There are many areas of Seattle that are being revived with bars, restaurants, and local shops. The Walrus and the Carpenter, located in the Ballard area of town, is one of those rejuvenations. When I walked up to the old brick building – which still has Marine Hardware painted on it – I questioned if I was in the right place.
Then I saw the bright sign for the restaurant. When I entered the building it was a long walk down a long hallway to get to the back of the building. This is where the restaurant is located.
The restaurant is not big inside but that creates an intimate atmosphere to me. There is a beautiful chandelier that caught my attention as soon as I walked in. It appeared to be drift wood configured to look like coral.
The kitchen is open so no matter where you sit you can see all the action.
As I would expect, they had an extensive menu filled with fresh oysters and fish. The oysters were the headliner, with varieties from Washington and British Columbia.
When you order here, you ordered for the table since every dish is meant to be shared. We started with the halibut ceviche, which was fantastic! We ended up ordering 3 of them for the table. It went quickly so I was not able to snap a picture. The fish itself was so light and tender. I have never had raw fish that melted in my mouth as nicely as this halibut did.
Kale is one of those superfoods that is full of vitamins that is a great accompaniment to a meal so that is why we decided to order the kale raab. The way they sautéed it and sprinkled bacon on top made it taste better than any regular leafy kale I have ever eaten.
Fried oysters were also a must try. They used large meaty oysters that were coated in a cornmeal batter. The cornmeal added an interesting flavor to the oyster without being overpowering. It was a perfect complement. For being fried oysters, the chef did a great job of not allowing them to become too greasy.
If you want a great meal, hop in an Uber and head to The Walrus and the Carpenter. Check out their menu at http://www.thewalrusbar.com/ because it changes daily.
Enjoy!
T
