Elemental

Anyone know where the chef went and what he’s doing now?
I wonder if he’s popped up somewhere else?
Katy H pretty much described it. A very reasonable price around $ 65? but wine pairing is included and for ²⁄₃ of the time at least it’s pretty spot on paring.
tons and tons of wine. basically if you come here and you get the wine pairing (u don’t have to), don’t drive b/​c you WILL be tipsy after.
The food was spectacular, dish after dish of well executed dishes. Nothing overly fancy or cooked with crazy technique or anything but plated beautifully and flavors unique and distinct. Not overly salty or anything… Balance. like in great wine, it’s a necessity in great food.
Too late to write a review almost a year later, but had to note how good this place was, and ask the question — where are they now?

Good god this was amazing. I’m not sure if it’s helpful to anyone that I’m reviewing Elemental now as they just closed last night, but I wanted to nab some bragging rights and at least make sure people knew what they missed if they hadn’t had the pleasure of eating here before. I’m certain that Phred and his team will be back, hopefully hosting the occasional pop-​up or small event.
So yes… I came here last night and it was their last hurrah. As I’d always heard, the food was phenomenal. The idea is that you come and pay for an experience. You don’t pick what you eat and you don’t even pick the wine. It’s all inclusive and it’s all worth every penny.
I wanted to say I was surprised to see bare white walls and nondescript white chairs and tables. But it’s suddenly obvious why this place looks so simple… It’s about the food. No one wants you to stare off into space looking at some painting. The small team of folks here want you talking about and enjoying one thing only, your meal.
Kicking things off we were asked about cocktail orders. I asked for a Manhattan and he asked for a Negroni. Both were absolutely perfect! As we waited for round 1 to begin we were served with a bowl of freshly popped truffle popcorn. Delish!
Then out came the first round of wine. A very lovely riesling gave us the impression that dish number one would be on the sweeter side and it was perhaps the most incredible dish of the entire meal. A chilled soup with crème fraîche and basil. It was red in color and either tasted of some kind of berry or stewed rhubarb. It was totally mind blowing!
More wine appeared and we were treated to a delicious spinach salad with chicken livers. We almost fought over it! Then more wine (see the theme here? Lots of wine!) and we had a calamari dish, then a stewed meat and risotto dish, three desserts including a fantastic strawberry shortcake and finally a cheese platter.
In between each course we were served anywhere from 1 – 3 wine pairings each. There was also a small serving of sherry and white port.
It was pretty insane and totally worth it. In fact, it couldn’t have been a better night for me because I’d spent all of these years wanting to go to Elemental and knew that the experience had to be spent with someone important. It’s expensive, it’s romantic and it’s special… So when I had the right man to go with it seemed like everything lined up for me. There was no better way to spend the evening than how I spent it last night. And if you ever get the chance to eat a meal like this, hire a town car. Don’t drive! I had so much wine last night that I wasn’t feeling so great today. And it was worth it!

I absolutely recommend this place to everyone i come in contact with.
Go, Sit, Shutup, Drink, Eat, And then be happy.

This is (still open?) my kind of restaurant. Go in, sit down, someone brings me a drink, someone brings me to die for food and I can just chat with my friends and not worry about anything. Definitely don’t have to worry about parking as you should have cab’d or über’d. I’ve been twice and did not have a single negative moment in the 6−7hours spent there.
In two visits I probably had 12 courses so there is no way I could critique them all but I can share that my absolute favorite was the scallops. The chef knows her scallops. Damn. Also, I think if you manage to drink everything given to you then you win an extra piece of dessert. True story.
(reviewer has no dietery restrictions and a proper liver)

After reading the reviews, I went into this a little nervous… can I ask how much this costs or about the food or do I just have to sit there quietly?
Then the drinks started to flow and the delicious food started to appear, and I realized that none of that mattered. Delicious course after course and glass of wine after glass, this place truly does not disappoint. I’m not really sure what I was eating (well, it wasn’t anything super crazy), but it was actually fun to sit around the table and guess. The owner does make a lot of smart remarks and takes away glasses of wine when you are not finished, as expected. but don’t worry, you end up getting wine with every course and then some! The price after about 3 hours, 7 courses, 7 – 9 beverages (hard to keep track after a while.) was around $ 80 per person. Really not that bad considering what you get!
As a somewhat indecisive person, I really enjoy the experience of letting the chef prepare whatever he/​she feels like. It gives the restaurant an opportunity to shine by doing what they can do well. My only reason for a 4 star vs. 5 star review is I kind of like when chefs talk about the food and wine – how it was prepared, where it came from, etc.
If you have the opportunity to go before they close at the end of June, just go in with an open mind. Also, get there extremely early (~4:15pm)! The place only seats around 16 and they don’t take reservations.

