was fun to try their concoctions. Bacon and chocolate? Gross, but they try. I can't fault them for having a different definition of "special." Although I can fault my husband .... It is expensive, so I will only be back on a special occasion. The service was good; server was knowledgeable, but I remember not being able to hear her very well. And I have super-ears. I do not like the setup of the restaurant, the decor, or the temperature (too cold). This paragraph is where you find the missing star.

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    The food here sure is good. I was in the neighborhood, and have had a crush on Crush for a while. Crush's participation in the 30 for 30 Dine around Seattle promotion didn't hurt, either. The first greeting was a bit rough. At first, when I asked if I could be seated as a walk-in, the host pretended that he had to "check" if he had room before confirming (ludicrous considering the vast majority of the seats were empty). Then, after seating and handing me a menu, he half-heartedly apologized by informing me that they are VERY much in demand. Ok, whatever dude - just tell me if you don't have room, ya know? Don't act like you're doing ME a favor. The whole time I was there, the restaurant filled up slowly, but not to capacity. Still, it seems the place definitely favors reservations, and they did seat me, so ok. I ordered a glass of the only Cabernet on the wine-by-the-glass menu that was delightful (of course I forgot the name of it, Argh!). It's smooth as silk, light, yet with great depth -- just wonderful. Later I had their Northwest Sidecar, which was one of the best mixed drinks I've had in Seattle. It was an Oregon Brandy with wood infused syrup and apple slices floating on top. Seriously, that sidecar is amazing. They have many great looking "Hooch" specials, and considering all the effort that appears to go into each drink special, with a generous pour at that, $10 each seems like a bargain. The bread is delicious, with a hint of rosemary (?) and sea salt. And it's served with SOFT butter -- big bonus for that -- I don't understood rock hard butter with bread -- just doesn't seem natural to me, so good for them... and me. For the appetizer, I ordered the pork belly. It was moist, but with a crust on top that was a bit difficult to cut into. Still It had the perfect balance of opulent flavors complemented by the sauces laying around it. My next dish was the flank steak. These little cutlets of steak lay atop pureed potato with a condensed lamb juice sauce (I think that's what the waiter said). Amazingly moist and flavorful. My last dish was dessert -- the beignets. Four delectable beignets (little doughnuts, basically), were surrounded by jam, nuts, powdered sugar, and melted chocolate -- take your choice. Every element of this dish was wonderful, and I loved the clever, yet useful presentation with a line of jam on top, a line of nuts on bottom, and the chocolate in a mini-bowl -- so if you don't like something, it won't mix in with the rest. Perfect example of form and function in a dish. Once seated, the service was attentive, but it was not quite as comprehensive and polished as what I found at Rover's -- still, aside from the initial greeting, the service really was a high caliber. I was completely satisfied as I left this little house turned restaurant on Madison. This is the stuff that food is made of. Driving home down Denny, the sun was setting over the purple Olympics, with the shadow of the city and space needle in the foreground, and the song "This is the Life" playing on KEXP. And all was well with the universe.

    (5)

  • Anne B.

    OMG, I have been going to this place for the last 5 years, and all I can say, every time I am in Seattle ,I leave here with a dream come true. I was honored to meet Chef Jason Wilson,when he did a dinner in Kansas City,a few years back.and I look forward to seeing him. Tonight I asked him to cook for me, and even though it was restaurant week in Seattle, he did not let me down. From start to finish is the way to go.If you have never been you must try this award winning chef.

    (5)

  • Evan B.

    With the James Beard award-winning chef, we had high expectations. There were some high notes, but overall the symphony of dishes missed the Wow factor. Amuse-bouche - puff pastry balls of delight. Cheesy, salted, and buttery. You can't go wrong. Japanese Hon Hamachi Crudo, Pickled Cinnamon Cap Mushrooms, Preserved Lemon, & Olives - very tasty. Liked the lemony sauce, the fish was excellent, and overall flavors excellent. Chilled Maine Lobster Salad, Summer Truffles, Truffle Scented Asparagus, & Coral Hollandaise - my tablemates raved over it. Seared Quill King Salmon, Crushed Peas, Mint, Confit Fingerling Potatoes & Bacon Parmesan Froth - good, not great. Not sure serving skin side up works; I flipped mine over. Interesting taste combo but somehow didn't wow me. Braised & Glazed Painted Hills Beef Short Ribs, Yukon Potato Puree, Baby Carrots & Parsley Pistou - signature dish and it is. Panna cotta- excellent. Apricots were wonderful. Service - uneven. Our server was great. The host was cold. The wine person - our table thought a little pushy. But then they did ask for her advice (:-) Overall, good, just not awesome for $81, no wine.

    (4)

  • Rocky L.

    Crispy Skin Muscovy Duck Breast, Sassafrass, Heirloom Farro, Cipollinis & Kumquats Lido Farms Lamb Chop, Gnocchi, Green Garlic, Artichokes, Olive, Mint & Syrah Sauce Braised & Glazed Painted Hills Beef Short Ribs, Yukon Potato Puree, Baby Carrots & Parsley Pistou

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    I should've written down the names of the plates and drinks that I consumed during my 6-course meal... but in one word, RIDICULOUS (in a good way). Our server rocked, the food came in a timely manner, our drinks were delicious, the wine pairings perfect -- I ate and drank to my heart's content and if I could do it over again, I would. I'd do it over and over and over again. I might have been smiling and giggling through the whole dinner. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of their food.

    (5)

  • Kate H.

    Went to Crush with a friend for the 3 for $30 promotion. I was excited because I had previewed the menu online and their short ribs (even recently written up in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine) were on the 3 for $30 menu! However, when we got there, the menu was totally different. I debated not going with the the promotion so I could do the short ribs...but decided to stick with my original plan. The atmosphere is great. Simple but fun...a two-story house converted into a restaurant. The bathroom is great...even has a clawfoot tub. I was tempted to settle in for the night. Food was delish - I started with a pork belly appetizer, my appetizer was hand-rolled pasta with wild mushrooms and my dessert was a lemon olive oil cake with cranberries. No complaints. Be sure that someone at your table gets the ahi tuna....TDF. The highlight was the cocktail menu. Had I not already spent over $70 on dinner, a cocktail and a glass of wine, I probably would have had one more! Service was very slow, but I didn't mind, as I was willing to make a long evening out of it. Would go back again when I'm feeling like I've got some extra money to spend!

    (5)

  • Todd N.

    Last week I enjoyed the best meal I've had in a while, due to great food and great company. It always starts off nicely when the breads are tasty, and the lightly-toasted/perfectly seasoned bread was amazing! So were the little puff-pastry like morsels covered with shaved parmesan. Anyways, appetizers were also delish. I had the warm oyster/king clam app nestled in some kind of foam which was fantastic. Get your mind outta the gutter. Got to try a friend's foie gras which was terrific as well. Also had the crispy sweetbreads, but not as good as the oyster or foie gras apps. Chose the 48 hr shortribs for my entree, which was perfect. Fork tender, complemented by a flavorful reduction sauce. Portions aren't huge, but great food usually comes in lighter portions, which left me some space for dessert. Desserts were all well received, except for a certain tomato sorbet w/zuchinni cake which left something to be desired. Dude--no one told you to order that! Located in a converted house, with pleasing white/modern decor. Service was attentive. If you want a world class meal while in Seattle, check this place out!

    (5)

  • Omar S.

    I was really happy with our experience here. They have Screaming Eagle on the wine list for Pete's sake, including 1994 and 1997. I'll never buy a bottle, but I appreciate that they have such an over the top cab on the menu. My wife and I didn't do the tasting menu but we each had a great meal. The service was impeccable, and the staff very knowledgeable. The restaurant is full of Foodie types and one problem is that it can get loud. The glassware, silverware and plates are all very interesting and contemporary as is the decor and interior. We went on a Wednesday night and were impressed that the place completely filled up. I would go back in a heart beat, and probably will since they are in the neighborhood.

    (5)

  • D N.

    Loved the food and ambience. Service was great. Dessert was delicious. I will go here again.

    (4)

  • Jason M.

    I went here on a Tuesday evening with a friend for the Urban Eats 3 for $30 monthly special. I used to live right across the street, and was always a bit curious about such a classy place in the Central District. The interior is hip and intimate, and the waitstaff was attentive and friendly (our waitress apologized profusely when she dropped off the wrong check at our table). Maybe I need to judge from their usual menu, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the tasting menu. The presentation of the food was fantastic, but the food itself didn't seem to match up to the price.

    (3)

  • J K.

    Alright Crush, you win. You had me at the plate of tiny Gruyere cheese puff pastries that showed up pre-appetizers. If I could shave off a 1/2 star for the reservation debacle, I would, but I just can't give you 4 stars for a 5-star meal. I'm going out on a limb to say this was the best meal I've had in Seattle. The food was divine, and the service was a dream. Four of us went to celebrate a birthday with their Dine Around Seattle pre-fixe menu (sorry about that cold Maggie B. - we missed you). I had the salad with Chevre (awesome), the flank steak (this can't be flank steak, far too tender), and the beignets (mmm, donuts). I also opted for the wine pairing, which was perfectly complementary. Oh, and after dessert, they brought us another plate of tiny treats! Cookies, who knew they could be that cute? I find myself in a very rare circumstance of having not one thing to complain about. I loved it.

    (5)

  • M C.

    Starving and felt the need to pamper my self as i was on captol hill. Fortunately we were early and took the last open seating. hehehe i'm just a lucky bastard. Service = if it weren't for impeccable service, i would probably only give it a 4 star. Ambiance = had to sit at the bar, but great view of the back, overall neat setup, great decor, but awkward location Food = 1. mini crossants, was tasty starter 2. butter spread, hmm can't really go wrong with butter 3. 3 appetizer, two of which was awesome, the sea scallop was a bit undersalted. 4. Pork belly, can't be more then, but the paste under was a to creamy 5. Desert was good, but not great! Price = pricey $$$$ Favorite = Service, its really been while since i got so much attention. felt good Worst = parking Crowd = mostly over 30 Final say = pricey but worth the experience!

    (5)

  • MAX P.

    I really like this place, one of my favorite spots in Seattle. Olivia took me here for SRW and our reservation on time. The place is cozy and comfortable, great date spot without having to get all dressed up unless you want to. As for the meal, the portions were just the right size and everything tasted great. This was my second time at CRUSH and I'll probably continue to go, especial during SRW. Highly recommended during SRW and make reservations!

    (5)

  • Ane P.

    I was surprised with a late night dinner here (10pm reservation to be exact--any restaurant who will do that rates pretty high in my book!), and walked away excited for my next visit. Everything...I mean every last thing, was so delicious. We both ordered the chef's 4-course menu and tried our best to diversify our selections. The cheese (grated so thinly that it melted in the mouth), the lobster (so plump), even the rhubarb dessert--were soooo divine. I'll be back for drinks. And then for another meal. Or maybe drinks and a meal. I just want to get as many visits as possible in.

    (5)

  • Jessica G.

    I love this place!!!! It is expensive, but on special occasions, it is worth it!

    (5)

  • Nicole F.

    There is no question that this is of the top restaurants in Seattle. The food, the quality service, the drinks, all are amazing. I recommend going in on a week day evening, and sitting at the bar. The bar faces an open kitchen so you can see the development of each dish. Not to mention their cocktails are prepared by a handsome gracious and extra attentive bartender, and are all made to perfection. They use an immersion peculator as an infusing device for cocktails, which is a medical device that keeps liquids at a steady temperature for periods of time. (which i thought was pretty cool) They're ingredients are always fresh and uniquely incorporated. Sure, it is pricey, but you get what you pay for.

    (5)

  • marcus t.

    I've been to Crush a handful of times and it's always amazing. From the moment you walk in the door you're treated as the guest of the evening. And you won't find pretentious staff or patrons. Just an inviting atmosphere with friendly, knowledgeable staff. There's usually some tasty morsel "compliments of the chef" or a complimentary glass of champagne. I've gone in a group of 4 and on a dates, all were great. I recommend sharing your meals so you can taste the variety in his food (and don't forget dessert). I'm definitely going back to Crush.

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    Simply amazing. With a name like Crush you would expect a great wine list and they do. Great bottles if you are with a large group. They also have a fixed priced menu that has a wine pairing option. I would highly recommend that. The restaurant is modern with interesting looking white chairs. The food was great and local. Overall a great experience.

    (5)

  • Monica P.

    A very delicious fine dining restaurant. The menu was inventive and varied. My favorite things, on the menu as of December 23rd were as follows. Foie Gras - so intensely flavorful, it was my favorite dish. A hefty piece of foie gras, probably the biggest portion you'll find in Seattle, came atop a delicious waffle of all things (which totally worked) with a drizzling of sweet huckleberry compote which complimented the foie gras and brought the waffle and FG together. Octopus "salad" - Sous vide octopus. Never had octopus prepared this way, it was the texture of tender chicken. Great flavor, I think it was finished on the grill. It was really an odd treat to eat prepared this way, but again, totally worked. Accompanied by delicious golden potato rounds and some tasty sauces which I can't describe. Sooo, good. Braised & Glazed Painted Hills Beef Short Ribs - there's a reason this dish has been on the menu for three years when the rest of it changes constantly. It's a true champ. Sous vide and super tender and flavorful meat. Yukon Potato Puree done with a ricer are silky and buttery, accompanied baby carrots and parsley pistou. I could eat this every day for the rest of my life with no regrets. Sea Scallops - Ordered by my dinner partner, but I tried several bites of the surprisingly generous portion of scallops, they are good sized, flavorful and grilled to perfection with delicious accompaniments which I can't recall. Overall, a lovely dining experience. Loved the decor and the original tub in the upstairs bathroom. I was tempted to turn it on and have a nice bath, but opted to fulfill my original purpose of eating instead. Also, the obviously lack of bath towels discouraged me. The food came out in a timely but not rushed manner, the dinner felt quick, but we were actually there for 2 hours so it must have just been me. Haven't been to every fine dining establishment in Seattle, but this is definitely up there with the best. I hope it becomes a classic Seattle restaurant.

    (4)

  • Koriann B.

    Crush is one of those restaurants that I think about anytime I want to eat somewhere delicious. And if I had more money, I certainly would eat here way more often. I practically begged to go here for Valentine's Day but being male and therefore mostly oblivious (no offense to the guys out there) the boyfriend missed all subtle and obvious hints until I outright asked, but by then it was too late and they weren't taking reservations anymore. Sigh. But we went to Brasa instead, which is also delicious. I enjoyed every bite of my food and if I hadn't have been stuffed would have kept on eating and eating, which is how good Crush is. Plus, when I went I was seated next to Paul Nordstrom, who is the black sheep of the Nordstrom family for those of you who don't know, and so that was pretty neat.

    (5)

  • Beth G.

    Wonderful evening, funny and great staff, interesting desserts!

    (4)

  • Trip C.

    We ventured to Crush on a splurge this evening, knowing going in that we were probably going to blow our week's paycheck on the tasting menu and wine pairing. And, that we did. We started off with a bit of Veuve Clicquot paired with bacon and eggs (parsnip flan, salmon roe, bacon creme and maple syrup). This was, in all it's wow-factor glory, the star of the evening. One note - the roe could have been reduced to 3 to 5 grains as it was a bit overpowering considering the delicate flavors of the rest of the dish. I loved the salty pop, but not at the expense of savoring the luscious delicate parsnip flavor of the flan, or the way the bacon creme melded so beautifully with the maple flavor. I (only for a half-a-second, really) considered spitting my roe out, machine-gun style, across the room but figured the other patrons would not approve. Bad form, plebe, and all that. So, I withheld allowing my id to run amok. On a side note, our first-first course was amazing. But it was only the bread plate. But is was spectacular. Gougeres that were delicate and flavorful, over-the-top good rosemary bread that when paired with butter became some sort of wonderful, and a phenomenal pretzel dusted with Alaskan sea salt. mmmmmmmmmm. But as I said, that was only the bread plate. Although, it might make you rethink the whole "Man cannot live on bread alone" thing... Next, tuna crudo with heirloom tomatoes and pepper jelly and black garlic (I need to start putting black garlic in everything I cook. Really.) paired with a lovely Pinot Gris. When mixed together, the flavors all came together for a wonderful fresh taste - very good. Third course, gnocchi paired with a trio of mushrooms. The gnocchi was good, but after last week's gnocchi at Portage, it lacked the certain something special to make it really amazing. Paired with a (full-disclosure, not a white burgundy connoisseur here) forgettable white burgundy. It wasn't bad, it was just almost as though it wasn't even there. Fourth course, the scourge of my existence....black cod. They did make the most of it however (I cannot tolerate the slimy texture, even when cooked within an inch of its life). Crisped skin and a good flavor, in a nice beefy-tasting broth that was good enough to spoon up all on its own after the cod was gone. I am not going to allow black cod back into my life in the forseeable future, but for what it was this was a nice dish. The Pinot Noir paired with it was nice and light. Next, the lamb. Delicious, well cooked - seared and crisped outside yet nice and pink on the inside, with a bold demi-glace. A Cotes du Rhone red was paired with the lamb, and complemented it perfectly. On to dessert! We were presented with one glass of white (muscat) and one glass of red (port) and so had to choose. I felt like Indiana Jones back in the Temple of Doom and I don't know if I chose wisely. I think my friend got the better deal. I chose port, and was presented with a dessert of grown-up peanut-butter and jelly. It consisted of a peanut-butter crisp base (like the inside of a Buckeye) topped with a dark-chocolate ganache. I loved the combination but honestly, the dark chocolate was too bitter and overpowering. It sucked the life from the peanut-butter layer, which should have been enhanced by a sweet bit of chocolate. Strawberry gelee accompanied this dessert, and eaten together tasted okay, but was noticeably missing the sweet factor. It was almost as though the sugar was a spice and tasted akin to a piece of meat being cooked without seasoning - you noted that you missed the seasoning. In addition, a foam. Which was a throwaway. I tasted it three times. I shoved it off the plate and my friend, looking properly offended, said I wasn't tasting it right. He then tasted the rest of the foam and pronounced it a throwaway as well. Ditch the foam on the plate, it is tasteless as prepared, unnecessary and foams are too dated in cooking at this point anyway. On to my friend's dessert, or as we shall refer to him from this point onward, "He Who Chose Wisely". A lemon-blueberry tart with ice cream. Oh glory be, it was good! If I didn't like my friend as much as I do, I would have been plotting his demise across the table while absconding with his dessert. Luckily for him, he's a good friend. It was so simple in its presentation, yet so amazing! The fresh blueberries sang atop the amazingly tangy yet perfectly-sweetened lemon filling. Zowwy! And the ice cream! I can only describe it (and I mean this in the best way ever) as condensed milk ice cream. Oh boy, I need to start experimenting with condensed milk in my ice-cream maker. I SO need to replicate this dessert. Like now. To finish - the service. Spot-on. Amazing. Stellar. Give this girl a raise and make sure she keeps training the new guy because following her, he can't go wrong. Seriously. Give her a raise. Now. She was fantastic.

    (4)

  • Cynthia C.

    The place is beautiful and the company was great, however, the food was lackluster at best. My friend and I had the tasting menu with wine pairings and were so disappointed. While the pairings were lovely, the pours were small and the food was under seasoned. I expect a tasting menu to be the chef's best offering and disappointing is all I can say, The menu looks amazing, however, it failed to deliver. At this price point, I expect to be wowed.

    (1)

  • Erika L.

    Amazing dinner and atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Lincoln B.

    At present, CRUSH is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. I have been on a number of occasions over the last month or two and each time has been exceptional. The food is sort of a French fusion of some kind. Each and every dish and appertizer has been mouth watering and cooked to perfection. This is the kind of food, and service, that resonates for days and days or weeks and weeks until you go back again. Oh, and the specialty cocktails are excellent as well. The bartender takes great prides in the constructions and it translates into a great experience. As for a vodka cocktail with some sort of veggies in it... The cucumber was the best...

    (5)

  • Trevor B.

    I came here a 3 for $30 deal and was very excited to get to check this place out. Great setting with the house feel and the modern decor is fabulous. I really enjoyed my app and main. My dessert was very creative but felt a little lacking.

    (4)

  • Kris M.

    Our son Brady, a Seattle resident, selected this restaurant from reviews he had read on Yelp. He knows we're used to extraordinary restaurants in San Francisco and Napa Valley. I was afraid this restaurant could not compare: was I ever wrong. The food was very, very good: original, beautifully presented and incredibly flavorful. Our waiter Tia was perfect: she was articulate, friendly, attentive and knowledgeable (not to mention - she was also beautiful). I hope we can request her services again in the future. We are still discussing and reliving the delicious meal and experience we enjoyed at this absolutely delightful establishment. This is a special place!

    (5)

  • Sarah B.

    A friend and I went to Crush for the Dine Around Seattle event going on now. I have wanted to go here for a while and this provided the perfect opportunity to have what I knew would be a great meal for a little less money. The meal was great. I chose the pork belly starter which was so good. It was so tender and perfect on top of the cabbage (savoy?) and the sauce which was almost like a rich demi-glace. I had the trofie pasta with short ribs and it was fantastic. Perfect portion of tender beef on top of melt in your mouth creamy pasta. Very good. For dessert I had the cranberry bread pudding. Out of everything I was least impressed with this dish. I found it kind of blah in comparison to the rest of the dishes I had eaten. I am a huge dessert fan and found this to be just okay. The service here is wonderful. There are servers helping out everywhere and not in an overbearing manner. My friend and I didn't receive the sorbet or gougeres that others had on their visits...maybe next time. Overall highly recommended, especially when you can go and get such a fabulous meal in a great setting with impecible service during an event like Dine Around Seattle. I will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Meghann M.

    have eaten here many times and count it as one of my favorite seattle restaurants, so was excited to dine here for the 4 course prix-fix meal on christmas eve. the food was delicious, as always. 1st course: lobster pumpkin soup with a mixed greens salad on the side. 2nd course: slow cooked alaskan salmon with meyer lemon foam, sunchoke puree 3rd course: lamb --- but i'm not a meat eater so was served cod on a bed of cranberry beans 4th course: chocolate pecan tartlet with brown sugar ice cream and caramel post-courses: tray of christmas cookies the service was a little confusing - too many people serving our table without clarity as to who exactly was responsible for what (no introductions), and they could have been a bit more personable and friendly, especially the woman who i think was the sommelier. there was just a bit more pretentiousness in the air than i ever remember from previous dining experiences - hopefully that's not a new thing here. the chef jason wilson, however, was very nice as he said goodbye to us at the door on our way out. the beverages here seem way overpriced to me: $15 for a glass of wine and $8 for a mocktail (cucumber dry soda with agave and something sour). despite these "complaints" i still love this place and recommend checking it out.

    (4)

  • Srta L.

    Very nice restaurant, The food and the service was excellent. We went to try for the Seattle week restaurant. It's quiet expensive but the food was excellent. Great place to celebrate a great occasion.

    (5)

  • sarah b.

    I thought Crush was amazing, but I am not a die hard foodie b/c I cannot afford to eat like a queen all the time. I'm just your avg gal that loves eating. So, maybe my review is higher than it should be. Party of 6 - very cordial hostess accommodated a last minute increase in the group, with just a small wait. Cherubic server called our white wine choice "Outrageous" - and it truly was amazing. Not sure if they do this for all the tables, but gave us amuse bouche - asparagus soup taster & sweetbreads on some spicy mustard - LOVED. i had the black cod which was heavenly. a night to remember, indeed. plus, love the muted forest room meets space odyssey decor. A++

    (5)

  • Kalindi T.

    One of the very few places in Seattle where you can dress swank and experience swank and enjoy swank all at once. Sophisticated palates will revel here. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Molly T.

    boyfriend and i (mostly me) decided to come here for our 5 year anniversary dinner. i knew about this place from watching a cooking segment on one of pbs's public donation shows. the head chef himself was preparing his signature short rib dish and it looked really appetizing! the interior is nice and modern. their white (lawn-like) chairs are a little questionable and it didn't look too comfy. we ordered the bacon & eggs appetizer, which was a flan-like custard with bacon whipped cream, topped with ikura. overall, i wasn't impressed. it felt like eating a salty dessert with a fishy kick. we also ordered lobster ravioli, which fared better but nothing spectacular. for our entrees, boyfriend ordered the short rib, and i ordered the suckling pig sampler. the short rib was incredibly tender and tasted great. you didn't need a knife at all. my suckling pig sampler left a lot to be desired. it was about 2 small chops of pork, albeit tender, but otherwise flavorless, aside from the piece of pork skin wrapped around it. i know the pork is the star, but i was looking for something to compliment it. it looked like the meat was cooked sous-vide. there was a slice of head cheese which the server said was the best he's ever had. yeah, it was probably the best out of everything on my plate. it was nice and porky/fatty with good flavors. we didn't order dessert/alcohol. i was disappointed since i've been wanting to try this place for awhile. the portions are rather small, but i guess that's normal for fine dining, but the flavors were lacking in chemistry. it was missing something. some good things were the gruyere puffs that came with our bread. boyfriend loved them and he doesn't eat cheese unless its on a pizza. our server was great, very knowledgeable about the food on the menu and was overall very cordial.

    (2)

  • Sampson B.

    Came here for our anniversary and our meal was incredible. Everything was cooked and flavored to perfection, our seat by the window was romantic, and the service was attentive but not intrusive. 5 stars for crush.

    (5)

  • Cheryl K.

    4.5 stars? Really? I loved Crush. I loved the atmosphere, the very chic white contemporary-modern interior, and the cozy feel of the renovated house-to-restaurant history. The bar looked like a nice place to eat, and overall it was very posh New York new-age style where you come for a bite to eat and drink martinis and cocktails with your friends. However, when it came to dessert, the boyfriend tested Crush's imagination by asking for a creation from the kitchen. The waitress asked him a couple of questions like whether he preferred fruity or cocoa, tart, bitter, etc, and then came back with a plate of chocolates... really? No vision, the boyfriend says, but this didn't affect our lovely experience here, but 1 star off for sticking to cookie cutter basics. Food was excellent. I took advantage of the Dine Around Seattle 3 courses for $30 paired with a red wine, and he had the foie gras and something else. Everything was exquisitely prepared, delicious, and palate-thrilling. Service was great. I barely touched my 3rd course and the waitress took my entire $30 meal off the check, and put my pear-apple crisp salad starter on the house as well. We insisted paying for the $30 meal though and had it put back on the check, but that was really nice of them. I love great service. Our total ended up around $200 for our meals, appetizers, wine, brandy, and desserts. A tad pricey, but worth it. I wish there were places like these in San Francisco!

    (4)

  • Denise E.

    My entree was good. I had lamb. The other thing on the menu that interested me were the scallops whcih they were out of. I started out with the beet salad that was ok...Maybe I had high expectations because I have wanted to go there for such a long time; and I wouldn't say I was disappointed, just not satisfied with my experience. The portions were rather small. With great food I think small portionas are appropriate because there is such thing as "too much of a good thing," and I think its good to be left wanting more. With that said, restaurants with small portions should have more, less expensive small plates to create a well-rounded dining experience. The entrees were appropriately priced, but the salad/appetizer/soup (all in one section) part of the menu was over-priced. I think its worth another try...Like I said, I am just not satisfied and one more visit will either help me put my finger on WHY, or I will have a better experience all together... I'll keep you posted.

    (3)

  • Karah K.

    A++++++++++++ Worth the money, 150%. Excellent, food, service, wine selection, atmosphere... you name it! We went for valentines day and spent over 2.5 hours there, talking, eating and just enjoying the ambiance. Romantic, YES! I wasn't a huge fan of the amuse bouche, but that doesn't mean it was bad, just not my style. I also wasn't a huge fan of the palette cleansor, but still blown away by this place.

    (5)

  • David M.

    If you're a fan of watching reality shows like "Top Chef" and you're wondering where you can go in Seattle that serves food at that level or above? Crush. All the way. Starting off with the drinks..... innovative remakes of classics and new tasty treasures. Appetizers - Fantastic flavor profiles. The Chef here is willing to put items like Sweetbreads on the menu and make them taste FANTASTIC. Main Courses - Each plate had all of the aspects of a perfect dish: presentation, flavor, aroma, THE WHOLE SHA-BANG. Deserts - I have to admit that after an evening of getting my socks knocked off by the food and drink, the deserts didn't meet expectations. That's not to say the deserts were bad, they were just generic. I ordered the trio of deserts (tasting menu of sorts) and it was just a trio of things we've all seen before without much innovation at all. All in all I would highly recommend checking this place out. It's great for large and small audiences alike but make sure that you grab a reservation in advance.

    (5)

  • J.A. K.

    On our recent trip to Seattle, Crush rates along with Spinasse and Olivar as solid 5's, with Andaluca a hair behind. We're from the San Francisco Bay Area and dine out regularly; so Crush's prices were no surprise to us. This is what it costs where we live, so for Seattle, yes they are quite expensive. Despite its location, this is not a neighborhood bistro. Instead, this is a Canlis competitor: elegant decor and even more elegant service. The crab gnocchi was perfect, as were the sauteed scallops. The crispy sweetbreads were excellent, if a tad below what we get from Andre's Bouchee in Monterey, CA or Fleur de Lys in San Francisco. The short ribs were a delicious upscale version of a down-home dish. The black cod, although in a flawless fumet and perfectly cooked, was just not as interesting as the other dishes, especially my DH's lamb shoulder. Be aware that Crush aims to please: if you don't like the accompaniments listed on the menu, they'll switch them out to please you. DH wanted the lamb, but doesn't like beans or green beans. They switched the sides, and everybody adored the lamb! It was tender, mild, and juicy; everything lamb should be but so seldom is. In fact, two of our party formerly didn't like lamb, and with one taste Crush converted them into lamb lovers (Andaluca converted them into duck lovers and Palisade into smoked salmon omelette lovers, LOL!). All of us had dessert, the best two were the 'peanut butter & jelly', a dark chocolate cake with a peanut gianduja topped with a layer of luscious dark chocolate ganache, like a cake version of a Reese's peanut butter cup. The second best was an amazing peach marscapone cheesecake: two layers of ethereal, smooth cheesecake separated by a thick round of a perfectly ripe, super-sweet peach. The tea is housemade to order, and the coffee is outstanding, with a true, thick, bitter espresso and the decaf coffee French-pressed at the table. Chef Jason Wilson is a California Culinary Academy graduate and trained down here. Coming here was like being back home, in a really good way!

    (5)

  • CJ T.

    I was tempted to give this place 5 stars for its cheese plate alone. But I decided to temper my rating as this is based on just one visit. It's definitely good enough for me to return for another meal, or two. I started with a sweetbreads appetizer, moved to a scallops main course, and finished with the aforementioned cheese plate. The sweetbreads were deeee-licious! Crispy exterior, creamy insides, and tasty accompaniments (I don't remember what they were, I just remember mmm-ing and ooo-ing and aww-ing during the course). The scallops were good, but didn't stand out it my mind. And, finaly, the cheese. We opted to try each one because they all sounded good and ended up complimenting each other. Each cheese selection was paired with a different and sweet fruit. There was actually more cheese than we could eat (and that is saying a lot); so that speaks for a very good meal that was of great value too!

    (3)

  • Donald B.

    Another great meal at Crush. It's definitely one of the best higher end restaurants in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Dylan V.

    The first thing to note is that Crush is amazingly small. Reservations are essentially required. However, that out of the way, this retaurant cannot be missed. The food is simply exquisite from start to finish. Even normally simple dishes have a special flair that make them divine. The chef is often back behind the bar near the entrance to the kitchen, and is ready to impart his impressive wine knowledge to aid in a good pairing from his excellent selection of wines to improve the experience even more. The staff is very friendly and willing to work with the fact their space is limited. They were happy to serve us a the bar, as we decided we would rather not wait for space at a table to become available. I cannot reccomend Crush enough, it should not be missed.

    (5)

  • Karen R.

    i know most people who've been here absolutely love this place... and from all the reviews in here, i really wonder about our experience... it was a friday night... the restaurant was certainly not crowded at 8:15pm; even the bar wasn't hopping. at least four tables on the first floor for us to pick from... and more on the second floor... we picked downstairs. the room was warm from the get go; but after an hour, it got very stuffy. it was nice and cool possibly mid 50s outside and they 'might' have turned on the heater but too much - arrgh! from the beginning, i thought service was a little slow just to take a drink/cocktail order. by the time our not-so-happy-looking waiter came by our table, i'd even decided what i wanted to eat from the menu lol. our waiter kevin didn't crack a smile all night. seemed a little uppity (gimme a break!) and not pleased to have a job in the least this evening for some reason. he forgot... no excuse me, he claims he 'didn't realize' we didn't get our amuse bouche (we only noticed this when our friends who were seated next to us later in the evening were served pretty good looking amuse bouche). the husband asked him about it and without even a hint of surprise or embarrassment (i certainly would be in his position!) he only offered a lame 'oh i didn't realize this!' and that was it! wow! it was so stupid it was funny! i know it's free but i felt so cheated!! he didn't realize?! isn't he our waiter!?! ...kevin also knew very little about my sparkling wine (which turned out to be fine thankfully) and certainly didn't sway me from the glass of chardonnay which i absolutely hated! it might have been the combination of the food i had but i was already eating my entree so it's no excuse for him not to say anything when i ordered it. our friends at the next table who were having more citrusy appetizers didn't dislike the chardonnay as much as we did but we were on our entrees, halibut and lobster. the food was fine! i did like my two mouthfuls of appetizer A LOTt! but the experience from the no-star waiter (certainly not suitable to be on the friday dinner A-team), the parking, the neighborhood just put a damper on the entire dining experience. won't go back - too many other good restaurants in this city to go try.

    (2)

  • Lauren G.

    Amazing experience... and after eating in most of NYC finest I was delighted to experience CRUSH! They have everything I look for in a fine dining establishment from the sumptuous food, artistic presentation, professional service and attention to detail. Well worth the trip.

    (5)

  • Leah W.

    This place is amazing, I wish I could afford to come here every month. I've dined here both during either a 3 for 30 or Restaurant Week promotion (can't remember which) AND for the full shebang tasting menu plus wine pairings experience at the bar overlooking the kitchen and both experiences entailed absolutely delicious food and excellent service which is telling. During the tasting menu experience, the chef personally shaved white truffles over one of the dishes for my dining companion and I. I was in heaven. For a special occasion Crush is an absolute must. If you can swing it, do the tasting menu, it is well worth it. One of the most memorable dining experiences to be had in Seattle, IMHO.

    (5)

  • John E.

    Checked out Crush recently and you get what you pay for. The atmosphere is nice. The staff is superb. But what it comes down to for me is the food, and it just wasn't what I hoped for. I had the scallops for dinner, and the apple tart tain for dessert. Both were okay, but for what you pay you leave hungry and with $60 less in your pocket.

    (2)

  • Navin N.

    Went there for V-day dinner and the experience was fantastic. Ambiance, service and food were top notch. My favorite was tobacco infused caramel chocolate!

    (5)

  • Jen P.

    The Prix Fixe wave continues! 4 courses for $48 in November. Go. Now. I want to get the flavor from the short ribs tattooed on my tongue. It was seriously the most amazing flavor I've ever had in my mouth and I wish it was there forever. I feel like words can never adequately describe how incredible the food is here. We figured out the word to encompass what they do: Precise. Each flavor in each element is precisely perfect. Yet the dishes are composed such that each bite, however you assemble it, is precise as well. We opted for the wine pairing for $22, as their per-glass price ranges from $11-$14. Again, spot-on selections for accompanying our dishes. This continues to be my absolute favorite place for amazing food, and I highly recommend taking advantage of their tasting menus when the chance to splurge comes around. And PS--In case Santa is reading this, I want a food vacuum machine for Christmas so that I may also sous-vide fruits and meats as amazing as theirs.

    (5)

  • Vinit J.

    Really nice ambiance, good for dates. Food was pretty good though the asparagus was salty... the gnocchi needed a bit more flavor... and the lemon tart was nice. Still 4 stars for overall experience.

    (4)

  • Owlburt L.

    Went here last night. Read the reviews and figure I was gonna be in for a disappointment. Everytime I read such good reviews I'm always disappointed when I get there probably because my expectations are usually so high. Boy was I wrong. The service was excellent without being stuck up. We came in jeans and a sweater and so when we walked into this nice high end looking restaurant, we thought, oh great they'll probably treat us like we don't belong. They did the opposite. The service was great but had a nice friendly feel to it. Almost as if you were at a friends dinner party. The food was excellent. We had the foire gois and the duck. The waiter said the foire gois was the best he's had and I have to agree with him. The duck was sliced and actually had a taste that reminded you of a good filet mignon steak. Wonderful food. The food says it was American style but it was more of French style to me. I would say that this is one of or if not the best restaurants I've had since I moved up to Seattle 2 years ago. The price is not cheap but reasonable. I would say I have paid this prices at places like 0/8 in Bellevue, 6/7 in Seattle, Cafe Champagne by Pikes Market and I would say this was clearly the best tasting and was worth every penny. In other words.. go.. spend a little.. indulge. I would a take a date here before I take my boys.

    (5)

  • Seajay P.

    Always Divine! I'm a huge fan of Crush! They are amazing on every level. This was my third visit and it was an unforgettable dining experience. Pork 3 ways! Yumm yum and yummiest! Jennifer, Alysson and the entire staff exceeded all my expectations. I can't get enough of the delicious puffed pastry with cheese... A million Thank You's!

    (5)

  • Paul M.

    "As good as it gets" pretty much describes this place. Came for the 3 for 30 and it was spectacular. Left awe inspired, and perfectly full. It's really hard to find fault. We didn't have reservations but got a neat little table in the kitchen area. This turned out to work really well in our favor. We also did the wine pairings for $18 (2 pours we were told), not bad considering some of the bottles of wine available went for between $2200 and $3000. We both got the "Braised and Grilled Berkshire Pork Belly with Pinata Apples, Parsnips and Bourbon Glaze" which I could only describe as "Super Bacon". As our waiter described it was basically the holy grail for any pork lover. Very tender, initially appeared small but the flavor was so concentrated it was amazing. Preceding the pork was our first wine pairing. As we were anticipating the entreé, we got our second glass of wine and then our first surprise showed up! We got this amazing surprise mushroom/gnocchi dish from the kitchen that was amazing. I wish I could have seen the look of delight on my face because these were incredible, so delicate yet flavorful. Time for the second surprise, and entreés. I got the fish which was originally the cod, but that wasn't available so they had a rockfish prepared in the same fashion. It was good but nothing out of the ordinary I guess. My friend had the steak which she said was really really good. I tried some of the potatoes and they were really creamy. The second surprise, was a third glass of wine :) Last but not least, we were still salivating over the appetizer and gnocchi we got the Vahlrona chocolate cake which was to die for. It was intensely rich and flavorful. I guess I could find fault that the cake itself was a bit dry, but the ganaché was incredible. The spiciness left a nice finish and paired handsomely with the chocolate. Just as we were getting ready to marry our waiter, we got 5 little candy after dinner bites. A little nut brittle a honey-marshmallow, a lime "melt-away", and a red pepper macaroon (can't remember #5). The most interesting was the macaroon which had this bizarre unique taste a little bit sweet a little bit peppery. Very creative, but not super delicious a very unique finish indeed. Other notes, the (tap) water came in these cool bottles but wasn't super cold, we probably could have sprung for the higher quality imported water but I think a restaurant should have a good cold filtered tap water (minor quibble). The bathroom was inviting and had a unique little lighting fixture. Also we gave our coats and were returned them (no ticket required). The place is a wee bit hard to find, but nicely appointed in an old house in a neighborhood where you might not expect to find such a great dining spot. I'd love to try the regular menu when my wallet permits, but until then, this is a MUST for the 3 for 30.

    (5)

  • Michelle Z.

    I have a little crush...on Crush! All I can say is WOW! Five friends and I decided to indulge in this normally above-our-price-range restaurant for the November Dine Around Seattle promotion. You can't beat 3 courses for $30 at a restaurant people can hardly say a negative word about... I was definitely impressed. The frisee, hazelnut, pear, and blue cheese salad was melt-in-your-mouth amazing! I practically licked the plate clean...and was only outdone by the entree. Added bonus between meals, the perk of a "palate cleanser." What can I say, this is not your average rush you in and out restaurant, they truly want you to savor their cuisine. The blood-orange and basil sorbet served on individual bite-sized spoons was just the ticket to prepare me for my amazing entree... ...Trofie pasta with braised beef short ribs, truffle oil, arugula, sage & tuada cheese (no fudging on the ingredients here, I copied this one from the website). While the portions looked to be on the smallish side, they were plenty filling, and utterly delicious. The combination of the braised beef with the creamy pesto sauce was a flavorful dream. To end our evening, I ordered the hot chocolate-chocolate ice cream duo, an artfully prepared scoop of chocolate ice cream atop a toasted marshmallow, linked by chocolate curlicue to a steaming cup of decadent hot chocolate. Can you say heaven? All in all, my experience was unparalleled. Our server was witty, refreshingly honest, and attentive without being intrusive; the food was fabulous all around, and the ambiance while modern chic has a familiar feel of eating at someone's home. Crush easily out-stars the 5 star rating...try 10!

    (5)

  • Mary D.

