Michele S.
Yelp
Very polite service. Waitstaff knew the menu. Only complaint is that the beverages didn't come right away. I would have ordered more drinks if the rotation went around quicker but there was only time for two glasses. I get kind a nervous when I don't have a drink in my hand but seriously... one of my favorite things in a restaurant like this is to quickly get drinks and sip while considering the menu. Anyway, the red from France I got, the Cab/Bordeaux was phenomenal. For my second glass I sampled the Syrah and the evening special but I had do a second glass of the same. My son got this on-tap root beer, Crater Lake that was everything he said he's always wanted root beer to be. I tasted it- it was perfect. Low on the fizz factor and the server said that was intentional.
The soup was knock-our-socks off good. They would have been my dinner had I known! I was in the mood for pasta which was a funny choice since it's hard to judge how good a place is by that type of dish but the pasta is made in-house so I went for it. It scratched my itch.
Our friends said the Snake River Waygu was decent and they say they bc they were at John Howie last week for the premium stuff and we do that, so my husband went with the ribeye to sample a menu staple. He wasn't disappointed. It looked great. It was cooked perfectly. I tasted the mashed potatoes and they had a perfect texture and flavoring. I might have added a little salt but that's just me. Oh, funny tidbit- when we sat down my husband mentioned they were very confident not having salt and pepper on the table and nary a steak knife was brought to the table either. And none were needed.
For the salad... eh. The bacon was smoky which was nice but it was a little dry and woody.
For the soup. I wish there was a daily specials menu so I could have photographed it for memories and for posting here, but there wasn't. All I can say is that there was lamb, there was lime, there were beans, there was cilantro and I would eat it every day of my life. It's hard to put beans in soup; I always feel it suckers with the consistency and this was done right all around. Delicious! We did get to keep the menus during dining which I like to do bc we sometimes order more and I like to read the descriptions as I'm eating. Without the specials written down, I didn't have that reference. With that said, with their sustainability goals, I understand why there aren't daily special print-outs. Maybe as a QR code in the future? Also with the sustainability subject... we noticed the inconsistent, thrifty silverware and really appreciated a place dedicated to respecting such flavor balance and holding true to their ideals in all areas.
The brownie desert- I barely tasted it, my son wouldn't share! When is put my fork towards it he'd smack it with his own fork! Funny but not bc I barely got a nibble. Very tasty. Brownie was cooked perfectly. The ice cream wasn't gummy, it was very pure.
Now... there talk about the burnt crème. What in tarrrnation was this creation? My only regret was not being able to fit a second order of this in my stomach. I loved the light consistency and flavor. The topping, could have been more burnt for that crispy topping but with the honey I acknowledge they could have been impossible. The salty pistachios... for heavens sakes... my perfect scenario is coming back, alone, eating this desert in the dark slowly, no other input, and savoring each and every bite.
What sticks with me the most is my appreciation for their subtle flavors and appropriate textures in some of their dishes. Example- If I see another overdone caramelized brussels sprout dish with so much maple and sugar and bacon and sauce on it, I'm going to scream. The mashed potatoes here were hit home by the texture- no need to pile in too much garlic. The best food isn't only what's added but just as much about about what's reserved.
Largest complaint I could give would be that this place is always sold out and I want to come back again and again. It's an obvious first choice of where to dine in Pullman. What a gem!