staple & fancy

order wisely!. we went with a group of six and had no choice but to order the tastingmenu(that in itself seems a little odd)
the appetizers were great - the pastas were not. al dente doesn't equal chewy and flavorless! the main course was branzino (deboned not so well at the table) and pork. i was surprised at those two selections as many people don't eat pork and aren't big fish eaters. dessert was lovely. my overall impression was that i would have been happier ordering off the menu. if i go again it will be with fewer than 6 people! service was good.

this was one of the best meals i have had in a long time.  my wife and i both ordered the tastingmenuand were consistently wowed upon each course.  unlike altura, which is very good in its own, more artistic right, staple and fancy's tastingmenuwas more substantial and seemed more focused on the flavors of the food, itself.  the server (aaron) was a fantastic guide throughout the meal.  overall, a five-star experience.

order the tasting menu.. they have transformed this old building into something special. the long open space with the exposed brick makes for a great atmosphere. my husband and i were actually on the fence about ordering off the tastingmenuas i am a vegetarian and he is not. but this was no issue as they didn't mind bringing separate dishes. even though there was a few of the items i didn't love on the tastingmenuthe anticipation it brought and the conversation it brought out discussing each dish made it way worth the reasonable $50 person for ~7 courses. our server wasn't overly friendly and it seemed he might have been a little taken aback if we didn't order the tastingmenubut he was definitely efficient. great date night!

one word: memorable. i was so glad to finally have made it to this restaurant after much laziness on my part. themenurotates and i get a bit nervous that i will arrive at a time i can’t find anything i really have a taste for. you can’t look at themenuin advanced and choose what you want to get cause as it does, it changes. as someone who wants to go out and try new things,  this still makes me nervous. i can’t help myself and know that it’s something that i must get over. i finally got a reservation at this place and oh man, it was worth every bit of the anticipation.

the atmosphere was great although it was extremely warm. the food was ok. it was very under seasoned and overpriced for the small portions. did restaurant weekmenuand expected to be wowed. also, wine pairing suggestion was disappointing.

another amazing night at s&f. lucky to have gm jesse as our server and made the night even more special since he shares his passion for food, wine and service with each guest. amazing food (albacore and gnocchi our favs) and great wine list. can't rave enough!


-----15 dec, 2012-----

one our favorite places, we go back again and again. the chefsmenuis the best value in town and makes for a leisurely dinner full of different flavors. if you go often enough, just be aware that the chefsmenucan be a bit repetetive. wish they changed it up a bit more. great drinks!!

great evening. this may the crown jewel of ethan stowell's restaurants. (there are a couple we have not yet had an opportunity to try.) charmingly rustic physical plant an interestingmenuexecuted near perfectly and served by a knowledgeable and attentive staff.

try the veal chop and the pea salad ! outstanding. the scallops my wife had were also outstanding.

superb, period.. eat at this little place in ballard and you may leave thinking you've just had one of the best meals of your life.

themenuis limited, and the establishment suggests you try the "chef’s choice fancy menu: a multi-course feast of seasonal dishes crafted by ethan just for your table. willing to put your dining experience in the hands of the chef? you will not be disappointed."

we'd strongly agree with that statement. everyone at the table must choose the option; there were four of us on our visit. the meal was broken up into four courses -- appetizers, pastas, proteins (meat, fish) and dessert. the appetizer course consisted of six or so items, including lightly fried oysters, a chick pea dish, sushi and much more. the pasta course contained a seafood dish in a light white wine sauce as well as a red sauced pasta dish with pork jowl. our protein course was a roasted pork dish and alaskan salmon, and our desserts included a cheesecake and a chocolate dish with house-made ice cream.

the appetizer course was outrageous. foods were creative, fresh, tasty and well portioned. the pasta dishes were outstanding as well, and the pork jowl -- which was slightly smoky and crispy -- was a delight. the pork and salmon "meat" course were well prepared, though perhaps not as unique and original as the rest of the meal.

service was professional. our wait staff was informed, friendly and knowledgeable, but never intrusive. the atmosphere is more contemporary than stuffy, but that's fine.

overall, the experience ranks among the best meals we have ever -- yes, ever -- experienced. in any city.

food was universally fresh, original and exciting. portions were not ridiculously skimpy. this is eclectic food that is also good food. it's not fancy for the sake of being fancy. it seems every effort adds to the overall goal of providing superb food -- a superb meal -- to the customer.

if you read our reviews, you'll see we don't say this lightly. if you enjoy fine dining, a visit to seattle is not complete without a trip to staple & fancy. forget the menu. just do the fancymenuand call it a day.

highly, highly recommended.

great for the adventurous eater.. had the chef'smenuthat included plenty of small bites for appetizers, smoked fish & tuna crostini, octopus salad, whole roasted sardine, beef tongue, roasted pardon peppers, crudo of fish, and the burrata. some of these were a little too out-there for our taste. every time i have fresh sardine i think it will be good, but i just have to admit i hate it! it's just too strong for my taste. hubby just couldn't bear eating beef tongue. the octopus was well dressed, but a few pieces a little chewy. loved the crudo, burrata and the roasted peppers. after we got through the appetizers it was more traditional fare, but very good. pasta course was potato gnocchi pork ragu. the hint of mint gave an unusual, but enjoyable twist. the main course was an excellent pork loin, cooked perfectly. dessert was an apple crumble. service and ambience is very good. just be prepared for a vibrant scene and to try new things.

just ok. we did the chef'smenuand i was prepared to be wowed but we just weren't. a few of the appetizers were great, a few were ok and a couple we just didn't really like at all. the pasta was very average. then for the main course we were served the mackerel. it was good but wasn't amazing by any means. the service was fine but they didn't seem over friendly or go out of their way to be nice. they just did the basics. i would not to the chef'smenuagain. it was a lot of money to pay for a mostly just ok meal. perhaps i would go again and try to find the items that we did like on the ala carte menu.

i'm an admitted type a personality, but when given the opportunity to let a chef choose my dinner, i always take it. that's exactly what i did at staple & fancy mercantile in ballard. i just had to take chef ethan stowell up on his multi-course, ever-evolvingmenufor the bargain price of $45 a person. seriously, after you read this, you'll agree. it's a bargain, and you'll probably be dialing them up to get your name on their reservation list too. the updated warehouse space is opposite of another talked about restaurant, the walrus and the carpenter . you can see through into the walrus through the windows in the very back. i guess that's on my list now too. the night is still early when this shot was taken, but it was definitely bustling by the time we left. timing is everything when it comes to cocktails and feeding the babe at home later tonight, so i was anxious to order. everyone was happy with their choices, but ben was delighted in the ice cube perfection. th

perfect!. we (3 of us) selected the option "hand yourmenuback to your server and let the chef create a meal for you... etc".
fantastic... so many wonderful bites, i was so full, wine and food (4 courses, but there were several appetizers and 2 entrees, so we were spoiled!) all for under $100 per person. the pork shoulder was one of the best meals i've had. ever. service was exceptional, friendly and professional. my only request is that they ditch cafe vita. so not to the standard here. all 3 of us wrinkled up our noses at the green under-roasted espresso.

awesome!. superb service, fantastic bartender, great chefs! i highly recommend themenuthat "isn't on the menu". it is a multiple course meal with all courses chosen by the chefs. i was so overwhelmed by the quality and care we received on our first visit. can't wait to go again!