More decadence for your dollar

By Caitlin Enwright
- The Capitol Hill Times -

From Anchovies and Olives

Seattle Restaurant Week is in its third year of offering Seattle residents and visitors a chance to savor some of our city’s finest foods for a reasonable, uniform price. Over 150 restaurants are offering three-course meals for $28, and some locations are also offering a three-course lunch for $15, this of course does not include tax, gratuity or drinks. Most will be offering courses from their regular menus during Restaurant Week, which may get you wondering, “Where can I get what would normally be the priciest meals and take full advantage of this deal while it lasts?”

Ten Capitol Hill restaurants are participating: Anchovies and Olives (an Ethan Stowell establishment), Barrio Mexican Kitchen and Bar, La Spiga, Lark, Monsoon, Olivar, Poppy, Tango Restaurant, The Tin Table, and Via Tribunali.

Examining every menu item and comparing prices was no easy task, but it has been accomplished. Each restaurant has taken meals from its menu and offered them at the standard, discounted price. The task at hand was to find the restaurant that will be offering appetizers, entrees and deserts with the most expensive normal menu price.

This does not necessarily mean the most expensive restaurant is going to end up having the best deal. Some restaurants have created entrees just for Seattle Restaurant Week that are not normally found on their menu (possibly to save costs in the kitchen), while some avoid offering their pricier items on the Restaurant Week menu altogether.

At some participating locations on the Hill, you will be able to purchase a three-course meal for $28, when it would normally cost you in the $30 to $34 range. That means, depending on what you choose, you may only end up saving $2 to $6 – not an amazing deal after all. Restaurants that fell into this range were The Tin Table, Barrio, and Tango Restaurant, All of which offered entrees that normally range between $14 and $18.

Monsoon and La Spiga will be offering some slightly pricier menu items at the event’s discounted rate. La Spiga will offer an appetizer of Prosciutto di Parma, which, at $14, has the largest price tag in the appetizer category.

The restaurants offering the most expensive food are Anchovies and Olives, and Poppy. Normally a meal at these spots would cost you $42 to $45. That’s a savings of $14 to $17. Anchovies and Olives’ main entrees are usually around $25. Poppy will be offering its varietal meals called thalis, with seven unique small plates to eat from, also normally offered at around $25 off the menu. Olivar remains in question as they had not listed what their Restaurant Week offerings, other than a few appetizers, as of this writing.

Appetizers and deserts will stay at a steady price range across the board. A couple expensive exceptions include Poppy’s herbed white sausage offered for $11, or any of Larks pastries and confections for $10.

Keep in mind price does not always speak for the quality or quantity of what you’re ordering. While Poppy offers up their seven item thalis, some patrons may feel unsatisfied by the small portions. Other diners may feel there is no comparison between Barrio’s hardy Mexican fare and Lark’s delicate preparation, or La Spiga’s hand made pastas and Via Tribunali’s authentic Italian pizzas. In the end, it’s apples and oranges, and they are all delicious.