Another amazing meal at Elemental. I had heard they were closing soon (boo!), so got some friends together for a four-​hour feasting extravaganza. Portions were perfect — we left satisfied but not stuffed, and definitely with a bit of a buzz. They did something last night involving cold shrimp in an aioli that made me want to shake 5 more portions out of them, and the rhubarb & rice pudding dessert was heaven. My kickoff cocktail was a perfectly made Manhattan with a bit of a twist, and at least two of the wines were among the best I’ve ever had.
I love this restaurant. You simply have to put yourself at their mercy and they will deliver. It feels like they’ve been around long enough that anyone reading views on Unilocal (or, you know, walking in the door and looking at the signs, or reading their web site) would have figured out by now how the place works, but in case you haven’t — just sit down, relax, and enjoy great food.
The usual mandatory tip — if you don’t show up by 4:45 or 5:00 on a weekday, you probably won’t get seated. It’s tiny.
Everyone should have one meal here before they leave us!

What am I missing?!?
We heard GREAT reviews about this place from our friends, so decided to check it out. Since they don’t take reservations (which is already a negative in my book), we went on a Tuesday.
Without asking, they immediately bring you a cocktail. When the (owner/​waiter/​chef/​host?) returned for drink orders and I ordered a ginger ale, he literally gave me a dirty look! I am not even kidding! Wtf? What if I was an alcoholic? I was pretty taken aback but we moved on.
We’d never been before (it was my husband, a friend, and me), so we didn’t know how things there worked. Mr. Attitude brought us some truffled popcorn and then we sat there, menu-​less and clueless, for about fifteen minutes, wondering if they did in fact serve food. Finally my friend asked how things worked there, very politely adding that we would like dinner but had never been before. Mr. Attitude just kind of looked at us and then said, «Okay, is there anything you can’t eat?» With nervousness, I told him I am vegetarian and can’t have raw onions. My husband and friend both told him they could eat anything.
The food started coming not long after, along with the wine. We didn’t ask for a wine pairing but I guess that’s how they do it there whether you want it or not. My first dish, a salad, had raw red onions on it. Hilarious considering Mr. Attitude’s unbelievably condescending behavior so far. I didn’t say anything, just picked them off. To his credit, he did apologize after he took the plate away.
With every dish, they bring more wine. There is never any indication of how many courses there are, what is in them, or how long this will continue. If you don’t finish your wine by the time they bring the next glass, they unceremoniously whisk the previous glass away. One time, my husband made the mistake of trying to take his last swallow of wine before it was taken away, only to have Mr. Attitude snap, «The goal is the end of the meal, not the bottom of the glass.»
The dishes are served «family style,» meaning that if you have no dietary restrictions, they put a plate in the center of the table and everyone shares onto their own smaller plates. I HATE THIS. I am a fast eater and therefore end up feeling like I am hogging down everyone else’s food. Just let me choose my food and give me my own damned plate so I can eat at my own speed. One of the courses was vegetarian, and when Mr. Attitude set it down and said we could all eat it, my husband asked, «What do we have here?» in a very polite and interested way. Mr. Attitude’s response: «The next course.» Then he walked away.
By the end of the meal we were stuffed and my husband and friend were wasted. My husband actually had to get up and go ask for the check because Mr. Attitude had disappeared and we didn’t know how much longer dessert was going to take — we’d already been there like three hours.
The food was decent — quite good, actually — but NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, excuses the level of rudeness we experienced at this place. The price for having a wine pairing was actually pretty reasonable, but the ambiance was meh, the service was dreadful, and I will never, never go back.

A hole-​in-​the-​wall favorite of mine, this restaurant goes above and beyond your dining expectations! The two owners, Fred and Lori are a dynamic duo in the kitchen and dining area where they create such a personal experience for all guests.
What makes this establishment so special is that every dish is prepared with a delicious drink. Expect multiple courses paired with drinks (perhaps take a taxi as you can easily find yourself tipsy after your fourth or fifth course). The chefs are open to guests ordering directly off the menu, but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you let them just bring out whatever they suggest. I’ve dined here on four occasions, which means, I’ve tasted approximately 20 – 30 dishes –90% were exceptional.
Plan a 2 – 3 hour dining & drinking experience.
Great place for a date, or hosting a private dinner.
NO RESERVATIONS.

