Lecosho

Lecosho Review

Matt Janke (formerly of Matt's in the Market) doesn't have his name on the marquee at this Downtown restaurant a few blocks from his old stomping grounds, but he and business partner Jill Buchanan still prepare modern, hearty, soul-satisfying dishes that rely on ingredients from Pike Place Market. Lecosho's motto is "food we love"—they say the name is Chinook for "swine," and that means a menu heavy on the likes of house-made charcuterie, pork tenderloin wrapped in pork belly, and a pork chop served with a side of potato puree, haricots verte, and salsa verde. It's not all as heavy as it sounds and there's plenty of local fish (a Janke specialty) and shellfish, plus vegetarian pleasures like cavatelli with wild mushrooms. The room is warm and even elegant, but casual enough for a quick lunchtime stop. It's halfway down the steep Harbor Steps, but there's a street-level walkway to an elevator.