Off Alley

We enjoyed our meal here! It's a small restaurant with counter seating only for 10ish people. Make reservations via texting. The menu items rotate through. They're small sharing plates, less of your regular proteins and more organ meats. Most of the plates were unique and well prepared. The grilled octopus with smoked cabbage - octopus was normal good but the smoked cabbage was done so nicely, like best cabbage ever (which is wild because it seems like a basic ingredient). The beef tendon in the onion soup was soo soft. I normally don't like tendon because of the texture but enjoyed this one. Monkfish liver is good (as it is in Japanese restaurants too), but my only thing with it is, it was $46! It's a bit hefty imo and the unique part of it was that it was in a good crab broth. My least favorite is the rabbit kidney, not that it's not prepared well but it's probably just not an ingredient I like as much, ok to try once. We spent $210 with tax and tip for 6 items. Overall, good meal, on the pricier side. Would come back when the menu items rotate through again.

Very small space, so text to make reservations before you go. You will be sitting next to each other and not across due to the space constraints. Ordered a variety of things to try:Oysters - this was very good flavor wise and went well with the plum sauce Beef tendon w/ matsutake - I kind of wish the matsutake was cooked down a little. It provided earthy flavor, but the tendon was very bland as well so needed an element of flavor....maybe salt. Foie gras w/ pig feet - foie was rich and delicious, but needed something to cut the fat as the pigs feet was super gelatinous and fatty tasting as well. The cherry was way too sour in not a great way. Black cod - perfectly cooked, but felt like the black garlic sauce overpowered the delicate fish.Braised endive w/ pear - this dish was delicious in every way and the cheesy cream sauce was smoky and perfect. Bread and butter - one of the few carb options on the menu, but not sure it was worth $8 as you can get the same bread a few doors down at Columbia City Bakery. I would pass on the cocktails. None of us liked any of ours and it felt super watered down. Solid 3.5 stars, but rounded up for good service.

Preface: I'm a reasonably logical person, so I don't understand why people are leaving two and three star reviews along the lines of "hated the service but loved the food" -- if you read the reviews ahead of time (and know you're in for a 12-person seating with a small wait staff), why would you still show up and complain about the service? You want a different kind of restaurant service, go somewhere else. Makes zero sense.Intro: Came here with my wife for a birthday dinner on Sunday, with prix fixe menu. Showed up about 10min early, waited outside until 7p while they finished setting up. (Bonus, they sat us in the middle, between the door and kitchen.)Service: Everyone was attentive and very friendly and we had a great time at dinner. One nit, at one point I wanted to ask our waiter Carl something, but he was tied up for 3-4min because some randos had come in from outside to ask if the restaurant had an open seat (could clearly see 'no') and then peppered Carl with questions about the restaurant, aesthetic, reservations, etc etc.... In one sense I appreciated his patience and dedication to taking care of (potential) customers -- but to the randos, cmon guys, read the room, and the sign outside ("have you checked the website?")Menu: Outside the restaurant was a menu, but it turned out that was the "add on" menu you could add to your order. They told us the menu was hearty, and so recommended we only get the beef tendon, and skipped grilled oysters, waygu ribeye, cheese, and bread. We ordered a bottle of wine -- wanted a red and tried their recommendation of a vin rouge grolleaux (which we had never had before), and it was fine but don't think we'd have it again.First courses: Fritter w aioli, Mixed winter greens m, Crab bisque w croche red bowl. All were very good, my favorite were the winter greens which were served with a light sauce, good texture, very well balance flavor. Finished all of them.Beef tendon: This was our one add-on, and it was just as promised. The tendon melted in your mouth, and the broth paired nicely with the mushrooms. It wasn't too heavy, which set us up nicely for their showstopper...Main course: Shepherd's pie with lamb. The chef came by to explain the lamb was actually not literally a baby, it was a 2.5yr old ewe from San Juan Island, but the way it was raised and cooked, it was as tender as a lamb (and not as tough as mutton). The flavors and balance with the potato and garlic (he mentioned some special new vegetable someone grew) made it probably the best shepherds pie I'd had, and it was just an incredible dish. We finished most of it, and took the last quarter home (which, heated up and was amazing the next day).For context re: the wagyu beef: the people on both our sides got it, and it looked amazing, but by the time the shepherds pie came out, they were all pretty full and could barely touch the shepherds pie.Dessert: the prix fixe came with a tart that was really light and well-balanced, but for me the winner was the rye custard. It was just incredibly well done, the mix of berry plus custard (not too thick / viscous) plus the rye crunch on top.... The chef said it's been on the menu for three years because they like making it so much, and I hope it sticks around.Dessert wine: we asked for a port, and they gave us Vino cotto stravecchio. Another amazing find, not too syrupy, does not taste too strong, will look to add this at home.Had a great meal! Loved the aesthetic, loved the vibe, trusted the chef on the menu (literally had no idea what it would be) and he did amazing. Would go back and bring friends.