When it comes to what makes a restaurant above par, it’s more than about great food. It is the whole «experience» that makes or breaks the deal for me.
With that being said, Elemental definitely offers the experience. It’s up to you if you’d enjoy that experience or not — I say this because I’ve heard of some people not appreciating the mystery factor of this amazing dining experience.
Will you necessarily know what you’re shoving into your mouth? No. But that mouth will be a happy one with light and delicate dishes served over five courses.
Be sure you arrange a cab, bus, legs, or a designated driver. Your table will barely hold up what seems like never ending wine servings. They are nicely paired with each course, and then some.
Here’s a tip. You cannot make a reservation so avoid prime dinner time. Later the better, I’ve noticed.
I’ve already said enough. Just go give this new dining experience a try. If you hate it, you can take a stroll down to gas works and ask yourself what is wrong with you.

YUM!!! Elemental brings back such great memories and a nose full of smells that are out of this world.
You must prepare yourself for an alcohol induced coma if you’re a light weight, so check your status at the door before entering. And if you’re an alcohol connoisseur like me, prepare yourself for both a liquid and culinary feast!
If you are willing to try new and interesting new dishes, come to Elemental. Phred and his wife who is the amazing chef in the kitchen will treat you like royalty. Let Phred choose your cocktail for you when you first sit down. Just tell him what you like and he will make you something that you’ll never forget, and never be able to recreate.
Prepare to lick your plates clean. You may not know what that crunchy morsel was that you just enjoyed, but I assure you, you’re gonna love it!
I would recommend Elemental for a special date with your significant other or even a gathering of friends and family. Just make sure there aren’t any picky eaters in your group.
Make sure you have the phone number for a cab just in case Phred’s wine pairings prove too much for your tolerance level.
My main suggestion would be to sit back, enjoy each serving with each wine pairing and get ready for a tongue and palette pleasing ride!

I don’t understand how anyone could have posted a one or two star review here.
These are probably the same annoying people who tell the waiter all their self imposed dietary restrictions/​insist on a gluten free diet/​etc. If you fit into one of those categories I would not recommend going here, but for everyone who LOVES good food (like I do) you cannot miss out on this place.
Better than the Herb Farm for half the price.
I don’t remember all the dishes they brought, or the alcohol they «forced» upon us (don’t drive). When my boyfriend tried to order a gin & tonic Phred (?) succinctly dismissed him and told him he would be trying something new tonight. I loved that! You are completely put in their hands and have to trust they will bring you something delicious, which they did all night long.
After reading some of the other reviews I was almost afraid to walk in and face Phred. I found his dry approach to «serving» to be extremely refreshing. If you have no sense of humor or sarcasm I can see how you would take him the wrong way, but if you just take it easy and relax you will have a wonderful night.
P. S. When my bf cautiously told Phred he didn’t like onions it was a complete non-​issue. When they brought me French onion soup they brought him a delicous roasted pepper/​mozzarella substitution. Phred actually asked us in the beginning if there was anything we couldn’t eat (which I wasn’t expecting). If you have a laundry list of dislikes i could see it being a problem though.

What a great experience. It truly was an experience rather than just a great meal. My boyfriend and I went on his birthday for one of their special event dinners that was a cocktail pairing with each course. The cocktails were thought of and mixed by bartenders from different backgrounds and from all over the city of Seattle. The amazingly refreshing and delicious «Welcome To Elemental» drink was a great surprise when we first walked in the door. We sat down at our table with two other pleasant couples and had some small talk about the weather. The winter weather complaints amongst the table turned into stories and laughter as entrées and drinks kept presenting themselves, each in their own uniquely paired fashion. Five fit-​for-​a-​king courses and five variety of cocktails later, my boyfriend and I were in a state of food utopia.
This has been my favorite restaurant experience in Seattle. No questions asked. You won’t be disappointed as long as you stay open minded.
Some other highlights —
No tipping, chefs and owners are typically present and will ask you how you liked their meals after, set menu — so no «I should have ordered that» issues, small «at-​home» feel with sophisticated class, reasonably priced for all you get.