    I'd give Crush a low B based only on the food and service, but C based on the food, service, and price. In a seven-course menu, the two fish courses were remarkable (the raw hamachi was superb); the short rib was excellent, but with a bizarre, overbearing parsley pistou that neither I nor any of my fellow diners could stomach. The caviar with custard and bacon creme fraiche was WAY to rich for a first course, and not at all balanced. The truffled pasta with confit rabbit was pretty good but had some measurable flaws--the flavor was a little anemic, and would have been greatly improved by more fattiness (heavy cream or an egg yolk) and more truffle in the sauce. The meal finished with a sub-par desert (the chocolate tart crust was more like a dry cookie than buttery pastry) and a tragic foie gras ordeal--a hulking piece of foie doused in a syrupy, too-sweet sauce and not enough of the tasty cornbread-type base for any kind of balance. Nice, if not surprising, wine pairings. Service was passable--inconsistent, and lacking the grace, ease, and warmth of truly great service. There was no host upon entering or exiting the restaurant, which I find a little off-putting. The decor is almost bizarre--like a private hospital cafeteria in the year 2143. I definitely wouldn't go here again, but it's not the worst fine dining you'll ever come across.

    (3)

  • Capt k.

    We went to Crush to celebrate the finale of Urban Eats 2009. I was really not impressed in comparison to their normal cooking. Pork belly is very meaty it needs to cook a bit longer so its not that chewy and the accompaniment is not memorable. My main course Sous Vide sturgeon is delicious. It was accompanied by butternut squash puree and collard green with pancetta, which added a dash of sweet and salty to the main entree. The chocolate dessert is below average. I also ordered the rubbery octopus salad. I was so underwhelmed, especially since I had a much better octopus salad couple days ago at Tavolata. I am really turn off by the waitress forcing us to order the dessert when we ordered the main entree. And thinking that we wanted to substitute an apetizer when we were adding a 4th course. All the restaurants that we went allow us to order the dessert at end of main course.

    (3)

  • Jason C.

    Octopus & Pork Belly Fresh shucked Maine Lobster & Potatoe Gnocchi Vadouvan Crusted Hawaiian Mero Sea Bass Painted Hills farm Beef Short Ribs Sous Vide 72 hours Caramel mouse and Hazelnut cake This stands as one of the top 5 places I've eaten thus far in Seattle. Crush does an amazingly clean and precise execution of dishes that always get screwed up by chefs who fall in love with their own abilities. Chef Jason Wilson does a great job in keeping the foods simple and astounding. The fresh local ingredients are instantly appreciated both in texture and aroma. The restaurant is converted from a house. Entering through the front door feels oddly like, coming home (if your home was full of white people, which mine was not). Nonetheless it's impossible not to feel welcomed here. The attentive staff is quick to take your coat and your order and soon enough you'll be feasting on expertly prepared octopus and bass.

    (5)

  • Kenneth S.

    Crush is one of my very favorite special occasion restaurants. If you include a bottle of wine it tends to be pretty spendy but definitely worth it. My last experience at Crush was part of the 30 for 30 deal and we had an outstanding time. Even when they were busy with the special deal crowd we still had fantastic service. I think it's very rare that a restaurant is able to really pull off perfection in service but they did at Crush. There were three separate people that helped our table but they all were available at exactly the right time. They always knew when to stop by and see how everything was going, they were always attentive, and they were always helpful. I was also really impressed with the food. Too often trendy restaurants serve very little food or food that is all looks and no flavor. Between the four of us we had the entire 30 for 30 menu and everything was great. To my surprise the portions were big enough that we weren't left wanting more but not too big that we left over full. If you're looking for a fairly intimate dining experience then this is a great place to go.

    (5)

  • Kay L.

    Wow what a Christmas Eve dinner to remember. From the starter Champagne, the artistic pear salad, the wonderfully created Atlantic Salmon full of flavor, the ambiance and the warmth of the staff, we loved our evening. Jason and Nicole Wilson have time and time impressed us with their creativity and culinary excellence. Truly a place anyone in Seattle should visit if not for special occasions and any other time of the week especially if you want to experience exceptional cuisine.

    (5)

  • Rebecca K.

    I live a couple blocks from Crush and had heard good things about it so I recently did a double date there. We had a fantastic experience. The exterior of the place is a bit "meh"--it's a very unassuming house on the corner of Madison and 23rd. Once you go in, however, the decor is very cozy and the service is excellent and prompt. It's the sort of place where someone sneaks by and folds your napkin while you're in the bathroom. I deduce that Crush employs ninjas. The cocktails are very unique and tasty, and the menu is a culinary fan's delight. The waitress was extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and she preemptively apologized for how busy they were by giving us five free appetizers. My friends and I all had various dishes (I had the sturgeon, which was delicious) that were all creative, perfectly prepared, and extremely tasty. When my boyfriend couldn't decide between two desserts, the waitress brought them both out for him for the price of one (how nice is that?). The chocolate mousse had chocolate pop rocks in it, which was an awesome nostalgia trip for anyone who's ever had any. The rest of the desserts we had were equally delectable. Overall, we all had a fantastic dining experience at Crush. It's definitely well suited for foodies. I wouldn't go there if you're a glutton--servings are sensible. However, if you find yourself watching Top Chef, Gordon Ramsay's shows, and anything food-related on the Food Network or Travel Channel, you'll probably appreciate Crush and will have a great time sampling high quality fare.

    (5)

  • Serena H.

    Came here for a pre-Christmas celebration and also because the last 2 times we tried to come, they were closed. I loved it. I had doubts about services in these restaurants - either too pretentious or snobby. But I did not get any of that. The waiters/waitresses were knowledgeable, serious but friendly and funny. They have no intention to make themselves "all that" and at the same time wanted you to have a good time. Food was awesome. We ordered Foie Gras for appetizers. I really liked it. It's my once a year indulgence. Although, I really thought it was funny when they explained that they used the entire duck. Because, I'm curious to know which farm wouldn't use the entire duck. We had rabbit and duck breast for main course. We loved the rabbit. It was a rabbit loin wrapped in a rabbit mousse with chard around it, served with a rabbit belly bacon. Amazingly good. It really showcased the skills while never over doing it. I also loved the fact that everything down to the sauce was tied together. The chef added turnip whipped cream/mousse thing on the side of the duck breast that I thought it was there as a garnish!!! But, no, damn good with the duck. :D Dessert was hard to miss since the entrees weren't all that large. I had what was listed as an Appe Pie which turned out to be NOTHING like an apple pie but it was REALLY good. Overall, it was an awesome experience and we really enjoyed it.

    (5)

  • David S.

    Good food and way, way overpriced. Sure it was good. But dinner for two was $145 plus tip: Two starters, two entrees, 3 glasses wine, one dessert. Moreover when the sever asked if we would like some more bread, he neglected to mention that extra bread was $5. Tacky. Lots of other places for a special meal.

    (2)

  • Rosemarie d.

    We decided to turn to Yelp to decide on a place to eat... and it's pretty sad that I come to a place and continuously give it "stars" in preparation for my review that I would write when I got home. I expected to not like this place... Because so often I think places don't deserve the hype they get. I was VERY wrong. We were lucky to find parking right outside... but I can see where this can be a problem. We got there 15 minutes early and the host was able to seat us immediately (another plus). This house-turned-restaurant is very warm and inviting. Not a sense of "up-tightness" in the decor. There was, however, an uptight patron at the table next to us, who was probably thinking we were too young to afford such a restaurant... I won't ding Crush a star because of the ppl they serve. After going through the EXTENSIVE wine menu... and I mean EXTENSIVE - it's literally a book, I decided on a simple glass of Riesling. At the end of the night, our server, brought me out another glass - this time of the same wine, aged 20 years... he wanted to give me the opportunity to experience the difference in tastes - Another plus. My bf got a beer called Saison Dupont which he claims is like a "burst of sunshine in the mouth." Since we love food... we decided to get the Chef's Tasting Menu for my bf. That's the 9-course meal. We decided to get the Valentine's Menu for me which is a pre-selected 5-course meal. I think they gave me a lot more than what was on my menu so that I'd still be eating while my bf was eating. Another plus. Toward the end of the night, I still kept saying, "there's still more?" The service was GREAT. The server answered all of our questions without an ounce of being stuck up. Our water glasses never went empty (a huge plus in my book). Definitely not an everyday kinda place... but maybe again for a future occasion. I genuinely enjoyed the experience.

    (5)

  • Neil D.

    Crush is an experience in both the culinary and physical. First the decor reminds me of something out of a Kubrick-like movie with it's almost all white walls, tables, and furniture (think Clockwork Orange meet 2001 A Space Odyssey). The cool thing about Crush for it's decor and atmosphere is that it's in a house and much of the restaurant overflows into several room. Now don't think this makes the place feel cold. It's very warm and welcoming as the lighting is done perfectly well to compliment the decor. This is a place that can feel romantic or social depending on your crowd. The room which my guest and I were in had four tables and maybe seated 10 people in total. Our two person table was adequate though and we didn't feel cramped. The service is friendly yet unobtrusive as they allow you just the right amount of time to look over the menu, bring courses to or from the table, and provide you with ample time to enjoy your meal and relax afterwards. The food is very good... very good? It's amazing! I mean, you're not a 2008 James Beard Foundation nominee for nothing, right?! Everything is very fresh and organic and the menu is always changing so you can always come back for more! You can really taste the difference when you try anything on the menu. The combination of savor and sexy on the same plate still makes my mouth water. Try anything and I am sure you will not be disappointed. From the appetizers, to the soups and salads, to the main course which can be anything from exotic vegetables, seafood, or meats, and you will simply fall for this place. I would recommend reservations but dress up for the occassion as this isn't a place you want to be able to afford every weekend unless you want to find out what the next menu's offerings will taste like. You will have a Crush on this place.

    (5)

  • Shirley H.

    I've been avoiding writing about Crush for a long time. Why? It's hands-down, without a doubt, not even a shadow of it, my favorite restaurant. With such a statement comes a lot of pressure to explain exactly why I feel this way, in a manner that matches the food. Here goes. Crush is the perfect fine dining experience. With a capital, undeniable P. Let me explain my definition of perfection when I go out to blow a bunch of money on a meal. I want a beautiful setting that is still comfortable and inviting. I want service that is attentive but completely unobtrusive. I want a thoughtful wine list with local selections and a wide range in price. I want inventive, not kooky, cocktails. I want food that reflects an obvious respect for great ingredients and an experimental spirit; food that is impeccably executed in doneness, rareness, crispiness, freshness; food that is the clear expression of the chef and their unique point of view. Normally, you get one of these things; perhaps two, if you're lucky. Crush is all of the above. I have had the privilege of eating there several times over the past few years, and with each visit I am stunned at how Crush is able to always improve upon the last amazing meal. First of all, the Tudor house-turned-restaurant is damned sexy--always perfectly lit, modernly furnished but crazy-cozy, and entirely unlike any other Seattle restaurant. The service should be the model for any fine dining establishment. Water glass is never empty. Smile is genuine. Napkin always folded neatly in your seat once you've returned from the restroom. Timing is magical--at the exact moment you wonder, "I can't wait for that cocktail," it's there, right next to your waiting hand. Never is your conversation awkwardly put on hold as a server hovers over you expectantly. You'll never ask a question they can't answer. And, if you're wondering: no, I'm not an employee, present or former. It's just really that wonderful. And then there's the food. The setting and the service can be fantastic, but it's all for naught if the food can't match it. The word I'd use to describe what makes Crush's food so incredible is "balance". Jason Wilson is a master in using a flavor that might be challenging and or odd, and then tempering it with complimentary flavors you'd never think would be complimentary. Ingredients never outmuscle or overshadow each another; instead, it's pitch-perfect harmony. Let's take a recent starter, a duet of kampachi tartare and yellowtail crudo: the richness of raw, fatty fish is offset by the fresh crunch of cucumber, the herbaceous kick of mint, the bright acidity of lime, the sweetness of melon--and then it's all brought full circle with a drizzle of lush olive oil. This multi-layered complexity has been present in every dish I've had at Crush. It's an embarrasing cliche to use, but I can't think of anything better--each bite really does take your mouth on a rollercoaster of sensations, flavors, textures, even temperatures. Once you eat at Crush, it's hard to look at other food without faulting it for being so one-dimensional. As a person of questionable memory retention, I am struck by a strange ability to recall moments and tastes from meals at Crush in very vivid detail, much like a childhood memory. That coffee-crusted venison that stung in the most ironically subtle way. The chocolate cake accented with smoky, salty bacon. The headcheese topped with an almost pornographically supple poached egg. And the black cod. Oh, the black cod. The best-cooked, crispest-crusted, meltingly tender piece of fish ever passed between these two lips. I could go on. But if you care, and I mean really care, about food, I can't emphasize this enough--Crush is perfect. I've never said that about any restaurant, ever. And that's because nothing else has come close.

    (5)

  • Nick B.

    Jason Wilson is serious about short ribs...like really serious. After 24 hours of finely temp controlled braising, they are no longer food - they are an experience. Usually served with a flavorful potato puree, some perfect carrots or microveg - and glazed with a rich reduction, they are the most outstanding short ribs you will find. After three trips to Crush (and two J-Will prepared, underground dinners) I'm a loyal disciple. The menu changes frequently but there are staples not be missed. Always hit the crudo preparation - like hamachi with chardonnay oil. A rediculous soup - velvety cauliflower with white truffles and d'anjou pear. And of course the short ribs. At our last visit, we sat at the bar for a serious cocktail and an absurd surf and turf - seared sea scallops with oxtail risotto. Add the complimentary amuse, house made chocolates - and maybe a stop by from the chef - this house on the hill is THE baller date spot of Seattle.

    (5)

  • JP P.

    I thought Crush wasn't as good as other people rated on Yelp!!! Food - Lamb Loin, carbonara wasn't anything special. A super tiny portion though. Ox tail soup was pretty good. The food were pretty pricy and thought wasn't worth it. Sorry Street Parking kills..... Even though Crush isn't located in middle of downtown, the streets that are close to Crush was pretty packed. It was a good experience but sorry. It could be a good place to socialize with business members ... etc. but don't hold high expectations on the dish.

    (3)

  • gary g.

    So far, the best haute cuisine i've had in seattle. the lobster pasta was, well, the big O. followed by scallops with risotto and oregon truffles . . . a double O. the chocolate desserts were the perfect cigarette. just about as good as sex.

    (5)

  • Cathy S.

    My husband and I were here last night for dinner to try out the Urban Eats menu (3 courses for $30). Despite some of the "just OK" reviews on Yelp for Crush, we decided to try it out for ourselves. We had a 7:15PM reservation and were seated promptly upon our arrival at the tables near the bar. My first impression had me a bit frazzled that it was so loud in the restaurant the lighting was very bright. Into our dinner though the lights were dimmed and everyone's conversations were drowned out by our own. We decided on the wine pairings for $15 to go with our meal as the glasses of wine were well over $15 a piece anyway. I ordered the pear salad (which was AMAZING) and the homemade pasta dish with mushrooms and my husband ordered the pork belly appetizer and the flank steak. All the food was amazing! While the food portions were a bit on the smaller side, we didn't leave feeling hungry (but we weren't stuffed either). Our waitress was very attentive and I liked how everyone took a minute to explain what was in each dish after placing it on the table. The wine pairings were also paired to each dish as opposed to 1 set of pairings for all the meals. I don't know if I'd come back here for a full priced meal as all the dinners started at $20+. I would however come back for Urban Eats again.

    (4)

  • Joe O.

    We've been in Seattle for a few months now - moved here from a place that arguably has the best restaurants in the states (NYC, naturally). I can honestly say that Crush could give most 5-star places I've reviewed a run for it's money (not literally, NYC is way more expensive). We've been yearning to eat here ever since we moved in June but wanted to wait for a special occasion. Well, the occasion happened to be my beautiful fiancee's birthday - MAN, did we enjoy it! From the outside you would never guess this is one of the most delicious restaurants in Seattle - it basically looks like a large home. The decor is not really great - somewhat cheap plastic tables, a "black & white" theme (blinds are large black venetian-style) throughout and the chairs that face in are 90+ degrees. Not great for sipping and chatting but just fine for chowing down. The service was impeccable - even the runners go into every minute detail of what they are serving. We shared everything we ordered so here goes (she order off the regular menu, I had the $45 price-fix option) : Started with the marinated blue marlin & sungold tomatoes (amazing) and also had possibly one of the best salads in my lifetime - the apple and heirloom salad with cider dressing and bleu cheese - remember to eat them all at the same time! My fiancee was picking at the lettuce and was very apathetic about the whole thing (after I gave a glowing review passing it over) when I told her to mix all the ingredients. She also agreed that it was one of the best salad's she's ever had. So there, great salad. Then we went onto the scallops with risotto and arugula - this was fantastic as well. The scallops were huge, seared nicely and went perfect with the risotto. The other entree was the rib-eye served on a bed of mashed potatoes - which, for a non-red meat lover, was phenomenal. Juicy, tender and a perfect blend of tastes when combined with the potatoes and garnishings. The '06 Chinon just added to the delight. We ended with the 2 cheese plates: a Bleu d'auvergne Terre de Valcans and a Moliterno. All is good in the world when you know a place like this is walking distance from our home. We loved it.

    (5)

  • Tanya Z.

    I love everything about this place! While the white decor isn't for everyone, I love how modern the place looks. The chairs could use some padding, but that's only an issue when you're doing their 25(or something)-course chef's tasting menu. I've been to Crush 3 times now and it never fails to impress. The service is always prompt and friendly and the food is ohmygawd-amazing!! I don't think I've ever been served anything I didn't like, and that's saying a lot considering how picky I am about my food. For that and so many other reasons, Crush is my absolutely favourite restaurant in Seattle! ...and now I'm drooling all over my keyboard, so that's a good place to stop writing.

    (5)

  • Will S.

    The service and ambiance at Crush is outstanding. Best scallop I have ever had, served in the middle of a delicious carrot soup with celery crème fresh. I had the trofie pasta for my main dish and it was great, stinging nettle sauce with fiddlehead ferns. Where else could you have something like that? For desert I had a wonderful spiced chocolate cake with a canal of vanilla ice cream, the spice lingered after every bite leaving me wanting more. The wine parings were excellent as well! I will try to make it out to Crush every time I am in Seattle. The food was truly amazing! My favorite restaurant in Seattle by far. It was a meal that I won't soon forget.

    (5)

  • Charles D.

    What a lovely meal we had at Crush last night. Originally headed to Harvest Vine, but when we arrived were told that it would be about 45 minutes to get seats. (even thought they had 2 seats at the bar and a 4 top on the main floor empty). We walked around Madison valley for a while then decided to try our luck elsewhere. (After about 45 minutes those seats at the bar were still empty...) Called crush and they got us right in. Boy am I glad our plans changed we ordered 5 of the appetizers, the waitress(who looked and sounded a bit like Jennifer Aniston) offered to split most of them and took charge of the turning them into individual courses. First came some delicious amuse of gougres with gruyere and chives. I have had a lot of mediocre gougres lately but these were delightful. Light and crisp yum yum yum. Then a second amuse of Steelhead caviar, whipped crème fraiche , and whiskey barrel aged maple syrup. All this accompanied by a delightful cucumber cocktail that was dangerously drinkable. Next we had some asparagus and crab soup that although I think needed a bit of acid and maybe some salt was delightful none the less. Two pasta dishes followed one a gnocchi that was the essence of mushroom with morels, oyster mushrooms and truffle oil. The other tagliatelle with quail egg and uni. Both were delicious although the quail egg didn't have much flavor and could have used a dash more salt. Sous Vide and grilled octopus over house made chorizo was up next and just about perfect. I love the interplay between the smoky chorizo and the octopus one of my favorite combinations of foods. This was cooked to perfection. Our final course was the foie gras "steak". To be honest I was a bit tipsy by then so am not sure of the components but it was tasty. We ended with some bites of cheese, St. Auger if memory serves... Perfect. Each dish was beautifully presented the flavors were spot on and the wait staff delightful. All in all a great experience we will be back.

    (5)

  • David B.

    First of I didn't enjoy my dinner and my wife didn't like her dessert at all and I wasn't even willing to finish it. So why five stars? Well, my wifes dinner was amazing and so was my dessert. She ordered the short ribs and for dessert I ordered Chocolate, TCHO & Valrhona. They were both amazing, two of the greatest thing we've ever ate. The service was attentive and pleasant. Nice ambiance and overall a great experience. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Abe F.

    Gonna throw my 2 cents into this pot. Granted, I came here for my birthday with lofty expectations given all the rave reviews as one of Seattle's best eateries. But frankly, they fell well, well below the mark. The food is unremarkable. In fact, I can't really remember what I ate - at least not fondly. I recall that the short ribs, which I think are supposed to have been cooked for like a whole day or two, turned out tasting just like a piece of fatty, greasy meat. And the fish - so overcooked as to remind one of eating a piece of chalk. Which I have never enjoyed, to be honest. Now the price is quite memorable. They will make a serious dent in your wallet. And I contend that if you are going to pay $35 for an entree, you ought to remember and seriously enjoy that dish. Maybe they were just having an off night, but should a place like this be allowed to have off nights? Would you chance dropping a couple of Benjamins on that? Oh, and the decor is just weird. What's with those plastic, aerodynamically shaped chairs, anyway? And why were there so many fruit flies buzzing around our table? That may sound like me being over-the-top, but I swear it was true. And apparently they like beer as much as I do.

    (2)

  • Mark F.

    I admit it. I'm a skeptic. About lots of things. Not least of which are hyped-up flavor-du-jour dining establishments. The web site looked uber-elegant and I wondered if the place was up to the same standard. That said, I approached a visit to Crush with a reasonably open mind. Lots of positive reviews here and 2 members of our group of 6 had previously visited. At 6:30 on a weeknight I spent quite a while looking for a place to park. Upon entering the restaurant, it was already bustling, but there seemed to be ample waitstaff zooming around the converted house - less than ideally laid out given all the dodging and weaving i saw while awaiting our waiter. Clearly Crush doesnt want to turn tables very quickly. We received drinks pretty promptly but dinner order weren't even taken for at least a half-hour Now I'm a difficult customer because i have some food allergies as well as preferences that can rather restrict my menu options. I'd previously looked at the offerings online and decided that there was at least some choices that wouldn't kill me. I was disappointed to see that the winelist was an inch thick, but the menu would fit on two postcards - and had some changes from the one i'd perused earlier. Not finding anything apealing or safe, i decided to skip the small-plates (ie: expensive appetizers). As luck would have it though they brought some rather tasty bread to accompany it. To my dismay though, the two paltry slices allocated to me were apprently cut by a meat-slicer. They were so thin I could nearly see through them! I consoled myself with the Pike Ale I had selected earlier. The water glasses were apparently the primary focus of the service since countless visits were made to refill them. Each time this occurred, attentive server saw fit to empty a little more of my beer into the Brandy glass in which it had been served. This made sure that it was always too warm for me to enjoy fully. As if my mind had been read, more bread was offered since there was no sign of our entrees just yet. How generous this time - one additional quarter-inch slice for each of us! At long last my dinner arrived, at least i presume it was dinner. Upon lifting the lid, I was greeted by a most-elegantly presented piece of cod, well decorated at that. Beneath that were four 1-inch green beans, and a handful of garbanzo-like beans and a foam of something or other. Foam, it seems is a big deal at Crush. I was hungry. We'd already been there 90mins. Time to eat. It was perhaps slightly undercooked except for the crispy "crust" on top, but otherwise very flavorful. Roughly 3 minutes and 5 bites later, it was gone. I looked wistfully at my empty bowl, containing only the foam. I Considered asking for a refill but didnt feel i could wait another hour for another Scooby snack. All the servings appeared rather skimpy but mine especially so. We decided to skip Dessert and coffee, and made our way past all the beautiful people still milling around waiting for a table and departed. Having been sitting in a visually interesting but functionally worthless plastic chair for 2 and a half hours, I was less than comfortable anyway. Presentation was excellent all round. My food was quite good, such as it was. They were kind enough to include a 20% gratuity for our group of 6 as well. I suppose that's reasonable given the number of times my water was refilled. Tiny portions, narrow menu, high prices, patio furniture. My skepticism was vindicated and solidly reinforced. No need for me to visit Crush again.

    (2)

  • Derek R.

    7:30 appointment on a Tuesday, we foolishly stood and waited until 9:05 to be seated. We debated on walking out several times, but the manager would come over and give us a glass of champagne every 45 minutes. Finally, she gave us a 50% off voucher. Then we felt like it may be worth it to stick it out. We stayed and the food was pretty good, but it was difficult to recover such a sour beginning. When we went to pay the bill we gave her a credit card and the voucher she just gave us and she says, " I can't let you use this on the same night I gave it to you." Totally suckered us! Like I'll EVER be back to use it after that experience. We tossed the voucher in the candle on the table and bolted out the door. We stared in the window from the sidewalk and laughed as a little bonfire started on our table! Dangerous I know, but that's the way I like to live.

    (1)

  • Tommy K.

    Came here with two friends -- two of us ordered the four-course tasting menu while the other ordered straight from the regular menu. While the food was certainly not bad, it was definitely nothing to be excited about. Plenty of other people have talked about the decor and other non-food related issues so I won't go into that here other than to say that it's tastefully decorated and the staff were great. But, now to the important stuff: the food. In past reviews, I've criticized people for complaining about the portions and the price. I think having a well-portioned meal that requires no left overs or stuffing one's self to the gill is the way to go and I also have no problems shelling out serious coin for a good meal. I've had plenty of $100-$150 meals in Seattle. So, with all that said, I think the portions here are much too small and the price a bit high for what you get. My two dining companions had martinis that cost $16/each ... while that might be on the low side in Manhattan, that's awfully high for Seattle. The martinis were quite good so I'm not complaining about the taste only that it's out of line with what most Seattle restaurants charge. Similarly, the $20-$30 price per entree is a pretty standard price point for the typical Seattle 2nd tier restaurants (places like Canlis and Rovers being more in the 1st tier category). There are a slew of restaurants in this price range so it's not the price itself that bothered me only that the price didn't match up with the quality. I had some serious seasoning issues and I thought the choice of cheese in one salad was a mistake -- it was such a strong cheese that it really dominated everything else. I also had the parsnip soup with duck confit and I thought that was really an unbalanced meal. In fact, I don't think I've ever had so much water with one meal ... the salt was really heavy. The best dish in the four-course tasting menu was definitely the fish (I think it was a cod) in a wagyu dashi broth but the portions were far too small. I know this is a tasting menu but a course should still be more than two or three bites. My friend who ordered from the regular menu also had issues with his plate being on the small side. All in all, I wouldn't necessarily dissuade someone from eating here (the overall experience was fine and, like i said already, the staff were great) but I certainly wouldn't recommend it.

    (3)

  • H C.

    This place was great! I would definitely suggest it as a nice date night. Definitely worth the money. Cute restaurant and pretty good staff. I had pork belly as an appetizer and steak as my entree. Both were so delicious.

    (5)

  • M.G. D.

    Please eat here. I've only just recently been here for the first time, and when I'm back in Seattle, I'm going to make darn sure to get a table, again. Pronto. I LOVE food. My foodie self will go anywhere from a dive to a taco truck to Relais Gourmands restaurants-- I've been blessed enuf to dine at some of the most kick-ass restaurants in the world from Melisse in Santa Monica, to Jean Bardet in the Loire Valley in France, Alain Ducasse in Paris, and Le Bernardin & Jean Georges in NYC & Gary Danko in the SF. And I'm here to tell you that in my opinion -- The food at Crush is better than a couple of the places I just mentioned (Sorry, Gary Danko -- oops). Crush is what looks like a little house in a non-touristy part of Seattle. They have a cute lil outdoor seating area too. Although there is no view of anything fancy, I really appreciated the simplicity of the outdoor garden. It kind of made me feel like I was eating a delicious 5-star meal in a friends backyard. Unfortunately, none of my friends can cook like that -- if they could I'd be the houseguest who never leaves. Yummy doesn't begin to describe the food at Crush.The amuse bouche was this little piece of heaven -- some sort of fresh pickled cucumber with a cherry tomato and Oh! It was so simple, I decided to ask the assistant chef how it's prepared so that I could make it at home. Well, he began to explain how it takes 2 days and how he must do this and this and that and then put it in a sous vide machine and yea yea yea -- I"ll just come back again someday -- & hope it's being served. My fave besides the cheese & bread? The scallops! Excellent-Tay! They simply melt in your mouth. The fois gras was slammin and you can't go anywhere without trying the pork belly & grits. The odd thing is that when I saw the tiny portions of the tasting menu arrive on the table course by course, I thought for sure I was going to be spending a lot of money just to walk away hungry. Soooo not the case. I was so full by dessert time (okay don't get it twisted, I still stuffed my self with dessert) -- and I ordered the chocolate bourbon pecan pie. Served with bacon ice cream and bacon brittle (yes bacon) so it was kinda like peanut brittle but with bacon. And it was Everything! Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Yes. Go? Yes! Counting the day's to get back to this little piece of yummy-ness. Hope this helps... M.

    (5)

  • David P.

    Took my wife to Crush for dinner last night for date night and was thoroughly impressed. I called to get a reservation the day of and it turns out it was the last night of Urban Eats so there were no reservations available until 9:15. I explained that with a 2 year old and 2 month old waiting for us at grandma's that was WAY too late. I told them this would be our first time out alone since the new baby was born. I got a call back later from the host asking what time we would like to eat, I told him we had been hoping for 5:30 and he said let me see what I can do. He ended up moving some tables around and we got in at the time I wanted! Right off the bat, already have to feel pretty good about that. Thought the house type venue was really cool, and the staff were all very friendly. We both got the 3 for $30 and I got the full wine sampler. I thought that everything was excellent, the pork belly was so tasty, my wife enjoyed the gorganzola salad, I was disappointed they didn't have the short ribs as an option but we both got the steak and we weren't disappointed. Dessert was great, as well as the dessert wine served with it. All around a great meal, great night, and for the price we paid, totally worth it.

    (5)

  • Megan M.

    Crush is good but I agree that it's not worth the hype. We went there to take advantage of the 30 for $30 deal. If we hadn't done that, we'd have payed about $100/person after all was said and done. It was my 2nd time there, last night. The first time was for a work Christmas party which went horribly wrong - we didn't eat for about 2 hours and by the time we got our food, it was cold. I decided to give it a 2nd chance but it wasn't that much better this time. Again, the wait for food was quite long. The host did compensate for our waiting time by giving us complimentary glasses of port, which was greatly appreciated. PROS: delicious food (flank steak was the best I've ever had), nice ambience, lots of wine to choose from, server was excellent CONS: EXPENSIVE! There were no glasses of wine under $10 and the main dishes are all around $30 (and they're small); chairs are a bit uncomfortable and it took a long time for us to get our food; parking sucks

    (4)

  • Kari O.

    Visited Crush in September 2009 after reading up on it -- and all of the rave reviews. As lovely as everything was, perhaps I'm just not *enough* of a foodie to TRULY appreciate every complex morsel? I easily made reservations via Open Table on my smart phone the day of my dinner. The restaurant is a little house well outside of the downtown Seattle area and best reached by cab if you're not a local. Inside, we were greeted warmly by the staff and shown to our table. First thing I noticed was that the chairs used were the same exact chairs my client rents for their trade show booth! Nothing terribly fancy or plush, but unique and elegant in a minimalist way. Each course for dinner was beautifully served - -and very small. We're used to seeing ridiculous-sized portions in most restaurants, so this was a huge contrast. Nevertheless, it was the perfect amount. I started with the Japanese Hamachi Crudo, then selected the seared sea scallops for my main course. All three of us in my party split the a plate of each of the three desserts at the end. Like I said, the portions were quite petite, so it was just enough for a taste for each of us. Between that, and about 2 drinks each (beer or red wine), the bill came to be approximately $130 for each of us. This is definitely a special-occasion restaurant, and my clients enjoyed themselves, but I feel much of it was lost on me. Personally, the descriptions of the food and the very high quality ingredients sounded much more impressive on the menu than what I actually consumed. Again, maybe a person has to have a more sensitive, complex and evolved palate to truly appreciate Chef Jason Wilson's creations.

    (3)

  • Troy L.

    We were in town for PAX ( paxsite.com ) and visited Crush on Saturday night, took the cab so we wouldn't need to deal with parking. We passed it the first time, not looking for a converted house. The converted home can seat roughly 60 so reservations are highly recommended. 30% of the clientele were dressed casually, 20% formal, and the rest just slightly dressy. Very friendly and professional staff. Our party of 4 each ate appetizers, entrée, and dessert. Everyone was overjoyed with each selection. My favorite was the pork belly appetizer, though surprising us all, even the chicken entrée was excellent.

    (5)

  • Teresa Z.

    This week I decided to take on another Seattle restaurant giant, the 2010 James Beard Foundation winner, Crush. First off let me say, I have zero patience for fancy eateries that are hyped from here to kingdom come. Usually I leave frustrated, hungry, and a few hundred bucks lighter. With Crush falling into this category, I decided to do a little research before visiting this world famous restaurant. The story behind Crush is a cutesy one about how executive chef, Jason Wilson, went to view a Tudor-styled home on Madison and 23rd; there he met a realtor who developed a "Crush" on him. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to know where this one is going. They fall in love, get married, open the now famous restaurant on Valentine's Day, and live happily ever after, blah blah blah! After I stopped gagging and recovered from that saccharine enriched story, I decided it was time to visit this little culinary love shack. Walking into Crush was like going to an ultra hip friend's house for an intimate dinner party. The small minimally decorated foyer leads to a stunning floating bar and view of the bustling kitchen. Swing to your immediate left and you are in the cozy dining room, with its soft lighting and warm chocolate overtones. This room was clearly meant to inspire sappy romance. After ordering a cocktail and admiring the view, which in this case was my car on the street, my wife and I started our culinary journey at Crush. We decided to go all out and order big, from appetizers to ports, we were committed to experiencing all that Crush had to offer. How else could I properly make fun of it for having such a cheesy back story? However, after tasting our first course we learned that there was absolutely nothing funny about Crush, other than the name that conjures up images of soda pop. We ordered two starters, the light and buttery Hamachi Tuna Crudo and the sumptuous Seared Foie Gras. While both dishes were polar opposites, they were also prime examples of culinary perfection. Served with a cauliflower salad, preserved lemon, and golden chanterelle mushrooms, the hamachi was a flavor explosion of deliciousness. The Seared Foie Gras, coupled with almond financiers and a quince-verjus sauce (basically a non-alcoholic fruit reduction) was everything foie gras should be, smooth, decadent, and crispy. I know that foie gras can be a controversial issue, but if your morals allow, and you don't mind "ducking" a few bricks from angry protesters, I must recommend this awe-inspiring dish. For the main course, I ordered the Seared Sea Scallops & Prosciutto, and it was love at first bite. The scallops were fresh, succulent, and cooked to perfection. At that moment I was in culinary bliss. I thought for certain it was true love, but after sampling my wife's main course, the Braised & Glazed Beef Short Ribs, I realized my affection for the scallops was just a summer thing. The short ribs were juicy, tender, and melted in my mouth. Soon after our main courses, the dessert menu began calling our names. We tried to ignore her, but she was a relentless, little temptress that refused to take no for an answer. We finally gave into the siren's call, and we ordered the Lemon-Ginger Mascarpone Cheesecake and the Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie with Maple Bacon Ice Cream. The lemon- ginger cheesecake was delectably tart and creamy. It was nothing short of a slice of nirvana on a plate. If molecular gastronomy guru, Wylie Dufresne, and the southern cooking goddess, Paula Deen, created a dessert together, it would be the chocolate bourbon pecan pie, with maple bacon ice cream. It was a glorious mixture of sweet, velvety chocolate, salty pecans, and a subtle hint of bacon. This one definitely won the most "pleasantly surprised" vote of the evening. It's easy find a restaurant with ambitious menu offerings from self proclaimed innovative chefs, what's rare is finding one with enough skill and passion to actually pull it off. Perhaps there is some sort of special magic in the air at Crush that sets it apart from so many of the other fine dining restaurants that promise so much, but deliver so little. Unfortunately, all of this opulence and excellence comes at a price. This is not a family place. They do not have a kids menu, and realistically, I probably will not dine there again for at least another year, simply because it is not in my budget. If you are looking for a place to celebrate the special moments in life with those you love, Crush offers a top notch dining experience from start to finish. It's not easy on your wallet, but true love is always worth it.

    (4)

  • C T.

    I happened to just look this place up because we were looking for a place to eat in Seattle, and how lucky were we? FOOD: We had multiple courses and they were all delicious. The portions are all set to be small to accomodate the multiple courses, but for me, they were a little too big. I had the feeling of being stuffed at the end, not a feeling I like having after such a great culinary experience. But I don't necessarily see it as a bad thing. I think it goes to their generosity. At least that's how I'm going to attribute it. I'd write more, but I think everyone else has done a better job, even listing actual menu items. So yes, I agree with the positive food descriptions of other reviews. STAFF/SERVICE: The staff was warm, intuitive and very competent. They didn't have a good alternative for a non-alcohol drinker but suggested a citrus carbonated drink from the bar. It was good at first sip, but ended up interfering with the food, and they took it off my bill when they saw I wasn't drinking it. OVERALL: What a great experience! It was a great find for me. Pricey, but not as expensive as it could have been. I can't wait to go back when I'm in town.

    (5)

  • bah h.

    My boyfriend took me here for my birthday and we had an amazing experience. It's true, the service was a little slow, but the servers were all friendly and knowledgeable. I got a delicious little cocktail made with syrup from trees out back or something like that. We ordered a couple of appetizers, flan with caviar and grilled baby octopus. I've never had flan with fish eggs before, but wow it's a great combination! The creaminess of the flan goes so well with the saltiness of the salmon roe! And the baby octopus was tender and delicious. While we were waiting for our entrees they brought us these little spoons filled with some kind of sorbet and that was nice.. For dinner I had duck and my boyfriend had lobster. The duck was fantastic, but the lobster was something super special, just super super special. We had some coffee and chocolate mousse for dessert. mmmmmmm. I'm pretty sure the dinner was pretty expensive (I didn't pay of course, it was my birthday!) but I know my boyfriend didn't have any regrets forking up the cash for this awesome dining experience!

    (5)

  • Stephen B.

    Now that we have been in the area for a while, I will say Crush has really become a favorite. We have been many times, and each time is great. The staff is professional and very knowledgeable of the menu and wines. For a special event or just a nice evening out, Crush is the place. As mentioned in my original post, take a cab. Parking in the area isn't the best.

    (5)

  • Oliver P.

    One hell of a spot!!!! Took a special lady friend here for one of those type of dinners and man oh man...a good time was had by all. We started at their small bar which overlooks the open kitchen. Had a nice glass of bubbles and watched Chef Jason at work. At our table, our server was the perfect level of attentive but yet gave us our space as well...we shared some of the appetizers, really enjoyed the beef short ribs that fell off the bone! Plus, I love that they had the Beresan 'Stone River'...one of my favorite bottles.

    (5)

  • Steven N.

    We had one of the worst dining experiences at our first (and last) visit to Crush. We made reservations for 8:45 pm for a party of 2 on a Wednesday. (Without having to read to the end, I'll just say that we didn't leave until after 11:15 pm - and not by choice). Upon arrival, we were told there would be a 20-30 minute wait, even though we had reservations. The waitress was very good, however, the overall service was terrible. We ordered appetizers, entrees, and desserts all at the beginning (Restaurant Week). It took about 45 minutes for each portion to come out. In addition, they forgot the 3rd part of the wine pairing for us. Summary: After walking in at 8:45, we were seated around 9:05. Waitress took our order at 9:25, first appetizer showed up at 9:50, entree at 10:30.... Food was pretty good, but definitely not worth the price or the wait and certainly not above and beyond what you can find at other places.

    (1)

  • Jamie T.

    Crush crushes their competition! OMG! Scallop Foie Gras was amazing! We went to Crush for my girlfriend's birthday and we were just blown away! Great ambience, service, wine pairing, everything was just on point. Its a small, chic, cute, great little gem in the CD.

    (5)

  • Tammy C.

    My date took me here while we were vacationing in Seattle and gulp...another wonderful culinary experience. I think our dinner for two came to over 300 dollars! It was a wonderful dining experience, the wine paired with our fish was outstanding. Excellent service, thank you!!

    (5)

  • Jessie P.

    Far and away, hands down the best restaurant in all of Seattle. Crush offers the modern sensibility and deliciously complicated food of a true contemporary-American establishment, with the warmth and comfort of home. A reservation is a must... but honestly, my suggestion would be to sneak in early (before 6pm), and sit at the bar. This is the only true way to experience the innards of Crush, its friendly staff, its impeccable kitchen, and its killing-me-softly food. There are also a number of specialty cocktails that are bound to knock your socks off. Their spin on the greyhound is especially impressive with a house-made green foam caressed over the top. If you get the chance, you must also try the house-made chocolates. I'm still dreaming of the, who would have thought?, earl grey chocolate! Skip the chocolate all together if you can be lucky enough to try the blood orange sorbet wrapped in the most amazingly delicate foie gras ever to exist. I would eat nothing else for the rest of eternity if possible. The last time I dined at Crush, I actually overheard someone complaining about there being TOO MANY shaved truffles over their lobster gnocchi. Are you KIDDING ME!!?!?! Hats of to chef Jason Wilson, you are perfection.

    (5)

  • Moo M.

    The food was interesting. A combination of salmon roe, maple syrup, and pudding equivalent was decent. But let me tell you how we got killed. I thought I might give an interesting bottle a try. I was almost sure I knew the price was pretty high, it was talked up by the wait staff and seemed like a pretty unique item. Why not give it a try, even if its a 100% markup it still would be nice to give it a whirl.... I got home to check the price of our well enjoyed bottle and let me express how amazed I am. The markup was not 100%. Not 200%. It was a 400% markup. I mean, WTF! I feel as if I was molested without the courtesy of a lollipop.

    (3)

  • Paul R.

