(joulerestaurant.com) – Fremont neighborhood, Seattle, Washington

How I heard of this place: In preparing for a brunch out with our family, my sister-in-law suggested Joule, owned by the creative risk-takers who opened Revel and Quoin.

Type of cuisine: “Joule, the first restaurant from celebrated husband and wife cooking team Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, is re-located in October, 2012 to the innovative, newly developed the Fremont Collective in Seattle’s Wallingford/Fremont neighborhood. From its original opening in 2007, Joule has cultivated a loyal dining fan base and captured the attention of an admiring local and national media captivated by the couple’s unique, modern perspective on Korean cuisine. Joule, the mature sibling to Yang and Chirchi’s restaurant, Revel, highlights Korea’s love of beef featuring unconventional cuts accompanied by distinctive and shareable side dishes.”

Ambiance: “The Whale Wins and Joule (which moved from its original location in Wallingford) joined the shared-space crowd in October, cohabiting on the first-floor expanse of a supremely airy converted warehouse coined the Fremont Collective (also home to Evo ski and snowboard shop).

But a singular facade in Fremont at 3506 Stone Way N is about all they share: The two restaurants couldn’t look or feel less alike. Imagine the proverbial devil and angel—each on a shoulder. Joule is the former: dim, shadowy, sexy. As if to drive home the point, a fire pit blazes outside on the patio.

In its former incarnation, the bookish interior of Joule hardly hinted at the wildly good, radically original food the chefs and owners, Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, were putting out, and that mismatch—of fiery food in such a subdued setting—had its charms. But the new Joule has dropped the shy facade. It also has a broader appeal; it’s markedly less food-nerd friendly.”

Bright and airy, modern, yet cozy, elongated yet open with indoor-meets-outdoor patio seating against the bar and sparse Italian-themed buffet of the month.

The warm wooden decor set against concrete floors and whimsical blue, patterned wallpaper, natural lighting streaming in from the basement-sized windows along the length of the establishment meeting the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that lead onto the open patio, where diners may enjoy a meal alongside the blazing, exposed fireplace make for an appealing brunch setting on a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon.

What I ordered: Brunch at Joule is brilliant! Indulge in an all-you-can-eat, rotating buffet of themed flavors (Russian last month, Romana 3506 – Italian – this month…), while awaiting your main entree, an order placed at the beginning of your meal, which arrives as it is prepared.

Among our party of five, we had two orders for the Smoked Chili Toast ($17 each), which included salted cod, smoked chili, topped with winter greens and served alongside one soft-boiled egg, one with a small cup of grapefruit juice ($4) and one with a mug of Diva Espresso brewed coffee ($3).

My mother-in-law enjoyed the Grits ($17) served with shrimp, Chinese sausage, brown butter and ginger with a mug of coffee.

My husband and I shared the Waffle ($17), sesame waffle with chicken fried steak and smoky maple syrup (+$3),

and the Sausage ($17), a bowl of mac n cheese made with fennel spaetzel and chunky sausage, topped with bread crumbs and a spring of fresh dill.

My husband also included a side of two scrambled eggs ($4) and we each ordered a bottomless mug of Diva Espresso brewed coffee ($3 each).

What I loved: Of the appetizer buffet, the kale and bean salad, roasted red and yellow bell peppers and the fennel and parmesan salad stole the show! The Shrimp and Grits was my first choice among all of the entrees I sampled, followed closely by the Mac n Cheese.

Why I loved it: Beautiful presentation, an open and clean space, fresh food prepared creatively and an efficient server that was always at the ready with fresh coffee refills, water, and any questions we may have dreamed up!

Cost: Average ($17 per entree including all-you-can-eat buffet)

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