(thebarkingdogalehouse.com) – Phinney
How I heard of this place: I first heard about the Barking Frog through my friend, Amir, when he moved into a town home one block away, but hadn’t had a chance to try the place until Chris suggested it for dinner.
Type of cuisine: It’s an alehouse with all of the typical pub grub one would expect, and then some. Everything from nachos to wings, pizza and burgers, to the not-so-obvious bar choices: tofu fries, meatloaf and chicken penne pasta.
Ambiance: A loud and friendly neighborhood establishment, with a slightly dark interior, windows along the front side of the venue, allowing for as much daylight as one can get on a grey Seattle summer day. Bar seating includes tall tables with backed-stools, chairs and tables line the remainder of the restaurant, where kids are also welcome (a limited kids menu is also available).
What I ordered: Sitting at a table where two are hungry, we ordered several things off of the menu, including an appetizer and salad. For our happy hour appetizer, we ordered the cheese quesadilla ($6.95; $4.99 during happy hour), which was prepared with a flour tortilla grilled and filled with cheddar Jack cheese, served with sour cream and salsa. The Caesar salad ($9.95) came with the traditional romaine lettuce and was tossed with a house-made creamy Caesar dressing and topped with parmesan cheese and croutons. For our main entrees my dining companion ordered the chicken saltimboca ($17.95): Porcini mushroom dredged chicken breast, stuffed with fresh sage, prosciutto and smoked Gouda, pan seared and covered in a rich Sherry wine sauce and topped with fried onions. The dish was served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables (broccoli). I selected the bleu cheese and fig ravioli ($15.75): dried fig and bleu cheese filled ravioli tossed in a flavorful brown butter, tomato, basil, garlic, shallot and white wine sauce topped with shredded parmesan cheese.
What I loved: Most of all, I loved the crispy, creamy and smoked flavor of the chicken on my dining companions plate! The garlic mashed potatoes were well seasoned, flavorful and smooth.
Why I loved it: The space is casual, the staff friendly and the restaurant has lived up to its hope of creating a neighborhood space where locals can walk a few blocks to enjoy a good meal with friends, family or on an afternoon alone.
Cost: Average ($14-$20 for well-portioned dinner entrees)