    Exquisite food, flawed service. My mother and my girlfriend and I went here for our special dinner while my mother is in town visiting. The space if nifty, modern and spartan. Lots of white, black and beige. We had reservations and were seated promptly and the staff took our orders quickly (we all had the four course dinner). My martini was excellent. Then things started going wrong. The glass of red wine that I had ordered to come with the spare rib course came with my foie gras (red wine with foie gras? bleh!). Not a big deal with a red wine but what if I had ordered the fish and had gotten a white? Then the red wine that my girlfriend ordered with her spare rib course got mixed up and they brought her white. Then they were out of the white that my mother ordered with the salmon, a fact our waitress did not inform us of, and the sommelier offered another, but it never came. When my mother was 95% done with her salmon she finally told the waitress to not bother with the white wine to which the waitress replied that they were "chilling it". Chilling it? What the hell? Wasn't it already chilled? If it wasn't chilled then why did the sommelier offer it? Finally I ordered some coffee about five minutes before our desert courses came and I didn't get it until after I was halfway done with the desert. At a restaurant of this caliber the service is supposed to flow, effortlessly and cleanly. A mixup now and then is fine but here they made one misstep after another. Part of going to a five star restaurant is that you hand yourself over to their power, you trust them to carry you through the evening with aplomb and grace; I wouldn't trust the service staff here with that. Both of my visits to Le Gourmand have been far better. Great, five star food Crush, but you need to clean up your wait staff, pronto.

    (3)

  • Jody N.

    I went here with a group of my girlfriends for the dine around promotion, and unfortunately nothing on the dine around menu could be accommodated for my food allergies (which kinda made me bummed). I did however decide on a delicious dish of duck, and was happy with the choice, just wish I had gotten to try three things for the price of my one meal. The decor is very modern and fun inside, which I would have never guessed on my many times passing by the restaurant. Our server was phenomenal, and kept us laughing with every visit to our table. Beautiful presentation of the food, and surprisingly the small dishes still leave you extremely full! If you are looking for a nice atmosphere, for a special occasion, this would be toward the top of my list.

    (4)

  • Anya Z.

    Crush is a house that has been converted into a beautiful, vibrant restaurant. When you walk in it's very inviting and warm. The food was great and the service as well, but be prepared to take your time! The only negative was that it took a long time to get each entree and then the bill. We were there for 2 hours! If you're there with a group of friends then this wouldn't be an issue because of group conversations etc. However, this was not a positive for us. Overall, good experience but would probably only go back in a group capacity.

    (4)

  • larry m.

    What a fantastic dinner - some traditional offerings and some new taste sensations (so branch out!) all served by a friendly attentive wait staff. The house setting gave a family feel to our table that allowed interesting conversation to flow freely. Parking is a challenge - all street parking in a crowded area.

    (5)

  • Dana P.

    Let me begin by saying that the food here is really good. But the service was so terrible that I am definitely not coming back. This is in my neighborhood, and I have been meaning to try it for a while. I decided to take a colleague of mine when he was in town. From our first interaction with the maitre'd it was clear that the staff at Crush, although they are a fraction of your age making a fraction of your salary, have that amazing gift of making you feel like you do not belong there. We had come from the office and I had a small tote bag with me, which they did not offer to take, but preferred to treat like radioactive material, making a show of finding a place for it beside our table. Our waitress aggressively pushed us to order more and more food, even insisting that I try a dish that I know I have never liked. She actually told me that I've probably never had it homemade, and that I would like it if I did. She proceeded to laugh at us when we needed clarification of an item on the menu. They have rather flimsy, plastic chairs, and I am a small person. When I leaned in to hear something that my friend had said, my chair tipped up slightly. A passing waiter actually forcibly pushed it back down. That was really the last straw for this place. It was a stressful experience all around, and I'm not sure if they realize that they're in Seattle. So while the food itself is good, don't come here if you're looking for a pleasant evening.

    (1)

  • Boro B.

    I visited this restaurant at the end of my 4-day stay in Seattle. Picked it because my friend and her husband raved about it and since I wanted a nice place to show my gratitude to their hospitality, we decided on Crush. I was disappointed. We showed up at 7 and didn't get our drinks, bread until 7:30. The wine director did know her stuff as she gave the ladies at our table two glasses of wine that they raved about. I tried the tartar as a starter while my girlfriend had the scallops. Word of warning on the tartar, unless you like the bitter taste of raw watercrest, stay away. I don't know WHAT they did to that "creme fraiche" but alone or with any other element on that dish, I could not get over that bitterness taste. Absolutely foul to an otherwise tasty dish. The cod for my main was awesome. No complaints, flesh had nice texture to it and it tasted divine. Dessert was decent. For the price per head, it really wasn't anything to write home about. I couldn't really complain about the service. After hearing of our complaints on the tartar, they sent us raspberry sorbets as palette cleanser before our mains arrived, on the house. That was a pleasant surprise. Service I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars, while the food was 3 out of 5. For the price, I expected better.

    (3)

  • Chris H.

    5 stars is a big statement but Crush always delivers. And they just made a great restuarant even better by adding outdoor seating out back. Every bit of our meal last night was outstanding; starting with an amazing amuse-bouche, definitely one of the best I have ever tasted: salmon roe on creme-fraiche with a reduction of bourbon and honey. Wow, really good. The fried sweatbreads were fantastic - highly recommend them. The beet salad was really fresh and not your typical take on the popular salad. Black Cod with sea beans was great as was my wife's lamb loin with fava beans. Both offered local, fresh, spring veggies. You can't go wrong with any dish there. Even the bread with Hawain black salt was fantatic. Its pricely but great.

    (5)

  • Dawn A.

    We dined here for our one month wedding anniversary and were amazed with the experience. Reservations were tricky to get with just a couple day's notice so we dined a little later than we normally would, but it was worth it! The food wasn't as incredibly high priced as we expected (we paid about $140 for our two courses + wine each), the atmosphere was very modern chic, the service was professional and excellent, but it was the FOOD that would keep us coming back every month of our new marriage if we could. Oy! Delicious! I had Grilled Local Octopus & Romesco Sauce as well as Seared Rare Sea Scallops & Aged Pecorino Risotto... AMAZING! The scallops were light and succulent and the flavors of the octopus were indescribable (I am not well versed in haute cuisine terms and descriptions!) We have put this food as tied for 2nd place with Veil for best food we have ever eaten. First place goes to the Flagstaff in Boulder, CO. :)

    (5)

  • Matthew M.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. Jason Wilson is an amazing chef- he brings creative flavors and elegance to all the dishes he prepares. Jason hosted our wedding reception and cooked personalized hors d'oeuvres, which was customized to my wife and I style and personality. His staff is personable and are extremely courteous. Jason's menu is always changing and evolving into magnificent flavors. The atmosphere is intimate and trendy- a terrific place to celebrate a big event or a special occasion. I strongly suggest that everyone goes and try this wonderful restaurant!

    (5)

  • P C.

    Good food with creative presentation.

    (4)

  • Gretchen B.

    I decided to celebrate my birthday here after hearing about Crush for a couple of years. They took our coats and we were seated right away. We first got the wine list and quickly figured out why other people were bringing in their own wine. The list is about 50 pages long and the cheapest bottle is $60 and most bottles are pushing $100 up to several hundred. Most glasses of wine and beers were $12. Ridiculous. We decided on starters. All I really wanted was a green salad. No such thing here. I opted for the octopus with beans and chorizo. It was good. I wasn't blown away. The octopus wasn't chewy at all, very tender and the beans were perfectly prepared. We also ordered the beet salad with chevre, which was also very good, but forgettable. For entrees, two of us opted for the sea bass with squash and greens. When it says squash on the menu that means a very small smear on your plate, nothing more. The sea bass was perfectly prepared and good. We also had the duck, which was very rare and not a table favorite. My husband had short ribs which he said tasted like they were cooked in a crock pot. The portions aren't as small as I would have expected, but not huge. I also found it very odd that the woman pouring the wine was standing in clear view of the tables tasting all the wines as she poured them to make sure they were still good. My main problem with Crush is that it makes everything so complicated. You don't need so much fuss to make delicious food. The dessert menu was so overly fussy that even on my birthday I opted to skip dessert. The atmosphere was o.k. Simple and modern. The music was dreadful and distracting. The service was o.k. if not a little irritating. I won't be going back and actually think I would have been happier stopping at Ezell's down the street for dinner for four for the price of one entree at Crush.

    (2)

  • Dawn G.

    Delicious food, lovely ambiance, great service. I've only been to Seattle once, but this restaurant quickly became one of my must-go places for future visits. Before deciding upon restaurants for my brief visit, I of course consulted Yelp. And you did not lead my astray my Yelpy friends. The experience was top-notch from start to finish. Upon arriving at Crush, I was promptly greeted and given the option of seating locations. I chose the beautiful outdoor patio in the back. It was a serene space with plenty of privacy and plants to set the scene. When the server arrived, I selected a wine that was unfortunately out of stock. She recommended a similar wine to fit my palate and it was spot on. Despite the lobster gnocchi being unavailable, I was excited to try various menu items. To start, I had the "bacon n' eggs" appetizer (wow), then the himachi crudo, and lastly the roasted wagyu strip loin. All of the dishes were fantastic and perfectly prepared. I'm also still thinking about the Malbec that the server helped to pair with that steak. In short, dinner at Crush was a wonderful experience and I'm looking forward to returning.

    (5)

  • Tim L.

    Had our anniversary dinner here this past weekend and hate to say, this is big time pass right now if you are headed out to dinner in Seattle. I am not sure if things have gone down dramatically now that they have announced they are closing, but we were hoping that we would give the place one last "hurrah" before they did close. We have previously had great meals here and were excited to come back, but the enthusiasm we had was quickly out the window as the night progressed.... First off, let me say this...I was in the "biz" so I know what good service and good food is... Now, when you take reservations and ask if this is a special occasion and we say "yes, it is our anniversary", one would think that you might mention it during the evening or at least welcome us "on your anniversary".....this isn't a huge deal, but something that most restaurants do when you check in and during the evening. On to the next issue, our server and the other servers in the restaurant all seemed extremely distracted. Multiple plates were messed up and had to be sent back to the kitchen. This isn't super abnormal, except we all ordered the tasting menu where everything is PRESET. Our server seemed to care less about his tables and enhancing his guests overall dining experience. Most of our probing questions about the restaurant and the food or just questions in general were asked with a mono tone "ok"...nothing else and then he would walk away, all very strange. The food itself is Ok at best at this point (I have been here over the years and know that his restaurant can do better than this!). The serving sizes have gotten quite small and are now 2-3 bites per dish (I'm not looking to walk away full, but we were starving by the end of the night). Some of the dishes were just flat passes by our table...combinations of flavors were bland and uninspiring, and desert was a resounding "no" with the cake tasting like it was left out to dry days ago. Again, I understand its a tasting menu and you try a lot of small bites, but at $125/tasting menu, I expect some amazing dishes, superb service, an inviting atmosphere and an overall experience that makes you want to pay over $500 for an evening out...an evening out that will blown your mind and make you want to come back for more. I don't know if this general lack of care by their servers and uninspiring small bites of food will transfer to his next restaurant, but there are MANY other far better options in town if you were looking to spend over $500 for an evening out. Sorry Crush, but you really let me down this year on my anniversary.....

    (1)

  • Jason R.

    First of all I really liked the atmosphere very cozy less the ikea chairs. Food was top notch, every dish on the tasting menu was really unique and had a distinct taste. The hand made ricotta cheese ravioli and beef short ribs were my favorite dishes, but each one of the dishes I ordered had me wanting more. Plan to sit for a couple hours, the wait can be a little long after you devour the small dish. The dishes were small, but at the end I was full and satisfied. The prices were higher than my normal budget, so for people like me, you should be happy that crush does participate in dine around seattle's 3/30. I'm definitely a fan!

    (4)

  • James P.

    Dissappointed at best. The papardelle with razor clams had no clams and no flavor. It was fettucini. The halibut was dry and lacked flavor. The duck breast was good but had miniature. Great service is the only reason I did not give it one star. For a menu with most entrees over $30, it was a big disappointment.

    (2)

  • Jason R.

    We got the tasting menu plus appetizer & entree a la carte. They did a nice job of serving the dishes, mixing in the a la carte at reasonable times. They also split the dessert on to two plates. Generally, service was good and at the level you'd expect for such an expensive restaurant. But, the food was very underwhelming. Seasoning was very spotty, from too salty to underseasonsed. Lamb was dry. Pasta was stuck together as if it was made the previous day and left to sit. The sous vide egg was overcooked by frying pan finish; it also had enormous chunks of salt that made it inedible. They put bacon in over half the dishes---we were often left wondering why. Ingredients weren't connected very well. For example, in "bacon & eggs", salmon roe and maple syrup do not go together. Two good dishes were short ribs and spring pea soup, but neither made us salivate. We expected at least a few outstanding dishes at this price level, but didn't see any. Dessert was funny---chocolate wafers, topped with whipped cream and strawberries. It felt like almost no thought went into it. OTOH, service was again nice---they gave us two plates of (half of the?) dessert. Felt like a lot of ingredients were there for presentation (looks cool/interesting/unusual), not for taste. What do cherries have to do with underseasoned fish and overseasoned tomato chunks? Yes, that was a dish.

    (2)

  • Stephanie T.

    Easily one of my new favorite restaurants in Seattle. I went here with some friends for the 30/$30 promotion ( dinearoundseattle.org ) and could hardly have been more impressed. One area where I think this restaurant stands head and shoulders above others is in service. Ever-present but not overbearing, we spent the entire evening feeling like we had a private staff, each of whom was assigned a different task in keeping us attended throughout our meal: refilling water; refreshing bread; clearing plates -- they managed to keep things moving at a comfortable pace without us even noticing. I think even if the food were only mediocre I would be tempted to come back to this restaurant for the sheer comfort and quality of the dining experience. Fortunately for me, the food is also quite excellent! Each dish clearly had a lot of thought put into both composition and presentation, with novel blends of flavor mixed with conventional favorites. I thought my pork belly appetizer couldn't be topped but admittedly I was somewhat jealous when one of my companion's carrot soup and scallop arrived. (Not sure where else I have seen carrot soup, and certainly not paired with a scallop!) The same was true of the mushroom pasta and flank steak entree representations at the table. It's always good when you can like everything that is brought to you! The cocktails are fashionable and classy - we had one topped in maraschino foam and the pear infused vodka came with a delicious slice of fresh pear in it. If I were forced to choose a slightly weaker link in my evening's menu, it may have been the chocolate cake I ordered for dessert - which, while beautifully presented was a little dry and could have benefited from chocolate chips, less time in the oven, or more ice cream. A bit pricey for an everyday meal but Crush is most definitely one of my top special occasion destination recommendations if you should find yourself in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Paul L.

    Ambience: 5 Food: 4 Value: 3 With great ambience and interesting cuisine Crush should be a five star place, but the 3 for $30 was so underwhelming that I'm going with a 4. I hope next time will be better. I keep in the back of my mind the possibility of the 'fundamental attribution error'. In psychology, the 'fundamental attribution error' is wrongly attributing an action to the inherent characteristic of the person rather than to the circumstance of the moment. For example, when a person cuts you off, the erroneous conclusion would be that the person is a dushbag: attributing the action to the trait of the person. The kinder way of thinking would be that maybe the person has a real emergency and doesn't mean it . This is how I'm treating my experience with Crush. The four of us went to Crush for their 3 for $30. Situated in a converted two story house, the modern chic ambience was lovely. The staff was very attentive and nice. Some friends had come here previously and spent $80 per person; so, with the 3 for $30 we were anticipating a delicious meal at a good value. It didn't quite turn out that way. The highlight of the meal was the appetizer: pork belly. Well cooked and seasoned with the right amount of fat for flavor it was memorable. The main course left much to be desired and a lingering question: maybe it's because of 3 for $30 that they served something sub-optimal. There are two reasons for this. First, three of us went for the three entrée choices: steak, sturgeon, and pasta. All three failed to impress. The sturgeon I thought was just like any other white fish. The steak chewed like low quality meat. The pasta was bland. Second, the sides and the other dish were very good. One of us went for a regular entrée (since we couldn't share that much appetizer). The scallops that she ordered was excellent, cut like a steak and was rich and tasty. The sides that came with our 3 for $30 were good. So this leaves me thinking that, probably for price reasons, they didn't put the best on the 3 for $30 menu (not the first time I've heard of this happening) The $15 wine pairing that came with the meal was adequate. A nice Riesling and a good Cab, though at the price it wasn't a particularly good value. All in all, this is probably a case of: you get what you paid for. I may come back here to do a real meal. Maybe then I'll see if my attribution is error or truth.

    (4)

  • Beth H.

    I was taken to Crush last night on a surprise dinner date and I couldn't have been happier with the choice! It was one of those dining experiences in which everything from pacing to service to food and drink suggestions were top notch. The kitchen staff kept at eye on us (we were seated at the bar) and timed all of the dishes perfectly. "They're finishing with the cheese, get the scallops and duck going!" I started out with their Orange Crush cocktail which was bright and summery. It went well with the 5-cheese plate we ordered as a starter. This, by the way, was a dangerous choice. I nearly filled myself up on some of the stinkiest, creamiest blue cheese I've ever had. There were lots of goodies to pair with the cheeses as well, including a caramel smear and some champagne jelly. For my main course I had scallops with creamed leeks and local morels. The boy had the duck which was also great but my scallops definitely stole the show as they were done to perfection. Our server was very attentive and suggested some excellent wines to go with each of our dishes. We chose the chocolate dessert after it was recommended. In retrospect I might have gone with the rose hip creme brulee or other, lighter-sounding citrus desserts because the chocolate was a bit rich and substantial. The plate included a couple of ice creams (praline and salted caramel), a little chocolate cake with warm blueberry compote, and a creative take on s'mores with some hibiscus jelly. To wrap up the evening we were given some comped glasses of champagne which was unexpected and very thoughtful. I will never be able to afford going there myself (thank you, very generous date!) but I would definitely consider going back for a very special occasion and will recommend it to anyone looking for a fancy, excellent night out.

    (5)

  • Maggie B.

    I've been wanting to go to Crush for a long time, and last Friday, I finally got the chance. My boyfriend and I got a lovely table for two and each selected the tasting menu, figuring we might as well go for it. I knew it would be expensive, but I don't mind blowing my load on an amazing meal I'll remember forever. Instead, we got a meal I'd rather forget. Our drinks arrived a half-hour late. Some dishes were better than others, but most were bland and arrived lukewarm. I couldn't finish my main course -- not because I was too full, but because I was queasy from the cold, SPAM-like rabbit medallions on my plate. I understand that this a James Beard-award winning restaurant, and that it's well-loved by many. I also understand that the kitchen needs to work with what's seasonally available and continue to try new things to stay innovative and relevant. But the bottom line is that if I'm going to pay a few hundred bones for dinner, it better blow my skirt up, no matter what. Wouldn't recommend it.

    (2)

  • Stephanie F.

    Delicious meal from start to finish. Great service, lovely cocktails and SO MUCH GOOD FOOD.

    (5)

  • Dylan B.

    Very trendy and unique feel, and the plates are all beautiful. One of our favorite restaurants in Seattle. The "Bacon n Eggs" was a standout because it was so unique and delicious.

    (5)

  • Candi K.

    My two friends and I came here for our first meal for SRW. I think we pretty much got the last reservations at 9:15. We arrived slightly early and the hostess at the front was pretty busy with people coming in and leaving. She asked us three times what the reservation was under and we did have to wait a bit which is fine. Service could of been better. I understand for SRW that it can get quite chaotic but its been going on a few times now and they should be able to deal with the crowds by now. The food was good. I got the pork (good), my friend got the salad (average), and my other friend got the soup (good). Then for the main course I got the braised short ribs (the texture of it was a little strange) and my other friends got the ling cod (which was great). Dessert we got the the different choices (pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate beignets and the cheese plate which were all delicious. It took a while to get our check and to pay but I didn't have to work the next day so that was fine. Would I come here on a normal night? i dunno. but i also dunno if i would come here for SRW too and I had such high hopes

    (3)

  • Chris J.

    For one reason or another I've waited over a month to write this review. Maybe it's taken me that long to find the words that appropriately define the amazing experience there. Maybe it's taken me that long to remember the copious amount of food that I ate. Maybe it's because I'm afraid that whatever the hell I write here won't do this place justice. And trust me, it won't. After a week long cruise to Alaska, stuffing myself with mediocre cruise food and watery drinks I was looking forward to spending my last night in Seattle at Crush. Having spent hours reading reviews on various Seattle restaurants, we decided on Crush (it was also one of the few restaurants open on Sunday, July 5th). We arrived at what appeared to be an unassuming house. Upon entering, we were wowed by the minimalistic white interior and a beautiful bar that overlooks an open kitchen. It was a beautiful Seattle evening, so we opted to sit outside on their secluded back patio. After perusing the menu, we opted to put ourselves in the capable hands of the kitchen staff. They had a 4 course tasting menu that we went for. And since I'm not a sweets person, I was able to sub my dessert for another savory dish (the servers were great all night). We both started with a signature cocktail. I had a cucumber vodka concoction and the missus had a strawberry brandy something or other (it's been almost a month so I don't remember the drink details). Both were refreshing and there was an element of finesse to them. A small bowl of "bread" started the food avalanche. It was actually more like an amuse bouche of cheese puff pastry. Incredibly light and tasty. Then a spoonful of tartare topped with caviar and foam was brought out. At this point, I knew that if this continued we were in for a good night. What followed was plate after plate of O face inducing food- 1st courses- Japanese Hamachi Crudo Spiced Asian Pear- fresh, clean tasting fish, Ginger & Carrot; Asparagus Soup with Jumbo Crab- very nice soup with a pile of beautiful crab. 2nd courses- Maine Lobster Gnocchi Lobster Coral Butter, Tahitian Vanilla & Tangerine- buttery, soft pillows of potatoes, the flavor combination's for the sauce was also interesting; Grilled Calamari on a Bed of Chorizo and Onion- amazing! Sous vide calamari that was quickly seared. Incredibly tender. And the spicy chorizo and onions was the perfect condiment. The herbaceous green sauce that everything was sitting on rounded out the dish. 3rd courses- Handcut Tagliatelle Pasta & Caviar Sauce Sea Urchin Roe & Quail Egg- one of my favorite dishes that night. Sea urchin, a runny quail egg and caviar... seriously?! I'm so glad I replaced dessert with this dish. Amazing ocean flavor from the sea urchin, then a textural pop from the caviar and that silky yoke from the egg. This might be the perfect pasta dish. Very inspiring.; Sea Scallop on Caramelized Onion Risotto- nicely seared scallop, although slightly to brown on top and a little overcooked. Risotto was nice. 4th course- Glazed Painted Hills Short Rib Potato Gratin, White Corn Grits & Truffle Pistou- I had to continually whack my wife's fork away from my plate... like a pesky fly, she couldn't get enough of these short ribs and rightfully so. Fork tender, sous vide for 24 hours and painted with a dark, rich glaze and dotted with truffle oil... Simple, yet perfect. ; Wild Sockeye with English Peas- nicely cooked and I loved that they kept the skin on. A very light dish in contrast to the short ribs. And it's like a movie opening the same weekend as Titanic... it was hard to pay attention to the fish with those short ribs sitting next to them. Dessert- Strawberry Tiramasu (I think... I was in a certifiable food coma at this point). I remember the bite I had being pretty good... for a dessert. The night ended on a perfect note with us sitting inside at the bar, sipping another amazing cocktail, from the incredibly friendly and knowledgeable bartender, and watching the chefs diligently performing their craft. I wish we had another day in Seattle, if for nothing else, to simply eat here again. That dinner at Crush embodies everything that a good dining experience should be. Perfect, friendly service that is neither pretentious or pushy. Beautiful ambiance in a setting that closely mimics the food. And a kitchen staff that knows how to deliver course after course of memorable, simple, yet delicious food. Having lived in "Wine Country" my whole life, I've ate at some impressive restaurants , but the culmination of the food, service and setting at Crush eclipses them all. One of the best meals of my life. And knowing that I can hop on a Horizon flight out of Santa Rosa and be sitting on that beautiful patio in a matter of 90 minutes... An awfully tempting proposition. And a trip well worth it.

    (5)

  • Cory W.

    I have been to Crush twice and let me say the staff, and atmosphere are fantastic. The first time we went for restaurant week and I really didn't hold the food against the place cause after all it is cheap for their standards. The second visit is where I may not go back. When you get in the realm of $60 per person for food you really can't have an off night and if it is you better not be too far from perfect. We had the suckling pig and Scallops. Both were okay. The pig was 5 cuts done 5 ways and a great idea. All pieces were under/over cooked, and under/over seasoned; I think it was just a bad night. My GF's scallops were good but seared on one side only so the other side was just but a thin margin cooked, which led to a raw like texture.......and then they were full of sand. Our waitress was very good and service was exceptional; however after two blah meals, I think we are done.

    (3)

  • Ann M.

    It's unfortunate that Crush is 2,600 miles away or my husband and I would want a frequent-diner card. The food is stunningly delicious. I had the urge to take a picture of my husband's salad because of the artful arrangement on the plate! OK, I have to confess to not wanting to stop eating to do so. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. It's refreshing to eat such fine food and not have a snobby atmosphere. Kudos to Chef Jason for an innovative menu and a perfectly executed meal. We would welcome an opportunity to visit Seattle again. We have a 'crush' on Crush.

    (5)

  • Jamie J.

    Crush is bringing back good American Cuisine. Go overseas and people laugh at the thought of American food (thank you, Mcdonalds). Come to Crush and you will be presented with an educating experience! First of all, let me just say, the service was IMPECCABLE. Every time I used a piece of silverware, we got a whole new set. Nice. Maybe 5 different people filled my water throughout the night. Nicer. On top of that - attention to detail, folks - they make sure you have a full set of silverware, and table's cleaned before they put your plates down. They value their customers to the fullest - their attention to detail, descriptions of what you're eating, and friendliness was really amazing. I love that the kitchen is in front of the house. Having seen Jason, the head chef, right as I walked in caused a little celebrity moment for me. Ok, the guy won Food & Wine Magazine, "best new chef." Come on now, that kind of makes him a celebrity. The decor and the coziness makes you want to stay all night. With the food they put out, you will stay all night! First course: Pork Belly - melt in your mouth, close your eyes, heaven awaits. Second course: Mushroom Gnocchi - hearty, classic, rich. Dessert: Must try the beignets. Little fried pillows with marscapone? Yes, it exists. Holy Cow ya'll, this is real food... real good... and real american. Back up Europe. Rachel Ray's "Tasty Travels" deserves full credit for this pick! EAT big or go home, folks.

    (5)

  • Peter J.

    I have never reviewed or yelped any restaurant before but my outrage at the feeling of being completely ripped off at dinner tonite compels me to discuss tonight's dinner experience. My wife and I went there to celebrate our anniversary we spent 147.00$ and left hungry. First a couple of skimpy but ok starters .I ordered the lamb, a single lamb chop arrived well prepared but at 27.00$ holy moly you got to be kidding me.My wife ordered the steak 27.00$ which came with potatoe well it was a silver dollar sized piece of meat and a piece of potatoe.I was looking around for cameras are we in some kind of a Monte Python skit is this some kind of spoof is John Cleese coming to our table and ask if we still have room for dessert ,I asked for some bread but alas none to be had.I have lived in Seattle since 1973 and enjoyed countless wonderful meals Labuznik,Carmen's Ray's etc..This place is a macabre and dismal joke.Wow how a place like this stays in business blows my mind, people must come back for the white plastic chairs for the Clockwork Orange experience .I guess I have enough money left to go get a Deluxe.

    (2)

  • Curzon I.

    Great Seattle restaurant week opportunity $28 three courses. Great ambience, wonderful presentation, while appetizer, wine pairing and desert were all outstanding, the beef was a disappointment.

    (4)

  • Kurt A.

    The food was very very good. We had perfectly seared piece of salmon and a gnocchi dish with morrel mushrooms and escargot. The bill was on the steep side. Expect to drop $300 to $500 for dinner for two. The big disappointment was the service. There was no sense of warmth, of we are going to take good care of you. Instead the food was just delivered, with the wait staff (two different people, same experience) quickly reciting a list of ingredients like it was a speed quiz. Great food, low service.

    (3)

  • Yee Gan O.

    Crush is a very unique dining experience. It starts from the outside, which looks just like a residential house. There is free street parking nearby. As I walked through the door, I was struck by a cacophony of noise. Having being born in Malaysia, I'm used to noisy restaurants, which is regarded as a good sign of guests enjoying themselves in the Far East. However, it may not be the best place for a romantic tete a tete! The noise was mainly from the bar area just on front of the open kitchen. I was seated in the ground floor room but the restaurant is divided into several rooms, reflecting its residential home layout. As commented on by previous reviewers, the chairs are rather funky to look at and may not be the most comfortable to sit on for the whole meal. I however was able to sit on the bench seat by the wall. Service was quick with an explanation of the menu with various options of how to order. I decided to create my own menu combination by choosing 3 courses for $48. The portions weren't huge but big enough for me in combination with a dessert course as well. However, they were all packed with flavour and there were some nicely thought out combinations. Another plus was the freshly squeezed orange juice. There was a nice rosemary bread with Hawaiian sea salt. I started with some wonderful sweetbreads, fried to a crisp perfection on the outside but lovely and creamy on the inside, accompanied with a combination of contrasting tart yellow sauce and sweet brown sauce. The dish was served on a nice salad with apple and bacon bits. There was then a bit of lull to my next dish. The waiter then came up to explain that the sauce had gone wrong for my seared foie gras dish and chef was having start the dish again. To make up for the delay, chef sent across a complimentary torchon of foie gras to tide me over while they remade my seared foie gras! The foie gras was lovely and very rich but the rhubarb compote helped to cut through the richness. My seared foie gras then arrived. A generous slice of heavenly creamy rich foie gras offset by huckleberry compote and berries and the unique (in my dining experience) doughnut! Yes a real whole doughnut. It did add a crispy texture to the dish but maybe it was a little too large for the amount of fie gras. My last chosen savoury dish was lovely lamb, cooked to pink perfection, served with some nice gnocchi, broad beans and olives. I couldn't resist some dessert and finished my meal with a moreish rhubarb cake with anise cream and crumble topping. I was able to thank Chef Wilson in person in the open kitchen, which was nice. Overall lovely flavours in a lively restaurant!

    (4)

  • Lisa E. L.

    48 hour roasted beef brisket is the best! :P Everything else on the $90/person tasting menu was okay.

    (4)

  • Brook G.

    The food is excellent and the atmosphere is inviting - especially for couples. Some of the dishes are overpriced however. Last time I was there my wife got the risotto - the maybe cup of risotto for 30+ dollars. I am no stranger to expensive dining experiences but Crush seems to push the envelope on the portion size compared to other fine dining locations in the city. If your looking for very well prepared food of the highest quality this is your place - but just dont plan on getting very full.

    (4)

  • Laura C.

    One of the best overall dining experiences we've had. We really had no complaints at all, except that the restaurant was a little on the cold side when we went (had to keep my jacket on the whole time). We enjoyed the assortment of breads that they provided to start the meal (but be aware that when they ask you if you'd like more with your meal, it will cost an extra $5). We tried the beef short ribs, salmon with pork cheeks, TCHO dessert, and a new charcuterie-based dessert (chorizo cake with bleu cheese ice cream and caramel) - all were great, although the savory dessert probably wouldn't be for everyone. We were very pleased with the service - our server made us feel very welcome and at ease throughout our visit. Be aware that the menus posted on the website are not always kept up-to-date. Also, while Yelp lists the attire as dressy, there were several people around us wearing jeans. Although the prices are high, I would have no hesitations about recommending Crush for a special night out.

    (5)

  • Dan S.

    The decor is cheap (plastic chairs). It's in an old house. The location isn't great. But the food is good. So I give it 5 stars, even with those shortcomings. The portion size is not huge but that is fine with me. Someone that like a big plate of mashed potatoes will probably not like ti but that's just a matter of preference.

    (5)

  • Clint L.

    Fantastic! My fiancee and I went there last night after I proposed. They treated us wonderfully! The chef prepared appetizers for us that weren't on the menu and came to see us at our table. After our meal our waitress brought us a plate of house chocolates with "Congratulations" spelled out in chocolate on the plate. The food was outstanding and the service excellent. I definitely recommend Crush for anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Crush is my absolute favorite restaurant in Seattle. The food is always AMAZING, and the wine pairings always perfect! The cocktails are even delicious! Also, I love the atmosphere; it is ideal for any occasion including first dates, special occasions, and small private parties. Though parking is kind of tricky, and I would like to see better dessert choices on the menu (I'm a bit picky about dessert), Crush is still the best! Besides, the foie gras makes a perfect dessert alternative!

    (5)

  • Stephen J.

    I had heard so many good things about Crush I finally had to try it. WOW! They really lived up to the hype. We called late morning and made reservations for 7:45 that evening. Lucky, because the place was packed when we arrived. We did not, however, have to wait for our table. Our server was excellent. Although the dining room was full she never felt rushed. She would chat graciously when we had questions and swoop in and disappear silently, leaving goodies, when we were involved in conversation. She knew the menu and made very good suggestions. Our night would have been very pleasant with her service and merely average food. However. The food was amazing! We started, at the recommendation of our server, with glasses of the house sparkler and a crab cake. A perfect pairing. The sparkler was nice and dry with notes of tart apples. The crab cake was what all crab cakes aspire to be, plenty of meat lightly battered and seared to perfection. For our entrees Trish ordered Halibut with mashed potatoes served with a little caviar on the side. The fish was melt in your mouth good. I had the Pork Loin served on a bed of kale with white beans and "listeners"(we had to ask, it was what we thought). The pork was divine,extremely tender yet crispy in all the right places. The beans, cooked with the "listeners" in an intense pancetta like sauce, were tender and yummy. We accompanied our meals with a Margarita, tart and strong, for her and a Manhattan, a little sweet to my taste but still quite good, for me. We, unfortunately, did not have time for desert but are looking forward to trying those at our next visit. My only complaint, although not enough of an issue to drop a star, was our table was in the corner of the bar, which is open to the kitchen. The heat from the kitchen and the lack of air circulation in the corner was a little uncomfortable. When next we dine here I will be requesting a table in the main dining room. If you are looking for a special occasion restaurant this should be on your list.

    (5)

  • Kari N.

    Visited for first time last weekend on my trip. Had the special mini chef menu for $49. I had such high hopes, but it was mediocre. The mero sea bass was very good, but the other 3 courses range from blah to a-ok. Especially boggles my mind that the puff pastry used for the rhubarb tart could be stale. Was it because it was a special priced menu so you get "special" quality? I guess I wouldn't be back to find out how the full priced food tastes.

    (2)

  • Sam C.

    Went here for dinner. Decor and service are both quite nice. The food was good but not spectacular, but what was spectacular was how small the portions were. Appetizers, dessert and wine are all a bit overpriced. For spending a Benji a head, you could do better elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Alex T.

    Basic Seattle Eatery that is Fine, But Not Great. I've eaten here several times, since I live in the neighborhood. Every dish I and my co-diners have had, were fine perfectly good Seattle mid-expensive food. Not great, not bad, fine. PROS - seared Ahi tuna. This is the best dish I've had here. Amazing and wonderfully cooked. CONS - the place is a little loud. A note on cheese plates. Buying good cheese and cutting it up, isn't the same as creating interesting dishes.

    (3)

  • downing m.

    without a doubt my favorite restaurant in seattle. great attentive service with amazing detail to presentation and top notch wine list. been here a few times and each time the experience has been wonderful. i would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is interested in a wonderful fine dining excursion.

    (5)

  • Nina N.

    this is how it goes at crush... so where is this place ? oh I see 23rd and Madison.. where to park? let's drive around and find a spot.. hahahah suckers I found a spot and you guys didn't! here's a reservations... get right in... hangs jacket... what is on the menu? wait I saw scallops on the website.. wait you're out.. damn you.. let's leave.. hahah jk,.,... not leaving.. what do you recommend??? everything is good? hmmm interesting.. I guess that is something.. everything is good? sure? you can tell me.. what is bad.. I won't order it... no seriously.. everything is good.. ok... let's order wait.. fried sweet bread is what? deep fried esophagus? uhmm.... disgusting.. how about something edible and nothing too anthony bourdain style... ok... ahi tuna tartar, hamachi crudo with cured scallop.. with no scallop!!! booo... ahi good.. hamachi with crudo=lobster broth solidafied in a jelly mold gross..seared and braised octopus... uhmm... decent.... poached lobster with gnoochi..... uhmm.. hands down one of the most amazing dishes I have had in my life... just amazing........dessert five chocolate tastes... sorry wasn't impressed...... ambiance.. the staff was great, and I love the hustle and bustle of this place!!! will come back for the lobster but not for anything else.. but it is a great place to go for a girls night out or something :) it was pretty great..... can we go again is the question I ask myself about a place like this..and the answer is.... would love to go again with the right people :) it's a place where you go with good company because this place is the epitome of what seattle is... cute quaint dining experience for the oh so curious foodie of seattle... must do at least once.. if not in seattle.. at least in sf.. they have a crush there too..

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    I've been here THREE times and I truly believe it maybe the best restaurant in Seattle. Bold claim I know, but the food is tasty and the atmosphere has a great energy and comfort about it (note this means its packed a bit tight). The drinks are great and the service is as well.

    (5)

  • T. B.

    Crush is pretty good. Went there last night and had the potato gnocchi, black cod, ribs, and risotto. Gnocchi and black code were excellent; the other two dishes a bit too savory for my taste. The ambiance and decor are super modern and unique, the staff all dressed in chic black attire. Feels kinda like a restaurant you would find in SF or NYC. Great date spot!

    (4)

  • Chira V.

    i thoroughly enjoyed the scallops. my dinner partner however did not enjoy the lobster. we both agreed my scallops were better. its a cute place though, perfect for a date.

    (4)

  • Justin C.

    Crush serves amazing food in an amazing space. The small renovated house has a very New York modern interior (lots of minimalist white like the modern plastic chairs). Complementing the interior is their top class food. The dishes are outstanding: the beef short ribs melt in your mouth. The seared rare ahi served with pork cheeks was heavenly. And they aren't afraid to mix up ingredients or flavors or try more unusual ingredients. The first time I went to Crush they had a bone marrow appetizer served with an elongated marrow spoon, not something I'd seen before in Seattle. The desserts are similarly top notch, the marscapone cheesecake was accompanied by an anise foam that was so good. The biggest downside to Crush is that everyone knows it's good, so you've got to make reservations far in advance.

    (5)

  • Wendy O.

    Loved this restaurant! It was the best ending to a first visit to Seattle. I wasn't sure if I was going to be impressed since I hadn't had the best dining experiences in the city at this point, but was more than pleasantly surprised. The service was fantastic, and the food was even better. The gave us a sample of their celery soup which was so good I wanted to lick the bowl. Then I proceeded to have the best scallops of my life, on a bed of risotto. I was sadly too full to finish my meal, and left one scallop behind. I did, of course, have room for dessert- and the dessert experience I had at Crush was like nothing I'd had before. If you go, you MUST get the chevre cheesecake with sage foam. I can't really explain the flavors to you but it was one of the best desserts I have ever tasted. The ambience was interesting. I loved the converted-house look, provided a very intimate feel. However, their choice of table/chair combination was a bit too modern for me. I was disappointed while looking around the room, that I pictured everyone shooting up to space from their white pod-chair instead of enjoying their delicious meals in comfortable, aesthetically pleasing furniture. Not really something to complain about, just a detail I noticed. This restaurant is a must!

    (5)

  • Libby H.

    Every bite was fantastic! I recommend the warm crab salad, lobster, and short ribs. Maybe skip the bacon chocolate dessert in favor of sorbet. We had a green apple sorbet intermezzo that was quite tasty. The chairs look a little funny but are very comfortable, and it's nice to eat such great food and be able to hear your dinner companions. Definitely check this one out (get reservations first!).

    (5)

  • Thuha N.

    I had a late dinner at Crush - 10:30pm (only available reservation time), but after having dinner I felt fortunate to have even had the opportunity. The tuna was the best tuna I have had in Seattle. The presentation was original and was not skimpy. The limited space makes the ambiance intimate and special. Although our waitress forgot some things, the service was still more attentive than other fine dining restaurants. Definitely my new favorite restaurant.

    (5)

  • Angie B.

    Amazing food & a really unique atmosphere (for Seattle). You feel like you've stumbled onto something special. The contrast between the early 1900s house/finishes & modern interior detail ends up as a 1/2 hour+ conversation alone. It is tiny - so while waiting for your table you are sort of negotiating between getting out of the way of people coming in the door & those trying to leave. I love the IDEA of trying to sit at the bar, have a nice drink & order some food (even just coming for dessert) - but the bar is very small & the few people who come to sit there w/o a reservation are likely camped out for quite a while. They do serve "small plates" until 12 midnight - so maybe after a movie or something it would be nice to pop in w/ a date to snag a seat at the bar - don't know but we plan to try! It's definitely pricey - but the flavors & unique environment were worth every penny. I couldn't imagine working as a cook or server in that limited (and open) space. No hiding from the customers there! Yummy food, nice presentation, friendly staff are all huge ++++. Some people may not be happy w/ the cramped quarters, volume & busy feeling.

    (4)

  • Matt P.

    Very good, but not great. Interesting mix of modern and classic/rustic settings. Food was delicious. At the time I went, they were offering what looked like a pretty nice prix fixe menu. I would like to try that if I went back again, along with wine pairings.

    (4)

  • David G.

    WOW! Amazing. On two special occasions we have enjoyed the Chef's Tasting Menu. Very pricey, but what an enjoyable evening. Amazing food. I'm going to stop as there are lots of detailed reviews here.

