Market Street Cafe

My family and I went to the Market Street Cafe just before Christmas to celebrate a birthday. Rarely can we find a restaurant where everyone in the family is happy with the choice because of the varied tastes; my son is strictly meat & potatoes, my daughter is almost a vegetarian, my wife is conservative and I am adventurous. We all found something we liked from the wide and unique menu.

The chef is from Russian and schooled in French cooking so his menu and preparation are unique, well to me at least. I haven't eaten much Russian food, but I regularly eat at many of the most recognized places in Seattle. From fillet mignon to frog legs; borsch to sturgeon, there was something for everyone. The restaurant has a nice wine list as well, not very large but nice selections.

For appetizers, we ordered mushrooms in a champagne cream sauce, duck breast with raspberry sauce, and beef tongue (for me of course). They were very large and artfully presented. My tongue was very tender and served with a light cream dressing on a bed of cucumbers. My family quickly ate the duck breast but I was able to taste the mushrooms dish which was rich and creamy.

For entres, we ordered grilled salmon, fillet mignon, beef stroganoff, and grilled sturgeon. All the dishes again were very tastefully presented and with large portions. My sturgeon was grilled on a skewer and was perfectly cooked. The fish was lightly seasoned, and juicy and tender. It came with thinly sliced grilled potatoes and marinated cabbage salad. There were no complaints from anyone one at the table, other than the inability to finish the entre.

We finished off the night with desserts and my molten chocolate cake was deemed the best. It was quickly consumed by spoons reaching from all sides of the table.

The wait-staff was very professional and friendly. The atmosphere is romantic and tastefully done, more like what youd find in downtown Seattle. I estimate there are only 20 tables in the dining room. Entrees range from $20 to $35 and the ideal place for that special occasion dinner. The only reason I didn't give the restaurant 5 stars is this was my first visit. I want to insure they deliver consistent quality, so after 3 visits, I'm confident I'll add the final star. This is a gem you don't normally find on the Eastside.

Posted 12/27/07 | Report Abuse

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