Skip This Place and Go For Someplace More Welcoming

Posted by gapkid from Charlotte, NC on 11/20/07

The restaurant came recommended on a Food/Walking Tour of Seattle. Our visit to Cascadia did not leave with a favorable first impression and we will NOT return. Its staff offers neither a friendly nor welcoming atmosphere. We arrived during the week at 5:00 pm as Cascadia opened. The dining room was empty. We asked for a table for 2 and answered that we did not have a reservation for the empty restaurant. The host informed us that he could seat us (if he had to), but we'd have to leave by 6:30 when their reservations started. We declined the "invitation," as it was apparent that we were not wanted. I question the integrity of a restaurant that employs such a host, as well as the quality of a restaurant that picks and chooses their professional paying customers. We were neither formally dressed nor extremely casual; we were on vacation during the cold season. And...I have to ask: is the service that slow that we couldn't be served and eat in an hour and a half? The host's remarks were unnecessary. Instead, we went to Wild Ginger, another highly recommended restaurant. They were very busy and yet, somehow, still were able to accommodate us. Imagine that. We spent $100 for a dinner for two at Wild Ginger that Cascadia missed out on. I guess they're doing so well, they don't need our money.

Less than Fresh- Crabmeat tasted like Ammonia

Posted by Liz from Providence, RI on 6/27/06

I had the large tasting menu in June, 2006. Each dish disappointed more than the prior one. I thought this restaurant would use excellent, fresh and local ingredients, but was wrong. There was very little flavor, and many of the dishes tasted like they were made with produce past their spoil dates. The bisque with crabmeat tasted like ammonia. The veal was tough, had little flavor and was not very fresh. Each of the three (tiny) cheeses had a film on them as if they had been pre-cut days ago. I asked the sommelier for a Washington state wine recommendation, as I am not from the area, and he gave me an Oregon wine. The only good item on the menu was the dessert. I had the Global Warming, and it was quite good. Unless you are only getting dessert, do not waste your money.

It's pretty - but!

Posted by Dick from Seattle area on 4/23/06

Our second visit. Very pretty place with good, not great, food. Had the tasting menu and it was a mixed bag. Some excellent, some poor. "Chicken dumplings" were tasteless and lamb chops were blood rare and overcrusted with herbs so you could not taste the lamb. For about the same money, you can go to Mistral - far superior.