    (5)

  • Yang X.

    Eventually I found a parking spot and arrived at this restaurant. The overall feeling was amazing. I had a really nice talk with the guest sitting next to me. It was interesting at the bar that you could see the kitchen and how their stuff worked in a streamline style. Well, back to food. On the day I went there, they had a menu with 'grill' only. It seemed everything was based on grill, and they put a lot of work on plating. I should say that they may have spent a lot of time on the delicious sauces, but I really expect to see a better menu.

    (3)

  • Aditi S.

    I dined on 6/12 on the groupon. Pros - traffic made us late even with built in time for it and they were very nice ( there was no one else dining so early) - food flowed well and was creative - loved the hamachi, beets, salmon Cons - we had 5 different waitresses. I have no idea who I tipped. - two of them were surly and short and we were beyond polite. They were both chattier and kinder with other tables - they were told it was my boyfriends birthday 2x and besides one of the many waitresses wishing him a happy birthday, nothing - the blue cheese pannacotta was awful I wouldn't go back. Given this meal was very pricey I didn't feel like the encompassing service and lack of acknowledgment for our special occasion was respected.

    (3)

  • Katherine L.

    The short ribs and beef tartar!!!!! These two dishes were literally to die for. They just melt in your month and each bite was savory. My words don't do these dishes justice. You must go try this place to know yourself! The atmosphere of this place is great, very cozy and a homey feel to it. I actually think it was a house before it became a restaurant. This place also has great outdoor seating if you ever want to come here and dine in the summer. The only problem i had with this place is that one of the seating section didn't have AC so it got a little hot, but other than that it was great.

    (4)

  • Kat C.

    Came here for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. Love the ambiance of the restaurant. It is small and intimate. The lamb that I had was cooked perfectly. My boyfriend's scallops were also good. Good service. Next time, we'll try the tasting menu.

    (4)

  • Jennifer M.

    Like: Beef Short Rib cooked for 48 hours, Parsley-Truffle and Horseradish with Potato Puree Wonderful ambiance, furniture and lighting.

    (5)

  • Christopher D.

    As a 5+ year veteran of the food service industry, my standards are high, especially for places like this, and more especially given the tall dollar figures for the plates. The decor was modern and elegant, as well as the artful design of the dishes. Wine pours were generous, but food portions were on the smaller side, though this common for the genre/caliber of restaurant. The service was outstanding. Servers dressed well, polite, smiling, helpful, and pleasant to be around. My favorite note was the unique courtesy of the "purse stands" brought to the ladies to elevate their accessory off the ground. Very classy, and much appreciated. I only have two notes of concern. The charging for the bread plate; seems to me to be an unnecessary "nickle and dime" maneuver. Secondly, the knives we gorgeous, but very dull. Perhaps I was given the only dull one, but here I am writing a review. Overall, I was very pleased. My guest and I spent $120 with tip for two entree, bread, 2 glasses of wine, and desert. This was an expected bill for the caliber of restaurant. I will surely back. Kudos to Chef Wilson and his team.

    (5)

  • Kari G.

    Seriously, my new favorite place to dine! We came here for restaurant week and, unlike some of the restaurants we dined at this one rose to the "challenges" of Restaurant week. I love love loved the truly inspired experience here. The decor is fresh and modern, yet comforting: The restaurant is actually in a house that's been converted. Everything here has been designed for maximum beauty and craft -- from the amuse bouche craft "bread" to the chocolate at the end. The timing of all the food was amazing and they kept the drink and water flowing. I am fairly certain they make everything on premise from the delicate but flavorful ice cream to the piece of chocolate to the bread puffs. The bread puffs: Airy, light, flavorful, fresh, a touch of herbaciousness. Just so refreshing and surprising for a little piece of bread! I wish I could eat these all day. The beet salad: I've eaten so many beet salads, I can't count. This one was one of the best I've had: the beets were fresh and still had their roots. There was a vague sprinkle of salt, but the flavor of the beets really shined. In the middle of the beets is a sweet and delightful surprise, which really shows care on the part of the chefs and that they thought about the full experience of the dish. Beef with mushrooms: The perfect proportions and flavors in balance. The beef was the right consistency and was neither mushy nor dry. Lemon cake with rhubarb/ginger topping and Rose ice cream: The ice cream when paired with a bite created a completely different experience than just the ice cream alone and was not too sweet. The rhubarb and ginger added just the right amount of kick to what could have been an otherwise "just okay" dessert. This dessert clearly made an impression on me. The entire experience was wonderful. A little chocolate came at the end and was a cherry atop the metaphorical cake. I couldn't get enough of this place and will continue to gush about the food and the very well-designed and beautiful dining experience we had here.

    (5)

  • Audrey M.

    Food and wine were pretty delicious. The chef brought us their "bacon and eggs" (fish eggs and bacon creme fraise), which my boyfriend said was disgusting, but it was nice that they gave it to us...I'm a pescetarian so I couldn't even try it. The bread was warm and fresh, but it tasted bland to me. I ordered the halibut and my boyfriend ordered the foie gras, and we both enjoyed our meal for the most part. I did find a gnat in my wine, and they replaced it immediately. The service was friendly, but really slow...we wanted to order more but we ended up sitting so long without help that we just got the check instead. Basically, decent food and would recommend people to at least try it out.

    (3)

  • Kim C.

    my husband and i came here for my birthday dinner a couple of weeks ago. i'm a bit of a foodie, so i think he wanted to impress me. based on the menu and price point, i was ready to be wowed. we were seated and greeted with two glasses of champagne to toast my birthday- such a nice touch. - beet salad - seared foie gras - alaskan scallops all the food up to here was amazing. beautifully plated, subtle flavors that were perfectly seasoned, great cocktails, just an overall great dining experience. then we had the snake river farms wagyu beef zabuton steak. things really fell off the tracks with this dish. the meat was tough to cut through, but the worst offense was that everything was oversalted- like blown out palates, almost painful to eat salty. my husband and i don't eat these kinds of meals often, and we hate wasting food, so we got through the dish and ate lots of bread to try to cut through the salt. we probably could've told the server before eating the whole thing, but we were admittedly pretty tipsy, and didn't want to deal with any kind of confrontation. as you can see, i still gave this place four stars, and i would still definitely come back. i understand mistakes happen in the kitchen and because everything else was so good, i'll chalk it up to that. BUT the most impressive thing was, our server asked how our meal was, and we told her everything was great except the overly salty steak- just being honest, but because we'd eaten it anyway, definitely didn't expect anything back in return. she apologized and said she'd bring it to the chef's attention. she came back with our check, and had taken the dish off our final bill. no fuss, nothing, just quietly took it off. such a pro move, and i have the utmost respect for standing so steadfastly next to your product.

    (4)

  • Calvin C.

    I took my wife here for her recent birthday trip to Seattle from California. Overall it was a pleasant experience, food and service was good but maybe a little overpriced for what you get. But I can kind of see what you're paying for as the dishes come out. We ordered quite a few plates here, but the ones that really stand out to me were the beef tartar and the crudo. These dishes just were just a really refreshing, and tasty way to start your meal. Both had the contrasting sweet, salty sour things going for it plus different textures in your mouth. They were both very well balanced dishes and Like all their dishes, these were beautifully presented, reminiscent of something you'd see on the iron chef (food network). The thing that a lot of people raved about was Crush's take on "bacon/eggs" dish. This was an interesting dish and it did give you flavors of eating bacon and eggs but you knew that it wasn't. and to top it off, for the money and also the taste....I'd rather have a real plate of bacon and eggs than this dish. I know for the rest of the meal we had ordered a duck, beef, and a couple fish dishes but I seriously can't remember anything about them, I know I wasn't totally appalled by anything but I remember being underwhelmed by the taste. The looks of the dishes, again, was beautiful....that's basically what I think I paid for at Crush, some ok food with an interesting presentation. If you're just visiting Seattle for the first time, I think there's a lot more good eats around pike place market. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this spot.

    (3)

  • Tami W.

    I need you to know, before you read this, that I really struggled with writing this review. I talked to a lot of my friends and family and I just wasn't sure how to go about it. All that being said, I do think you should try it but know that it isn't for everyone and I am not going to go back. Seattle Restaurant week brought me here and I was really excited about this place. On the outside it's a cute little house that has been transformed into a great little restaurant. On the inside it is very clean and bright, very white. The chairs were surprisingly comfortable and we sat upstairs with a lovely view out the window. I was impressed at this point. I got the menu and I was a little concerned because even though I consider myself well versed in food, even a foodie sometimes, that I didn't know what a lot of these dishes were. I ordered what was described as an adult sprite but the bottle that was served to me expired last year. That's disappointing. I settled for a ginger beer, and that was yummy thankfully. As far as food goes, I started with the Pork and Duck Roulette, which was one of the things I didn't know... Feeling adventurous I suppose. It was presented to me much differently then the picture posted here. It looked like cat food, with an oil drizzled on top and no garnishes. It wasn't even very flavorful, it was mushy and the texture was really off-putting. It came with some greens and rose petal salad, that was all right I guess. My entree was a steak, and he never asked how I wanted it, and it was served pretty close to rare. Not a fan. It had a nice char on the outside but that's about it. The polenta and greens weren't bad and even the steak was all right, but just nothing special. For desert I chose the panna cotta, which again wasn't a very good decision. The panna cotta had an odd texture and was an interesting flavor but not what I would describe as good. It was served with Sorel sorbet that tasted a bit like grass to me. The apple cake like thing that came with it was the best of the three dessert I was served though. I left still hungry as the servings were very very small, and pretty disappointed with my experience.

    (2)

  • Khristine G.

    7-10-14 During my travels I like to pick a very nice restaurant to eat at. This place was everything I had hoped for. The food was different than I had ever had and my waitress was very knowledgable and she had only worked there for 3 weeks. I really wish they had this restaurant in Modesto. The price wasn't horrible, I expected to pay about $100 ( I was alone) and with tip it was $95. If I return to Seattle I would for sure return.

    (5)

  • Mark Y.

    Do people give more expensive places more stars? i mean it's a tough thing to rate.. b/c more expensive places USUALLY have better food.. but when does value come in? but if value is a factor, how do you ever rate Per Se or French Laundry or Alinea? If you just look at the food - it's not bad.. but honestly party of 4 who went all thought most dishes were over salted. we can handle flavor, and finesse.. we don't need our taste buds hammered by salt. creativity - ahm.. meh.. nothing special. Flavor/taste - once u're over the 'holy crap i'm gonna need a lot ofwater to get over the salt', the flavors aren't bad Price - for what you get, it's way too expensive.. in seattle, there's too many other choices.

    (2)

  • Greg S.

    Wow! Excellent service. Very creative menu including a stinging nettle purée and rhubarb ice cream. Definitely a must try!

    (5)

  • Kat A.

    Our anniversary meal at Crush coincided with SRW, so keep that in mind. This restaurant is curiously placed inside an old Victorian home, but it seems to work pretty well. Parking is kind of a pain in that area, so we ubered and that worked out great. I started out with the Orange Crush - Orange Infused Brandy, Coriander Syrup, Lemon & Champagne. Liquid yum! The boy had something called a King B, which was some sort of bourbon concoction. He loved it :) I moved on to the SRW wine pairing, which included a wine with the appetizer and entree but not with dessert, which I expected when I ordered. They did a great job with the first two pairings, I would have loved to have another one with dessert. Not a huge deal, but they should make that a little clearer. For food, I started off with the Blue Hubbard Squash Soup with Pumpkin Seeds, Pink Peppercorn, Sage Cream - oh my gawd, I could eat this by the bucket full! The boy started with the Apple & Chicory Greens Salad with Blue Cheese and Cider Vinagrette - yum, and it paired well with the soup. During SRW I like to add on a few things so I ordered the Hamachi Crudo with pressed Black Garlic with Pickled Pears. Huge fan! It was a great second course, though I'll have to come back to try the Bacon and Eggs. The boy's add on was the Veal Sweetbreads, which were phenomenal to say the least. Then it was on to the Seared Pork Tenderloin with Maize Foie Gras and Popcorn Sauce, and Creamy Grits. This was super good, but the Creekside Farms Beef Striploin Pommes De Terre, Carrot, Kale and Cabernet the boy had may have been a little better. For dessert I went with the pumpkin panna cotta with applies and currants. It was good, but not the best dessert I've ever had. The boy had some sort of chocolatey goodness, which was also good, but not the best ever. SRW is all about trying new places and I'm so glad to have experienced Crush. Definitely a place to come back to for another special occasion - the $150 p/p tasting menu is calling my name!

    (4)

  • andrew r.

    Recommended by a friend, sadly disappointed. Order Foie Gras and wanted something else as well, so I kept the menu at the table. The waitress never came back so I could not order it. My wine glass was empty for 30 mins never got a refill (waitress never came back) so ended up getting the check and leaving. Horrible service, good food. Sunday night, how i ended my Memorial Day vacation on a bad note.

    (2)

  • C A.

    I took my family here to use the Groupon I had for the 12 course tasting menu. The portions are all small because it is a tasting menu but you get to try a little bit of everything. Although the portions may look small, it is important to pace yourself as you will get full. I got full towards the 6th course but if you have a bigger appetite, it may take a little longer to get full. Also, don't get the tasting menu if you are in a hurry as you'll be there for around 3.5 hours. There wasn't a huge delay, but it is 12 courses so it takes some time. Some dishes were better than others. There was a rhubarb salad dish that was not very memorable, but the seafood courses were very good. They do ask you in the beginning if you are allergic to any food which we were not, but it was nice that they are conscientious about those types of things. This definitely is not for a non-adventurous eater as some of the flavor profiles are a bit out there. If you consider yourself to be a foodie, I would try it at least once.

    (4)

  • Alanna M.

    The space is unique and has character. The restaurant is located in Madison Valley in a house that's been revamped. This I like. I've been here a couple of times. The first time was for my sister's birthday. Probably wasn't a good choice for a group of ladies that don't make that much and can't afford to spend that kind of money for a dining experience to just leave hungry and wanting a hamburger. I felt bad. My gf and I shared a bottle of wine and I thought the whole experience was just OK. Unfortunately, I wasn't wow'd. I wanted to give the restaurant another try before making a final decision so I went back during RW with a few of my girlfriends. I had truffled leek and potato Vichyssoise and Beef Short Rib Crepinette. Sounded better than it tasted. I felt like the rib was overly salted and lacked in other flavors. Presentation was no doubt top notch, but I want the full package. I want what I believe is most important... taste.

    (3)

  • Laurence B.

    I was really prepared to love this restaurant, but I felt like I opened a jeweled box to find a plastic ring on the inside. The setting is eclectic - a renovated Victorian house, with an ultra modern look on the inside. The menu- that's where it started to go downhill - it was small, and did not match the online menu at all. So that was disappointing. Starters - ordered the geoduck, which was the main attraction for me; and the foie gras. There was a mix up and hamachi crudo was delivered. They quickly addressed the matter. The foie gras was well prepared. The geoduck was very nice, until I bit into some sand and grit. I would have expected a little bit more attention to the prep. Mains - the black cod was on a diet... That's all I can say when you get a filet of cod, and some green leaves surrounding it, just so the plate looks full. And at over $35 for the plate, it is very disappointing. The lobster on a bed of tagliatelle and Uni cream - the lobster was nicely poached, but the pasta was dry and the Uni cream did not have that luxurious texture which should have coated the pasta like a lover. Overall, I found the meal to be highly overpriced for the quality of the food. Put aside the portion size which was disproportionately small in some cases - it was a crushing dining experience.

    (2)

  • Brent D.

    Great foie gras. Skip the Hamachi: You're better off with sashimi.

    (5)

  • J J.

    Made reservations for our anniversary. Walked in got seated on the lower level. Started out great but the service was terrible. Food was quite good, but still can't get by the unmemorable service.

    (2)

  • Alison A.

    The overall experience at Crush, I would say, is good, not great, not bad. But, it's also disappointing because you will pay a big premium to go there, and what you get really doesn't stand up to the price at all. We enjoyed our food - it tasted good, but for around $20 for a small "taste" I would expect something more in line with "mind blowing" than "good." Same goes for the service. It was good, but the servers made a few mistakes, most notably, never asking us how our meal was. Unless you like wasting money, I would skip Crush.

    (3)

  • Aly M.

    I am writing this review so that people understand the menu changes. We first went here about 6-9 months ago for a special 3 course deal. We went with two friends to better try out the menu options. We were almost all disappointed with our appetizers and desserts. The entrees were fine, if small (although we knew that coming in). My husband recently made reservations here for my birthday, since it would be one of our last "fancy" meals before we have our baby. Because I'm pregnant, I'm a bit restricted with food, so he did some research first. The only menu on their website was from last August. Then, he found others that seemed to be more up to date. I hadn't been thrilled with our first visit, but the entrees had been good, so I would at least enjoy that. We tried calling ahead to confirm the night's menu, but no one answered. Upon sitting at the table, we discovered the menu was completely different. Now, you order 4-7 dishes (the menu didn't specify per person or couple) at $17 each. This was quite different from the menus we had found. Unfortunately, there were very few items I was able to choose from. Ultimately, we left and dined elsewhere. It is unlikely I will return here since I prefer having some idea of what food items might be on the menu (even if there are seasonal changes/etc.). Additionally, I was not impressed with the quality of food for the time I was able to dine here.

    (2)

  • Mary B.

    Dinner tonight was fantastic. I had the lamb chop entrée which was cooked perfectly. The flavors on the plate were balanced beautifully. Complementary bread was delish esp with the home whipped butter that had a special salt in it. The waiter was extremely attentive and professional even when we unintentionally threw him some curveballs. He was an expert on the plates and wines. I was impressed enough to get on here to write a review which I've never done before! The other reviews that rate this place mediocre or poor are blowing my mind. The portions are small but I was full after the bread, appetizer (super cool take on eggs and bacon), and my entrée. Dessert was delish but careful - even tho they're small they are very rich so would be ok to actually split one!

    (5)

  • James F.

    If youre gonna come, just suck it up and do the full tasting menu. Totally worth it. I'll be honest, there were so many great plates that i have no recollection what I ate - it was all an amazing blur. All i know is that it was delicious. There was this one starter plate that was brought out with some sort of herb infused smoke that was presented in a cloche- freakin' brilliant. Plus- any restaurant with white panton chairs is worth at LEAST 3 stars if not more.

    (4)

  • Stan L.

    this is an excellent fine dining experience for the price ($125/person).. the portion size is perfect for the multi course chef's tasting menu.. the wine list is decent.. and you can find a bottle for very reasonable price.. there was also a multi dessert course.. we needed to be rolled out of the restaurant by the time we finished everything.. finding parking can be PITA though..

    (5)

  • Kate M.

    I'm disappointed to be writing this unsatisfied review for a place with so much potential. After hearing about Jason Wilson and his Modern American Cuisine, I was very excited to try this restaurant. Myself and and four others met at Crush on a Sunday evening to celebrate a family event. I noticed that the house-turned-restaurant was mostly empty as we were lead upstairs to our table. The decor was an interesting mix of classic fancy restaurant with modern accents. The white plastic chairs and off-white vinyl bench seating provided an interesting look with the white walls. The house itself was delightfully cozy still, and I think the decor, though a bit off-putting at first, worked. We were seated in a room upstairs with one other table of about eight people. Together, the two groups filled up the room, leaving the many remaining upstairs tables empty. We would have been fine with this arrangement, but the table next to us was unbelievably loud and obnoxious. We couldn't hear our own conversations over the shouting and laughter next to us. At first, we tried to ignore it, but quickly it became almost a joke as the servers couldn't even describe our dishes due to the ridiculous volume from the next table. We debated asking to be moved, but as we began the tasting menu, it seemed to be too much trouble to move all of the plates, glasses and silverware that kept flowing to our table. I'm disappointed that the staff didn't ask the other group to quiet down, especially when they noticed we were struggling to even converse with them about the menu. The staff were young, and had an impatient, arrogant air about them. When asked questions about the menu, their answers were short and almost defensive. Wine recommendations were minimal, which gave the impression that our main server did not know much about the wine they had to offer. We were all hungry and eager to try some of the excellent-sounding dishes so we opted for the tasting menu, which sadly was only sub-par... Many of the dishes featured "gels" and "foams" which felt like we were eating at a hair salon, not a nice restaurant. Each course was pretty good, but not great, with the exception of the braised beef which was tender, juicy and perfectly crispy. For dessert, the first course was lilac sorbet, which my friend described accurately as licking an actual lilac. The second dessert course was a chocolate cake with that soft, gooey center, which would have been a wonderfully rich thing to eat on its own, but not after we'd already been stuffed with many other dishes. I doubt any of us will return to Crush in the near future. With more enjoyable tasting menus in Seattle (Altura or Spinasse for example), this place seems to have lost some of its luster that made it popular several years ago.

    (2)

  • Katherine D.

    Don't bother going unless you get the tasting menu. It is expensive but so so worth it. We were seated outside, and it was very nice. We experienced exceptional service throughout. Real fine dining service here, without making their presence overly known. At one point we had a question about the menu and while our server at the time (not our main server) was not able answer, he immediately got us the information we were looking for with a smile. I was very impressed, it was an outstanding dining experience. Not sure when I'd be back, but I'll be very happy when it happens.

    (5)

  • Kim T.

    I went to crush after reading many many reviews to try and find the perfect place for dinner while I was in town. Based on the really sweet and endearing story behind the restaurant, the celebrity status of the chef and the overall reviews of the restaurant I decided that this would be the place to go to. We had 7:00 reservations and were immediately shown to our table. Right away I was drawn to the intimacy and ambiance of the restaurant. The cozy feel of a home with low level lighting draws you in and really makes you feel at home. We ordered: SEARED HUDSON VALLEY FOIE GRAS "STEAK" - god how I've missed foie gras. The foie gras here was amazing! Seared perfectly it was tempered by the shortcake and fruits while retaining its richness. HANDCUT WAGYU BEEF TARTARE - I'm not the biggest fan of tartare as it doesn't have any distinct flavor or taste to me but for those who enjoy it the way it was gobbled at my table led me to believe this was a fine one indeed. What I had of it did seem like a good preparation but again I'm not an expert. SPICED MOULARD DUCK BREAST WITH BRANDIED CHERRIES - I am the biggest fan of duck and when I saw this I had to order it. However it was a very disappointing dish. The meat itself was overcooked and chewy and lacked any seasoning. Although the sauce was able to keep the dish from becoming just a throw away plate it wasn't really enough to compensate for the entirety of the dish. 48 HOUR BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIB - a great dish it was tender and flavorful The service at this place is extremely courteous and attentive. I didn't like my first old fashioned and the bartender came over to ask me my preference and then created it to a t. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and the whole dinner was so reasonably priced. I wish I could give the place more stars but the food didn't live up to the atmosphere and I left feeling content but underwhelmed.

    (3)

  • Karen L.

    My BF and I celebrated our anniversary here by having a nice dinner. We opted for the tasting menu, and overall, it was pretty good. We're a fan of tasting menus, although out of all the ones we've tried, only a few have stood out. Not sure if this is one of them. Some dishes were hit or miss, but a few stood out that we really enjoyed. One of them was a dish that had steamed egg, salmon roe, bacon foam, etc. That was very tasty and something we've never had before. The dishes here are pretty unique, and I'll give them that. Definitely a place you should try at least once.

    (4)

  • Andrew P.

    My wife and I ate at Crush for a special night. While the staff was great (Alex),the food was not memorable. Especially considering the $400 bill for 2 six course meals and wine pairings. The components of the dishes blended together without delivering the memorable notes. The desserts were particularly unremarkable with a bland flavor. I'd rather spend my money at Lark, Art of the Table or Herb Farm.

    (2)

  • Kyoni R.

    Chef Jason Wilson and his wife, Nicole, have seamlessly bridged the gap between fun dining and fine dining. Crush offers carefully crafted cocktails, a wide world of wines and an oft-changing menu of "Modern American Cuisine" as gorgeous as it is good. Seductions might include a duck confit and mushroom tart, short ribs with gnocchi, crispy-skin wild salmon, a savvy selection of artisanal cheeses and divine desserts including housemade chocolates that put a sweet exclamation point on a superb meal. SRW I was not really enamored with this place. Maybe it was an off night.

    (3)

  • April M.

    I REALLY wanted to like Crush, I really did! I was so excited to go and order their tasting menu. My husband ordered the regular menu. I had hoped for a vegetarian alternative, but there was none on the menu, so I decided to go ahead and be adventurous. I had so many things I had never had before, geoduck, octopus, cavier, etc. The flavors were not bad, but some of the textures were off-putting. There was a lot of raw, or only slightly cooked meats. Uncooked, for example, where the geoduck and the steak tartar. Only slightly cooked, so they still tasted raw, were the tuna and scallop. I do understand that that is the nature of the dish served, but it was just so repetitive, I yearned for something different. My husband was very excited about the duck, but it disappointed with the lack of crispy skin. The menu was heavy on the seafood, and VERY heavy on the meats. There were meats starring in the first 8 courses, +/- a course. By the time we got to the short ribs, which were the best dish we'd had up to that point, I (and my meat-loving husband) were so tired of looking at, and eating, meat. It just lacked diversity, Even the supporting cast of ingredients were playing over and over again...mushrooms, cranberries, caviar. I was excited about dessert. The server said chocolate was coming out next, but there was very little chocolate involved, just some chocolate sauce over a "curry pie" (I think she said.) None of the sweets were to die for. The highlight of the evening was the bread. It was a coffee rye bread which was SO delicious. I could have eaten $150 worth of that and walked away happy. The service was very good. My husband's tea had been forgotten, but aside from that we were very pleased. Our glasses were kept full and we felt well attended to. I left very full, but disappointed when we left. And, no, this is not my first tasting menu, fine-dining rodeo. My husband and I enjoy going out for a tasting menu monthly. So far my favorite places have been The Herb Farm, Canlis, and Tilth. I may try Crush again some day, but with a tab of over $300 for 2 people, it's a gamble that may take a while for me to be up for again.

    (2)

  • Samantha G.

    October has a couple of my favorite times of the year and Seattle Restaurant Week is one of them! For round 1 of SRW, my date chose Crush. I didn't know much about the place so I was down to check it out. We decided to split our dishes so we can try most of the SRW offerings. I had a fellow yelp buddy who told me he was still hungry after eating here so instead of ordering a bottle of wine, we just ordered a dish off of the regular menu. This is what we ate: Bread: We had a rosemary bread and a cream puff-like bread topped with shredded cheese. The breads are enjoyable but I believe they charge an extra $5 for it. Foie gras: I only tried foie gras once at Lark but in terms of portion, Crush takes the cake. I enjoyed the fattiness of this and like the sweet and savory flavors of the dish. Definitely a must-have when dining at Crush. Pork belly (not pictured): The cheesy grits the pork belly was sitting on was a hit with my date and I. The pork belly was ok but I didn't find anything unique about it. Wild ling cod: The sauce (or soup?) of this was delicious! Just a note for all the pescatarians: this does contain chunks of bacon. Painted Hills braised short rib: The texture of the short rib was interesting. It fell apart easily when cut into but it seemed like it was cooked and shredded then put together again before cooking it again. I like this dish but the cod was my favorite entree of the two. Chocolate beignets with vanilla ice cream: There seemed to be a bit of a salty aftertaste with the beignets but it was fine. Pumpkin cheesecake with ginger ice cream: I LOVE this dessert! The cheesecake texture was more similar to a panna cotta. What really made this dessert was the ginger ice cream, which I thought went so well with the cheesecake. Definitely order this! What made this a five star review was the excellent service. Right when we walked in, our coats were checked in and we were seated. They even had a stool for my purse which I appreciated very much. The timing of our food was smooth, where we didn't even experience much of a wait in between dishes. I would love to dine here again but only for a special occasion or maybe during the next restaurant week in the spring.

    (5)

  • Jenni C.

    Came here for Christmas Eve dinner along with wine pairing and my experience here was a bit off from my expectation. I did not enjoy the first few course but the entree and desert was delicious and the wine selections are outstanding.

    (3)

  • Heidi S.

    Food was very good! However $30.00 for a piece of black cod 6" x 2" with some greens is ridiculous. Very small portions for entrées.

    (4)

  • Jenna B.

    Sadly, this restaurant use to be amazing when it first opened. If you want over priced and salty food, horrible service, and tiny over cooked portions come here. I am extremely embarrassed that I recommended this restaurant to friends.

    (1)

  • Josh H.

    Crush created the single greatest food and dining experience I've had in the Seattle area since I moved here over 25 years ago. I can't even put into words how they created tastes and textures that we've never experienced before. Chef Jason has a super fun personality and came over during each course to explain how and why he created each dish. This is the place to go for that once in a year special occasion for a meal that you'll never forget.

    (5)

  • Ann M.

    Came here a few years ago. Food was excellent. Not sure about the modern decor...have they changed it yet?

    (4)

  • Alexandra M.

    Came here without a reservation on a Friday night, and they easily accommodated my friend and I. Surprisingly, our table for two was in a quiet corner instead of the noisy table in the restaurant that everyone tried to avoid - I was impressed at the start. I had the 48-Hour Braised Wagyu Beef, and it was heavenly. The meat was extremely tender - the kind that melts in the mouth right away. It had the right amount of flavor without being too salty or savory like many braised meats tend to be. I don't remember what my friend ordered, but she was in culinary heaven as well. We ordered the Chocolate Coulant for dessert, and they brought complimentary sea salt caramels along with it. I was in love with this place! The service is top-notch. Our waiter was friendly but not too chatty. Even though we were seated at a quieter corner of the restaurant, he always came to refill our drinks and checked on us. He was also not snobby and condescending to younger guests like like most waitstaff of high-end restaurants. Crush truly exemplifies how quality food and service go hand in hand.

    (5)

  • Cynthia L.

    I have a friend that speaks about food like the character from The Incredibles--the short, dark-haired, glasses-wearing designer of the superhero garb: "Daaaahling, you MUST go to Crush. It's absolutely diviiiiiine, dahling." I love my friend. I love his taste in food. Yet there was never an opportunity to try it out--until I had a special occasion to celebrate. My guy was in charge of reservations, and discussing the custom menu for the event with Crush. It took 2 in-person visits (without response; he had to follow up with them twice) in order to get the ball rolling. Considering the occasion, and the fine dining classification Crush is placed, this was disappointing. We even received our custom menu...with spelling typos on it. It took two emails to correct it.. Despite this, I wasn't going to allow this to affect what the experience would be for our group. We had reserved the small room upstairs of this quaint-looking converted house in Madison Valley, which was lovely, but for the fact that women did not have a place to put their purses if they chose to keep [it] by them, and the chairs were small round, short stool-like chairs that were a little awkward. Our menu included seafood, beef, and chicken. I chose to have the sous-vide chicken, and was extremely unimpressed. The chicken was bland, and had the texture of a reheated frozen chicken cutlet. The accompanying vegetables were beautifully-prepared so my focus remained on eating the delicate portion throughout the meal. The dessert cake they prepared was beautiful and delicious, but overall, the pricing, the room, the food did not meet my expectations. "Daaaahling, I'll come back if you pay and make food recommendations to me next time."

    (3)

  • Carmen C.

    Crush is not conveniently located for me and with traffic in Seattle what it is today, it's been several years since I last ate dinner here - I used to eat meat then, and remember loving this place, despite the high prices and small portions. There are no real options here if you're a vegetarian. They accommodated by offering to remove an ingredient or two from some of the dishes. I ordered the Hamachi crudo - excellent. The disappointment was in the Lobster over hand rolled gnocchi - undercooked seafood over pasty gnocchi - yuck. The sauce was good, but the overall dish was not. I won't be making the drive across town again. At $100/per person there are many other options in this town that don't disappoint.

    (2)

  • Lisa F.

    After having the roasted beet salad, pork tenderloin (and a taste of hubby's steelhead) I'm hitting myself for never having visited Crush before. It took Restaurant Week to get me out there, and I will definitely return. The table facing the kitchen made for an interesting diversion (watching the chefs work was fascinating for us). But once the food arrived our attention was all on the table. The pork was as close to perfect as you could ever get. Even though the portion was small, it was just enough, and even though I longed for more, I was full at the end of our meal. I couldn't even finish my dessert -- which was no great loss because it was definitely the let-down of the entire dinner (pumpkin panna cotta with popcorn? what were they thinking? what was I thinking, ordering it?) My only gripe is that the wines are wicked expensive. I would have liked to have a lower-priced offering by the glass. We ordered from the bar instead and our $12 margaritas were just so-so.

    (4)

  • L V.

    My husband and I were a little disappointed in our meal. We went with the tasting menu. Probably only the bacon n eggs dish was truly unique. The hamachi was good and fresh. The scallop dish was seared nicely with a nice flavor but I feel like I've had similar at other restaurants. Same goes for the black cod we had. The fish was moist with a natural good flavor as expected for black cod but the sauce was nothing to write home about. The beef dish we had was pretty tender with an OK flavor. The parmesan pasta dish was fairly plain to me. Tasted like a good mac-n-cheese. Don't really think it complimented the tasting menu. The coconut tapioca dessert was a complete miss. It was very bland. The lemongrass foam did not really compliment it either. It was my least favorite. The cookies they brought with the check were some kind of paprika cookies. It had an interesting zing but not really I want another cookie interesting. The service was adequate and nice. They were pleasant, prompt , responsive. Didn't really have the feel for a nice elegant meal though, if that's what you want though. More casual nice. It was not bad, but for the money we spent, I would have rather gone elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Benjamin E.

    My wife and I had been to Crush a few years ago and really had an unforgettable experience. Should have known not to try for a repeat. I will say, the little "extras" (a lovely umami filled biscuit, strawberry lavender sorbet, cauliflower soup, some amazing smoked macaroons) are awesome, unexpected, and give a fancy touch. Now for the food on the menu. The steak tartare in dashi broth was good, but too salty. The fluke with shallots was texturally challenged and a bit bland. The root vegetable salad was meh, the "bacon and eggs" savory custard thing was good but tiny. Shrimp appetizer was horrible, like eating un-seasoned raw shrimp. Poor even for sushi, if that was the intent. Foie gras was not delicate, overpowering, and tasted more like chicken liver. Also came with a suspicious $12 surcharge on top of the tasting menu cost. The sea bass was okay, but not memorable. The black bass was over seasoned and way too crispy on the skin. Had to use a lot of force to cut it. The wagyu was decent but again not memorable, and the duck breast... oh, the duck. It was like eating meat paste. We couldn't figure out what could possibly have been wrong with it. Ewwww. Got charged $18 for a glass of pinot noir that costs $15 a bottle, too. This place has lost it.

    (2)

  • Adam M.

    My expectations were "Crush"ed. After seeing the 4 star reviews, I was really looking forward to having a nice experience for my last night of my vacation. However, this faded quickly as we tried to find the restaurant, which is located in a converted home in a residential neighborhood without any street parking or valet parking (no handicap parking either, which I use). For a bit of a back-story, I had been on vacation for a couple of weeks in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, BC and had gone to several nice restaurants (Gordon Ramsay Steak, Twist (Pierre Gagniere), Gary Danko, several of Wolfgang Pucks', etc.) and was really looking forward to a final night at a restaurant that does molecular gastronomy. When we first arrived, I had to drive around a bit to find some parking, and luckily did, eventually, so my wife had to walk up the hill in heels past a pile of garbage to get to the house/restaurant. We were about to be brought upstairs (perhaps to the master bedroom?) but due to my physical issues, I asked if they had an elevator but we were seated downstairs instead (luckily it was 6pm and they had tables available, otherwise this could be an issue). If you have a disability, make sure you mention that to get downstairs seating. We decided to do the 12 course tasting menu. I explained that I do not eat seafood but my wife does. I expected that the dinner would be tailored for my tastes, but I will get to that shortly. I ordered an iced tea, and my wife one of their specialty drinks (non-alcoholic). What she got was something that tasted like Alka-Seltzer. The waitress tasted it and brought another, which was better, but not great. She switched to iced tea as well. When we asked for Splenda, we were told they did not have any (no Stevia, no sweetener, only simple sugar (liquid)). The waitress looked in her purse and found 1 packet of Splenda, but it was not enough nor is the waitress responsibility to provide the guests with artificial sweetener. When the first of 12 courses arrived, my wife received Geoduck (the phallic clam) with vegetables. I received the exact same thing (without the protein). No substitution or alteration. Just 2 tiny little vegetables on my plate. I had a feeling that the whole menu was going to continue in this manner, so I said something to the waitress (in order not to be forced into being a vegan for the evening). According to my wife, the first course was nothing special. Mine was definitely nothing, literally. The second course was very good. A couple of tomatoes and some home made mozzarella. Still a vegan, but at least this was tasty. At some point (not sure which course), we received steak tartare (raw meat - which tastes better than it sounds) with truffles (supposedly). I say supposedly as I had eaten Truffles at Twist in Las Vegas and I have Truffle oil at my house, and the truffle flavor tasted much the same as the truffle oil I bought at the grocery store more so than the black truffles I had eaten a week prior. The waitress said she talked to the chef and he said that it was truffles. I still have my doubts, but cannot say for certainty what it actually was, only what it tasted like, to me. You can decide on your own, if you eat there. To me, it seemed like raw steak mixed with a lot of truffle oil. It was not bad, but the balance was not quite right. A couple of good dishes were the egg dish with maple syrup and the venison. The rest were nothing special. My wife had gotten a dish that looked pretty with 3 different sauces (3 different colors) but they all tasted bad. Luckily, the sauces were simply skid marks on a plate, and not actually on top of any food. One dish she received, octopus, was so bad that she could not eat it. No offer to replace it with something edible, just a comment that other guests like it. The foie gras was nothing special (not bad, not great). Out of 12 courses, there were 4 that were good, 1 inedible. Basically, 1/3 of the meal was good. It was a bit noisy, but mainly because 1 person was speaking exceptionally loud and others had to talk over her in order to have any conversation. As tables are close together (and getting closer, as the house seems to be sinking in one corner - one couple moved because of the incline), conversation/intimate dinner would be difficult. Would I recommend this place? No. Is it bad? No. But is it worth the money? No. Perhaps if you went specifically for the 3 or 4 good meals, it could be a nice dining experience. Certainly not memorable in a good way, not like a restaurant I ate at a few years ago in Arizona (still remember that one). The service as okay. Not bad, but not the attention to detail as in Twist. My water bottle sat empty for at least 6 of the 12 courses (and I had moved it to the waitress side of the table instead of the wall to clearly show it was empty. I said nothing to see how long it would take to do something).

    (3)

  • Don B.

    Crush is probably rated up there as one of Seattle's best restaurants. The chef is famous, the food is famous, the name is famous. So you can imagine I was very excited for dinner here with some good friends on a recent visit to Seattle. The restaurant is set in a converted old house, which means that there are not a ton of tables. The feel is kind of an odd mix of old house meets mod molded plastic furniture. The decor has a lot of white (chairs, tables) against the light walls and dark trim of the house. Upstairs the bathroom still has a claw-foot tub which (the server assured me) has yet to be used for bathing by a customer. I was tempted to set some precedent the evening I dined here but withstood temptation. The menu is high gastronomic versions of NW fare. Plenty of seafood, pork, lamb, duck and one vegetarian dish, many of which are appointed with foams, sous-vide techniques, etc. The prices (apps $10-$25; entrees into the $30's) match the style and quality of food. I sampled the octopus a la plancha (cooked sous vide before grilling), beet salad with blue cheese panna cotta, foie gras steak and beef tartare. All are amazing. The foie steak at $25 is probably worth the high price since it's a decent sized slab of foie, and could be shared with multiple folks due to the rich nature. For entrees we shared the gnocchi with truffles and lardo, monkfish with some sort of foam, scallops and suckling pig. Everything in this round is equally as delicious, with the monkfish being the stand-out dish of the group. Perfectly fried, and paired well with other flavors on the plate. I highly recommend this dish if it's on the menu when you visit. Cocktails here are reasonably priced ($9-$12) and tasty. Well worth trying out. The wine list is beyond impressive. The only real miss here was the service. Our server was more cold than formal and started off with a bit of an air of pretense. We did warm her up a bit (especially with the question about the bath tub) but it seemed to be part of the schtick here. Yes, food of this calibre should be paired with very high quality service and formality, but formality can still be warm and welcoming. Also when we heard "chef prefers" in answer to a question about pace of ordering, we figured it would have been nice to hear any "chef preferences" on how we operate at the outset. That said, in the end we did find our meal very tasty and the our server did bring things around at the end with some half-glasses of bubbly as an apology for a couple of our dishes missing some key ingredients. So that was super nice. I definitely would come back here for the food again. Very delicious.

    (4)

  • Nazanin R.

    We did the tasting menu on Christmas Eve, it was absolutely divine. Yes, it's pricey. But it's totally worth it. So are the wine pairings. The only downside? We were served an amuse bouche that consisted of a savory macaroon filled with goat cheese, which in and of itself was great. However, the macaroons were served in a glass vial filled with smoke (to impart smoke flavor), and the vial was opened as the macaroons were served. Sounds great, right? Except the smoke was overpowering and unpleasant, it reminded me of a dry kind of ashtray smell, and I'm not particularly sensitive to that sort of thing. We continued to be accosted with smoke throughout the evening as the other diners were being served. It's a great idea in theory, but the execution was poor. Less smoke next time, please!

    (5)

  • Chelsea S.