NOT open. That is a lie. Friday was my birthday. My boyfriend got a 48 hour pass from his military exercise to fly up for the weekend to celebrate and we planned to visit Elemental because it’s a neat experience. This is the second time we’ve tried to come on a Friday to find them closed for a private party. They will not allow reservations or notify you on the site of these unexpected closures. As a customer (who walked two miles on her birthday because she expected to get drunk) I realized they do not have my best interests at heart. I have to say their complete lack of customer service, expectation or communication leaves them as the last place I’ll be returning or recommending in the future. Which is a shame, they have a great concept but have destroyed a local and loyal (was coming back next week with girlfriends) customer base. :(

The Soup Nazi is alive and well and working at Elemental.
I was smart enough to keep my mouth shut most of the meal and do what I was told. But sonofabitch if my napkin didn’t fall on the floor. The food is good — but not so orgasmic that you can be snotty to me for dropping my NAPKIN.
They shove alcohol down your throat as soon as you walk in the door, which is awesome and yet I was bracing myself to be date raped. Kidding. But seriously, I was so hung over from the night before and when asked if I wanted a cocktail, I said no thank you. I received a cocktail anyway. And then when I didn’t drink it – given dirty looks.
But you know what – you have to try this place to believe it. I recommend going waaaasted and being on your worst behavior. And by worst behavior I mean, say you don’t eat meat. Ask what everything is that they bring you. Drop your napkin. You’ll probably be asked to leave. I swear, I felt like I was on a hidden camera show in this place. Like do people like this really exist?

*Since my last review and having visited several more times I am going to save you a lot of time, suffering and money with some tips.
*First-​take $ 200 out of the ATM
*Second-​Go to the grocery store and buy matches, jiffy pop, a small bottle of truffle oil, a gallon of crappy Paisano wine and a turkey Hungry Man TV Dinner
*Third-​Go home invite a friend over and ask him/​her to insult you relentlessly, you know, ask them to try their best to make you feel like a complete dbag
*Fourth-​cook said Hungry Man, popcorm slathered with truffle oil, tell yourself the slop is Laurie’s greatest creation ever (maybe its QUAIL! OOOOOHHH!), have your friend continue to berate you and slam crappy wine down on the table
*Lastly, take the remaining $ 160 bucks or so, light the bills, watch them burn and have your angry friend put them in a very uncomfortable place.
That my friends is EXACTLY what my last meal was here and if you don’t believe me, go try it. Go in and smile and be kind to Phred and Laurie, I promise you they will be the worst restaurant hosts ever and kick out inedible slop to you-​food and unbelievable attitude that just doesnt have a place anywhere let alone a dining room. Bön Appetit!
*PS-​I hear that the Monroe State Pen is looking for a line cook and prison guard, my suggestion to these two is to polish your resumes.
I thought I would also add this gem I found on Cornichon’s Website, pretty much sums this all up-​BRAVO!:
«And yet, just when we thought it might be safe to get back into the water: Not. We hear that Westfall lost his composure again this weekend after a guest took issue with the restaurant’s cavalier response to a question about available seating („I’m not psychic!“). Impolite words were spoken by both parties, whereupon Westfall physically assaulted the hapless guest. Now, we know that people get into the restaurant business for all sorts of passive-​aggressive reasons („I just want to feed people“ is the most common), but sadism shouldn’t be one of them. That’s just dickish.»

This place is something else! Don’t come here if:
–You don’t like to drink… (a lot)
–You can’t take quirky/​weird/​snobby personalities with a grain of salt
–You want to know what dishes are being placed in front of you
–You hate waiting for a table (there are no reservations)
–You are a picky eater
If you can handle all of the above, you will have a great time here! I came with a group of 6 girls, to celebrate a birthday. We waited for our table at END (elemental next door) for about 3 hours. While we waited, we munched on truffle popcorn and enjoyed a couple bottles of wine (all priced at $ 30 a bottle!). The staff at END were super friendly and we had a great time.
When we were finally seated, Phred came over and asked us if we would like a cocktail to start. We said sure, and he fixed six different drinks! We had so much fun passing our (strong) cocktails around the table. Following that, we enjoyed about 5 courses (I think… each course is paired with wine) and desserts (three different desserts for the table). Phred LOVES making rude, awkward comments and then just walking away. It’s just all part of the… hmmm… charm isn’t quite the right word, but it just adds to the uniqueness of this place.
Here’s my favorite line:
Me: «Ohhhh… what’s this?» (after a course was placed in front of me)
Phred: «Your next course.»
Me: (trying to think of a witty response)
Phred: (already gone)
I had so much fun here, and my girlfriends and I still talk about this experience. You really have to come here with people who enjoy unique dining experiences. Oh, and this was a whole night event. We were at END/​Elemental from about 6:30 — 1:00!

