"This outstanding Ballard butcher shop has such a deep dedication to meat that you can experience it in a few different ways. There are raw chops to grill at home, tables at their fancy tasting menu moniker known as The Peasant, and an a la carte weekend operation called The Beastro with prepared cuts from the butcher case. We particularly enjoy the brown butter-drenched London Royale, super thin slices of lean steak so rare that it might as well be carpaccio. Just don’t ignore Beast & Cleaver’s desserts, which are just as impressive as the chops. We'll be honest—it's really hard to secure a spot for The Peasant. Sometimes you can find a table for two on a random night of the month because somebody cancelled, and if you really want to get technical, the cancellation policy is three days without penalty, so check in 72 hours in advance for your best odds. And since some tables seat more folks, you could get even luckier if you're trying to book a large party. If you sign up for Beast & Cleaver’s newsletter, you’ll get an email when the next batch of dates open up to book online." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley