The Whale Wins

Aaron Klingensmith

When people ask me what is Pacific Northwest cooking, The Whale Wins immediately comes to mind. (Which is somewhat odd because their little store also has strong European market vibes!) Between the ingredients they're using and the use of a wood-fired oven for the cooking of (seemingly) all their proteins, they would be a good representative for what the region has to offer and how it can be showcased. Better yet, the exceptional food is matched by exceptional service. While we were dining there, our server went above and beyond to make sure our experience was superb, answering all of our questions and requests. The location is also unbeatable as you could easily make a day out of the area, enjoying the scenes from Gasworks park, a local beer, etc. But when it comes time for dinner or lunch, make this the place.

Robert Paterno

Awesome food, staff and ambiance! Menu choices were incredible. Chef Marc was great in explaining the menu and provided great recommendations! A must try!!

Kate

Great place for small plates! We had the scallops, parisienne gnocchi, and olives. Great ambiance on the patio; staff were friendly and very knowledgeable on menu items. However the menu in its presentation felt a bit pretentious in our opinion. It's impossible to know what portions you're receiving by menu alone, as it lacks section headers for starters, entrées, etc. Again staff were helpful with this and flavors were delicious, but the warm and casual vibe of the restaurant was a confusing juxtaposition with the menu for us. All things considered, it is a great stop in a beautiful location!

Angela Wang

High stars for great service, ambiance, and cocktails. The food, however, wasn't to my taste. Everything was cooked perfectly, hence the high stars, but it was one of those meals where everything tasted confusing. Dinner conversation consisted of hard hitting questions like: Why is the duck paté and pickled veggies sweet? Why is everything garnished with pickled stuff? Is it supposed to taste like that?