Surrell

"Chef Aaron Tekulve’s Madison Valley restaurant in a renovated Victorian home celebrates Washington with elegance and care. The tasting menus ($225 per person), made with the best seasonal Washington ingredients, start with a bouquet of flowers grown by Tekulve’s mother in the summertime, and some of the herbs come from beds growing next to a leafy covered patio. Surrell is also the world’s only restaurant with a Washington-wine-only wine list, and Tekulve prides himself on turning die-hard Francophiles into Washington wine lovers with an impressive bottle list built through close relationships with local winemakers and collectors." - Harry Cheadle

"Behind a relatively anonymous new-build door on a busy stretch of Madison, chef Aaron Tekulve and his team are doing exceptional things. This two-seating-a-night tasting menu spot should be on every fine dining fan’s radar, not just for the impeccable service — a meal comes with a welcome sangria at the door, a poem written to celebrate the menu, even a bouquet made by Tekulve’s mom — but for the inventive food. The menu shifts constantly based on the seasons and turns over completely every several weeks, but recent highlights include a porcini macaron and fantastically tender octopus cooked with bay leaf and splashed with fish sauce. Sitting at the chef’s counter really makes you feel like you’re at a dinner party hosted by an incredibly thoughtful, inclusive host." - Eater Staff

"This Madison Valley restaurant by chef Aaron Tekulve delivers one of the most powerful fine dining experiences in Seattle. The food is inventive and combines techniques from European and Asian culinary traditions, and the service includes touches like a glass of sangria at the door to welcome you and bouquets that you get to take home. At $195 per person, it’s in line with other high-end tasting menu meals, but decidedly worth it if you can afford it." - Jade Yamazaki Stewart, Harry Cheadle

"Aaron Tekulve of Surrell will feature in the Guest Chef Nights on November 21." - Harry Cheadle

"For about $200, service charge not included, you get admission to the dinner party of your dreams. There’s a drink at your door, 10 courses showcasing seasonal ingredients and Aaron Tekulve’s creativity, a freakin’ poem written about the menu, a bag of granola to take home, and a little cup of decaf coffee or tea to drink on your way there. The location is anonymous (Madison Valley?), but the service is guaranteed to impress." - Harry Cheadle