    This review is from last year's Restaurant Week but still worth a review. This was a great choice for SRW as it is normally a high dollar dinner but we were able to get some delicious tastes for a reasonable bill. I tried their pureed creamy squash soup which was delicious and velvety for my starter. My date had their seared pork belly which he really enjoyed as well. I then had their black cod and he had their steak. Both were perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. For dessert I tried the shortbread cookies with ice cream and he tried some sort of fruit dessert that I cannot remember. We each also got the wine flight to pair with the meal which was really fun. They select the three wines that best compliment your choices for food. Their service is phenomenal and very informative. The restaurant is in a house that is beautifully decorated and comfortable, it manages to give you the feel that you are eating in your own dining room...which has been all gussied up!

    (4)

  • Nina H.

    I really like the interior of the restaurant - it looks like an older house/cottage from the outside but the inside is super modern and chic. I love that contrast. Service was decent for Restaurant Week. I was so disappointed that the pork belly wasn't on the menu when we got there but I guess the menu was subject to change from the online menu shown on the Seattle Times website. Sigh. I opted for the other pork appetizer and my bf ordered the nettle soup. His was way better - mine tasted like some kind of pate, which was fine, but definitely not my favorite. For the main entrees, he ordered the 48-hour beef short rib and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was so jealous. My tiny blob of pasta was just OK but it was interesting because the noodle was hollow inside and I've never had that kind of pasta before, I forgot its name. The mushrooms were tasty though. The best part was probably the bread and dessert. I had the chocolate ice cream sundae which was truly a delight in my mouth. He got the cheese platter, I'm not a huge fan of cheese at all but he liked it. Overall, he enjoyed his meal more than I did, which was great because I always make him go to fancy restaurants with me. But I wish I could've enjoyed my meal as much as him, but thankfully, at least one of us did.

    (3)

  • Merry A.

    I have been to Crush twice as I travel to Seattle for business. It is my favorite restaurant !! The tasting menu with wine pairings cannot be surpassed. The decadence of the foie gras is worth the up charge. The wait staff was excellent, attentive and informative. The camaraderie and joy of the chefs and kitchen staff was apparent. Every bite was foodie bliss!! Flavors were layered perfectly. As with any flavor risks there is a rare miss (squid ink meringue with smoke) but the willingness to create is admirable. My daughter recently visited from San Francisco with her husband and independently discovered this gem and were equally wowed!! Definitely worth the money!

    (5)

  • Jenny N.

    I went here with my boyfriend while we were in Seattle celebrating our anniversary. First off, my boyfriend didn't like the way the restaurant smelled but he sucked it up for our dinner. We had: Handcut Wagyu Beef Tartare: it was really yummy, but we didn't like the coffee rye toast that it came with, it was a little weird. Bacon n Eggs: it was such an interesting take on bacon n eggs, it was very tasty! I would have this again for sure. Short Rib: It was really tender and had great flavor! I loved it! Spiced Moulard Duck Breast with Brandied Cherries: my boyfriend loved this dish!

    (3)

  • Ron M.

    This is NOT for the picky eater, but if you are the type who will eat (or at least try) anything then you are in for a culinary treat. The evening I visited there were only two menu options - the 6 course tasting menu or the 9 course tasting menu - that's it. With steak tartar on both, this is not for the faint of heart. Plate after plate was a visual delight with the best culinary art I've seen anywhere in Seattle (and in few places in the world). It really is a sight to behold! What's more, the taste of everything was excellent - even things I'd traditionally not touch with a ten foot pole. With that said, the parking was horrific - street parking in a dangerous intersection and it had me getting out into wet sloppy mud with dress shoes on. My wife nearly hurt herself wearing heels on the cobblestone street. We were 15 minutes late because of the horrible parking. This place is small and when we walked in it was pretty annoying to realize the cute white chairs were really flimsy lawn-chair like plastic. I'm 190 lbs and they didn't feel super stable. Food is served very slow too (not a negative) so my butt was killing me after our nearly 3 hour meal. We were also close to the door so my wife was cold and had to wear her big overcoat the entire meal. The draft from the front door was unacceptable. I did the wine tasting, but my wife didn't (alcohol allergy). All of the wines were great, but I definitely needed her to drive afterwards. Everything about this place screams - come here in a limo if you can afford it. Speaking of affording it - our total bill including a 15% tip was $325 which I felt was obscene for what was provided. $100/person would have been the most I would have felt was reasonable for the food and portions provided. The parking alone would keep me from coming back, but if I really had someone I wanted to impress with true culinary art I'd have to rent a limo and still skip the wine tasting (hungover - ha ha).

    (4)

  • Florencia K.

    Went there tonight and only one word came from my mouth, amazing! Came there at 7 pm with reservation, the waiter seated us right away. Handed us the menu and he was so knowledgable about the food. My scallops were so delicious and so big. There were five of them on my plate. I tried all my friends food and all of them were nice, especially the duck. Well, it is a bit expensive but worth to try!

    (5)

  • Amanda N.

    Food portion a bit small for a pricey place. The decor is great though

    (3)

  • Jingwen Y.

    I am glad I was finally able to try this place during Restaurant week. I wanted to save it for special occasion since 5 years ago. Here is to trying something someday now. Dining at this place is like going to a close friend's house dinner. Atmosphere is very intimate and romantic. I thought the food was just ok. The salad from the restaurant week menu was a little too sour. Entree was very artistic presented but the taste was lacking something like the ingrediants did not flow together. Maybe I had a higher expectation for the food but over all I wasn't too disappointed. Service was charming and friendly. You will be very well treated. I had great company and overall had a nice dinner.

    (4)

  • Heidi D.

    I love tasting menus and have had the opportunity to experience some incredible menus, but this experience was mind blowing. I have always held up La Mer in Honolulu as the zenith of fine dining with its 7 courses, wonderful wines, and impeccable service. Crush delivered all of this plus an additional 7 courses at a lower price. It was my friend's birthday and I wanted to to be a memorable evening. We did the 14 course tasting menu at $150 plus the wine pairing. This is not for the faint of heart. While the price may seem high, the portions were larger then I expected for a tasting menu, the food outstanding, and each wine was perfectly matched. I had added notes in my Open Table to the fact that it was a birthday. They called the day before to discuss the menu. I arrived early and took care of the bill before my guest arrived. They were very discreet and instead of being presented with a menu upon seating we were greeted with glasses of sparking wine (not part of the wine pairing but offered at no charge). That set the tone for the impeccable service. Now the food...each course was fantastic. I eaten at fine dining establishments around the world and can be very critical, but not one dish left me unsatisfied. The amuse-bouche, a savory fennel macaroon filled with goat cheese and infused with Earl Grey smoke was unbelievable. I have never tasted anything like it before! The dungeness crab and and whipped green peas was such a wonderful complement to each other that I wanted seconds. And lets not forget the foie gras...or the salmon...or the sweet breads. They ended the evening by bringing us two different desserts. Over dessert we started conversing with another couple who was finishing grand tasting menu. The waiter brought us all a bottle of sherry and a bottle of dessert wine and left us to end the menu conversing with our new friends. At no time did we feel rushed. Plenty of time to enjoy each course and finish our wine before moving to the next course, just as a good tasting menu should be. Given that the dinner spanned 5 hours make sure to make your reservations for an early time slot.

    (5)

  • Paul D.

    Our children gave us a gift certificate so we gave it a try. We were treated extremely well by the staff. The food was absolutely delicious and they served us some additional items that we were not expecting such as raspberry sorbet with sage while waiting for dessert. And again, some excellent cookies and small pastries while waiting for our check. We both enjoyed the experience and recommend Crush without reservation. Here is a 2 minute video covering the highlights of our visit. vimeo.com/36581462

    (5)

  • Kimberly B.

    Came for SRW tonight, and couldn't have been happier. The staff was incredible - attentive without being nosy, happy to give suggestions without being pushy, and everything was served with care, knowledge, and just the right amount of attention. Food was DELICIOUS. Carrot soup as first course, char-grilled octopus with heirloom beans and chorizo (seriously). I got the pork tenderloin and cheesy grits, which was cooked perfectly - fiance's sea bass was delicate, crispy, and well-balanced. Dessert of earl grey panna cotta with blood orange. Everything was outstanding. I can't wait to have something new to celebrate so we can come back!

    (5)

  • Rachael M.

    My fiancé and I tried out Crush for restaurant week. I was really excited about this opportunity to try 3 courses for $28, given their normal 6 course tasting menu is $89. However, we were very underwhelmed with the evening and could not imagine coming back for the regular full price menu. The ambiance of the restaurant was very nice. It's in a house, but the inside is very modern, featuring curvy white chairs and white tabletops. The service was friendly and helpful throughout the evening. Overall, the restaurant gave an impressive, positive impression. However, the food was nothing special. It's possible some things were more made in mass and rushed due to restaurant week, but for our appetizer, I had an overly salty sauce while my fiancé had bland pumpkin soup. Both dishes felt off, like actual mistakes had been made in their preparation. For entrees, I had the carrot risotto and my fiancé had the pork tenderloin, which I believe are both on the actual menu. Both dishes were good, but they did not go above and beyond, as I would expect at an expensive tasting menu type of restaurant. The pork was well prepared with a flavorful sauce, but was served with some type of vegetable that was really bitter. My risotto was fairly flavorful, containing spicy red pepper strips, which was different, but the dish overall was small. For dessert, I had buttermilk donuts while my fiancé had a peanut butter brownie with salted caramel. My donuts tasted like a packaged cake you would get at 7/11 - not very donut-y and certainly not something I'd order again! My fiancé's brownie was pretty good as was the caramel, but again not something particularly special and impressive. All in all, the restaurant is in a nice setting. Parking was tricky but manageable. But the food is not great enough to justify the prices.

    (3)

  • Arthur K.

    The restaurant itself has a cool atmosphere. It's a converted house turned into a restaurant. It gave it a cool homemade feel. A group of 4 of us decided to visit for restaurant week. We started out with a cucumber cocktail that was very refreshing. It was a great way to start the meal. For my appetizer, I ordered the Country Pork Terrine, which was basically pork belly marinated in a nice rich sauce. It was incredibly tender and full of lots of flavor. This was definitely my favorite course. For my main dish, I ordered the Braised Beef Short Rib Crepinettes. It was cooked very nicely and very tender, but lacked some flavor. It would have been better if it was marinated in the sauce rather than just braised. The portion was also about the same size as my appetizer. For dessert I had the Chocolate Beignet. It was nothing to write home about. It had nice chocolate flavor but it felt a bit overfried and dry. Overall, the portions were tiny and I was still hungry afterwards and the food was just mediocre except for the appetizer. That pork belly was amazing. Just a note, they charge for their water. I got still water and it costs me $6 for a 1 liter bottle.

    (3)

  • Marcia A.

    Last night I ate at Crush for the first time in years, somehow I had deviated off of that track....the food was unbelievable, I eat at many $$$ and $$$$ and this was one of the best meals that I have had all year.....I had 4 small plates, the bacon egg was so unusual with the caviar and presentation -- the summer salad was so beautiful..... and, hte ambiance, service was great -- there were different servers going in and out of hte table serving the small plates and provided a great mix instead of having the same waiter/waitress all evening explaining each course.... Kudos!

    (5)

  • Suie C.

    SRW round 5. We had a large party and were seated a bit past our reservation, but the staff kept us updated while we waited. Ambiance wise- it's cozy, modern, and can be a bit loud if it's packed, but overall, great presentation. For our meal, most of us got the pork belly for appetizer. The pork itself was a bit lacking in flavor which is a bit odd considering it's usually one of the most flavorful cuts of pork, but it may have been b/c mine seemed a bit overcoked. It came on a bed of lentils which was actually really tasty. Also added an odrder of Foie gras ($24) and tried the beef tartare ($17) off their regular menu and both of these items were very good. Foie gra was flavorful and fatty and the beef tartar well very well made. For entrees, I had the cod and the bf had the steak. The portions were actually quite small for the entrees. My cod was well cooked, but seemed to lack in flavor. My bf's steak was also again very well cooked (medium-rare), but the accompanying potatoes and veggies were overly salty. Presentation was beautiful, but taste was just okay. For dessert, we ordered the beignets and the vanilla icecream cookie sandwiches (2). I liked the vanilla ice cream cookie sandwiches while the bf prefered the beignets. However, neither were spectacular. The beignets were certainly tasty, but after one bite, I couldn't eat anymore b/c it was just too greasy for my tastes. Others at the table also commented about the same thing. The oil flavor overpowered any of the other flavors. It was quite a disappointment. The ice cream sandwich cookies were pretty standard, much lighter than the beignets. Service wise-4. Our waiter was quite personable and I appreciate him explaining what each dish was, but I felt like there was quite a lag between courses at times and we did wait a full 20 min past our reservation time to be seated. One thing that I did notice as other yelpers have mentioned was that the wine prices are quite inflated. The cheapest glass was $13 and for wine the lowest i saw was just a bit below $50. We ended up getting a bottle, but it is a bit of a determent to order any more drinks to go with an already pricey meal. I'm not quite sure the price matches up to the quality of food and taste. I was really excited to come here, but none of the dishes on SRW were quite satisfying which doesn't exactly make me want to come back at full price. My bf and I's bill for 2 (srw x2, foie gras, wine split between 5 ppl, tax and a 20% gratuity for parties of 5 or more) was very close to $130. A bit of hefty when you leave feeling like there's something left to be desired.

    (3)

  • Reginald W.

    One of the more orgasmic dining experiences I've had, EVER!! Add this one to your bucket list.

    (5)

  • Jesse L.

    The description arouse your senses is a perfect v description. The meals take you on an incredible whirlwind. Great unique flavors that all work well together.

    (5)

  • Joe H.

    We had an amazing dining experience at Crush. We sat at the bar and were able to watch the kitchen and wait staff work and they worked in perfect symphony. Everyone was fun, upbeat and the atmosphere was lively. We choose the tasting menu and wine pairing. I definitely would advise against the wine pairing, we've done it a number of times at various places and it is always too many drinks too quick! Never good, but they did have an impressive wine list. The food was amazing, creative and beautiful, and to top it off they gave us bacon carmel popcorn and homemade goodies to bring home! Service was also on point, and so polished I highly recommend trying this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Joel R.

    To be entirely honest, I wavered a little on this review. Fine dining calls for high expectations, and dinner at a place like this needs to be pretty close to perfect to earn the top review for me. Suffice to say, my wife took me out for my birthday dinner here and it was close to perfect, although not all the way there. We sat out on the patio - lovely space, although it could use some updating - and were immediately treated to great service. Knowledgable waiter, good recommendations, not too intrusive, good all around. Starting with cocktails was a great choice. The perfect manhattan lived up to its name (this kind of drink really comes down to precision and quality ingredients, and both were evident). My wife's drink (can't remember the name) was good, too. For the dinner service itself, we ordered a number of dishes, ranging from awesome (crudo) to very good (duck). Portion sizes were small, as is typical for this kind of place, so be forewarned. One of the weak spots was the delay between starters and entrees, inducing me to shell out for extra bread service, which ended up coming out with our entrees anyways. Dessert, however, made up for any doubts. I don't even know what we ordered, but it was amazing. Don't worry, pastry/dessert chef at Crush, whatever it was you made was awesome. As were pre-dessert and apres-dessert. Wins all around.

    (5)

  • Diane L.

    Having heard good things about their patio, I came here for an early dinner/happy hour on a sunny afternoon and it was the best idea ever. The patio is adorable and quaint. I wish it got more sun but it could just be summer is ending... They have half off their lounge menu for happy hour as well as half off glass of wine. So my companion and I ended up doing our own tasting menu and ordering everything off the lounge menu and two glasses of wine each. The service was meticulous and attentive. What was great was even though we did the build yourself tasting menu, they served everything with care and in a well thought out manner. To start, we had a summer tomato salad and beet salad. The beet salad was amazing with this pistachio ribbon that paired amazingly with the beets. The summer veggie salad was a bit lacking in flavor but I think tomato season is over. Next we had pork rillette and beef tartare which were both solid but nothing remarkable. Then they served us the pork cheek and their signature short rib. The grits that came with the pork were amazing. The short rib was good but what elevated the dish was this truffle pea puree. The amount of thought that goes into each dish is appreciated and the pairing/texture of each dish is well designed. We ended dinner with two desserts - cookies and a "billy bob" bar. The billy bob bar ended up being a salted caramel ice cream dark chocolate bar which was heavenly. The cookies were very homely and delish but simple. The cheese plate was well paired with sides such as spiced almonds, fig jam, and this amazing champagne jelly that tasted like a champagne gummy bear! I think their happy hour/lounge is an amazing deal and the service and ambiance is perfect.

    (4)

  • Regina C.

    One of my most favorite places for a date with my love. Absolutely the best fois gras I have ever had. Amazing short ribs Attentive personal service. Well made cocktails. Outstanding wine list. I love to sit at the bar and watch the chef and his talented sidekicks work their magic. Please go and experience this lovely little house called CRUSH.

    (5)

  • Madison P.

    Lovely please to dine. Would definitely recommend. Their braised steak is the best.

    (5)

  • Jade H.

    This was my very first experience at Crush and I only was able to go because of Seattle Restaurant Week, so I was very excited. I went with a party of 4 and we are early twenties and in culinary school so were looking forward to having an amazing time and seeing some fine dining. Unfortunately, Crush is none too enthused about its younger patrons. We were treated rather rudely and quite obviously snubbed with quick remarks on any menu questions we had, all servers avoided much eye contact and I was overall underwhelmed with the service. As far as the food goes, I started with a butternut squash and hazelnut soup which was very good. Rich and buttery. No complaints. Main entree was a flank steak and one carrot. Very well prepared but rather pretentiously portioned. And lastly, dessert. I am a pastry student and so I was very excited to try their poached spiced apple with salted caramel and bourbon ice cream. The ice cream had half melted on my plate, my apple was hard and cold and when I cut into it, I was mortified to pull out a long hair... nice. Overall the service made my party feel like we were not worthy to be there because of our age and the food was good but the dessert really put me in a sour mood upon our departure. Maybe I will try it again, but not any time soon.

    (2)

  • Danielle G.

    Came in for our anniversary dinner with very high expectations. My fiance had been here a few years ago and loved it. The service was good and the place is very cute! But then the food came. First, apparently we're the only ones who don't know that "sweetbreads" are baby cow brains. We just wanted bread!! She told us after we couldn't finish it for the taste. Then course after course came, some edible, some not. We have pretty open minded palettes, but this was just... not good. How do you mess up wagyu beef?! It had no flavor. A few hundred dollars later, we were eager to go elsewhere to wash it down. Very disappointing.

    (1)

  • Lor B.

    Been years since i've dined here -- but just as good as I remember. Was here for a biz dinner and was not dissapointed -- top faves: beet salad, foie gras w/apples, asaparagus & poached egg, bacon & egg (souffle like dish), scallops, salmon, 48hr short tibs and steak entree. I was with a group so we did family style - (best way to dine) - everything was spectacular. The chocolate sampler was amazing as well. Glad this place is still going strong!

    (4)

  • Won M.

    Accompanied by my good friend Don B., PDX CM and our wives (Yup...I love name dropping...), had an epic dinner at Crush. I have to say the food, as expected, did not disappoint. Even with minor hiccups, which I will explain, the food was amazing as expected. Everything I had was amazing the beef tartare just melted and dissipated in my mouth. Very fresh mean paired with nice red pepper sauce. Crush dishes are so focused and refined. You won't find it this good in many places. I had the many-parts-of-pork dish. Sous-vide pork was amazing. Having the perfect consistency throughout a whole meat dish is hard to do but Crush pulled it off. Hiccup was that they didn't put bleu cheese element into a beet salad. Kinda important but it was still good without it. They brought it afterwards and made up with some champagne. Service was a bit cold and stiff. She warmed up but I love a place this high end to have a friendly and professional service. Just because you are friendly doesn't mean you have to sacrifice on the level of service. I felt unwelcomed at first but got better toward the end.

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    Definitely my favorite place to eat in Seattle when I really want to throw out all the stops and just be carried away by the taste sensations that can only be provided by a Chef who is not only skilled in the technical aspects of cooking but also the artistic and creative. Crush is the only restaurant in Seattle that, in my opinion, meets the top notch quality that one would expect in a larger more epicurean city like San Francisco or Chicago. Crush itself is highly reminiscent to me of Charlie Trotter's in Chicago in terms of food, service, and setting. And now that Master Trotter has retired I am glad that there are Chef's like Jason who can carry on the same levels of taste, service, and experience. And equally thrilled that I can get that right here in Seattle. I have eaten in the dining room, sat at the counter and watched the kitchen staff busily preparing their creations, and on the back patio for several Vertigo Club feasts with wine and cigar pairings to go along with each course. I have never been disappointed. Servings are small, but gourmet food is not about gorging yourself until you explode as so much of the American food attitude regresses to, it is about exquisite flavors, textures, aromas, and the sheer pleasure when these all combine to send waves of pleasure neurotransmitters to just the right spots in the brain. It is good that I can only afford to dine here occasionally or my brain would be fried from pleasure overload.

    (5)

  • Mitch N.

    I'm in love with this place. A high-end experience in a very low key atmosphere. Service was pretty damn good, the staff friendly. Food was nothing short of amazing. From the "48hr braised beef," to the roasted duck, to the foie gras. All amazingly prepared and perfectly portioned. I will be back.

    (5)

  • Brynne H.

    Wow! Holy smokes, the only disappointment with this place is that one person in our party didn't want to do the tasting/pairing menu, so we had to order ala carte. First world problems, huh? The place is adorable on the outside, and surprisingly sleek and moder on the inside. Definitely not what you'd expect, but cool. Very well appointed from the chairs to the martini glasses. As for the food, well, I'm pretty sure you couldn't go wrong. Everything our table had was pretty much perfect, and everyone left satisfied and happy. A great experience, highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Sandy H.

    Went for anniversary dinner. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the food. Good wine selection and cute decor. Decided against the tasting menu because the foie gras was not part of the tasting and had to pay extra to be included. First course: TidePools - very interesting flavor - definitely worth a try Second course: Squid Risotto - tender bits of squid in a wonderfully delicious sauce Foie Gras Steak: pan seared creamy perfection with sweet and tart sauce - would have ordered a second plate but needed to save room for the main course Main Course: Wagyu Beef - a bit on the salty side - I think I still prefer a juicy rib eye steak

    (4)

  • V S.

    This is a gem. Such a well conceived concept. The menu is very creatively designed - i mean the presentation of the information and how the wine pairings are presented. The servers were informed and gave excellent suggestions based-on our interests. But the FOOD... simply lovely. The design and craft of each dish is superb. The pairings were totally spot-on and really accented and brought out the best qualities of the food. Without a doubt, in my opinion, this is one of the top three culinary experiences in in the city.

    (5)

  • Dan G.

    Our dinner at Crush was a romantic setting for one of the best meals we enjoyed in Seattle. Chef Jason Wilson was recently named 2010 Best Chef Northwest from the James Beard Foundation and the cuisine we had for the night was excellent. We started with some shrimp and a selection of cheeses. Fresh Spot Prawns with Handmade Potato Gnocchi Asparagus, Grilled Guanciale & Coral Sauce Two Faced Blue, Raw Cow/Sheep Milk, Washington Le Delice de Bourgogne, Pasteurized Cow's Milk, France Tomme Corse, Raw Sheep's Milk, France We really liked the shrimp with the gnocchi. Of the cheeses, we liked the Bourgogne the best. That was a nice surprise because our server had to substitute it for another choice of ours which was unavailable. For our mains we had the surf and turf. My wife went surfing, while I had a few nice and bloody cuts of lamb. Sautéed Sea Scallops with Black Morels Leeks, Preserved Lemon Crème Fraiche & Olive Oil Poached Pee Wee Potatoes Black Cardamom Roasted Anderson Valley Lamb Loin~ Basil Artichokes, Grilled Celeriac, Currant Tapenade & Shiraz Sauce The scallops and morels were excellent. I very much enjoyed a nice portion of the lamb, which came with that tasty tapenade. The dessert options really were a nice selection. We didn't pass on the opportunity to get a sampling and opted for the refreshing trio. Crush Citrus Trio Blood orange chiffon with hazelnut sable and rosemary meringue Frozen key lime soufflé with salted peanut crunch tequila fluid gel Grapefruit chiffon cake with meyer lemon ice cream and kaffir foam Key lime was my favorite of that photo finish trifecta. We have a crush on good eating. Excellent execution from the kitchen and pleasant service at the front of the house. This was a fine night.

    (5)

  • Ryan D.

    One of my pet peeves is restaurants that participate in Restaurant Week, only to provide a sub-par experience to customers. Crush is one of those places. We booked a dinner for two (so no big group or anything) and arrived prior to our reservation time. When we walked in, the host did not greet us with a welcome, hello, or other jovial tone...but meerly with a snotty...."how can I help you" After being seated, we ordered drinks and made selections from the 3-course prix fixe menu. Thus began the worlds fastest high end meal service! Our courses were delivered literally back to back, barely having time to finish the last bite of one before the plate was swooped away for the next course. This became more than an inconvenience when: 1) Dessert is served and I have a glass of beer still 1/4 finished...chocolate and beer...meh not so much 2) You take a coffee order, and dont bring the coffee until dessert has been out for 10 minutes 3) You want to have an enjoyable meal with your SO, not feel like you are imposing on someones kitchen! Additionally, the servers had little desire to engage in conversation about the food...I asked why type of cheese was on the salad and was told "its a goat cheese".....really? High end dining and you cant even tell me the cheese? So the food itself: Potato Leek Soup: Very good overall, but nothing extraordinary for a soup Fresh Salad: Again very good, nice flavors, and met expectations Ling Cod: Mine was undercooked in the middle (but discovered too late to bring it back), and I thought the soup/sauce was just average Pumpkin Cheesecake: THIS was what I was expecting...fantastic dessert! Chocolate Beignets: Again very good, clearly pastry is a strong point! Based on the experience during restaurant week, we will not be back for full price meals. There are many other restaurants in Seattle I would rather go for this price point. The food was good...but at these prices should be great. The services was poor...and at these prices should be spot on.

    (2)

  • D V.

    My girlfriend, myself, and her cousin had reservations for dinner. We arrived on time and were seated almost immediately, which was appreciated. They took our coats and we started reviewing the menu. Orders were promptly and politely taken and off we go. The meal in total lasted over 3 hours for the 6 course menu. Really this means a small course every 30 minutes. However, that wasn't how things were timed. Instead, we had things quickly for the first 3 courses and then long, over 45 minutes long, waits between courses 3-4 and 4-5. There was a large group upstairs that completely took up the kitchen's focus, which was unfortunate for the rest of us. On top of this, the entire restaurant was absolutely freezing. It was a very cold night in Seattle, but frankly that is not an excuse. One lady at the table next to us had to put her winter coat on and pull her sweater down over her hands. Not joking. We asked if the heating could be adjusted and were told that it was just an old house with drafty windows and nothing could be done. We had to be reseated, as were some other guests, and it was better but still really cold. Honestly, there is no excuse for this. It completely distracted us from the eating experience. After being reseated, our 5th course was served with a very odd twist. All three dishes, of which only two were the same, had a tremendous amount of shaved truffles all over the food. This was not standard for the dishes. Either they ran out of something that belonged in the dishes or they were trying to make up for the temperature in the restaurant. Whatever the reason was, it was odd and not really good. Yes, it is possible to use too much truffle. Flavors were still good, for the most part. However, the proteins in courses 4 and 5 were all too salty. They each had a large crust of salt as if they had a coating on one side. This goes for the monkfish, the lamb, the duck, and the beef dishes on this night. It was overwhelming. The amuse-bouches were underwhelming. There were 3-4 dishes that used foams. At least 2 dishes used mascarpone. Foams have been overused and many top chefs are moving away from them. Having said that, the grapefruit sorbet with tarragon foam was unbelievably delicious and we would have eaten more. There were also chips in some of the furnishings and decorations that should have been either fixed, or removed. In summary, we actually had a good meal but there were just too many problems to give it a good review. It was my girlfriend's birthday, which they knew about, but failed to even mention or do anything for. Odd given that they even mentioned it in their phone call to me verifying the reservation.

    (2)

  • Shy G.

    Amazing restaurant and food. Great service and ambience. We don't eat beef so on valentines they prepared the most amazing lamb instead. Would go there again in a heartbeat.

    (5)

  • Amol P.

    Our second time here for a special occasion (wedding anniversary) and we were blown away with the experience .. This time I will let the pictures do the talking since pictures are worth a thousand words. The service was impeccable and every plate of food was worth each penny. I also like the chic vibe that this restaurant offers especially when you are celebrating a special moment in your lives .. Thanks Crush for making it memorable for both of us !!!

    (5)

  • Alice B.

    Wow! What an awesome neighborhood find. I've driven past this place literally a dozen times a week for the past several years, and I never knew what a fine restaurant existed inside. At times, I've wondered if this place was still open! To be truthful, we tried it only because of the 1000 point special on Open Table, but I'm sure we'll be back. The food portions were not huge, but the presentation was well thought out, and the flavoring and pairing of each thing on the menu flowed so well. The desserts were pretty decent, and while I am a dessert gal, I actually thought the appetizers and meal were far better. Overall, one of the area's finest restaurants, and probably one of the top THREE east of Downtown.

    (5)

  • Tanya J.

    With much anticipation, a group of us Crush-virgins made a date to venture out to this highly acclaimed restaurant. The restaurant was a house-converted-restaurant and the décor inside was ultra-modern and really fabulous. We were seated (though not together - sad) and perused the Seattle April Restaurant Week's prefix menu of 3 courses for $28. I had...(drum roll please): *First Course: the asparagus with balsamic reduction minus prosciutto - super delish *Second Course: the potato gnocchi with greens, fiddleheads, mushrooms and apples on top - quite bland and had a combination of ingredients I felt were not friends *Third Course: the peanut butter brownie and ice cream - quite tasty and not overly sweet at all -- just the way I like it. All in all, I found myself crushin' on the marinated asparagus spears the most. Yeah, I'm shocked too! The server was fun and friendly with a dry sense of humor and very attentive. We loved him! Crush having been on my Seattle Restaurant bucketlist for awhile now, my expectations might have been a little high so I was expecting to love Crush more, but I'd definitely come back to see if something more substantial could out run that asparagus. My gut feel is that a 2nd trip could potentially turn my 3 stars into a 5-star update because I can see (with a few changes) how I might have one serious Crush on this place. P.S. A super romantic spot :)

    (3)

  • Rob L.

    Service was amazing recently as the staff managed a challenging customer with grace and dignity. She was able to enjoy a wonderful duck and mushroom dish and glass of wine. Kudos to Crush!

    (5)

  • Sophisticated T.

    Wonderful food! Great services. Went here for a date night and did the tasting menu. Worth every penny! The octopus and beef wagu dishes were our my favorite.

    (5)

  • Kerri J.

    I have wanted to come to Crush for a long time and we finally here for my birthday and the food was very good. I don't know if I am in a rush to return any time soon, that isn't necessarily the fault of Crush; Seattle has a lot of fine dining establishments that I also want to try. The one thing that stood out was the Bacon N Eggs. This is would rush back for. It was amazing. When you first see it, it is beautiful but small and you feel kind of ripped off...but then you try it and it is ridiculously good and you realize that it is the perfect portion size. The service was wonderful and the atmosphere was fun, if you are looking to eat at one of Seattle's better restaurants, Crush won't disappoint!

    (4)

  • Katya L.

    Delicate, subdued, restrained: all adjectives that can be applied to Crush's kitchen and the restaurant itself. Gorgeous space, very modern, airy, clean lines, cream walls and dark wood, decorated only with bouquets of branches. White square tables and art deco chairs (not the most comfortable; a bit cold), beautiful tableware. Servers in waistcoats and hosts who look more put together than half of the diners. It was just comfortable enough for me not to feel awkward, as I tend to do in refined, elegant restaurants. My dining companion was a half hour late, but our lovely server was very sweet and understanding, even giving me a pat on the back when I made a face at him 20 minutes into the wait to show my displeasure. When my friend finally showed up, I made him buy me a glass of wine as an apology, and our server recommended a nice, medium-bodied, balanced red that went perfectly with all of my courses. The bread basket (plate, really, but 'bread plate' sounds awkward) had warm sliced baguette and these puffs with shaved cheese and green onion on top - amazing. Salted butter was a definite plus. I had the nettle soup to start - creamy, pale green with a dollop of herbed creme fraiche, lightly sauteed onions and another salty green - a seaweed of sorts? I can't recall. The flavor was very mild and light - delicate comes to mind again, but the mystery green added a salty bite that was necessary. It was a little too mild for my palate, but undeniably well-done. My friend had asparagus, which he enjoyed, and he pawned off his proscuitto to me. It was baked until crunchy, delightfully salty. Yum. For the main course I had the black cod with fingerling potatoes, bacon, pearl onions and celery in a lemon-y sauce. Again, light, delicate flavors with the bacon providing a salty kick. The portion size seemed small, but was actually just perfect for a three-course meal. We ended up leaving full, but not stuffed. Comfortable. Friend had gnocchi and said it was delicious. It came with fiddleheads, which were googled and turned out to be baby ferns. So I ate a fern. It was tasty, nutty almost. For dessert, cheese plate for me and actually I completely forgot what my friend had, that's how much I care about dessert. The cheeses were both mild but with good flavor, a soft French reminiscent of brie and a hard one (er, that's how much I know about cheese). The crostini that came with it was the thinnest, crispiest, tastiest crostini I've ever tried. Spiced nuts on the side for a palate cleanser. With our check came a little dish of cookies - a tiny brownie, a meringue-type pouf and a couple of butter cookies. Cute. Overall it was a great experience - excellent service, perfectly striking that balance between friendly and professional, wonderful ingredients prepared as to ideally showcase their natural flavors, with just a hint of spice to provide a contrast. I came to realize that I prefer my flavors rather more robust, but there is certainly something to appreciate in a kitchen such as this.

    (4)

  • Orlene C.

    I came here during restaurant week. Our favorite item was the leek soup. It was mouthwatering! The bolognese had a unique sweetness taste too it. Personally, I did not like the unique taste and wish it had a bit more sauce. The salad was good but nothing wow. The pork was delicious! The chocolate donuts were okay, but the ice cream it came with was yummy. Overall, we had a nice experience. The setting is unique with a cozy yet modern feel.

    (4)

  • Atina T.

    I couldn't disagree with Ryan D.'s review from 11/4/12 more! My first experience at Crush was also during restaurant week and I and my party had a fabulous time! Crush was very busy and I was greeted not only with a smile but I felt welcomed by everyone there. I sat at the bar to wait for the rest of my party to arrive and the bartender was engaging and friendly despite being slammed with drink orders. Once the entire party arrived, we were seated pretty much immediately and a server came by to introduce himself and offer us beverages. We never felt rushed or like we were in the way. Like I said before, we felt welcomed. Two of us ordered from the restaurant week menu and the other person ordered a la carte. Our server took the time to explain everything and answered all of our questions. I ask a lot of questions about food because, well, I'm a food nerd. I like to understand where things are from and how they are prepared. The serving staff at Crush really took the time to make sure our dining experience was the best it could have been. I moved to Seattle from NYC 8 months ago and Crush was my first experience eating at a finer dining restaurant here in Seattle. I would put it up there with the likes of Marea and Babbo but with a more relaxed atmosphere like Les Halles. The food is inventive, innovative, fun, whimsical, surprising and most of all DELICIOUS! As a diner, I could tell that Chef Jason and the rest of his kitchen staff really care about the food they present. The highlight for me, that night, was the 48 hr braised short ribs. What an amazing experience! I can make a pretty mean short rib, but Chef raises the bar to a whole new level. I later found out how they make it and all I can say is I want a sous vide machine and I want to take cooking classes from Chef! The second time I went to Crush, I took my boyfriend and we purposefully sat at the bar. I simply asked Chef to "feed us" whatever he thought we should eat and I asked the bartender to give us whatever wine/cocktail he thought would best highlight the food. The dinner we were given blew me away! Chef presented us with 7-8 courses over the evening, each one trumping the one before. We got to see how each of the dishes were meticulously plated. Invisible specks of dust were quickly wiped away from already immaculately spotless serving vessels and we felt like VIPs! Chef Jason presented a few of the dishes himself and explained everything that went into each one. Oh, and did I say that my boyfriend and I got different dishes for every course so in total we got to sample about 14-16 dinner offerings that night! I'm going in again tonight, solo this time, and will again sit at the bar. I can't wait to see what Chef will create tonight. He and his staff don't only cook and serve food. They are artists who understand that food is something to be savored. It is something to be enjoyed with all 5 senses. Thank you Chef Jason for making this NYer feel right at home!

    (5)

  • Won Sub Y.

    This has to be one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. I will warn though that if you go here on Seattle Restaurant week, it's probably not nearly as good as eating here on the full menu (same could be said about any restaurant on Seattle Restaurant Week). I've had the Scallops and the Ribeye there and both time, they were phenomenal. The appetizers were a bit gimmicky and extremely small portioned so I'd be careful on apps. The plate of bread they serve with the food is money too. Definitely a great date spot but be prepared to spend some money. Again I re-iterate that the plates here are small and the Seattle Restaurant Week menu does not do this place justice.

    (5)

  • Minty O.

    My friend and I took a trip to Seattle to basically EAT! Crush was our destination for my friend's birthday dinner. We sat at the bar and watched all the kitchen action. The kitchen was abuzz with an air of high-energy and efficiency. The chefs were young, fun and meticulous with their plating. The server/bartender was very formal yet fun. He indulged our mood, which was excitement and curiosity, with information and tastings. We ordered the tasting menu with the foie gras and wagyu beef. The meal was fantastic, every plate different, decadent and absolutely delicious (except for the palate cleanser: douglas fir sorbet...imagine running in the forest and getting clotheslined in the mouth by a Christmas tree). I don't know which dish was my favorite: from the amuse-bouche to the oyster/hamachi to the halibut to the gnocchi, foie gras, wagyu, desserts? I guess I'll have to say all of the above? All in all, I definitely recommend this place and I hope that we can someday return here for another fabulous meal.

    (5)

  • George S.

    I rarely shell out five-star reviews, but this place definitely deserves it. This is in my opinion one of the finest restaurants I have ever been to. The food, first and foremost, was exquisite and unique, and everything was prepared and presented to near perfection. The decor was simple, modern, clean, and elegant. The waiter was quite knowledgeable and attentive, but not overly imposing. All aspects work in symphony to make this splurge worth every dollar. We started with a bottle of 2010 Vincent Girardin 'Les Vieilles Vignes' Mâcon-Fuisse chardonnay. This was an excellent wine and a perfect opener for the evening. For the appetizers, we ordered the Perigord Black Truffle Poached Egg, the Ricotto Raviolo, the Beet Salad, and the Pork Belly. We were also presented with the bread service. For my main dish, I had the Olive Oil Poached Copper River Salmon, which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I was also able to taste the Neah Bay Halibut, which was absolutely delicious. Thank goodness they were out of the Spring Rabbit Roulade (sorry, I don't do rabbits). For dessert, we had the Valhrona Chocolate Desert Platter, the Carrot Cake, and the Lemon Meringue. As a friend of mine stated during her meal, "there's a party in my mouth and it doesn't want to stop." A return visit to this magical restaurant is highly anticipated.

    (5)

  • Matt P.

    My annual exploration of Crush's Chef Tasting Menu with accompanying Wine Pairing. My third try ended up a surprising dud after many great outings. Very empty restaurant which is never a good sign. Next, they serve ample wine for the pairing but have a white wine bias - 9/10 glasses are white. Not only that, but while the selections were unique, they paired only so so with the menu upon tasting. The menu consisted of 8 courses of which I would guess 3 were Crush calibre. The others, off the mark. I found the hot courses cool in temp in general. Flavor profile of the tartar was worse than I would find on a Sizzler version. The best dishes were the veggie course, octopus and the sweetbreads. The remainder were below average and unacceptable by Crush standards. Disappointing and I feel as though time to find a new high end goto place. The chef is busy planning other restaurants. Given the low level of business and food quality, he better invest in something new quickly.

    (2)

  • Wesley C.

    Crush. This is way overdue. Sure, your food may be great (4.5/5), but your service does not match your food by any means. Lemme break it down. Party of 7, reservation for 7pm on a Friday night. CC required for reservation. Okay. Service - 1/5 We arrive and are seated promptly, really, there aren't many people there dining. When our server comes, she tells us rather brashly that because our party is so large, we will all need to order the 6-course tasting, so as to not "overwhelm the kitchen." Although I was planning on doing this anyway (as well as 3 others in our group), 3 were not. She simply walked away and didn't take any questions. We murmured among ourselves, what we should do - should we walk out? but they have our CC number? Should we ask to speak with the manager? How come nobody told us this before? Did we miss it on the website? Anybody w/ a smartphone to look it up? In the end, we figured we had our reservation and it was too late to just go somewhere else. so we stayed. When our waitress came back, we asked if we heard correctly - that everybody in the party would have to get the tasting, and she said correct. However, we had some particular issues with that, because 2 of the items had pork, and another 2 items had either raw fish or strong seafood scents. 1 of our party doesn't eat pork, and the other doesn't like seafood. Although she previously said that she didn't want to "overwhelm the kitchen" - with somewhat of an attitude to begin with - she tried to say that it wouldn't be a problem to adjust the menu for people in our party with "food allergies or food aversions." Okay - so seriously? You'll change 4 items out of the 6 for our tasting menu but 3 people in our party can't simply just order off the menu? Seriously? Anyway - enough of the service. You get the picture (and other reviewers seem to suggest the same). Plateware/Setting - 1/5 My first spoon had some type of crust resembling food. Please wash your utensils clean. Also, another dish came out, with the underside of the plate also having some crusty, hard residue - not just for me, but for my friend sitting next to me as well. Please wash your plates clean. That is just unacceptable. Food - 4.5/5 Okay James Beard Award winning chef. The kitchen gets it done. I don't have enough words to describe all 6 courses, but the food was excellent. Also, the wine pairing was very good for the courses as well. Accessability - 2/5 Well, for being as "nice" as a restaurant as it is advertised to be, unfortunately, the fact that it essentially is a "restaurant" in a house, limits its accessability. We happened to have a person in a wheelchair in our party with us, and there was no convenient parking lot dedicated to the restaurant, and we ended up parking in a garage a couple blocks away and wheeling through the rain just to get to the restaurant. There are a couple of street parking spaces available right in front, but good luck nabbing one of those. Also, the bathrooms were a tight squeeze for our friend in the chair - and he's as mobile as they get in a chair. Facilities - 3/5 Although the dining areas are nicely done, the bathrooms are unfortunately a little less than expected. There was one bathroom where the light fixture was actually hanging by the wires. Hope that's fixed soon. Overall 2/5 Seriously. For 7 of us, we dropped $1000. They need to pick up the quality of service to match the food quality if they hope to retain any customers.

    (2)

  • Regina C.

    my cousin and i were in Seattle for a food vacation to celebrate our birthdays. hers is in early Jan and mine is in late Dec. after lots of searching i chose Crush as our "fancy pants birthday dinner," and good God am i glad i did!! it's a rare occasion that i'm fully wowed by a meal but Crush did just that. we opted for the 6 course tasting menu ($88/person), which is a steal if you ask me!! bread- gourgeres, rosemary bread and a soft pretzel. i mean seriously, who could have asked for anything more? each one was just right! 1) "eggs and bacon"-parsnips puree with bacon cream and roe. this was insanely good. everything worked together surprisingly well. the sweet from the parsnips with the salt and pop from the roe was amazing!! 2)hamachi crudo- with celery root, black garlic and kumquats. this was a fantastic dish with really fresh fish and seasoned just perfectly. i could do without the kumquats but i could see how it might enhance the dish for others. 3)gnocchi with wild mushrooms- with foie gras dust. SO rich and savory. if there were ever a photo in the dictionary under "umami," this would be that. i'm currently salavating as i reminisce... 4) crispy skin black cod- with sunchokes and oxtail ragout. perfectly cooked cod with an unexpected pairing of oxtail. i love oxtail. this has definitely been the most interesting version of surf n turf i've ever had. sorbet cleanser. i forgot what kind but it had a kick to it. 5) wagyu beef- with WHO CARES?? so tender and cooked perfectly. i don't think Eva and i spoke very much during this portion of dinner. i was too focused on savoring every bite of this. we also got the shortribs and shared the two meat options. the shortribs were also very good but man that wagyu..... 6) some apple creation. apple inside a pastry shell topped with crispy cheddar cheese. on the side was red hot (as in red hots the candy) ice cream. this was interesting. but i can't say i liked it all that much. apples, love. pastry, love. crispy cheese, love! the red hot ice cream was intriguing but the color was a tad bit off putting. birthday dessert- chocolate molten cake with brandied cherries. as good as any of the better molten cakes i've ever had. chocolates- just in case you haven't had enough! my only gripe with the place is that our reservation was at 8pm but we weren't seated until 9pm!! seriously a whole HOUR late?? but the host and other members of their staff checked up on us constantly and offered us bread and free champagne so it was okay.

    (5)

  • Victoria K.

    Worth every penny, and then some. The food is unique and presented beautifully. The servers are knowledgeable and attentive. The wine list is extensive...to say the least. Furthermore, Crush goes above and beyond by adding in a few extra unexpected treats throughout your meal. I can't even begin to describe how this food just melts in your mouth like heaven on a fork. The flavors, smells, and feelings I had while dining at Crush were unparalleled. You will NOT be disappointed, and I firmly believe that your wallet will THANK you rather than spank you later :)

    (5)

  • T M.

    The service is top notch, ambiance is neat and serine, the food presentation was beautiful and promising. But I just didn't feel the quality of the food to be anything to rave about. If you charge me $27 for 1 scallop, then it better be the best tasting scallop I've ever experienced. The steak tartar should transport me back to Paris and the octopus to Japan, yet it didn't. In fact, I left Crush thinking "I've had better." People go to restaurants like Crush for the quality and not the quantity; to experience something heavenly in a single bite; to be seduced by the chefs genius. I knew what I was getting myself into and my expectations were not met.

    (1)

  • Abby L.

    This place is great for special occasions. The decor is very modern, but it's cozy inside and the service is always impeccable - Seattle formal. I have found that it is pretty pricey normally, although I noticed recently that the price of their tasting menu has gone down. I usually go there for Seattle Restaurant Week and their Sunday Happy Hours in the summer - it's easily probably one of the best values for SRW. For the recent Happy Hour, we tried the Salmon Gravalax, Compressed Melon with Pancetta, Potato Croquettes, Shortrib Sliders, Chicharones, Lamb Sausage with mini pretzels, and cheese puffs, with the $12 wine flight. My favorites were easily the Salmon Gravalax and Shortrib Sliders, the chicarones and compressed melon were also really fun to eat on their new back patio. Their wine flight was also delicious too - I've always found their wine selections to be spot on. I forgot what last year's SRW menu had, but I remember the steak being perfectly cooked and beignets. For this year, I had a squash soup, halibut entree, and ice cream sandwich with the optional wine pairing. My husband (I think) had pork belly appetizer and beef shortrib entree with the cheese plate. I thought everything we had was lovely - for $30 (not including the wine), you really could not go wrong. If you are looking for a modern cozy Pacific Northwest restaurant for a special occasion, this is a really great option in the Madison neighborhood - or keep an eye out for the next Seattle Restaurant Week / Dine around Seattle deals!

    (5)

  • Sam H.

    Fantastic food and attentive service throughout. That being said, I'm not sure it stacks up against other equally high-priced places. I'm not likely to return. There was absolutely nothing wrong for our visit, but the mechanics of the meal were less smoothly choreographed than say Cafe Juanita or The Met. I never like bread, but the complementary bread was sublime. especially the Rosemary baguette. My rabbit was the best I've ever had... somehow they kept it moist. We also enjoyed their Valhrona Chocolate dessert, which was more like 6 desserts in one. Some things we didn't appreciate: They charge for the water that the offer you when you sit down (it's sparkling). It would be nice to know that in advance. Alcohol prices were ridiculous, even for a high-end place. E.g: Lagavulin 16 for $26, Bottled IPA for $9, Cocktails $15

    (4)

  • Opal D.

    I have dined at Crush a few times now, and always leave feeling satisfied. Uncluttered, simple decor. Attentive service. This latest visit, the Sommelier helped us pick a wine out of the impressive list. Food was wonderful; they were creative with some of the preparations without being over the top. The portion sizes are perfect :: you will hate Crush if you like The Cheesecake Factory. This place will satisfy a food-snob. I reluctantly give this 5 stars - because I want to keep it all to myself! Reservations recommended.

    (5)

  • Kyle M.

    Food was great, but better pack a snack! I took my sister here for her birthday and she got the tasting menu, which they said would take 2.5 hours (after we all ordered). So I'm rotting away in my chair waiting for my entree, which is coming with her 10th course....and those little gougeres aren't gonna fill me up. Each course was good in it's own way, but they are doing a little too much for the ingredients. Some newer restaurants are into the gastronomical sciences making apple foams on their appetizers. Stick with good ingredients and make food food. I don't want foam, i want food. I had their Tidepools appetizer, geoduck ceviche. Good but TINY. I also had their ribeye, which should be labeled as medallion cut out from a ribeye because it was a 2 oz circle of meat. ribeyes are 12 oz by restaurant standards. WTF. Anyways, it was very tender (probably sous vide then seared) and flavorful, but it sure would have been nice to have more for $50! In the end, the dinner was painfully long and I had a good time making jokes about the douche-ness of the environment and staff. Food was good but a little too "stick up the ass" for me.

    (4)

  • Helen D.

    One of my friends is an extreme foodie and he has exposed me to Seattle's finest restaurants. So when he said he was super-excited about going to Crush, my expectations were high! The staff was unusually bombastic, and for no good reason. I like the idea of a restaurant being set up in a house (like Tilth has mastered in Fremont), but this one was not warm and inviting, but cold and sterile (i.e. the chairs were hard and plastic). The food was good (especially a Double Chocolate Stout Caramel Tart, with sea salt - wow), but not deserving of the price tag assigned to it. I spend a lot of money on food, but this was ridiculous. Overall, not worth it. Would recommend another restaurant over this one any day.

    (2)

  • Amy O.

    The atmosphere and service were outstanding but we left feeling hungry. The descriptions of the food was enticing but the plate failed to deliver on the promise of the menu. The halibut with capers and radishes had had two shavings of radish and one and a half caper berries Seriously? And most plates had many the same elements. I.e. the fermented black garlic which was so spartan on the plate it had no taste. In general all the little extras which teased the palate only amounted to smudges on the plate. On the plus side the cocktail "lady in the red dress" was terrific.

    (3)

  • Becky W.

    Lovely outdoor patio where one doesn't feel like they are right on Madison Ave. The server was debonair and fun. I had the cucumber infused Counterbalance cocktail - a beautiful and refeshing Hendricks drink. Then the salad, an array of greens, hazelnuts, mozzarella and crispy carrot twirls. And bread as light as a cream puff. The star was the scallop entree with slices of potatoes and delicious juices all around those textured gifts from the sea. Dinner was paired with a perfect rose wine, with a smoky color and subtle sweetness. Crush is a treat that is well worth the uphill climb from the Valley. Neighborhood gem, for sure.

    (5)

  • Andrew E.

    Say this for Crush: it lives up to its namesake. I visited on a recent trip to Seattle, and like any crush, found this one marked by dizzying, near-breathtaking highs and devastating disappointments. Ok, perhaps that last bit is a tad melodramatic. Neither my girlfriend nor I left Crush heartbroken, but when I spend nearly $500 on an anniversary dinner, I expect a superlative experience in every way. On that front, at least the food delivered. We each ordered the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Credit to the chef; the food was almost uniformly immaculate. Highlights were the cauliflower soup amuse-bouche, their signature "bacon n' eggs", foie grois, duck cracklins with potato agnolotti, and lamb with purple cauliflower and a date-espresso reduction. The lone dish that was unremarkable - a side of hamachi in an edamame broth - was still quite good but so delicate that it paled in comparison with everything that came before and after. So, how does a restaurant serve some of the best food I've eaten, get me pleasantly tipsy on high-end wines and champagne, and still squander most of the good will they've engendered? For starters, by ignoring the one request I made when I booked the reservation nearly a month in advance, namely a romantic table for our anniversary dinner. Perhaps their concept of romantic is slightly different than my own, but in no case does the table directly across from the noisy, open kitchen and nearest to the bathrooms fit the bill. Still, my girlfriend and I were in great spirits and excited about our meal, so I resolved to look past the perceived slight, assuming that our location would at least give us the full attention of the waitstaff. This was true nearly to a fault in the early going when a constant rotation of different servers streamed to our table, hustling us through bread and our first few courses frustratingly quickly. Most were quite pleasant, but one woman (whom I later learned was the manager) was brusque and failed to adequately explain the dishes and wines she was serving us. There was a dispiriting air of pretentiousness to her service. Perhaps sensing my displeasure, yet another waiter, Pulani, came to our rescue and provided us with truly excellent service for the rest of the evening. However, as my girlfriend neared her limit on wine I specially requested light pours for the remainder of her meal. Pulani dutifully obliged, but the manager returned to inflict a little more of her unpleasantness on the evening. She poured a full glass for my girlfriend over Pulani's protests and my own, snapping back, "It's dessert!" with a tone usually reserved for four-letter words. Who knows what she poured, since she didn't bother to tell us. At another restaurant, on another night, these might have been minor quibbles, but the expense and the occasion qualified them as major failures. In the end the stellar food and company still made it a great evening, but with Seattle in the rearview I can safely say that I won't be pining for Crush from afar.

    (3)

  • Will G.

    Easily one of the best restaurants I've been to in Seattle. The tobacco-infused chocolates I had for dessert were one of the most interesting foods I've ever eaten. The food and drink menu was very creative and left me wanting absolutely nothing more.

    (5)

  • Sharon H.

    Disappointed w the April 2012 restaurant week menu. Both dished were either over cooked or seasoned. Appetizers and desserts r replaced w simple salad, soup, pate..desserts r replaced w ice cream dishes as selections of desserts..?? Not gonna be on my fav list any more for the restaurant week selection

    (3)

  • Sarah L.

    Dare I say it? I've got a Crush on Crush! From the first step into this revamped 1920's home makes you feel that you are at home...if your home was a chic but modern restaurant. Jason Wilson left no stone unturned with the concept of his restaurant. His cusine is simple Modern American ramped up by bold flavors and underlying French techniques. Small plates of high variety and quality ingredients creating perfect marriage of flavors. Do not come here thinking that you can eat one entree to be satisfied. Chef Wilson designed his menu to "arouse the senses"...meaning enjoying a number of small portions to experience different plates to taste and savour. To those who complained that they were not full...perhaps you look into taking a lesson on satisfation versus physically satatied. The idea behind this restaurant is to have all of your senses fulfilled versus the way your stomach fills at the end of the evening. The slights, sounds, sensation/mouthfeel, aroma, and of course flavors! With that said, on to the food! For our starter, my dining group and I shared the "Crisp Portuguese Octupus" with Controne beans, harrisa, fennel and chorizo. At first I was hesitant, as my past experiences with octopus have left me with the taste of an overcooked rubber balloon. However, Chef Wilson's preperation was OUTSTANDING. The way I'm sure octopus is supposed to taste - slightly saltly, smooth as butter...I barely had to chew! Decadent without being overly rich. The rest of the dish I can describe as the best "pork and beans" I've ever had. Smoky from the harrisa and sweet from the fennel. Amazing. We also had the Sous Vide Pork Belly on Grits...another knockout. For pig purists, this is the way pork belly is meant to be done. The grits were a little too buttery for my tastes, but still deliciousness nonetheless. All of our entrees had their high notes, perfectly seasoned and not overcooked. I had the sturgeon, which was fall apart flaky and not a hair under or overly salted. As far as drinks, their "Orange Crush" is their version of a French 75 and absolute perfection! Their list of cocktails was very inventive, something I would like to try more of! However, I stuck with just one, I didn't want to lose my taste buds before enjoying such an outstanding meal! The other little touches that made Crush great was the service. It was a busy night when we went, I originally made reservations for 2, but the 3rd person in our party suprised us by wanting to join a short while before our meal. The host was very obliging and made it work. Our table was set in at the bottom of the staircase, in close proximity to the air flow to an opened window. On a chilly night, the waitress noticed my friend who had zipped up his jacket all the way to his neck and offered him a blanket! She kindly explained that the servers get over heated running up and down the stairs and helps with air flow in the old house. All in all, an evening not soon to be forgotten. Parking is a nightmare, but that frustration quickly melts away, as quickly as the pork belly fat melts in your mouth....

    (5)

  • Jen L.

    Fine dining. Great for a romantic date. Its set in a renovated house so it has a very modern home-y feel. I love it there, but the chairs are uncomfortable, bulky, and inconvenient. I've been there 4 times now. Everything has been amazing. I was sad to see that the rabbit they had when they first opened is off the menu. I have not been disappointed yet and will keep going back. Leave time to find parking! Foraged Mushroom & Pumpkin Salad -14 - I love mushrooms Hon Hamachi Crudo -17 - very flavorful Potato Gnocchi & Dungeness Crab-18 - perfect gnocchi. King Salmon - 27 - good Braised Beef Short Ribs - 29 - I would eat this everyday if I could. So soft and tender. All desserts are great!

    (5)

  • Egon R.

    Came to crush as a last minute dinner with 4 friends during restaurant week and had really never heard of crush before but I'd figure I would give it a try and check it out. At first I wasn't really sure where it was because the restaurant looks like a house on Madison and was not expending it to be a restaurant but once you got inside the design was awesome. I like how they turned a house into a restaurant. While we were waiting for our friend that was running late we had a drink, it's actually no longer on their menu (at least the alcoholic version of it) but the non alcoholic version is. It was on the first page I think and it's a drink with cucumbers and you can add either Gin or Vodka.. I had vodka with mine and it was delicious, I would go back just to have this drink again. (Just ask the waitress or waiter for the alcoholic cucumber drink and they will know what you mean) Since it was restaurant week I decided to try their 3 course for $28, the rest of the menu was pretty pricy. The first was this soup (unfortunately I'm writing this after restaurant week is over and can't find the name of it) it was good and tasty. As a main course I had the pasta dish all Bolognese (I think it was tagliatelle) overall I felt like the pasta was undercooked and very all dente, from my experience having grown up between Switzerland and Italy tagliatelle are never al dente but they were just ok. Also the portions were tiny, even before I started eating we all looked at each other asking where we were going to go eat after the dinner. The dessert I had the pumpkin cheese cake.. it was ok. Nothing too exciting. They do charge for water.. I guess it was fancy cause it was in a bottle non branded glass bottle.... but $6 bucks for water that was probably just tap water at the end seems a bit steep. I understand charging for the sparkling water we got even though $6 for that as well seems like a rip-off. Overall considering the price/atmosphere/ and the amount of food I'd give it a 3/5... in terms of food.. but a 5/5 for that drink... mmmm

    (3)

  • Brieana R.

    Oh my god, if you can afford it, taste AS MUCH as you can. Even the complimentary chocolates they give you with your check are heavenly...

    (5)

  • Jinah Y.

    Modern American Food. Everything I ate looked like something that came off Top Chef. Ordered: Wagyu beef tartar - quality meat and huge portion (you could prob share w 3-4 people) Hamachi ... there's more to this dish but I wasn't very fond of the sauces that were on the plate. One tasted like vegetables, second was I forget, and the last was some curry sauce. It didn't arouse any of my taste buds in a good way. 5-cheeses - They give you variety (safer cheeses + 1 "funky" one) - I preferred the funky one. 48 hour braised short ribs - The short rib was mouthwateringly good and the yukon potatoes cooked in truffle butter was a perfect side King Salmon - Nothing too special -a bit salty for my taste but I can give them kudos for not overcooking it. Spent about $150 without wine. The only reason I'm giving it a 4 is because some of the servers were knowledgeable about the food but some were not. Also this place has a bit of a design over function theme which never really appealed to me. (i.e. you'll know what I mean when you see the chairs upstairs and the water pitchers) All in all good place to take someone that can appreciate the taste of all the different food elements on a plate.

    (4)

  • Andrew L.

    Precious morsels with Crush-ing taste, food is very tasty and yummy; too bad their portions are rather small. Tucked right on the edge of Madison Valley, is a restaurant affectionately disguised as a house. You would miss it, if you didn't know where it was; but when you do find it, it's inviting, like an old home, with relatives who are having you over for a dinner party. The warm atmosphere is only broken by the white european (ikea-like) chairs, which defy the quality of the food. It's high class style, with the food served in the true sense of gourmet and elegance. Like many restaurants of this caliber, one has to expect a couple things. A tasting menu; like Rovers down the street, and many other finer restaurants, there is a multi-course selection of what the chef feels is what highlights what makes his food better than the rest. A great entree menu; with a good variety of fresh foods and vibrant tastes, a veritable list of flavors textures, unique combinations which bring out the brilliance of the food it complements. A lovely wine list; which hopefully has a good set of wines, which help balance out the tastes of the menus. So.. does this intimate restaurant live up to the few expectations? It would be a cautious Yes. Our dinner opened with a selection of their cheeses; each unique in their tastes. It had a lovely presentation, and was a good sized selection for two to share. Our main courses later arrived; mine was the Black Cod in a Dashi Beef broth, hers was an Atlantic Fluke on Dungeness Crab and Creamed Leek mixture. No lack of creativity here, or taste, both our meals were perfectly cooked, juicy morsels of flavor. There was no shortage of that, which was already on our plate, the broth which was included on my plate was simple and added a level of complexity to the dish. Her dish had plenty of flavor also, while I liked my dish more so than her, I like the taste of Codfish, and it worked for me. That was the good part; what didn't work out for me, was the house Pinot Noir, which was aweful... it wasn't aged at all, and it was too smoky, without any subtle hits or hints of anything, which a good Pinot does have, like Erath. The portions didn't work out so well for me either. I must be "pedestrian" as one of my fellow foodies calls me, because I like middle sized portions of food. To be fair, I'm also 6'1", so I perhaps have a larger appetite, but with food that is cooked this good, one leaves with a desire for more of it. I would preferred slightly more on my plate, but in terms of what was expected, it wasn't out of the ordinary. So the recommendation? If you are going on a dinner date, this isn't a bad place to go. Okay, so the white Ikea-like chairs ruin the romance slightly, but the food more than makes up for it. I just wished they had a better house wine selection, and which the quality wasn't in question, quantity could be improved. I would come back again, just to try the other tastes; if what I had was any indication of the food, then it's a must for food lovers.

    (3)

  • Courtney B.

    Unfortunately, Crush is overrated & "underwhelmed" best describes my experience here. Both the food & service are somewhere between good & very good. The wine list & ambience are lacking, to say the least. Perhaps I built it up too much after reading all the reviews, but I expected much more, especially at the price point.

    (3)

  • Tony L.

    This is a horrible horrible place. They sell lamb chops, but they don't have steak knives. My friend's wife wanted to try it back when it was new because it was supposed to be one of the happening, modern-American restaurants. I would never go back, so this review is very dated, but I still feel like it was a scam dealing with this restaurant. If you just market yourself as a fancy place, you can charge fancy prices and most people won't know that you don't know what you're doing. The decor was over the top modern to the point where it was tacky. Funky white plastic chairs that looked like they were out of a 70s space movie, and probably costed a lot more than a normal chair that would've been much more comfortable. I was hoping that I was paying for good food and not the decor, but I can't say I did. The food was expensive, but not an unreasonable price for gourmet cuisine. The food, however, was extremely underwhelming. I had a lamb chop. They didn't give me a knife other than my butter knife that came with my place setting. I asked for a steak knife. They said they didn't have any. I was speechless. I was able to eat my lamb with the knife, but I have a hard time believing they put lamb on the menu so that I can flatten it whenever I tried to cut it. We all shared each other's dinners and nothing stood out. Portions were smaller, but that was somewhat expected. Nothing tasted terrible, but I would've hoped we could try one of the four dishes and feel that it was "really good". We could not. This city has way too many great gourmet restaurants that are worth your time and money. Don't support these hacks.

    (1)

  • Matt R.

    We went to Crush recently and tried the 6 course Chef's tasting menu. I was pretty excited since I'd heard good things about the restaurant. Food was really good, really creative and fresh, service was on point, drinks I had were nice (although $12 for a cocktail is pretty dumb). The were two things I didn't like about the place- the decor and furniture being one. We didn't have a table cloth ($80+ a head and no table cloth? WTF) and the plastic Ikea seats really weren't comfortable at all. Everything feels really sterile inside and my wife commented that it was a bit like eating in a hospital. Everything is either black or white- the place needed some color. The second complaint would be that we made them aware before we arrived that we wanted the 6 course tasting menu and we got the worst table in the restaurant. The point I'm trying to make is that they knew we weren't there for a beer and an appetizer. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived and they gave us -literally- the worst table in the building. Upstairs, next to the restroom, up against a wall, and away from the windows. We could hear the toilet flushing every time someone used it. Not very romantic. 3 stars. Food and service were great. Interior of the restaurant and overall experience were a bit of a let down. Wagyu beef just doesn't taste the same when you can hear the toilet flushing.

    (3)

  • W. R.

    Great meal, enjoyed every plate. Bacon and eggs exceeded expectations. I might go back and sit at the bar just for that! Service was slow and impersonal. 20 min to get a drink? Otherwise I recommend.

    (4)

  • Kristen C.

    If I was ever to return to this restaurant I would only eat pretzel bread... and the bacon and eggs (custard w/ikura) I guess. I'm not sure if 3 stars is completely fair, but I was holding this restaurant to a higher standard. Being listed as a top restaurant on several websites and having a James Beard award under their belt caused me to set the bar high for Crush. Unfortunately my high expectations were not met. Crush blew me away and then let me down. Multiple times during my dinner there. There were a couple dishes that were mind blowingly delicious. And a few that I wish I could forget. The amuse bouche was a carrot curry soup which was awful, and a smoked salmon spoon which made up for the terrible soup. Second was this incredible ikura creme fraiche dish. It was sweet and salty and perfect. I would eat that multiple times a day if given the opportunity. It almost made up for the following sins against food. So the order of the dishes is a little blurry because the wine "tasting" was not a tasting at all. Each glass was bigger than the last.... And I know I sound completely crazy complaining about an over pour but when there's 5 courses, and the wine is sub par (in my humble opinion) all I need is a taste. Anywho, there was a squid ink pasta that was inedible. It was hard, not al dente, but hard and tasted like salt and parsley. I wish I could forget it. Then a hamachi dish. The fish was good, the preparation was good, but just good. Then there was halibut.... Omg just when I was about to give up all hope the halibut came and I was blown away. It was beautiful and tasted every bit as good as it looked. We added the foie gras... Again good, and this is coming from someone who was devastated when foie was outlawed in Cali. I was soooo excited, and again let down. I've had worse meals, but not at the price of $700. I may have caught them on a bad night ( I asked questions a few times and was told the chef wasn't in!!!), or they are getting lazy in their old age. Either way, completely unacceptable. I truly don't mind paying for a great meal, but I do mind paying that for a half decent one. Hopefully crush pulls themselves back together before its too late.

    (3)

  • Juju L.

    in love with the place~ food are so good can't say anything bad~~~~ my birthday dinner with my sister there was just unforgettable~~~~ for sure will go back again to try something else~

    (5)

  • Stuart S.

    Took my wife here for Valentines, and it was soooo good! My wife had the truffle gnocci which was one of the best she's had. And I had the scallops which was also one of the best seafood dishes I had. Very creative dishes that not only looked great, but had very unique ingredients that blended well together. And their homemade bread was also very memorable. The only downside was the portions were a bit on the smaller side and a bit pricey, but again, it is an upscale restaurant so I already came in with those expectations. Great place to take your special someone for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Sandy L.

    It doesn't hurt to check out this place for couple entrees and a bottle of wine. But i don't recommend to come back or drop big bucks there! Food: 3.4-4/5. We had 2 appetitizers to start with and then follow by 6 course tasting menu + wine pairings. Beef tartar and Ahi tuna had nice presentation. The beef came from snake river farm so no doubt about the quality however the tartar itself needed some seasoning while the tuna had abit too much five spice powder. For the 6 course menu, duck breast was way too tough to cut through although it wasn't overcooked. Salmon was nicely cooked but it needed some salts except the skin. The dessert is was ok definitely not `wow'. I would say all the dishes were nicely presented as fine dining standard. The food was either overly seasoned that i can't taste much of the food natural flavor or some food was just simply bland. Wine pairings were good but not great. Service: 3/5. For a fine dining restaurant where patrons can drop $300-$500 for dinner for two, i feel the service was just average. There were some areas lacking last night: 1. there was only one host (usually two elsewhere) there and seemed he waited tables sometimes as well, this means the host counter was empty for very long time. I had to wait more than 10 mins to get to our table and we were not offered coat check (?) at all 2. our wait staff seemed very new, she reached across the table to pour us wine, seemed no sommelier on staff. When we requested the name for one of the wines we like, she seemed clueless about our reqest. 3. We mentioned the dinner was to celebrate my birthday, however i didn't see any compliment or `Happy Birthday' syrup drawing on my dessert. 4. The service seemed slow and the time between courses was a bit too long. As soon as we paid, our wait staff went completely disappeared. Ambience: 4/5, More laid back still romantic. Don't like the plastic chair, feel dangerous to lean back abit. Since there is a minbar next to the dining area, the noise level is high. Price: 4/5, Average and acceptable for fine dinning, Our tab was $410 including tip, we expected to spend this amount just the entire experience left something to desired. Parking: 0/5 Very impossible, no valet, no parking lot or garage around this residential area.

    (4)

  • Tiffany B.

    You know those places most people scoff at because the servings are so small and the plates are so big? That's how Crush is, except when you take one bite, you realize you how much you want to just savor each and every morsel, so 10 bites of exquisite food becomes as filling as anything else you can possibly imagine. We had the tasting menu with matching wine pairings and I can't recommend it enough. Each serving is so creative and delicate and the wines are matched perfectly. The only complaint I have is there was too much good food! (Our own doing of course). Our tasting menu turned out to be 10 courses, and I'd have like to have stopped after 6, but the food was so amazing, it's worth being an absolute glutton, at least just this once. Eating at Crush makes you realize that you've been deadening your taste buds with frozen pizza and fast food. Luckily the food at Crush makes your mouth come alive - no exaggeration - and you remember what it's like before you had kids, before you had to budget, and back when you had that extra money to splurge on a dining experience, and you're thankful that you can come upon a restaurant like this to ignite those stirrings for really, really amazing food. Our dinner lasted 3.5 hours, so this was not simply a dinner; it was an experience. I highly recommend if if you have the money to spend.

    (5)

  • Hannah L.

    My journey as a foodie began about ten years ago, when I got into a wine festival at the age of twenty and realized that to fully enjoy wine I'd better cook equally lovely food. And since then, I've nourished a dynamic, ever-changing mental list of places to eat with a reputation for success at a marriage of both. Crush has been in my mind and on that list since long before I moved to Seattle. So it was one of the loveliest of privileges to sit on the back patio last night, in the early evening warmth, on the night of my thirtieth birthday, across from my most favorite man, and to bask and revel in long-anticipated delight. From the smooth, even service, the lovely wine that opened so nicely, the beet salad with dollops of goat cheese and plump golden raisins, the night was all I expected. But to one thing in particular will I speak.... The gnocchi, handrolled, bathed in a swirl of gruyere and parmesan cream, studded with porcinis and morels and wild mushrooms, finished with truffle oil, was so amazing that it felt like the most natural thing in the world to eat one small bite at a time and sit for a bit quietly to focus on the depth of flavor, the tenderness on the palate. To eat any faster would be to fail to honor the loveliness of the dream. Reverential. As one should be, when you find something you wondered about for so long really was worth waiting for....

    (5)

  • Ryan J.

    When my anniversary plans fell through at the last minute, I was unable to get a reservation at any of my old standbys. That's when I remembered Crush, at which I once attended an excellent business dinner party. We hadn't had time to do much research, so we were surprised when we arrived and the menu wasn't a standard a-la-carte affair. My wife decided we should go for the priciest of the menus; I wasn't so sure. But every course was excellent. Even the one course that wasn't exactly to my taste was so well done I ate every bite. Great romantic spot in a converted house with lots of dark corners. The seats were a little modern/weird, but the attentive service and great food completely overshadowed that one minor quibble.

    (5)

  • Linda T.

    Took advantage of Restaurant Week and had a lovely dinner here with my bf. From the Restaurant Week menu, we had: Appetizer: green garlic asparagus veloute and pork rillette Entree: ling cod and 48 hour braised short rib Dessert: cheese plate and olive oil chocolate ice cream Everything was extremely tasty, well seasoned, and cooked perfectly. One down side and the reason I'm giving a 4 star rating - my ling cod entree was a bit on the salty side. I like my food to be well seasoned and love salty foods/snacks, but the ling cod was saltier than I would've preferred. I still ate the entire dish because it was cooked so perfectly. Soft in the middle with a nice crispy sear on the outside. The house made bread and cheese gougeres are delicious! Service was fantastic and the atmosphere was pretty cool. The restaurant is much more modern than I expected based on the street appearance. I'd definitely come back to sit at the bar, watch the chefs work their magic, and dine on the fancy foods I love (wagyu beef tartar and foie gras).

    (4)

  • Erika W.

    The only reason Crush gets 4 stars is because the food is admittedly incredible. Every bite was pure perfection. However, I don't think I'll be going back, and I'll tell you why. 1. It's really expensive. Starters are $20-25, main courses are $30-45, desserts are $15-18 and you won't find a bottle of wine on the menu for under $50 (even though you could find them in the grocery store for $15) 2. The portions are really small. An appetizer shared between two people is gone in seconds...you'll only get about two bites a piece. The entrees are also really small. A few of us in our party had bread, an appetizer, main course AND dessert....and still left hungry. 3. It's really fancy. This is a pro for some but I felt it was just a little too pretentious 4. Service was very slow. If I'm going to spend over $100 a head, I expect my water to be filled and my wine to come out before 20 minutes (a good 15 minutes after the beer drinker at our table was served). We also waited at least 15 minutes between each course. Dinner took 2 1/2 hours all in all. Crush is an experience and I really enjoyed the food, it's just not quite my bag. I'd prefer to go to Kingfish, Volterra or Pink Door for a special occassion, where I know the food is consistently good, reasonably priced, and the atmosphere is a little more relaxed.

    (4)

  • Milo D.

    I know this review is going against the norm for what everyone else is giving Crush, but honestly, I think the place is overrated. Ok, there are a lot of things to like about Crush, especially the location. It's in a cool old house that has been converted into a restaurant, and if you go during the summer they have a fantastic seating area outside in the back. they have an excellent wine selection and the waitress was great. Now on to the food. This is where I think they are getting overrated. Yes, it's good, I just don't think it's as good as the price says it is. Between two people, a bottle of wine, dinners (I had multiple courses) and desert each, our bill came to $200.00 dollars. At no point in eating did anything touch my mouth that made me say, "Mmmm that is so good." And when I'm dropping two bills on a dinner, at some point I want to say those words. Will I eat there again? Sure maybe. But I'm not going to go out of my way to have dinner there.

    (3)

  • Elaine C.

    I have dined at L'Auberg de l'ile, Le Crocodile and La Poile D'Or in France. I am an experienced chef. My husband and I went to dine at Crush for my birthday. The 12 course menu was different than the menu on line. I had been looking forward to the veal sweetbreads. The courses were minuscule, and many of the courses lacked color and taste. The trimmings or accents were repeated - as in - mustard seeds, roe, and minuscule pear cubes. The steak tartar was thick grained and rubbery. The duck was tough - my husband could not eat half of his portion of duck which was equivalent to two mouthfuls. The other guests ordered each plate and were rewarded with double portions and a much lower price. Of the courses we tried I would recommend - Ginger (unique); Warm Summer Sun (the burrata cheese is delightful with the tomato); Bacon and Eggs (roe) - memorable; and the Kasusake, Wagyu Beef Zabuton - very flavorful. The Earl Grey chocolate cake was disappointing. I recommend finishing with chocolates, and a mint meringue which was satisfying.

    (2)

  • Brian B.

    Parking around the restaurant was pretty difficult as it sits in a neighborhood so parking is all street with no valet is a crap shoot of where and how far you might end up. I ate here on business travel so maybe the joke's on me and there was a lot across the street I missed, but in case there's not just be prepared to get crafty on parking. I liked the old house it was located in and thought the decor was different that what I expected. Fit the area around the restaurant iby being a bit quirky with the chair selection. What you really want to know: started with the Wagyu Beef Tartar which was very good. My version had a vinegar foam and a small egg of some type along with it. It all blended together nicely. I had the Sauteed Sea Scallops as my main course and was very pleased and the portion size was perfect. They were cooked perfectly and the sides were also tasty. My only negative was the price of wine both by bottle and glass. Never a fan of restaurants trying to gouge customers by jacking up the bottle price 3x retail.

    (4)

  • Celeste T.

    Crush is cute, in that it's all in an old remodeled house. You can totally tell, though they've used the upstairs and downstairs space in the probable best way for the restaurant, without losing the charm of it being in a house. They seem to have the exact same music taste as me, in that they play upbeat jazzy house - there was only one song that I heard in the course of the evening that wasn't in my music library. Unfortunately, my partner and I had the tasting menu, which should have been outstanding. Instead of being outstanding, it was only good. There was a squash soup with tarragon oil that was quite tasty - it had a little cold crab salad in it that was a bit better after you mixed it in and warmed the crab. Some little savory profiteroles with parmesan and chives on top were astounding. After that strong start, it pretty much went downhill. There was a pork belly that was tasty and soft, some black cod in a wagyu broth that was very good and quite salty (but in a good way), an unremarkable lamb dish, a berry sorbet with marshmallows, a cheese course that was different for the boy and I (I got an outstanding blue, and he got something hard and pale that I can't recall the name of), and a dessert course that was again different for both of us, but neither was particularly great - a blueberry tart with lemon curd and a peach madeline with marshmallow sheets to help build the tower up. The last course was a few cookies that were pretty dull, and a marshmallow. Marshmallows kept showing up and after the third course with marshmallows, he was very much over it. I personally hate marshmallows in any form, even though some of them were hard and small and others were larger and fluffier. We agreed that a tasting menu should be the best of the best, and while everything was quite tasty (the cod was so tasty I could take only very small bites - some would call this over-salted, some would call it delicious) it should have all been outstanding, or at least, above average. Their cocktails were well done, though. The boy had a maple syrup sweetened bourbon, and I had something with rum and egg whites which was quite light and sweet without being cloying. Great taste in music though, guys!

    (3)

  • Patrick L.

    Unbelievable. This place was actually even better than the hype. As cliche as the saying is, I do wish I had made it to Crush sooner. I chose this restaurant for a celebratory dinner with my gf. We both ordered the four course tasting menu which was fairly reasonably priced, where you choose one of two options per course. When the first course arrived, we joked that we'd have to hit up Dick's Burgers afterwards to be full. Fast forward to the end where we finished the meal satisfied and surprisingly full! For starters, they brought us a plate of these bread puffs with chives and cave-aged gruyere on top. I could seriously eat 20 of these on the couch at home instead of chips/crackers! The Desserts were also very good, a blueberry tart and a rasberry tiramisu. For the first course, we both skipped the beet salad and chose the ahi tuna tartare which sits in a sour avocado/tomato bisque. This cold dish really wakes up your palette, and was the perfect start to the meal. For each of the remaining courses, we chose different items and thus were able to try everything listed. Next up I had the baby octopus which has a nice smokey flavor, along with a small piece of potato, onion, and house-made chorizo. It was delicious!! She had the house-spun with shrimp, peas, bacon, and uni roe in cream sauce which was great. Nothing fancy or exotic here, but quite good. For the main course I had the salmon which is served with the crispy skin attached. I normally never eat salmon skin, even in sushi, but it worked well in this dish. She had the braised rib which was served boneless, soft, tender, and a gentle flavor. It was a nice combo of textures along with the mashed potatoes and carrots.

    (5)

  • Jennifer D.

    My dining partner and I both chose the same dishes for Restaurant Week's 3 for $25 deal; pork belly, flank steak, and doughnuts accompanied by the 'crush' wine pairings for an additional $16. This was only the second time I've had pork belly and not quite as enjoyable as my first experience. Yes, I ate every piece of it. Yes, it was tasty fat. But it was so difficult to cut through the layers that my friend thought I might accidentally fling it across the room at someone. The entrée was the most impressive of the dishes; 6 pieces of tender, moist, and perfectly medium rare flank steak atop creamy Yukon gold potatoes. Dessert was meh, just some doughnuts with a raspberry sauce. I enjoyed all but the dessert wine pairing, too sweet for my taste. No big deal that we were seated at a 4 person table for two people, but it was quite unappealing that we were placed upstairs near some sort of staff room with people coming and going constantly. I didn't feel well taken care of by the server. She was nice and all but for the number of times I saw her pass by she barely said a word or asked how everything was. Even worse of a turn off is when her attention amped up towards the end of the meal and was quick to bring the check. Food was 4 stars, service 3 stars.

    (4)

  • Laura L.

    Went to this fine restaurant last night for a family birthday. Halibut, scallops, octopus with beans and chorizo appetizer were truly excellent. Extra fine taste of wood sorrel sorbet as a palate cleanser. However, my daughter is a VEGAN, and I must post a warning. This is not a place for vegetarians!! The meal the chef put together was a pathetic mess. He just steamed brussel sprouts, carrots and a few other vegetables and served them on a bed on quinoa, in a crescent on the plate. Whoa, even I, who am not a cook could do better! Also, heads up, the starter carrot soup was excellent and so was the sorbet, but if I had known there was going to be sorbet and cookies at the end, I wouldn't have ordered three desserts for our party of seven!!

    (3)

  • Pete M.

    Let me start off by saying that the food was excellent. With the food alone, this place holds a 4 to 5 star rating. However, the service left much to be desired. We came for a special occasion and had asked for a romantic table when making the reservation. We were seated at the table closest to the bathroom and one of us had a view of the wall the entire night... Personally, I do not like how all of the tables are large because that decreases the romantic feel. The decor is pretty romantic though. When we were seated, we were asked what the special occasion was; however, this subject was never revisited during the course of the evening. Why ask? When we took more than 3 minutes to decide on drinks and appetizers, the waitress abandoned us for a good 10 to 15 minutes before coming back. We ordered one appetizer (the tartar was delicious!) and our entrees came _very_ shortly after. The food was well presented and was done well. Their signature short rib was one of the richest meals I have tasted. The halibut was clean. Our entrees were delivered by a 3rd party who was not our waitress. Bread was brought to our table (nothing special) and when we finished that we were asked if we'd like more (and we said yes). We waited a considerable amount of time and then were offered a dessert menu. We ordered dessert, waited a while and the third party returned and tried to deliver our dessert to the next table...When they declined, we got ours. The desserts were fun because four different items come in one order. They are creative and fun but some are better than others. Our check arrived promptly after dessert. An expensive meal - to be expected. We were rather disappointed and shocked by the extra $5 charge for "additional bread". It would have been nice if that were disclosed to us before we asked for bread #2. At such a high caliber restaurant, I find it appalling that they would charge for bread (and the bread's not even that special!) We waited a good 10-15 minutes for someone to actually pick up our check. Our waitress was nowhere to be found so yet another unfamiliar face processed our check. As we gathered our things to leave, staff members and waiters/waitresses were occupied with their own duties and we almost walked out without anyone saying thank you or goodbye. At a restaurant of this caliber where you drop a good amount of dough, we expected better service. From what we could gather, it seemed like the other tables around us were getting subpar service as well. Even when our waitress proper was serving us, there was something sterile and unwelcoming about the service. I certainly would try some of the other high end places on my next special occasion before heading back to Crush.