I think you have to go here with an open mind and a sense of humor. Who cares what you eat, as long as it’s good?
What we ate was great! Course after yummy course — gnocci in browned butter with black mushrooms, stuffed sole, something with pork, an amazing soup, some great cheeses, three desserts for two people!
*shrug* I’m not too particular about knowing everything I ate. It was awesome to be greeted on a cold night with warm mulled wine. The owner/​waiter wasn’t shmoozy but wasn’t rude to us either, but we did agree that we’d go in with an open mind and empty bellies. We drank like crazy, and didn’t even finish every glass of wine. And omg, not to mention our amazing cocktails… If I had known about the wine, I might not have had a cocktail, but I certainly don’t regret it after! (Ok, I had a hell of a headache the next day, but…)
For what we paid, I feel like dinner was an amazing deal. Bring good company and don’t stress about the service. The bill’s inclusive, the man’s not working for tips so he’s not going to suck up to you for more cashola.
PS. The ambiance is nice, good soft lighting and interesting columns, but the kitchen looks very much like a home kitchen — not for show, but for cooking!

Heard so many things, had to come and try. First we were afraid that we were going to be late and not get a seat, but apparently it was a super slow day — got there at 6:15, only one other table there and stayed that way the whole night.
The drinks– the cocktails are good, the wines are good. There’s a lot. You can drink it all if you really pace yourself but it’s not worth it. I’m not sure if the pairing was really pairing as there was so much but definitely nothing didn’t go w/​each other.
The food is delicious — but a little less than I expected. Very uniquely prepared though and the portions are fine, just less than what I’d expect esp w/​how many drinks you get and how long you sit there.
I would come back for a special occasion or a night out w/​friends but not too often. The experience is worth going at least once. Now I want to try E.N.D.
Make sure to take a cab, don’t drive drunk!

The hubby chose this as a date night type place, and I’m so glad he did. I have no idea how he discovered it, but everything was so delicious (and paired with a glass of wine) that I haven’t a thing to be critical of. Our server was super friendly, and since it was a weeknight, the place wasn’t as packed as I understand it usually is.
We began just a tad confused at what to expect. However, that didn’t matter much as everything is already decided for you (you should probably let them know if you’re a vegetarian beforehand), and paired perfectly with a glass of wine. This is perfect, as it pushes you to try things that you may not have chosen straight from a menu, but causes a lot of «mmm”-ing and «ohhhh”-ing throughout the meal.
Let’s just say we were all smiles by the end of dinner, and were promising each other to come back soon.

The sign at the entryway sums it up:
«There are 1500 ‘normal’ restaurants in Seattle. This is not one of them.»
The dining experience is identical to a good friend (who’s an amazing cook) calling you up, inviting you over, and serving you food. You simply trust him and you’re not disappointed. The restaurant is tiny — about 8 total tables and a few chairs at the bar overlooking the kitchen that’s no bigger than the one in my townhouse.
We went there with a party of 12, taking over (literally) ²⁄₃ of the restaurant. Upon being seated we served water and an apertif of some variety. We then were asked to make one of only two decisions we were allowed to make — «what kind of cocktail would you like?» I (of course) went with the Manhattan, which was served up with three little cherries (as opposed to the maraschino variety). One of our part ordered [something I can’t remember], which garnered her the response of «We’ll be trying something different tonight.»
And that’s what’s great about this place. They simply serve you fantastic food paired perfectly with fantastic wine.
The night we were there Seattle was in the midst of a huge heat wave. Because the place lacks AC the chef decided she was going to do an all cold (and almost all raw) dinner. It was served as about 7 courses, each with its own wine. Among the different items served up were a steak tartare and caprese, which are two of my favorite things (and were just done up perfectly).
In the midst of everything was a chicken salad which was served up with a pinot noir — something I never would have done in a million years if I was serving guests, but was just a perfect match (showing why I don’t own a restaurant!). And as a side note, keep in mind that every course includes another wine — keep an eye on how much you’re consuming (or better yet — just take a cab).
We did get to make one last decision at the end of the night — cheese plate or something sweet for desert. We went for the sweet and were not disappointed.
They do a prix fixe, but I’m not sure what the amount was (as I wasn’t allowed to pay thanks to a friend the night I was there).
I’m contemplating booking a trip to Seattle just to be able to visit this place again.