Altura

Reviews 7

JE

JeffandEmily Logan

My husband and I have dined all over the world at some spectacular places, and we finally got around to trying this little place that came highly recommended. We came for our anniversary, and left incredibly disappointed in the food quality and consistency. We are from Bainbridge Island, so perhaps we are overly spoiled by the amazing food that is here. What we found at Alutra was overpriced, mediocre food. We splurged on the tasting menu and the wine pairings that went with is. While some of the food was delicious, most of it was simply mediocre and some downright bad--there was WAY too much salt used in several dishes, to the point that they were almost not edible. A lot of the dishes were lukewarm, too, when they should have been fresh and hot. The wine was good, but not great--and some of it didnt seem to pair all that well--the sommelier even admitted some of the pairings were hard. Given that the tasting menu changes a lot, I imagine he has a tough job and we took that into account. The service was impeccable, although we do feel like the dinner took too long. We enjoy a long drawn out dining experience and dont liked to be rushed through dinner, but 3 hours and 15 minutes felt a little too long for us. There were times that the window between tastings was way too long. So, while I am glad we tried it and overall enjoyed our anniversary, we certainly wont be going back. Please do yourself a favor--save the $500 for this tasting menu/wine pairing, and hop the ferry over to Bainbridge Island, where you can enjoy a tasting menu that will truly blow your mind for 1/3 of the price at Hitchcock. Theres a reason Seattles top chefs are here.

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JO

Jon Adams

This is a first for me but well we sat at the bar. The food, what there was of it, was superb. The wine was good but when I can buy the bottle for less that half the cost of a glass, it leaves a less than a good aftertaste. What bothered us was the waite staffs lack of sensitivity. When two people are carrying on a conversation (business) and have the waitress constantly reaching between you is unnerving. What happen to flexibility. With no one on either side, the food could have come and gone without interrupting us as we talked. It just ruined the dinner. The dessert was three balls of gelato in a bowl big enough to hold twenty balls and not an ounce of decoration. Rather a pathetic ending. Mine was Rhubarb Cake, how do you spell cake. It had no resemblance to cake. It was a joke and tasted like it was a week old. But the final straw was when a prep person takes a bottle of water and drinks it in front of us and then takes the back of his hand and wipes his mouth and keeps working. I could tell he was totally unaware of the appearance this provided. It seems many respect and enjoy Altura but for nearly $300.00 for two, I can think of a half dozen restaurants in Seattle that provide more of like quality for much less and provide parking besides as well as linen. No thank you.

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JA

Jacob N

This was my best meal so far this year and one of my best meals on the whole West Coast. Altura expresses beautiful, unique, and incredible flavors in their dishes. While providing a relaxed atmosphere and knowledgeable staff. Chef Nathan Lockwood and his team cook directly in front of you in their front of house open kitchen and if you sit at the counter you get to see all of the action! The tasting menu provides an incredible experience with countless courses, one after another and each just as impressive as the last. If you add on the beverage pairing and get all of the extra courses, it can get pricey, but its absolutely worth it. You wont leave hungry, and you will absolutely leave happy with an experience to remember. Ive been to many Michelin restaurants and many San Pellegrino "50 Best" restaurants and Altura fits right in there with the best of them. Its a shame Seattle doesnt have Michelin stars because this place would pick them up quick! I plan to come back everytime I visit Seattle and you should make sure its on your list too. Incredible Meal! Thanks to the whole Altura Team for a great time :)

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KA

Kat Turcotte

Ill start this review off by saying when it comes to "Italian" food, I am the worst critic. I either leave the restaurant in disgust or I proclaim that I can make it better myself (and I often do!). Neither of these things happened last night at Altura. The food was fantastic. The menu is flexible with nary a raised eyebrow when I ordered a soup and two mains for my tasting and my husband selected an item off the Winter tasting menu. The waiter was top-notch, attentive without being overbearing...I trusted him enough to select a wine based on his expertise and he totally nailed it. Does it take a while? Sure. This is an experience, not a quick "before performance" eatery. Sit at the counter and enjoy the show. Nathan did a superb job running the kitchen in a respectful and efficient way..while taking the time to answer questions about his menu with the patrons. The space is cozy for sure, but intimacy wasnt sacrificed with the layout. I highly recommend Altura.

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TO

Tom Truscott

Had a great experience here! Sitting at the counter really added to it, being able to watch the food prep and chat with the chef & other assistants throughout the evening. Food was excellent-around 7-8 courses depending on what you consider a course but can say by end of the meal, you are full! Menu options change periodically based on seasonal availability & are things most people would never have access or skill to prepare at home. In my opinion, its a great place for special occasions, as it is not cheap & depending on any add-ins you get or drink options, it only ramps up quickly from there! Place was well run, with short waits between courses, but just be aware, from time you arrive to time you depart will take 3 hours and possibly a little longer. Parking options are limited, but street parking is free after 8 p.m., assuming you can find a space.

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PE

Peter Novotnak

Quietly and unpretentiously wonderful. Me and my girlfriend came here for her birthday. I chose the establishment, having not looked carefully at the prices. Suffice it to say that we paid more than half of our rent. While it was a bit of a mistake in that regard, it was not in any other. I do not have the qualifications to review the food in any meaningful way, but we both enjoyed it to a high degree. While its the most Ive ever paid for food, it was also the best food Ive ever had in my 25 years by a good margin. The theatrical presentation added to the experience--one of our small courses arrived covered in a glass orb filled with smoke, shrouding and seasoning the dish. My only regret is that I could not afford to tip more, as the wait staff was as good (or better than) the food. We will return here in the future.

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DA

Dana Prouty

This place is perfect for a fancy dinner or special occasion. We started at the bar watching the chefs while we waited for our table to be ready. We decided to stay at the bar because it was more interactive and we loved watching everything being put together. Everything looked amazing so we decided on the tasting menu with matching wine pairings. We were not disappointed. Every course was amazing; from pesto with roe to waygu to pears with honey and cheese. We left feeling uncomfortably full. Our wine matchings were also perfect. We were even surprised with a beer in the middle. If beers are what you love, beer pairings can also be made instead of wine. Or if you hate beer, you can request not to have beer.

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