    (2)

  • Vishnu N.

    If i didn't consider price, this place would score an easy 4 but considering how much it costs i can barely get myself to give this place a 3. The food is good but not great. I did really enjoy the Foie Grois appetizer, it was the highlight of the meal and perhaps i was let down when i got my main course (pig 5 ways) couldn't follow up that dish. Next time i'll go for drinks and the Foie and skip the rest. The ambiance is fantastic though, very romantic.

    (3)

  • Caesar R.

    Truly a great way to end the day of never ending eating! Crush...you crushed it when it comes to innovative fine dining in a sleek modern setting in a cozy home. The place is really about focusing you on the food since everything is white, you are forced to focus on the food. Speaking as a jaded NYer...Seattlites...enjoy this rare gem of a restaurant. The wife and I had changed our reservations 3 times, but the adorable host was so accommodating and welcoming and just plain happy to see us. She allowed us to take an open table right as we walked in at 5:30 instead of our 8:30 reso. Thank you, you Angel, since we were both feeling the effects of jet lag. They have a great cocktail list and some good wine selections by the glass. I got some cocktail that was made with chocolate bitters, yellow chartruese, bourbon and chocolate shavings. Pretty darn tasty. My wife got the white Burgundy by the glass which was delicious as well. Their bread service was unique and tasty. They had gogueres, a special herb bread and a little prezle roll. All served with butter. Then we shared the grilled octopus and the hamachi appetizers. Both awesome! The girlled octopus came with home made pork rinds and a delicious sauce. The hamachi was light and served with celery 3 ways and a sauce I can't remember. If you like either of these items, they are an amazing exmpale of how to stimulate the senses while eating. Then for our main dishes we shared: Thshort ribs with a pea reduction, yukon gold puree and an amazing sauce made from the braising liquid. And the Alaskan black cod (Sable fish) with a sun choke pure and ox tail ragu. Both were delicious. Just delicious. We didn't stay for dessert as we had so much food already that day. The service is so nice and added that special touch . Looking for a great dinner, don't be afraid of this welcoming spot.

    (5)

  • Sarah H.

    Absolutely the most amazing food I've ever had...and I'm from the Bay Area and work in the food industry! From the Bacon & Eggs and the French Onion Soup (for those of you who've had these dishes at Crush, you know there's nothing traditional about them whatsoever), the creativity of the executive chef and his staff is second to none. We were lucky enough to have a member of our party who had worked with the chef in the past, and he went out of his way to bring us the best of the best. Truly phenomenal fare, and much of it locally sustainable. I wouldn't hesitate to go back here...it's worth every penny.

    (5)

  • Christine D.

    Love Crush! Guaranteed food orgasm's every time. I do have to admit I was not impressed on my first visit and owe it to my friend Rob in reforming me. Had the tasting menu and have been a convert ever since. Of recent visit I had the Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads with Celery Root Slaw. Sweetbreads were crisp on the outside but still retained it's creaminess on the inside. The flavors were spot on as with every dish on the menu. Other favs include: shortribs, duck, tuna tartare, and of course foie gras. FYI- one of the few fine dining establishments that offer a late night menu.

    (5)

  • Alisa B.

    I've eaten in some amazing restaurants in my day, and this was not one of them : ( I'm sad to say this cause I have friends who adore this place and will probably string me up when they read this. But I'm gonna do it anyway! So here's the deal, I went here about a year ago and got a really really good amuse bouche (golly i love that word): smoked salmon roe, parsnip flan, maple syrup. It was unique and quite daring considering the ingredients. But here's the catch, I went back recently and what was I served? The exact same amuse!!! That was less than cool, really guys can you not find something new to do?! The rest of the meal was on par with some other "tortured food" places I've been. Relative flavor but it doesn't really look like food in the end. The basics being covered such as lobster and crab with no real gems to speak of. The seats are about as uncomfortable as they come, and the flat white interior is 100% boring. I do understand what tehy are going for, the table being the canvas and the food being the paint and all but honestly it doesn't really make the cut. The drinks were good however I will give it that. Oh and LOUD! They worked so hard to be such a staunch environment they forgot about the echo factor, I could hear everything everone said.

    (2)

  • Megalina C.

    I didn't care for it. My husband and I chose the set menu option, and it was just not very tasty. The fois gras was prepared in a way I had not seen and did not enjoy. It was processed in some way and served cold. I couldn't taste anything there, which was sad, because I do love a slice of warm, seared fois! The other low point was the bacon ice cream, which I never would have chosen, but came with the set menu. We got a big kick out of the "salad", which was a few specks of green, more like a miniature garnish. We are glad we went, it was fun, but for tastiness's sake, we should have gone to Canlis. The service was good.

    (2)

  • Gaby F.

    This is my FAVORITE dinning spot in Seattle. I LOVE the food, the ambiance, and the service. I have been there many times and the quality is consistent. I only gave it 4 stars because they have recently gone nuts with the wine list prices. It is basically impossible to find any bottle under $80! I will continue to go there to enjoy my favorite ribs in the world and other delicious creations which I will pair with wine by the glass.

    (4)

  • Geoff K.

    It's been quite a while since I've had a meal that cost that god damn much money, but it was worth every penny of it (don't take this to mean that I don't eat at nice restaurants....this place was just even more expensive than most). Very classy place for a date; quite a unique room. A few nice beers in the bottle even. Extensive(By that, I mean expensive...) wine list, but a bit limited for by-the-glass selections. Top-notch food. I had chicken stuffed with sausage AND bacon with kinds of other good stuff on the plate. My appetizer was grilled octopus, which was closer in resemblence to really good crab than like calamari. My gf had lamb that was perfect and a fig pastry appetizer with bleu cheese. Dessert was a banana tart. Make a reservation. Not the type of place you want to take a first date, because if it doesn't work out you just wasted a whole hell of a lot of coin for nothing. Taking a star off because they sat me right next to a hard blowing AC vent.....not too cool. Um, wait....yeah. Too cool? Whatever. Snoogins.

    (4)

  • James L.

    I went to Crush with my girlfriend with the intent of trying something new. The atmosphere was great, it was a little crowded, but had a great contemporary, yet classy, feel. The food had the price tag of a suit-and-tie place, but definitely didn't require the attire. We started off with a Shrimp Ravioli with Leeks and Celery Root ($13). It was delicious; the sauce comprised of the leeks and celery root accented the shrimp perfectly, I would've been content with a soup of just that. Along with that, our other appetizer was the Buttermilk Fried Sweetbreads & Celery Root Slaw ($13). It wasn't what we had anticipated, they were meatballs comprised of baby cow glands (which I didn't know until the next day). This was on a bed of the celery root slaw that has parsnip puree and honey mustard on the side. It was very moist and delicious, I could personally have done with a little less oil. My lover enjoyed the Maple-Bacon Sausage Stuffed Chicken Breast ($24). It was cooked to perfection, the bacon and sausage didn't overpower the flavor of the chicken, which I was little concerned about. The truffle tagliatelle, chanterelles, sugar peas, and baby squash was an awesome combination. It was a good side to go along with the chicken. I had ordered the Lavender Roasted Duck Breast and Bing Cherry Sauce. It came with sweet corn pudding and sauteed dandelion ($26). I also took the opportunity to add the Sauteed Hudson Valley Foie Gras (add'l $16). The duck breast was a little tough, but succulent and seared perfectly. The cherries and the cherry sauce fits perfectly with the duck and the sauteed dandelions contrasted the sweetness with a slight bitterness. The sweet corn pudding served as a sauce for the duck and altogether these components created a flavor explosion in my mouth. The foie gras was very rich, however very delicious. It was a good portion, because any more and I think the richness would have been overbearing, I can only handle so much at a time. It was seared, amazingly tender, and topped with rock salt. The rock salt added a nice contrast as well. For beverages, I decided to keep it non-alcoholic and I ordered Dry Soda Co. Lemongrass ($5). It's more of a lightly flavored sparkling water, it was great because it wasn't overbearing at all. My companion ordered the Lavender Lemonade ($6), which was absolutely delicious. The lavender really came through in the flavor and accompanied by the refreshing lemonade. Ordering a beverage isn't an option because their water is straight tap water, and you can taste the metallic goodness. As for desert we concluded with the Crush Ice Cream Sandwiches ($9). It was made of up 3 sandwiches that infused two flavors each. There was Earl Grey & Honey, Chocolate Chip & Orange Blossom, and Double Chocolate & Espresso. The Earl Grey cracker/cookie was interesting because it was like an air-puffed crunchy pastry, which sandwiched the honey ice-cream. The sandwiches for the most part were good, but not very memorable.

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    Definitely a special occasion place. Went there for my birthday dinner and had the 8 course tastings menu with a supplement of foie gras. The tastings menu is at the chefs discretion and features local ingredients. They were small savory plates such as bacon and eggs (salmon caviar), ahi tuna, seabass, and sweetbread (calve intestine) with homemade gnocchi. Every dish was unique and delicious. Be prepared to spend nearly 3 hours for the service and $90 per person for the tastings menu.

    (5)

  • Stefan W.

    Beautiful food, shlubby service. Wife and I went to Crush last night for dinner. 630 rez - promptly seated. Sat down and BOOM - waitress was there in no time. Excellent - so far, so good. Offer of sparkling or tap - we went tap - we're in Seattle, after all. I started with a Gin drink (plum, champagne, Gin - superb). Wife had a white - don't recall what, but it was fine. We both had the Chef's tasting dinner. 6 courses: * Hamachi with caviar * Grilled prawns with butter salad and pumpkin * Sweatbreads * Scallops and foie gras * Lamb Rib Eye over potatoes * Chocolate mousse with huckeberry chocolate something Every dish was executed very well - really superb. Nothing was overdone - everythng was delicate and unique. Even something that could have been a disaster like Scallops and Foie Gras (could you make a richer dish?) really popped and had nice acid to cut thru the richness. We opted not to go with the wine flights just because I had to drive and I frankly didn't feel like drinking that much last night. Mistake - the waitress forgot my wine the first time (meaning I went thru two courses without a drink). This was the failing of the place - if I pay $200++ for dinner (tasting menu, two drinks each) - I expect much better service. They almost seemed short staffed even though I saw a ton of servers running around. There was a six-top next to us that seemed to be monopolizing the server, but again- this just isnt acceptable for that calibre of dinner. I expect my drinks to always be topped up, the cadence of the meal to be right - and I didn't get it. Compare this to my Tokyo Michel Troisgros dinner last week - I had six waiters hovering (ok - it was a little much) throughout the whole experience for not much more than I paid at Crush. That is what I expect, and baby - I didn't get it. Go - just kick some server tail if you need to.

    (4)

  • Adrienne S.

    The food at Crush is impeccable. I had high expectations of this restaurant seeing that the chef and owner of Crush just won the James Beard award as "Best Chef in the Northwest." We came here on a Saturday night. and left wanting to come back the next night. The food served here is food you would want as your last meal. The atmosphere in the restaurant is not pretentious but casual, funky/modern and fun. This is a restaurant that you definitely splurge on - so make a reservation and make it a date night and enjoy yourself!

    (5)

  • Mary R.

    Awfully self-important without being particularly special. Some of the dishes were inventive - amuse Bouche of parsnip purée, salmon calviar and a trace of molasses - but adding bacon to salmon and peas overwhelms every other taste. Most of the other dishes were good or ok but not great. The reserve wine pairings at twice the cost ended up being familiar labels with little distinction and nothing that made you go "aha. Worst was unevenness of service. Our waiter was fine but the women who delivered the food and wine couldn't have been less interested in what they were dropping off. A rushed, cursory recitation of what's in the dish, not even making eye contact, then a perfunctory "enjoy!" as they turned on their heels and disappeared. We've had 3 dinners so far in Seattle. This was most expensive but least interesting.

    (2)

  • Lance M.

    It was my 40th birthday and we wanted someplace special for my wife and 8 year old daughter. We chose the tasting menu at Crush and we were not disappointed. Simply put, it was the best meal we've ever had. You can read other reviews for the tastes. We enjoyed them all, from the parsnip custard with maple syrup and salmon roe to the pork belly cooked a vie with perfect gnocchi to the fun "white or red?" decision at dessert. The wine pairing was fun with a couple of surprises, the best being a rare, crisp Austrian Riesling paired with the foie grais, a nice counter to Sauternes. The sommelier was refreshingly down to earth... not the slightest bit wine snobby. But, what I want to rave about is how the staff treated my daughter. She is an unusually adventuresome taster for a child, so we were planning on sharing with her from our courses so she could experience the meal, too. When we went over our plan with the waiter, he excused himself and went and talked to chef. They not only served her the complete tasting menu, but with 1/2 size portions at 1/2 price, but they also created infused tonic water pairings for each course. Cucumber with the custard, coriander with the pork, blood orange with scallops, lemon with the foie grais, grapefruit/agave with dessert. She felt like the queen of the house, which is quite the opposite way many high end restaurants react when children cross through the doors. The meal ended with chef pouring chocolate sauce on salted carmel ice cream over peanut brittle, another item not on the menu for my daughter. We thanked the bartender for the special drinks and walked out warm, full and feeling loved on our special night.

    (5)

  • Jonas B.

    Unlike others I didn't find the restaurant hard to find. Unlike others I didn't get snotty or pushy service. Unlike others, those in our party who sat on chairs didn't find them uncomfortable. Unlike others, I didn't find the cost unreasonable for what we got, though it wasn't a steal either. It was simply a good meal in a somewhat unusual environment (I am told the ladies' bathroom has a bath tub in it -- maybe the mens' bathroom does too, I didn't pay it a visit). My first course was the hamachi crudo, which melted in my mouth, like it should. Others had the octopus, which was fine though I thought the beans were better than the actual octopus. The fluke, which I had for a main course, was a really nice piece of fish too though the sauce didn't do it for me 100%. The wife had the black cod and really liked it. Others had the scallops and the soup and I heard no complaints. They didn't have the wine I first picked out (an Adelsheim Pinot Noir) but the 1997 Domaine Drouhin that I settled on as replacement was a really nice drink. We didn't have dessert but a couple of glasses of sweet wine (that colheita hit the spot), and some nice pieces of chocolate were on the house. In all a nice evening and a solid four stars.

    (4)

  • Dan L.

    The ingredients and the skill of the chefs can't be faulted. For me, everything lacked a certain 'je ne sais quoi' that transformed those into something wonderfully delicious. Portions are on the small side, coupled wth the slowness, I'm glad I wasn't super hungry. For the price paid for dinner, I don't feel it was great value for money. That being said, I would go again, but I'm not clamouring to do so.

    (3)

  • Jason K.

    I've been to Crush many many times, most of them before getting in to Yelp. I plan on having a continuous, long, and faithful love affair with Crush, so consider this review my wedding vows. Crush is one of very few restaurants representing par excellence in Seattle (the only other I'd be willing to name is Rover's). Where Crush truly succeeds is in the inventiveness of Chef Jason Wilson, who concocts new spins on delicious seasonal and fresh ingredients. While the list of proteins on the menu do remain somewhat static [halibut, scallops, duck, beef, a couple of others], you can always go to Crush to find them prepared in new and inventive ways with increasingly delicious sauces and accompaniments. His foie gras and short ribs are classic examples, having morphed over the years in a way that keeps the echo of nostalgia present while at the same time pushing you forward in your food explorations. In the case of the foie, it's often if not always served with a sauce derived of fresh berries or fruit and rendered foie, is on the sweet side, and served with a crisp herbed waffle or other carbohydrate to create a duo of textures - never, however, have I had the same dish twice. The short ribs, a perpetual Crush favorite and signature dish, invites you to order it again and again as Chef Wilson cycles through a series of flavoring and cooking techniques (sous vide the most recent), while always retaining the beyond melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and overall red wine flavoring. You can order it every time and taste or discover something new. When going to Crush, take special advantage of any seasonal ingredients Chef Wilson and team prepare - they are always of the highest quality. This includes his proteins, which regularly exceed expectations (I once had lobster there that was fresh frozen but only after using a high pressure water gun to blast the shells off, therefore allowing Chef Wilson to do other preparations (in this case, butter poaching) versus the typically required boil then prepare technique - the result, the most tender and flavorful lobster I've ever had). Other merits: Crush is extremely reasonably (not cheap though) for the size and quality of the food. Keep this in mind when ordering, however, and order incrementally - allowing you to ascertain after each course how hungry you are before proceeding to the next. The Tasting Menus invariably will leave you stuffed, mostly because the Chefs frequently throw in extras to delight their customers. Their wine list is exceptional, including many half bottles, and there is no shortage of expertise among the staff to help you select something that will go perfectly with your dish. Recommendation: At least once, sit at the counter for dinner and watch the action in the kitchen. The kitchen is bright and inviting, spotless, and you can watch as the various dishes are prepared. It's an exceptional experience, and in my opinion, the best seat in the house (be sure, if you make a reservation, to request a seat with a view of the kitchen). Demerits: There is only one I can think of. Over time, I've found the desserts to be hit or miss - sometimes really delicious and other times, lackluster...not bad, just not exceptional. As the last memory for the meal, I think they should be extraordinary. This certainly shouldn't stop you from eating there, however. Be sure to check out Crush. You'll be glad you did.

    (5)

  • Blake D.

    I've been meaning to make it to Crush for quite awhile now. Some friends finally made a reservation for us and we set off on our trek from the city to the backside of Capitol HIll where Crush resides in this cute, Ikea furnished, little house on East Madison. It was a cocktail night so I went with the house Pear concoction... Pear Vodka and Brandy with a bit of simple syrup and other filler made for a very good drink that warmed my belly a bit. Definitely a drink with a twist (Vodka and Brandy combo?!?). The food was great but on par with alot of other, more affordable, restaurants in the Seattle area. I ended up trying the ravioli, duck, scallops, and stuffed chicken entrees. I didn't stay for dessert because I wasn't able to spot something that didn't have one flavor in it that I didn't care for. When I got the bill, I was charged for a cappuccino that I didn't order or receive which kinda irked but I understand that mistakes are made. While the food was great, I feel that it isn't worth what they're charging. Look at places like Tovolata, Crow, and Volterra before Crush.

    (3)

  • Hekela S.

    For my money this place meets and exceeds the hype. We had foie, duck and lamb (the menu may have changed). But for god's sake, even the amuse-bouche was memorable and incredible. I noted the food-gasms being had by the crazy-people table to our right (something about personally raising the chef's child if he'd divulge the secrets to his pork belly) so I'll be wanting to try that next.

    (5)

  • Katie H.

    My family came in to visit and my sister suggested we go to Crush. The family was paying so I said sure. Big mistake. I had made reservations (be aware, they take your credit card and charge you if you don't show) and we were seated prety promptly when we arrived - good. We had some wine and started with the foie gras - good. The decor was nice, if a bit mod. Our server was fast and attentive - all good. Once our food arrived it all went downhill from there. Some of us had a salmon dish, swimming in a rich thick sauce. My husband had the lamb. Everything was super-rich to the point of being disgusting. We all only ate about half of our food, and later that evening we ALL got sick. We were excited to go based on the hype, but it was just not good. The meal we had a Lola the night before was half the price and 10 times as good.

    (2)

  • Kristin M.

    I'd really like to give this 3.5 stars. Although the food was average, the service was wonderful -- and I loved the decor. Kind of Design Within Reach meets "Clockwork Orange." We began with a glass apiece of complimentary champagne (we had to wait a few minutes for our table). Once seated, we ordered the beet salad (very good) and the crab cakes (which, disappointingly, showed up as a singular crab cake). We had a look at the wine menu, which is heavy on the expensive stuff with few bottles that run in the middle. That's a mistake, in my opinion. Just because you're a "fine dining" establishment doesn't mean that you shouldn't offer a generous sampling of the very fine wines in the $25-30 range. They do exist. Two in our party ordered the short ribs, which, as I understand it, were quite good. I ordered the crab-stuffed halibut, which came very highly recommended by the waiter. It was, unfortunately, a bit rubbery for my taste. Dessert was an odd chocolate concoction with a pretzel (??) and wonderful, French-pressed coffee that actually inspired me to break out my old French press at home. So, in all, not an overwhelmingly perfect experience, but enough little touches that made it a worthwhile outing.

    (3)

  • Julie H.

    Went for the 3 for $30 and was highly disappointed. Fancy food doesn't mean the service staff should be snobby and unfriendly. 1) I asked our server if they have good ginger ale, perhaps from a local bottler. "No, but we just switched to a new purveyor for ginger ale and it's VERY good." Out came my ginger ale and it was a bottle of Schweppes. He sure made it sound special. 2) I opted out of the 3 courses and instead chose the duck for my entree. As much as I like duck slightly undercooked for tenderness, this was almost rare and as a result, way too chewy. 3) We waited 45 minutes after appetizers and still didn't get our main course. Our server didn't come by once to check on us or to apologize. It was only until we inquired about the wait that he came around to tell us there was a mix-up in the kitchen. He didn't even offer to comp us for a drink or maybe even dessert. Overall, just a negative experience. I would not go back again, not only because the service was sub par but also because the food portions were small and pricey, yet tasted mediocre at best.

    (2)

  • David V.

    Crush serves imaginative appetizers but the prices are far from justified based on portions, service and decor. Clam appetizer was unique and raised expectations for the main course although the 3 bites for $16-18 seemed pricey. The server's demeanor was ok, but not engaging or attentive and the order was 50% wrong when it was served. No raves about entrees; the steak, and short rib were particularly average although the scallops were good. This restaurant is priced more for a special occasion and delivers more of a neighborhood bistro product. With tax and gratuity (automatic 20% for 5), one drink per person, no wine(due to over-priced list), about $85 per person.

    (2)

  • M T.

    Oh man. If you're willing to go for it, this is a wholly different experience. Foodie heaven. I went here once for my anniversary. We splurged and did the tasting menu. It was the most expensive dinner I've ever had, but it was also probably the best. Each course was a multi-tiered skyscraper of flavors. Simply awesome.

    (5)

  • Mason M.

    My new favorite restaurant. I'm a sauce person-and they know what they are doing. The foi was amazing.--off set with the sweetness of pineapple. I had the lobster--which was good. But I think I like my lobster real simple--with drawn butter. But this was still good. My husaband ordered the Beef Short ribs and I was totally jealous. They were aaaaaaamazing. The sweet potato tart was excellent. The handmade chocolate were good--but I would probably try something else next time.

    (5)

  • Tim O.

    **UPDATE** When back for a birthday dinner. Oh yeah. It's worth it. Jason Wilson knows his shit. ******* This review is just for dessert and ambience. We just popped in for a quick dessert and drink. Everyone was very friendly and helpful - not all expensive restaurant staff is this open and friendly. We were sat close to the kitchen and chef/owner - Jason Wilson - personally came out and asked if we'd rather have a seat in the dining room, further away from the action of the kitchen. Very cool and personable. We're definitely heading back for dinner soon.

    (5)

  • Taylor P.

    Went to Crush for dinner on Sunday night with two people that are big fans (and friends of the owner). Of course they thought the place was amazing. When we walked in they wanted to sit at the bar. The bar? At first I was annoyed...there are three of us so the only person that gets full conversation is the one in the middle. Kinda lame. After we got up to the "bar" I realized we were watching the kitchen. Ok, kinda cool. That kept me entertained. It also made it a little warm (FYI if you are a person that already runs a little hot....who wants to be sweating on a date). The service was great! Didn't hurt that Jason came over to say hi to his buddies so I would expect we'd get great service...plus we're right at the darn bar in their faces but either way I want to acknowledge it was really good service. We brought a magnum of wine with us. For a starter I had the beet salad which was truly un-freakin-believably WONDERFUL. That was the best part of the meal by far. Do not miss this item. YUM! I forget what the guys had and the website does not have their most up to date menu (Crush, plz fix that) but mine was the best. For the entree I had scallops and risotto. It was good...not GREAT but good. There is a very small amount of risotto that actually comes on this plate. We end up doing a bit of sharing and I was able to part with a whole scallop without thinking twice. At Daniels Broiler there is no way in hell that would happen. Those scallops at Daniels are the best ever (I should review them next!). I got to taste the lamb which was really good and chicken and gnocchi...I lived in Italy and LOVE gnocchi - this was again...good, not knock my socks off great but good. The kitchen gave us a short rib and we all agreed that was probably the best entree. Yum! Thank you staff at Crush! It was a cute spot, I loved watching the kitchen, the service was great, and the food was good. I think it's a good date spot! Sit at the bar. Oh, I ended up sitting next to a solo diner named Andrew that works at Serafina. He was so sweet (ok, and cute!). I plan on going there soon to check it out.

    (4)

  • Nish ..

    I took my wife here for her birthday this year, and we had some pretty high expectations that, unfortunately, were not met. The whole restaurant/house novelty thing was different, in a good way, and the decor was modern, ish... although for the prices they charge, you would think that they could strive for the higher grade IKEA plastic chairs. The food was just "MEH". My wife got the beef, which turned out to be a glorified pot roast, and my cod with pork innards pairing was...odd, but decent. Bottom Line: If you're going to require a rush hour, westbound 520 fiasco, I'm going to require better than "MEH".

    (2)

  • Kate J.

    Let me start by saying that I eat at very nice places around the world. I am a chef myself. Crush was disappointing to say the least. Yes the atmosphere is OK but not anything special. The service was so so. The food was not seasoned well, and the flavors just didn't flow together...period. We had a table of 5 and tried many things on the menu. Everything was under seasoned, lacked real flavor and had too much going on in terms of little random stuff on the plate which added nothing to the dishes. To top it off the bill was $600!! I mean seriously we could have had a WAY better ambiance, service and food at Canlis for the money! Not coming back. Ate at Altura last night...go there!!

    (2)

  • Sarah H.

    I love this cute, romantic, mod little restaurant-in-a-house. My friend reserved the little room on the upper floor for her birthday party. We were planning on eating there for a couple hours and then going bar hopping. We were there for four hours. We actually didn't mind sitting there except for a few things: 1. it was really freakin' hot up there 2. the waiter was a bit inattentive as far as keeping our glasses full We totally would have gotten a lot lot drunker if the staff would have kept the drinks coming. At one point I remember picking up my empty wine glass and holding it upside down, in the air, in hopes that someone might walk by and notice. I was a little cranky that night. Anyway, the food was really good. I was torn between the short ribs and the salmon and decided to order the short ribs and nibble off my neighbor's salmon. The ribs were good, but once I tasted the salmon I knew I'd made a mistake. It was delicious. If I could turn back time.... So I'd give the place five stars except for the ridiculous amount of time our glasses sat empty.

    (4)

  • Alex C.

    Let me start by saying the dinning experience we had at Crush is one of the strangest I've had, which leaves me quite torn on how many stars. First off the food was excellent. It certainly met or exceeded all expectations. We had the tasting menu and everything was seasonal, refined without being intimidating. Five stars. Moving away from the food, we had a series of one to two star moments. 1. Having ordered a bottle of white we waited over half an hour because it wasn't chilled. I don't know if we ordered something no one else orders but WTF. I would have been quite happy if they came back and said "sorry we're out of that, but can I recommend something else". When it finally came it was served at a temp more appropriate for red. 2. Keeping with the liquids for a moment: once we finished our first glass one of the waiters took away our glasses. We waited over ten minutes for someone to realize that we had no wine, no water and a pretty naked table. I could be wrong but one basic rule of the restaurant biz is keep your customers lubricated and you'll keep them reasonable happy. 3. Taking a step back: having checked out the restaurant's website prior to our reservation, we noticed that they have a special promotion for April and May which allows you to order 4 courses for $48...sounds like a great deal and the perfect way to try just enough. When asked about this, our waiter informed us that this was only available Sun - Tues. Please add this minor detail to your website. False advertising leaves a bad taste, no matter how good the food is. 4. I appreciate the fact that we ordered the tasting menu but we were there for over four hours. No meal for two people should take that long. By the end we were so antsy and the clientele around us so annoying that we practically ran out the door once we paid. 5. Perhaps it was just the night, but I can't remember having a meal where the fellow clientele had such a negative affect on a meal. There was the table of four middle aged men that sat down within the first hour. As the evening proceeded they evolved from closed-minded discussions of Europe and their dislike for shellfish to a heated argument over the auto bailout. Really, it's 11 fucking pm on Saturday night, nothing ruins a romantic dinner more than oblivious patrons with no regard for other people. The wait staff was clearly aware of the situation but what are they going to do say something and kill their tip. The food was outstanding. The experience, not so much.

    (3)

  • Eva G.

    I had a triple "O" last night while eating here. My friend needed a new job so I found her one. Daily task for me. Do you need a job?? Anyways.. She got hired and in return wanted to take me out as my reward. she prefixed it by saying that I could pick any place in Seattle. Well I thought..I've been wanting to try Crush since my best friend raved about it twice. Made reservations for two at 8..we got there 7:40 and unlike some other reviewers here..were seated immediately. After looking at the menu my friend order a bottle of Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuve Ros champagne and sparkling water. Both came but one wasn't sparkling..you guess which one. 2 mins later we had three bottles on our table for two. A bit crowded. Thats ok.I'm flexible. My order: Frisee salad with grilled asparagus and crispy prosciutto Seared Rare Sea Scallops & Fuyu Persimmon Sweet Onion Risotto & Arugula Add Sauted Foie Gras for $15 ..as a Foie Gras lover...you know I added it on. Hazelnut & Nougat Brownie with roasted almonds Her order..I can't remember..something with duck and frozen carrot cake...I was to busy with my 2nd "O"..ummm..I mean dish. Oh and if the guy who walked in looking like Eric Bana reads this..you and I made eye contact and I left my number with hostess. Please call me.

    (5)

  • jennifer y.

    Amaaaaazing. Lovely service staff - romantic nook, everything melts in your mouth... Can't wait to go back for more.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    Unbelievable! Went there for my GF birthday and I had the tasting menu. That day they were going for the bacon and eggs them. They started off with a flan topped with salmon eggs, a salad (can't remember what was on there), pan seared halibut (one of the best that I have ever had), short ribs cooked for 48 hours...so tender, and topped off with bacon ice cream! I would say the bacon ice cream was definitely an acquired taste and either you love it or hate it...I loved it!

    (5)

  • Carlos C.

    We had a nice dinner at Crush last weekend. I agree with most of the reviews in that the food is impeccable and worth of a 5-star rating. The service was good, although not excellent (with high prices come big expectations). Where I disagree with many of the reviews is that I think that the pace of the dinner was appropriate. We had a 3-course meal in about two hours, which is about standard for a fine dining experience. At no point did we feel that we were waiting too long for our food to arrive. We also evaded the parking problem (and built a nice appetite) by walking from downtown.

    (4)

  • Julie F.

    I was very dissapointed in Crush when I went there. To start off, the wait was horrendous. We had reservations but than had to wait another 60 minutes outside because inside was too crowded. When we did finally sit down, the food itself was mixed. The appetizers we had were great, especially the pate. But both of our main courses dishes were bland and unadventurous.The price in no way matched the quality or service. Given other reviews, Crush is maybe just be highly variable, so if you go, hope for a good night.

    (2)

  • Amanda L.

    Went there for my birthday last November. Had a reservation but the place was packed. The maitre'd was quite pretentious but offered us a lobster appetizer and champagne for free so we forgave him. After 1/2 an hour, still no table, so we opted to sit at the bar - which was actually quite fun, you can see the cooks slaving hard at the truffle shavings. I had some sort of fish slathered with truffle oil and tiny truffle shavings. The boyfriend had scallops slathered with truffle oil and tiny truffle shavings. We had the foie gras (yes, call PETA) slathered with truffle oil and tiny truffle shavings. Look, truffle oil on food is just WRONG. The wine selection was extensive (and very good), the waiter rather aggravating (he kept coming to wipe down the table like we were children at the dinner table), the food overall was relatively good, nothing to shout about though. An appetizer, two main courses, a dessert, two glasses of wine and an aperitif came up to $178 + tips and taxes. Go there for your anniversary, birthday or when you win the lottery. Or if you're infinitely rich. Otherwise, it's a rather expensive mediocre affair.

    (3)

  • Sprizee V.

    My friends and I decided on Crush because another friend had already made reservations to dine with someone else but then that someone else got sick and had canceled on him. He had just called to cancel his reservation but you know how everything happens for a reason, so we took it as a sign that we deserved expensive plates of overpriced tiny portions while being completely under dressed and sporting denim. Oh! And also, named after my favorite Jet's song. Hello? Sign from God I tell you. Once inside, I realized that if Club Monaco ever opened up a restaurant this is exactly what it would look like. Modern, sleek, sparse. Good thing Kubrick is dead because no doubt he'd be asking for his chairs back. Very 2001ish. Since I wasn't wearing all white or all black or all red, I felt slightly out of place. Then I glanced at the wine list, noticed most bottles didn't have a price under three figures and I quickly realized I could be wearing flip flops and a wifebeater and who the hell cares because did you see the prices? I ordered a fruity champagne cocktail called a Rosie Pom 75 (which I almost called a Rosie Porn because, yes, I am that dumb) and the quail followed by some pumpkin ravioli. According to my calculations whatever I ordered should have arrived gilded in gold. Shockingly, it didn't. The food was good. I'd even go so far as to say the food was really good but for those kinds of prices you expect it to be that good. I can think of a handful of other places where the food is just as good and for much MUCH cheaper. I'm not saying I wouldn't go back. I'm just saying I'd make someone else pay next time.

    (4)

  • Jeong K.

    Good experience but not worth the hype. Every dish that we had, save the desserts were over salted. The dishes looked better than tasted. Really, nothing stands out at Crush. You are better off going to Sitka and Spruce.

    (3)

  • Kerry L.

    I've been mulling over my experience at Crush for the last couple weeks. We went with out-of-town guests to have a fancy dinner. We opted for the 11-course tasting menu without wine pairings. I've had more tasting menus than I can remember at this point, so I think I've had enough experience with the dining style to be critical. The good: the food was mostly delicious, with novel flavor combinations and impeccable preparation. The ingredients seemed to skew local and seasonal, which are huge pluses to me. Serving four desserts simultaneously (as well as four cheeses) for sharing around the table is a wonderful idea. Too many restaurants try to pack on cheese and multiple dessert courses for their tasting menu, which doesn't suit my tastes. Having a bite or two of each cheese and each dessert was just right. The staff were friendly and courteous, and even gave us a complimentary glass of champagne while we waited for the cab they were kind enough to call for us. Now the not-so-good: the portions were too large for many of the courses. The foie gras alone could have been significantly smaller without diminishing the quality of the course in any way. Most of the fish and meat courses were larger than necessary. By the end we were over-full, something which is not desirable when you really want to savor every course. The service was a little weak, also. Our food came at an erratic pace which leaned towards overlong. We had to wait 10-20 minutes between some courses, which is unacceptable. Our eleven course meal took about 3 hours, which isn't crazy but is on the long side. Overall I had a good time and enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. I will almost certainly be back, but probably won't opt for the tasting menu again.

    (4)

  • Megan G.

    The environment is suprisingly calm in this mod decorated little house. You can fit a commercial kitchen with a view bar in the center of an old house? Great contractor! The food is well put together and detail not spared. We dined on the ribs (house specialty and we know why) and the pork chops. Not comfort food--but instead an exquisite experience. Three cute ice cream sandwiches were enjoyed for dessert (lemon lavender is the best!). But, my fave? The bathrooms are lit with a single light bulb that adorns angel wings. Sweet.

    (5)

  • Allan D.

    The hype is right. Excellent food and service. The shrimp, octopus chickpea appetizer was very yummy. The short ribs were tender and tasty. The dark chocolate dessert was very rich and reminded me of a giant truffle. I'm definitely going back. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Rachel P.

    it was really hard to find a parking spot. Thought there would be a private lot.. :( the restaurant was such a cozy and lovely place to have a nice dinner with friends or a date to have conversations and wait for tasty dish to come out. meat from an ox tail soup was so soft - it was such an art, and lobster carbonara was amazing. lamb loin was melting in my mouth, oh so tasty. lemon flavored cocktails were spicy and strong made me feel bubbly. although all the portions were a bit small, they still made me full. ...so i had to grab french fries with beer with my date afterward haha. i think it'd be better to order the chef's tasting menu. then i could've experienced the better - or the best out of Crush. i was happy trying out this place!

    (5)

  • Aaron C.

    Splurged for the full Valentines day experience this past Saturday - that's 500 large with the wine pairing - trying to have a nice romantic evening with the girlfriend. So there is this incredible LOUDMOUTH in the same room and she will not shut the fuck up. All night. 9 PM seating, Two and a half hours of listening to this idiot. I'M A DJ. I'M IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS. BLAH BLAH BLAH. No volume control at all. Couple next to us asked to be moved so I know I am not being a complete whiner. 5 other couples in this little room all trying to have a nice quiet romantic evening and you could tell by the body language everyone else was way bummed out too. We were wishing we had our ipods because we definitely would have put them on rather than listen to this moron all night. They finally left and the last 15 minutes of dinner with her gone were just so enjoyable and relaxing - how we wished the whole evening could have been the same. And I wondered, and I still do, should the restaurant take any responsibility in a situation like this? Because it was really obvious this was going on and the waiters even commented on her a couple of times when we were being served. OK, I should have said something but I really didn't want to embarras the guy she was with for some reason. Regular night, no big deal. $500 special romantic night - total bummer. Sorry Crush, but I had much less than ideal time, and so did my girlfriend and so did the other 4 couples stuck in that room. Good food, BTW.

    (2)

  • Tyler H.

    My wife and I were a little hesitant to go to Crush, because only about half the people we talked to had really had a good experience there. But, it was our first wedding Anniversary, and Crush had the reputation of bringing the Sexy(tm), and augmenting it with a bit of the Romantic(tm). So, we decided to risk it and check it out. And, it definitely was worth it. The appetizer, a spicy vegetable tart thing (my wife is better at remembering what it is we eat), was notable for having Every Flavor on the Planet combined into it. In a good way. And my main course of ribs, with a light dusting of horseradish, piled on top of mashed potatoes was high-class comfort food. But, the thing that sold us was our dessert. Or, rather, the cheese platter we had in lieu of the dessert. It featured a half dozen different cheeses, each paired with a different jam or relish. Pair with some dessert wine, it was the perfect post dinner snack. And it was huge enough that I actually got a doggie bag to bring the leftover cheese home. Yes. I actually turned to the waiter and said "I don't think we can make it through all this cheese. Can you bring me a little box to put it in." Anyhow, my wife and I ended our night falling asleep on our living room floor, contentedly rubbing our cheese-filled bellies, and watching Frankenstein. Ah, romantic!

    (5)

  • Amber H.

    I went at the last minute on March 1 - the first day of the 3 for $30 promotion. It was busy (on a Sunday evening) and I had the promotion (paired with wine for an extra reasonable fee) and it was well-worth it! The wine pairing I mean. It was phenomenal and our server was able to work a pairing for my friend on the fly that was SO amazing. Seriously. go just for the wine and service! The meal was alright, good but considering what I had eaten that weekend, I found it over-fussy for the amount of flavor that was there.

    (4)

  • Bounce B.

    Nice place to have a business dinner. Intimate (but not too), service was attentive (but not too), and the food and wine were outstanding. We went on Halloween, so they weren't crowded, and we were there for about three hours. We didn't feel rushed or hushed; on the whole, it was a lovely evening. One of us began with a blue cheese tart, which was, in fact, very blue cheesy. I'm glad I didn't order it, but the guy who did, loved it. The other guy and I had crab cakes, which were pleasantly, surprisingly crabby. For appetizers, we each had some kind of fish. None of the fishes was overcooked and all had good presentation. Truth be told, I was tempted to order the sweetbread -- it's been a long time since I had a steaming plate of baby-cow glands -- but the only other time I'd had it, I didn't know what it was. This time, I found the foreknowledge too much, what with so many other nice things on the menu. For dessert, one of us had the warm-hearted chocolate cake. I assume it was good; it was gone in a snip. The others two shared a relatively sober cheese plate that consisted of five diverse cheeses and well-matched blobs of sweet things. It's rare to find a cheese plate that doesn't overwhelm or bore, but this fit the bill. I do have a couple of qualms, for which I've docked Crush a star. First, we had a bit of a tussle over our reservation, since I requested 6P, they suggested 5:45, I insisted on 6P, they acquiesced, but they still asked us to come at 5:45. As if. Anyway, one of us did get there by 6P. I ran later, but when I called our reliable man anxiously at 6:10, he reported the place was empty. What that 15-minute haggle was about, I'll never know. Still, they refused to seat any of us until we'd all arrived. Since one of us had gotten stuck on a bus coming from downtown, that left the other two of us to cool our heels, fairly ignored, at the bar. I generally feel that if I make a reservation, I'm reserving the table; if even one of a party is on time, they should get to reap the reward -- especially in an otherwise emptyish restaurant. And, finally, a nitpick about the decor. Crush is basically a converted turn-of-the-cenutry house, which has its charm. Someone, however, decided to furnish it with these oddly 2001-Space-Odyssey-y tables and chairs. Ultimately, I can't really complain about the chairs, since they were surprisingly comfortable. Still, a graceful environment relegates its interabangs to art and textiles, not furniture. But, as I said, all of these qualms together were flotsam on a big blue sea of satisfaction. Crush is a definite recommendation.

