(hotelsorrento.com/dining) – First Hill
How I heard of this place: Becoming a season ticket holder for the 5th Avenue Theater definitely has its perks. One of them being dining coupons that give you great deals (20% off of the bill at The Hunt Club) on dining establishments near the theater. This is how I first heard of The Hunt Club – through becoming a 5th Ave subscriber.
Type of cuisine: Pacific Northwest cuisine.
Ambiance: Comfortable classic setting that reminds me of an old English pub. Dim lighting, candlelight appropriate for a date or for dinner with family. The location makes it less likely a place to just walk up to and go in for a meal, but if you do happen upon this 100-year old hotel, hungry, it would be a good dining option!
What I ordered: I ordered the mixed green ($8) salad with goat cheese, caramelized walnuts and a raspberry vinaigrette to start. Followed by the salmon ($18) served atop a bed of black lentils and fried leeks, three mini carrots and herb butter. Crisp fried leeks topped the perfectly pan-seared salmon. One of my three dining companions ordered the prime rib special ($22) which came with a wedge salad, served with bacon and cherry tomatoes and a blue cheese dressing. A large serving of prime rib accompanied by a baked potato (and all the fixin’s: sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, butter and chives). Another dining patron ordered the pan-seared dungeness crab cakes ($18) served alongside a Napa cabbage and bacon salad with a balsamic vinaigrette. The fourth in our party ordered shrimp piccata over linguine ($23). For dessert we ordered the chocolate cake layered with thick chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate. It was served with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, one sliced strawberry and a sprig of mint over vanilla bean ice cream.
What I loved: The salmon was perfectly pan-seared, crispy edges and soft and moist on the inside. The lentils full of the flavors of garlic and leeks. While I did not sample the other meals in the group, by the sounds of the oohs and ahhs, it was obvious that the choice of restaurant was spot on! The first to comment is very much a non-foodie, self-proclaimed. He was very impressed with the crab cakes and commented favorably on the Napa cabbage in balsamic vinaigrette. The prime rib, I was told, was delicious. And the shrimp piccata, “good”. We all agreed that we would return and eat there again. Win-win.
Why I loved it: For the caliber and the flavor and presentation of food we consumed it was well worth the cost of finally having the opportunity to check out The Hunt Club. I would recommend highly the light and faintly sweet mixed green salad and the pan-seared salmon!
Cost: Mid-range for a satisfying, delicious and enjoyable meal downtown Seattle ($18-$28 for an entree dinner)