(michaelmina.net/restaurants/seattle/rn74-seattle) – Downtown Seattle, Washington

How I heard of this place: Having opened just three years prior, months after our move to the east coast, RN74 has received glowing recommendations since our return to the neighborhood. On this evening, friends visiting from out of the country, we were determined to sample and show them a little of Seattle’s culinary promise.

Type of cuisine: “The Burgundy and Northwest-influenced restaurant…gets its name from Route National 74, the roadway that passes through France’s Burgundy region.”

 

“Michael Mina has merged the best of creative, modern French cuisine with local seafood influences and his signature bold flavors.”

Ambiance: “This reiteration of Michael Mina and Rajat Parr’s San Francisco original is a raucous rendezvous whose luxuriously informal interior recalls a classic European train station. The kitchen’s modern riffs on such French classics as coq au vin, cassoulet and beef bourguignon are stunning deconstructions, impeccably cooked, seasoned and sauced. The international wine list is impressively deep with NW vintages.”

My favorite part was “…the loud, hyper-stylish interior features…of those train-station signs with the flip-over letters, here listing bottles of wine.”

What I ordered: To start, a large, sharable bowl of Bacon-Cheddar Popcorn ($8), which immediately opened up our tastebuds and became an immediate favorite among the four of us dining here, tonight.

We also selected a plate of Heritage Bacon Deviled Eggs ($12),

which were served with house made sun dried tomato & olive rolls, ricotta & honey.

Our dining companions selected the Grilled Spanish Octopus ($19), served with crispy fingerling potatoes, lardo, Pimenton, aioli and an over easy hen egg.

For our main entrees, my husband and I were both interested in the Salmon, so we decided to share a few items, instead. The first, of course, being the Alaska Troll King Salmon served over fingerling potatoes and topped with pea shoots.

We also shared the Mac N’ Cheese ($11) made with local Beecher’s cheddar,

and the Lacinato Kale Salad ($14) tossed in artichoke dressing with garlic streusel.

Our dining companions chose the Market Avocado & Hamakua Hearts of Palm salad ($21) with Alaskan King Crab, pomelo and a vibrant, summery Sriracha-Lime dressing

and the RN74 Burger Royale ($19) avec fromage

with an additional helping of Duck Fat Fries ($9) mingling with garlic, rosemary and del gris.

What I loved: The Bacon-Cheddar Popcorn remained the favorite among my sampling of appetizers, with the octopus coming in at a very close second. My only qualm: there wasn’t more of it. I absolutely adored the salads, and would immediately return to RN74 for any one of them!

The portion of salmon for the price was an initial shock to the system, but the flavor and crisp yet moist preparation soon had us overlooking the sticker. Duck fat fries. Need I say addictive?

Why I loved it: Excellent ambiance, friendly server, intriguing decor and a flavorful variety of foods; not quite French, but the inspiration is certainly welcome.

Cost: High ($19 – $36 – and up for market priced items – per entree)

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