    (4)

  • Jose G.

    This is my favorite restaurant in Seattle! The food is the best! Chef Wilson uses a very unique mix of flavors, and a lot of attention to details. The service is excellent, the wine selection is wonderful (I wish they were less expensive, glasses start at $15). My favorites are the braised short ribs.

    (5)

  • Kitten M.

    I've been there on many occasions and the food is always surprising, well presented, and delightful. The staff is generous and well trained. The decor leaves something to be desired for me, it's doesn't feel warm or comfortable but I am sure it is a gem to those who enjoy modern design. At the end of the day food food food it truly is amazing. I have traveled far and wide in the world dining in some world famous and amazing places and Crush is still #1 in my book.

    (5)

  • Alice R.

    Crush lived up to everything I had hoped for and more.

    (5)

  • Joshua F.

    With only a couple of days in Seattle, one of my first choices was Crush. A 10 minute cab ride from our down town hotel, Crush is unassuming, taking a vicorian-esque house and turning into a contemporary restaurant. From the instant we made our entrance, service was fantastic and on point. The interior is polished yet fun. The bar would have been a cool spot to eat, as it over looks the kitchen, close enough to stir some spoons. We were seated at our table and were given some Gruyere cheese puffs as we placed our drink orders. Shortly there after a wonderfully potent amuse of parsnip flan with black truffle and chive cream was served. The three of us ordered the following: Starters - Gnocchi with truffle herbs; Leek and truffle soup; Pork belly Palate cleanser - Apple and ginger sorbet. Entree - Skate with lemon curd, cauliflower puree and flowers, calamari with chirizo. (Deconstructed, allowing the you to build your flavors.); Braised short ribs. (Can't remember the details); Scallops with chowder vegetables. (very cool presentation and an innovative idea.) Five course cheese plate with port. (free!!) Dessert - Hot chocolate with spicy chocolate ice cream; Cranberry bread pudding; Hand made chocolates (Unreal, lavender...!) Post Dinner Amuse - Clove marshmallows, brittle, and strawberry mints. It was so refreshing to see the head chef actually in the kitchen, even after having so much success. This is a great restaurant that knows its identity and doesn't wander too far from it. Quantity and quality of food and flavor was according to the price of the dinner. I would return again the next time I'm in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Ray I.

    In a word - Fabulous! We had no reservation for a Saturday night, seats at the bar (which is right in front of an open kitchen) were our only option after a short wait. The staff was friendly & highly attentive in serving us, especially the bartender Darryl who was our designatee. We started off with a tasting of nettle soup with oyster & bacon. The rich vibrant flavor was a perfect starter. Seconds were the Blue Cheese tart & Gnocchi w/duck confitte. The tart was PERFECTION, the flavor profile was complete. The preparation is a showcase to the Point Reyes Blue (we have been fans for a couple years). The duck was excellently prepared & the gnocchi a great complement. Our entrees - A seared Lamb chop w/white bean, & a beet Chevre. Monk fish w/mussles. For dessert a mascorpone cheese cake & buttermilk doughnuts w/Spanish coffee sauce. A taste of the house chocolates is heaven - The Earl grey filled was a highlight. Sadly enough, the details are already fading from this fabulous meal. I can not remember having a better meal in a friendlier atmosphere. Chef Wilson & Soux Maddox have reached near perfection with the current menu (it was not up-to-date via the web at the time of this review). I look forward to trying the Chicken Breast - especially after discussing the dish with the Chef, "a peerless succulance" per another customer. The dessert cheese selection warrants a full weekend to explore. The warmth of the refurbished Tudor home was a perfect atmosphere for the evening. Seattle is blessed with a Crush.

    (5)

  • Kristin S.

    Crush is so delicious. I have been here on several occasions and have never been disappointed. One of the best parts of the meal are all the tiny extras that the chef brings out. You get the feeling that these have been prepared especially for your table (I'm sure they're not). Plus, I LOVE tiny foods and tasters. I have been brought numerous tiny appetizers, tiny desserts, and even a small glass of port all on top of the already delicious meal I had orders. The other wonderful part of Crush is that they will custom make you a meal based on your likes and dislikes particularly if you have dietary restrictions. At first I was put off by their menu since I was a vegetarian and I thought there would be few (perhaps no) options however friends told me that if you are a vegetarian (vegan, gluten intolerant, etc.) the chef will ask about your dietary restrictions, likes and dislikes and prepare you a specific meal based on what's in season. A friend and I are both vegetarian and ended up with totally different meals since we have different tastes. Tip: I'd ask to be seated downstairs. I have sat upstairs a few times and kind of felt like I was sitting in the laps of the other diners.

    (5)

  • Jennilee B.

    My boyfriend took me here for my surprise farewell dinner and I have to say that I was extremely impressed by his choice of restaurant. Don't let the simple exterior of this place fool you because upon entering this quaint little craftsman home-turned-restaurant you will not be disappointed. It's like an overall sensory experience-the impeccable presentation with food artistically plated and carefully placed in simple organic shaped dinnerware that looks amazingly beautiful, the flavorful taste of all the freshest ingredients possible that chef Jason Wilson can get his hands on, and the smell of all the different ingredients used to make his awe inspiring dishes are just some of the many reasons to come back to this place. We ordered the Smoked Salmon Caviar served with Creme Fraiche it's simply delicious- served in a cup- every bite bursting with salty goodness, followed by the Foie Gras and Steak- literally an out of body experience of melt-in-your-mouth-can't-believe-I-ate-something-­that f-ing-good warm fuzzy feelings. Although the octopus and crispy potato salad didn't really do it for us, presentation kicked butt and the chorizo made it a little better/different than what we expected. Our entrees of rabbit loin with rabbit bacon and black cod served with "tagliatelle" were superbly made and well presented. And I can't forget the dessert- due to the intensity of a menagerie of flavors I had multiple flav-orgasms! Chocolate mousse, pop rock candy coated in chocolate, and earl grey tea infused chocolate ice cream, what more could a girl ask for? To top it off, they gave us 6 different types of handmade chocolates to try while our dessert was being prepared. It was chocolate overload by design, and I enjoyed every second of it. Their service was top notch- everyone was genuinely friendly- and not one single member of the staff seemed pretentious, snobby, or had a certain air about them. I would have to say that this is going to be my new obsession, and although I'll be gone for 3 months, Crush isn't that too far off from my mind!

    (5)

  • Jim R.

    Loved it! Sat at the chefs counter enjoyed the 5 course menu and great wine pairings. Then went back a week later and did it again. Loved it!

    (5)

  • Kim C.

    I eagerly await the day that I can give half star ratings on yelp, as I'd gladly give a 3.5 here. My experience at Crush was underwhelming. Perhaps it's because only two days earlier I ate at Veil, which is now my favorite restaurant ever. Maybe the food was just surprisingly unexciting; who knows? Arrived for our 6:30 reservation after having an incredibly hard time finding street parking. Our table was admittedly the best, as it was by the window. Unfortunately, the people sitting at the two adjacent tables were blocking the path to our seats, given how incredibly cramped the small dining room in. The seats were very ergonomic and comfortable, and the atmosphere inside (except the clausterphobic close quarters) was pleasing. Ordered off the 3 for $30 menu. The first course, a beet salad with watercress and a gorgonzola crostini of sorts. The crostini was good, but the beet salad tasted exactly like, well, beets. No other prevailing flavor to give them an extra oomph. Second course, wild mushroom pasta. The pasta noodles were clearly hand made, and tasted almost like hand shaven chow mein at various chinese restaurants. The consistency, though, was just... off. Tasted sort of like something I'd get in a can; though clearly, the quality was way better. Not a very interesting flavor, but the addition of nuts were a nice touch. Dessert was undoubtedly the best -- a warm chocolate ganache cake with a pistachio-type cookie underneath, and marshmallow cream. Very, very rich. Dinner took a full two hours -- WAY too long for my comfort (or time) level. Service was courteous, though. Overall, probably not somewhere I'd return, given that the prices are somewhat higher than others ($25-28 for an entree as opposed to the comparable $21-25 at places like Veil) and in general I just wasn't wowed by the food. The bad parking, interior and speed of service doesn't help matters either. Perhaps I will return someday to give it a second chance, but nothing inspired me enough to be revved up to go back anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Marlyn C.

    loved loved loved this place. I went with a bunch of my girlfriends during the 30 for $30 and it was awesome. Every dish was delicious. I wanted to lick my plate. At the same time, the portions were appropriate because by the end of the meal, i was stuffed from the decadent food. Our waitress was funny and attentive. I am definitely coming back.

    (5)

  • Yuri Y.

    If you've been to Herb Farm, this is the same TYPE of place.Awesome food, superb service, great environment and chefs ready to discuss their dishes with you. The food is as good as it gets in best French restaurants - innovative, delicious and totally decadent. One caution - do not expect to see the "American" portions. If you are used to take half of your dinner from El-Gaucho home, portions at this place are more of the European size. We now have a crush on Crush! We had a four course fixed price dinners and were stuffed by the time we finished deserts.

    (5)

  • Asya K.

    This place was superb. We had the tasting menu and it was as good as many/any foodie places we've been to (and we've been to many).

    (5)

  • Jeremy P.

    If I had a date that evening, it would have been the perfect place to go for dinner. I did meet up with an ex later that night - ugh, don't ask - but this would have been the spot to take a loved one, a hoped-for loved one, or maybe like a good romp in the hay. Okay, let's go romantic and say loved one. So, it was a work dinner. But, man, it was an amazing work dinner. The wine selection was very pleasant, they kitchen staff was sensitive to my dietary needs (okay, dietary pickiness), and while it was a pre-designated dinner, it was amazing. The main course was short ribs on horseradish mashed potatoes. Good short ribs fall off the bone, and these fit that bill. You know it's a good meal when everyone leaves with that food coma look in their eyes, and we all had it from the many courses and the truly great chocolate desert.

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    From top to bottom, you will not regret this decison, from the service and cocktails to the food you are in good hands. I've been here twice now. I had a walnut Manhattan that was pretty fantastic. Their homemade sausage and grilled octopus is excellent, and in the fall, the menu can be a little rich, but worth it. For example, the scallops (giant) topped with foie gras. I tried sweet breads here because I'll try pretty much anything this place has to offer.

    (5)

  • jen y.

    By far, one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Grant it, the ambiance isn't 5 star, but the food sure is! The food speaks volumes and my husband and I enjoyed our four course meal. This restaurant deserves every single award they have received!

    (5)

  • Cheryl C.

    I just visited Crush last night as part of the Urban Eats deal, which involves 3 course $30 meals on Sunday-Thursday evenings in nice restaurants around Seattle ( seattletimes.nwsource.co… ). It's a great way to get "fancy schmancy" food at a more reasonable price! Summary: My friends and I savored all the dishes/drinks and will definitely be coming back again due to the uniqueness of the menu, quality/freshness of ingredients and attentive service. Plus, they had pop rock chocolate...anyone with the vision to combine pop rocks and chocolate deserves my patronage! The food: Each course (appetizer, main dish and dessert) for the Urban Eats menu has 3 different unique options not offered on the main menu. Between the 4 at our table we sampled all of the appetizers, 2 of the 3 main dishes and all of the desserts. Out of the appetizers, we loved the celery root salad with braised ribs the most. The amazingly fresh salad and the pork belly grits were in a short second. Out of the main dishes, 2 of us had sturgeon and 2 had the pasta/mushrooms...the sturgeon was extremely tender (more like sushi) and was nicely coupled with the collard greens and butternut squash puree, although i would also have been happy with a bit more of an intense flavoring on the greens. The pasta was definitely fresh and the mushrooms done perfectly, so we were happy with all of them. Of the desserts, I thought the lemon olive-oil cake itself tasted a little commonplace compared to the uniqueness of the rest of the menu, but when combined with the cranberry compote and creme fraiche on the top if was divine. The chocolate dessert was amazing and Jenn seemed to enjoy her cheese, so you can't go wrong with the desserts! The drinks: our group sampled 6 of the 8 cocktails and 1 of the 2 nonalcoholic beverages. Since I don't like to drink alcohol, I just had sips of the alcoholic items and ordered an UNBELIEVABLY GOOD "apple fizz" on the rocks, which contains fresh pressed ginger syrup along with fresh apples and of course sparkling water. It was incredibly flavorful and actually won the first round best drink award. The rest of the drinks were very unusual (can one be more unusual than just "unusual?" I think so). I know that the whole group loved them all, and one contained egg whites while another featured cucumber. Last note: i know it sounds a little bizzarly attentive, but I noticed that the ice cubes were pretty much perfect shape and consistency and crunchiness for those of us who enjoy chewing on ice, so I give Crush some extra props for that! Ambiance/environment: as others have noted, the restaurant is located in a converted house, which gives it a nice cozy undertone that warms up the very modern interior design. My first reaction upon entering was, "This is where an iPod would go to eat!" It is mostly dark with space agey-white chairs and tables, which definitely gives it a unique look - again, think the ipod version of a cozy house. Of course, while dining with 2 engineers, the glasses/plates/cutlery became an object of dissection...the glasses were really beautiful and thin, made from some sort of expensive glass...I can't remember the name! We loved them, and the bread plates which are cool and curvy and, as the waitress told us, originally made to serve as cappucino holders. Last note: the bathroom features a 4 claw bathtub. That's cool. :-) Service: we loved the waiter/waitress and bartender. The bartender himself delivered the drinks and chatted with us a bit about how he came up with them. He seemed to really enjoy working there, as did our waiter. I also love how multiple people delivered the main dish and appetizer and took time to explain them to us and answer our random questions (again: i'm dining with engineers here). We ended up getting in discussions about foi gras, glassware, and dance clubs in Seattle, among other things. We went at 8:15 on a Sunday night and didn't get out until 10:45, which is a little late for my taste...it seemed the waiting time between dishes was a bit uneven, as some others mentioned, but the food was so awesome we didn't mind. Special note: Pop rocks + chocolate. Seriously! What kind of chef thinks of that? Only an awesome one. I'm definitely coming here again :)

    (5)

  • Mei-I F.

    Okay so I am cutting and pasting my old reviews from citysearch.com over here to Yelp because the former is so 2002 and it is NOW a Yelp world. I ate at Crush again after this less-than-desirable night and the food was phenomenal as usual! Minus one star for that off-night.

    (4)

  • An N.

    Food is ok, nothing spectacular. Not worth the bill.

    (3)

  • Nicole P.

    awesome. i can't wait to eat here for the second time, everything was perfect from the pre-dinner cocktails to the amazing chocolate trio dessert. i'm still drooling about those short ribs and i know i will be for quite sometime to come. service was great, drinks and wine were awesome and the food was even better. crush leaves nothing to be desired, even from a rather picky customer :) i have nothing but great things so say about crush and a very memorable dinner with someone i love to boot. this is a great place and you would be doing yourself (and anyone you might bring a long for a dinner companion) a great service by checking it out. have fun!

    (5)

  • Mandy C.

    This is a tough review for me to write because this is my significant other's favorite restaurant in the city and this was not his first trip here. However, it was my first time in and I had such high hopes for a special night. ...that being said, the night was disastrous and none of it was the fault of my date. The service was beyond off. Almost from the get-go, it was a bad experience. Our server talked our friggin ear off by explaining all the dishes ingredients and how it was cooked (95% of it was sous-vide. Does she explain what that means? No. A lot of help that fancy French term is if you don't know what it means. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So… ). I felt really overwhelmed by her verbal barfing. We asked for wine advice on the rabbit and she insisted that the dish was so light that we ought not to get a heavy red. The meal progresses... I receive a dirty bread plate. Then a dirty wine glass. I wait for a new wine glass while the other glass was filled and we sit there looking at each other. Each time the wine is refilled, she goes for my date's glass (who is a man, and I'm sorry to be an old-fashioned girl but I believe the rule: 'ladies first.'). By this time I was already starting to feel like a second-class citizen. The main course eventually comes out and we find that the rabbit is anything but light. It's some sort of mousse rabbit that looks like pig fat or something pale pink & puffy. We both find it not to our liking and wonder how our server thought this dish was 'light.' The maître d' came by when we sent an entire dish back between the two of us and we explain what had happened. As I suspected, I don't believe our server had even tasted the dish we order. Why, then, was she giving wine advice on that dish? I think her first responsibility to diners is to know what everything tastes like and goes good with what wines. Duh. The maître d' was apologetic and offered us some dessert but we couldn't think of anything but getting out of there, not even bothering to finish our bottle of wine.. We left utterly defeated (and crushed (sorry for the bad pun, it was just so obvious)). I'm sure that if I had a different waiter and we had known what the dishes were prepared like besides just sous-vide, maybe things would have been better. I don't know what to say about this place seeing as I thought it was one of the nicest restaurants in the city... Someday I may re-review based off a good experience but I can't lie and don't have any reason not to tell the truth about what happened. The food can be special, beautiful & creative but it can also be completely ruined by bad service.

    (1)

  • Kristin S.

    Went here last Friday with another couple to celebrate my husband's birthday, and we were all very impressed. Three of us wanted to do the tasting menu, but one person at our table did not, so we all had to order a la carte instead, because of the restaurant's policy. The reason for this policy became clear as the evening unfolded. The service was incredibly well orchestrated. All dishes arrived at exactly the right moment, and multiple servers delivered them to our table, so that all diners got their dishes at the very same moment. The food was both gorgeous and delicious. Unfortunately, I am thinking we can never go back here, because it is highly unlikely that a return visit will be able to live up to our expectations. Damn! I really want to have that tasting menu.... maybe one more time...

    (5)

  • Katie C.

    I haven't been this disappointed in a place since... well, actually, I have never been this disappointed. We had been wanting to eat here for YEARS just based on the amazing reviews/awards/menu, and finally came by last Thursday. I started out with a cocktail- "Modern Way" I think it was called. It was the tiniest $10 drink I've ever seen, but it was tasty- grapefruit rum, lime juice, topped with a maraschino cherry liqueur foam. Tiny but good. My husband and I both did the 3-for-30 dinner. I started with a seared sea scallop with some asparagus puree- super rich, but very yummy. I was definitely wanting more than just the one scallop. The entree was the biggest disappointment. I had the crispy skin cod with potato and bacon and other little things with it. It was the tiniest little piece of fish I've ever seen, and the dish just didn't taste good. I usually love fish, and my husband does too, but neither of us liked this at all. It was very "fishy" and weird- not good. Super disappointing- I didn't even finish it. I would have said something, but a table of 6 had been seated at the table beside us, and our waitress made it pretty clear which table mattered to her. She pretty much disappeared. At least my husband's gnocchi was good. For dessert I went with the plate of sorbets and ice creams, because it sounded really interesting. Pinot Noir ice cream, some kind of pinot gris sorbet, and a chocolate ice cream- a tiny spoonful of each. The pinot noir ice cream was really weird, and tasted like someone had poured wine and cream into an ice cream maker. Okay, it was an interesting taste, but not something I would willingly order. The pinot gris sorbet was the same way- weird. The chocolate ice cream was really tasty- BUT it tasted exactly like the chocolate ice cream I make in my own ice cream maker at home. Nothing special about it. Okay, it's fun to experiment with different ice cream flavors, but none of these warranted being on a menu this expensive. Not good. My husband got the buttermilk doughnuts- 3 doughnut holes on a plate. They tasted like doughnuts. Seriously, nothing special. You can go to any doughnut shop and get something better tasting for about 1/15th the price. I noticed the couple next to us was doing the 3-for-30 as well. That guy got 4 doughnuts for his dessert, instead of 3. I wonder why we got less? The restaurant is suuuper tiny, with those weird plastic chairs. Luckily I was sitting on the booth side of the table so I didn't experience the chair, but my husband said his butt hurt 10 minutes into dinner, and was completely numb by the end of the night. Service here was incredibly slow, and I think I already mentioned our waitress disappearing. They did a good job keeping the water glass filled, which I appreciate. But as far as the nice restaurants we've been trying lately, this was by FAR the biggest disappointment of them all, and it's not worth a return trip to try out their regular menu. One other thing- we've had smaller portions at all these restaurants, which is fine- we've always been satisfied without being stuffed, which is ideal. But the size of the portions at Crush were ridiculous. We were still hungry after paying over $100 for dinner. We went straight to a Mariner's game after Crush, and just ate dinner there. Unbelievable.

    (2)

  • Adeline E.

    The food was excellent but the portions were small. A little pricey too. I felt really rushed throughout dinner. I guess a high turnover rate is what good restaurants want.

    (4)

  • Karen L.

    Can't believe I have not written a review of this place! We've come here on a few occassions before but cannot call ourselves regulars even though we live within walking distance. We've even had a company party here. The review was for a recent dinner we had on a weeknight. The service was perfect except for one little flaw. When the waiter brought out our bread plates, there was a little black speck on hubby's plate; instead of replace the plate, the waiter took his thumb and wiped it across the plate to get rid of the speck. Other than that he was extremely gratious and gave us tasting of various different wines (which probably amounted to two free glasses of nice wine). Although I have had better accompaniments for foie gras, the portion size of foie you get is ridiculously huge!! When my next dish did not arrive along with my dinner companions', the kitchen brought out an "interim" dish to hold me over for the two minutes that it took my dish to come out. I also greatly enjoyed the "themed" desserts that allowed for a full range of creativity on one plate.

    (4)

  • Star D.

    I had the most delicious birthday dinner at Crush last evening. I'm still drunk from the food (and the wine). I did want to let the yelp readers know that Crush is running a short promotion in October: it's a 3 course tasting menu for 45 dollars! I'm going to make dining at Crush a weekly tradition... well, at least in October while the promotion is running. Make your reservations now, people.

    (5)

  • Amikam R.

    I reviewed Crush in August 2008 and gave it it five stars. Since then we have been back half a dozen times, in small and larger groups, always fascinated by the beautiful, innovative presentation of the food. We went back on a Wednesday night. We were given (arguably) the best table downstairs and had a good salad and a picture pretty pheasant terrine that had an after taste of spam. The lamb was good and so were the short ribs, though a bit on the dry side. The white chocolate berry dessert was a feast to the eyes and very good in taste. The service was good and knowledgeable. So why the three stars after being so enthusiastic three years ago? The place is still beautiful on the outside, with lovely lavender and other plants. On the inside it's still cramped with tables close together. The plastic chairs are still uncomfortable and there are no tablecloths or mats, just a napkin. There is a long wait between courses and you can hear all the conversations around while waiting. The food is still picture perfect but the portions are small and their prices have gone up. The amuse bouches have disappeared. The service is in line with the higher prices but not all food items are so great as to warrant the prices. After my first visit I wondered why my enthusiasm was not matched by national food rating guides. Now I understand. Other expensive restaurants in Seattle offer larger portions of better food, just as visually presentable. Crush is still a good place, just not great.

    (3)

  • Mariana P.

    I am giving it 5 stars for not having a vegetarian dish on the menu! Go eat some tofu while I savor my red meat!

    (5)

  • G S.

    This is a great restaurant. But we're broke after going there! Another yelper put average for 2 is $180, well ours was $150. I had the lobster - it's about 4 bites, really really delicious, with yummy greens under it, and then the bread raisin puddding for dessert and a glass of delicious white whine. My husband had the lamb - about 5 small slices and a lamb sausage also on the plate, he had rioja wine and a basque cheese at the end. Very decadent dinner. Portions are quite small, but guess that's how it is a fancy places. Before our main courses arrived, we were brought a bite of crab salad on a fancy spoon, some tiny brioches covered with shredded gruyere cheese and some delicious bread. All served very beautifully and on very refined dinnerware. Glasses were nice and thin, no ice with the water. It seems all very well thoughout the process of serving, what is served, the order, the dinner and glassware, the presentations, how items on the menu are described by the waitstaff. Service was excellent, couldn't have been better. They are all very upbeat, willing to take care of your requests, always there when you need water or have a question. All are very good at explaining every item on the menu in detail and with confidence. No hemming and hawing with the explanations. They knew the wines as well. When they bring each item to the table, they set it down and then describe what it is. Nice touch. When your bill is brought to you, there are 3 different kids of tiny chocolates and a caramel. Great restaurant, but we probably won't be going back again. Just too darn expensive. Great one time experience. Also it's a great setting - old house, restored inside with dark beams so it still has a house feeling. The furniture is modern and stark white, nice contrast. Kudos to the chef and all the staff for an excellent experience.

    (5)

  • Amanda K.

    It's my anniversary, and I have wanted to try crush for awhile. I ask the fiance, where are we going? Why can't we go to this mysterious place on Monday. Oh, it's closed on Monday , he says, and I ask is it crush?? No, he says it's not crush, but it was definitely crush. I love how crush feels elegant at one point and like you are eating dinner in someone else's house at the same point. The prices were pretty high (my glass of wine was $18), but the food and wine was excellent. I believe I had the zinfandel and I drank it way too fast because it was just that good. Also, we ordered for an appetizer the hamachi which was delicious, as were our entrees. The service was impeccable and our waitress was extremely personable. She made the experience even more special. For dessert we ordered a deconstructed apple pie and it was delicious. Since it was our anniversary they also brought us their homemade chocolates which were good, but we definitely did not need any more food. Lastly, the owners sent us a letter to thank us for coming into the restaurant, which I thought was a wonderful touch.

    (4)

  • Angela S.

    Overall, I was very dissapointed with this restaurant and would not come back. The food was below average, slow service & so/so wine options by the glass. The only thing about the restaurant that I liked was the ambiance.

    (1)

  • Jeremy F.

    Parking is awkward in this "edgy" part of Madison Ave & 23rd. The restaurant is a house and garden--whose entrance is very inviting. Unfortunately, the front door opens smack-dab in the middle of kitchen noise, bar noise, and waiters weaving through you with nicely plated dishes. The word reservation should be taken loosely here, since chances are your table will not be ready when you arrive and you'll have to wait. If they offer you to dine at the bar, stay clear of the traffic and draft from the door. Personally, for $35 a person the experience I want is more cozy and less plastic bar chairs and posing chatter. The food is solid reduction fare--though nothing really "pops" as innovative--surprising since Harvest Vine and several other foody haunts are just down the road. May come back in 2010 if they're still there.

    (3)

  • Rich S.

    Service - 0 stars Apps - 4 stars Entrees - 4 stars Dessert - 1 star I realize this is a small restaurant, and they were booked full for restaurant week, but I've also been in this situation before. Arrived at 7:45 for a 8PM reservation, checked-in (approaching host myself, no greeting upon entering) and went to the bar to grab a few drinks because we knew we were a bit early. A group of 4 comes in at approx. 8PM and also checks in and waits at the bar, not getting drinks, just waiting. At 8:15, the host approaches their group and apologizes for the delay and offers to bring them complimentary champagne. He personally goes to the bar and pours them champagne. When he gets back to host stand, I approach him to remind him of our reservation for 8 (it was about 8:20). He didn't take kindly to my reminder and told me that the people at our table were paying for the check. Oh, by the way I am unsure if this is appropriate for yelp, but I believe the host was gay, and the group of 4 who came in after us were as well, which could have led to the bias, but...that would seem like an unfair assumption perhaps. I think he was just a bad host period. The server was not very attentive, had to order twice and wait about 30 min to get a drink after being seated. We also had to proceed to wave her down and tell her we were ready to order after she poured water and disappeared for 20 minutes. In addition to the 3 courses for restaurant week, we ordered the seared foie gras, which was actually quite good. painted hills steak was 4-5 thin sliced strips on top of a small but delicious bed of mashed potatoes. We saw the steak being served when we arrived, (which was over an hour ago) and the initial portions were significantly larger, and the steak was not pre-cut. Besides them skimping out towards the end of the night, the quality of the meat was still very good and cooked perfectly. The desserts were sub-par. The doughnuts were just typical, fresh, doughnut bites...the ones at pike place market are far better actually. The sorbet was a bit bland, with small ice chunks in it, noticeably annoying, but not as annoying as the fact that it was probably served on a warm plate, as a fourth of it had melted by the time I was able to take my first bite.

    (2)

  • Laura K.

    Beautiful restaurant. Amazing octopus. My hubby almost licked the frois grois plate. I took my husband to 3 restaurants on his birthday, Harvest vine, Lark, and Crush and this was his favorite. Our bill was in the high $70 for two glasses of wine and 3 small plates. This place does not have a bar but it does have a clawfoot tub in the bathroom.

    (4)

  • Lynne S.

    Recently went here for Restaurant Week and thought the food was fine, but the portions much too small. After an appetizer, main dish and dessert, I left and still felt a bit hungry. For $28, it was fine, but I won't be rushing back because portions of that size for the regular price would be a disgrace. If they made smaller portions for Restaurant Week, they're doing themselves a disservice -- it's a place I would have gone back to, but now it's much less likely. Very disappointing!

    (3)

  • judy n.

    in a renovated victorian house in madison valley, crush is a very strange mix of things. the exterior has the romantic victorian look while the inside is all uber modern & slick looking. we ended up having to wait for at least 20 minutes even though we had a reservation. i suppose this was mitigated by a gift from the chef; veal cheeks w/mashed potatoes & some mystery sauce. it was delicious, albeit a bit fatty. i started with the roasted dungeness crab cake w/marinated sungolds (i still have no idea what these are) & basil aioli. it was dotted with tiny tomato halves & was really outstanding. it was fat, & crispy & lacking in all that usual gooey filler you often find in crab cakes. scott started with the lobster mushroom & duck confit tart w/poached egg & carmelized onions. the pastry was a bit denser than expected but it was still very savory. for my entree, i chose the seared scallops w/walla walla risotto, foraged greens & citrus salad. the scallops were indeed seared & quite plump & juicy. the risotto was nothing special though. scott chose the garlic & herb grilled lamb chops "tongue & cheek" w/corona beans (like big ass butterbeans) & rabe. the meat was very flavorful but might've been trimmed a bit more for my taste. for dessert, we broke our "variety pact" & both got the chocolate s'mores (sables, marshmallow, bourbon caramel) although now i'm wishing i'd stuck with the pact & gotten my second choice of buttermilk doughnuts w/pomegranite jam w/spanish coffee sauce. don't get me wrong, there was nothing really wrong with the dessert, it just wasn't what i'd hoped for. too fudgey & heavy. the graham crackers were pretty much lost in all the chocolate thereby lacking in the texture one would expect from a s'more. despite the wait to be seated, the service was really outstanding. very friendly & warm without being all up in our bidness. scott was especially pleased with the cost:value ratio as it was very affordable for up-scale seattle standards.

    (4)

  • C. B.

    The chef may be a James Beard award winner but the restaurant is just so-so. It was way too shi-shi: food is good to look at, tastes good, but leaves you still feeling hungry. I also agree with other reviewers about the servers. For the price, there's just too many great restaurants in Seattle.

    (3)

  • Natasha H.

    Second time there and we were as impressed as with the first. Really unique dishes and execution, friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff, rich wine choices. Beef tartare was probably the best we've ever had. Scallops were to die for, made more interesting by the accompanying tomato jam. Wagyu entree also very impressive. In my opibion portion size were not a problem, while not your family style humongous plates, all was very satisfying without gorging. Definately will be back each time we're in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Will W.

    Innovative, flavorful, small portions: Crush is a must try for Seattle foodies! We went for Seattle Restaurant Week. This is an exceptional way to experience this fine restaurant without breaking the bank. The food is prepared with care, perfected cooked and the most flavorful and innovative meal I think I have had. Their take on bacon and eggs is amazing and unique. Every dish we had was small but exploded with intricate tastes. With one extra dish we left full and with our palates fully satisfied. The service was very friendly and took care of every need. Despite being a small place they took our coats for us and just made us feel welcome.

    (5)

  • Chris P.

    The truth about restaurant "Crush" in Seattle. I was not going to go but my friend promised me that the food portions would not be a problem. This place is a lovely place that is situated on the entry into the Central District on Madison Avenue. It is a lovely first date place. The problem is the size of the servings. If you are looking to impress a date, this is the place but have your date eat a bag of Doritos before your get there. The servings are so small that there were mice protesting and picketing outside the place to protest that, even the crumbs are too small to find. Two people in attendance said that they were in weight watchers but the serving were so small that it was easier to eat the exchange cards- plus they got more to eat. I use to think that people were starring at the floor because of the design. Turns out they are looking for food and strip searching the mice on the off chance that they might have food crumbs. They served a sip, and I do mean a sip of soup and a small spoonful of ceviche. I bit my lip and scratched the server as she tried to take the sip of soup away before I could finish the sample/meal. I managed to eat two pieces of bread before getting on my bike to race back to West Seattle to order food from Buddha Ruska (Thai restaurant that serves real portions), and fell through the doors as my blood sugar was at its lowest. So while the food at crush looks like art decor, and is presented like the award to a noble laureate, the name of the restaurant leaves you with a feeling of Crush as you run from the door as hungry as you arrived. Crush: the restaurant of choice for anorexics. C. Porter

    (1)

  • Larissa W.

    First of all, I was expecting the host and server to be way more welcoming and attentive at a restaurant like this. I felt like they were too busy, and just couldn't care less about our needs. Also, the menu was interesting, but my food wasn't hot when it was served... It was on the warm side. I knew the portions would be on the small side, but I felt like the dishes should've been prepared better to make up for it. We decided to skip out on dessert because it just didn't seem worth it anymore. I'm not that satisfied with this place because the quality just didn't match up with what I was paying for...

    (3)

  • Amos Y.

    This is one of those really expensive, huge plate, small portions places. The restaurant is in a small house, and is fairly intimate and romantic with candles all around. They are pretty creative with their mix of flavors and foods, and everything was tasty. It's a good place to try, but probably not a place I would go to often. We came here during Seattle Restaurant week, which lets you get a good sample at a reasonable price. * Complementary Bread - Bread is soft, but crust is a little too chewy. Jaws were getting tired. * Vichyssoise Soup - A creamy puree of leek, potato, onions, cream, and chicken stock. Creamy and tasty, goes well with the bread. * Beet Salad - A few assorted fresh beets. Nice and soft, but not very much at all. * Miso Salmon - Moist salmon with a crunchy skin in a miso broth. Salmon, especially the skin was very tasty. The miso broth is a little strange but works. It's not too strong, and the flavors mix fine with the salmon. * Bread Pudding - Soft and sweet. Good, but not particularly remarkable, had better and more elsewhere.

    (4)

  • Quyen V.

    This review is for restaurant week. We ordered 2 starters in addition to the restaurant week menu. In my opinion those were the real standouts of our meal. One was the hamachi (excellently paired with compressed vegetables) and the other was bacon and eggs. The bacon and eggs dish was probably the most memorable of the meal, and I'll likely return to this restaurant in hopes that their regular dinner menu contains more things like this! It was a savory take on flan, with unexpected texture and perfect flavor accents from salmon roe. The big thing that made me take off 2 stars was the service. Almost every server we encountered at this restaurant, from start to finish, was not friendly and actually kind of rude. I don't expect over the top service; but pretentiousness like this was really uncalled for. Plates were placed brusquely on the table with only a brief explanation. I'm trying to be understanding of this, because of course it's restaurant week and I get that they're probably very busy. Writing this review in hopes of coming back and having a better experience.

    (3)

  • G L.

    Review for 12-Course Tasting Menu only. Pros: - Proteins were cooked to perfection - Excellent service Cons: - The development throughout the Tasting seemed choppy - too many repeated elements between dishes (beets, mushrooms) - Short on creativity and adventure Would recommend skip the Tasting and order from regular menu.

    (3)

  • Gisselle L.

    My husband and I came here for restaurant week. The food was amazing but the entree size was on the small side: Blue Hubbard Squash Soup with Bacon, Pink Peppercorn, Sage Cream- really good Apple & Chicory Greens Salad with Blue Cheese and Cider Vinagrette- good has a strong blue cheese taste so if you are not a fan of that type of cheese avoid this Seared Pork Tenderloin with Maize Foie Gras Sauce, Creamy Grits, and Popcorn- highlight of the night. I think the popcorn comment is a mistake and belongs to the panna cotta Creekside Farms Beef Striploin Pommes De Terre, Carrot, Kale and Cabernet- my husband loved this dish (FYI it is served medium rare) Chocolate Coffee Flour Spice Cake with Brandied Cherries- my husband loved this Vanilla Panna Cotta with Pumpkin and Apples- I really enjoyed it. It also has popcorn but you have to like it-special taste

    (4)

  • Priscilla L.

    Came here with a girlfriend and to be quite honest, I didn't know what to expect. We ordered a few things, steak, fish a bottle of wine and ice cream. The portions were SO DARN SMALL, i don't thinkI had enough to even give it an honest review. The steak was yum though, steak is pretty hard to mess up (IJS). The plates were REALLY BIG but I did not walk out full. There are places where portion is small but you still walk out full. We actually went to Big Mario's afterwards for pizza lol

    (2)

  • Sisi Z.

    The food here is amazing. Everything on the menu sounds so delicious I don't even how to choose. So that's how we ordered 4 appetizers and one main entree eventually.... We had bacon n eggs, geoduck, Wagyu beef tartar and foie as appetizers. Bacon n eggs looks so fancy, so is the taste. It had layers with different textures and taste but perfectly combined. Wagyu beef tartar seasoned quite well. It emphasized flavor of the Wagyu better. Foie is as good as you can think of. Our main entree was lamb chop and it was so tender. The missing 1 star is for the slow service. But our servant are pretty nice.

    (4)

  • Latifa S.

    First crush!! Always charming and still a favorite. Can't think of why in the world haven't I reviewed this place after all these years?!! I've been Crush-ing it for several years now. I've done my date nights, girls night, double date, triple dates, birthdays, graduations and every little celebrations in between here. Chef Jason Wilson is the man! Ambiance~ This cute little house is located pretty close to me on Madison. It's a beautiful, candle lit cozy two story spot with cushy booths, white chairs and private table for celebration! I almost had my bday party there in 2013 but there were too many of us so we went to else where with just as good of a food. Minus Crush's cute romantic factor though. Service~ it has always been consistent. Never intruding but alway attentive! Drinks- I love my little red dress here! And I alsmot alway get it too. They also have an impressive wine list that let's me do food and wine pairing on almost every visit for the past few dozen times. Food- Chef Jason Wilson didn't get his James beard award for nothing. I'd wear a Tshirt with his face on it if I could. I can still taste his halibut in my mouth. I love the way he prepare local , fresh farm to table ingredients. He even made cauliflower taste like magic. The menu changes often but you can always count on a good meat dish, soup, veggies in appetizer, amazingly done fish and scallops /pasta depending on the season you visit. It's a place of all beautiful things meet. Beautiful food, service and drinks all together.And with each visit~ you get exactly that. A warm, happy, romantic, cozy and memorable meal! I have brought so many friends here for several occasions and non occasions ( ie: Crush on Thursday just because), I have yet to meet someone that didn't get wow by it. And it also helps that I'm a fan of the chef!!! Crush was, is and will alway be on my list of places to visit every year! As long as I'm in Seattle anyways :))

    (5)

  • Kelly M.

    This was our most memorable meal of our trip to Seattle. Each dish was thoughtfully planned, beautifully plated, and well executed. Service was outstanding, so much so that although the food was incredible, it was our server Ashley who made the evening as special as it was. And the interior space is perfectly cozy. Thanks for an awesome meal and great memory in Seattle!

    (5)

  • Peggy Sue R.

    Came here for an annual celebration for a friend. Food was good, which was no surprise to me. Very unique, I like the fact I can add new foods to my list of "I tried" More raw foods then I've ever had in a multiple course meal yet. Love new experiences!

    (5)

  • Morten K.

    Had the 7-course tasting menu with the wine pairing. Some of the courses were very good, while others fell a little flat. The wine pairing was a bit of a joke due to the very small pours we received. The Bacon N Eggs and the steak tartare stood out as very good. The blue cheese course was really bad. The rest were OK, but nothing special. Presentation was generally good. I would not recommend the wine pairing. At $65 per person I would have expected more than a few sips in each pour. I found myself constantly having to save some for the food that was coming...if you are two people I would rather go with a nice $130 bottle of wine; a lot more wine and you get what you really want - although it obviously won't be matched perfectly to the courses... This was my second visit to Crush and probably my last. Not a bad place, but at almost $500 for two I probably would expect a bit more...

    (3)

  • David S.

    Good food and way, way overpriced. Sure it was good. But dinner for two was $145 plus tip: Two starters, two entrees, 3 glasses wine, one dessert. Moreover when the sever asked if we would like some more bread, he neglected to mention that extra bread was $5. Tacky. Lots of other places for a special meal.

    (2)

  • Kelsey K.

    YUM! I took my ex significant other here for his birthday dinner. We were lucky to be on vacation when they had the 3 courses for 40 dollars menu in place. Everything was lovely food wise. We were stuffed at the end. (We did order desert on top of the 3 courses.) My favorite bite the whole night was the amuse busch. The waiter was fabulous! He brought out special chocolates to celebrate the boy's birthday. Such a lovely night! The only negatives: The ambiance was not quite my thing as it is a old house with a very modern decor. The modern part was not really to my liking. Can be a bit tricky to find.

    (4)

  • Vanetta W.

    The short-ribs are to die for! Melt-in-your mouth yummy.

    (4)

  • Kay L.

    Wow what a Christmas Eve dinner to remember. From the starter Champagne, the artistic pear salad, the wonderfully created Atlantic Salmon full of flavor, the ambiance and the warmth of the staff, we loved our evening. Jason and Nicole Wilson have time and time impressed us with their creativity and culinary excellence. Truly a place anyone in Seattle should visit if not for special occasions and any other time of the week especially if you want to experience exceptional cuisine.

    (5)

  • Erika L.

    Amazing dinner and atmosphere.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Crush

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