My friend (who lives in Seattle) suggested we try Off Alley as it had received high praise from several news outlets. I'm from Vancouver where the food scene is quite prominent so my expectations for this place were high. Off Alley boasts an innovative and creative daily changing menu so I am not sure if I just came on the wrong day but my experience was far from good and my entire party and I left disappointed. Upon arrival, the restaurant lives up to its name as it is literally in the shape of an alley. Seating is tight and limited and there is no A/C so we immediately felt stuffy and hot but were determined not to let that affect our perception of the dining experience. The menu is handwritten daily which gives it a rustic personal touch. It was suggested to order everything on the menu but it seemed much so we left a few items out. Chilled tomato soupThis was a good start with nice deep flavours but the portion size to cost ratio was tragic. (No picture attached as we got a bit excited.) Whipped lardo toast To my understanding, the fattiness of the whipped lardo was to be cut by the ramps but there was too much of a sour taste from the pickled vegetable that I couldn't really taste anything besides a hint of creamy smoked pork followed by straight vinegar in my mouth. Fresh cheese dumplingOur whole party actually liked the deep savoury flavours of the broth that the dumplings were soaked in but I would say the dumpling itself was not for me. Also to charge $19 for 3 small dumplings....Zucchini with cured pork jowl There was virtually no flavour in the zucchini mixed in a pool of oil which I assume was supposed to pair with the salty cured flavour of the pork jowl. The jowl was cut paper thin to the point where it was basically transparent. The server even mentioned that it was a very specific and special type of farmed pig. If it's so special, why am I only getting a paper slice of it?Fatty tuna belly on briocheFatty tuna belly, excellent! Brioche, also excellent! Eating them together wouldn't be my first choice but at the least, both components tasted good. Dungenesss crab in eel brothI just feel sad when I think about this dish because this little bowl (smaller than a miso soup bowl at a Japanese restaurant) cost a whopping $34 and tasted....upsetting. Putting it in eel broth did not do it justice at all. It clashed and there was no umami flavour. 0/4 members of my party enjoyed this dish. Black cod with smelt roe and cornI liked the corn! Snails with popover and caramelized onion Snails were very yummy in the caramelized onion sauce - the popover however was just not for me. This is just a personal preference. One of my friends really liked this dish and felt that the flavours and textures were very fulfilling!Tripe with matsutake and duck crackling I love tripe. It's a staple ingredient in a lot of Asian cuisines and I especially enjoy it in dim sum and noodle soups. I know tripe has a very distinct flavour but this dish carried its distinct flavour in all the wrong ways. It especially brought out its gamey flavour but when paired with the mushroom, it left a horrible aftertaste. The crunchy duck bits on top left my mouth overwhelmed with weird tastes and textures. 0/4 members of my party enjoyed this dish. Pork schnitzel with country gravyAt this point, I prayed things would get better. This dish at the least, helped delete the lingering taste of the tripe in my mouth. However, I was once again confused at how an innovative and creative cuisine produced what seemed to be a thinly fried and breaded piece of pork (with barely any pork it in) with some creamy white minced pork sauce on top. I know pork schnitzels are pounded thin but all I tasted was breading. Nonetheless, I still liked this way more than some of the other dishes. Seared fois gras with buckwheat waffle and berries + fois gras ice cream Thank goodness we finished on a decent note. This is a sweet and savoury dish that won the approval of half our party. The berry compote went well with the waffle and the fattiness of the fois gras. The ice cream was also surprisingly pleasant! When the bill came, we were perplexed. Yes, running a restaurant is not cheap and workers deserve more than a fair wage I am all for it. Dining is also a luxury and not a necessity. However, I struggled to understand how these clumsily slapped-together dishes became $80 per person. (After the currency exchange, I died inside.) Besides the food, I also did not feel any particular sincerity or warmth from any of the serving staff. Understandably, this is not an advertised fine dining restaurant so I didn't expect high-end service. However, if your food is so inconsistently good and you charge 20% auto grat at least make up for it with a smile on your face.

Such a unique dining experience. I'm happy I went with someone who is a regular!Unassuming neighborhood bar.Very small (about 12 bar seats + some patio seating), so you WILL wait. Rotating menu with creative items (both food and drink) you will not find anywhere else.Nice touches like hand-made dishware and hand written menus. Ordered a series of drinks and the following Small plates:Air Cured Wagyu ($18)Sweetbreads, Morels ($21)Raw Amberjack, Fried Sweetbreads ($21)Fried Pig feet, Seared Foie Gras ($22)Raw Sole & Eel Cream ($17)Bread & Butter ($8)Pistachio & Black Sesame Ice Cream ($6.5)We were sat at an outdoor patio table booth with two other lovely strangers (now friends :) )The staff is chill and no bullsh*t.

I was out wandering and enjoying the mild, sunny weather on this particular late Saturday afternoon. Meandering from north to south, I ended up in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood and my first spontaneous visit to Off Alley (3/18/23).I was able to find street parking and joined five others waiting by the entrance for the 5pm opening time. I didn't have a reservation, but was offered to sit al fresco at their sidewalk parklet with the knowledge other parties may share tables. Their unique configuration has limited indoor seating, so pro tip - make advance reservations if indoor seating is a must.The sun was setting, the wind had picked up, and thankfully I was dressed in layers for the short period I was seated outdoors with another couple. I passed on any wine or cocktails and was encouraged to at least order three items. I started with Dungeness crab bisque with savory clams ($22). Next I decided on the Black Cod with fennel and celery root ($17). I opted to stick with just two and not three items. Service was efficient. The dishes I ordered had amazing flavor. Simply amazing and makes you wanting more. I can understand why all the kudos and buzz about Off Alley. However, given today's culinary scene and working hard for the opportunity to dine out, the serving sizes were a bit small for the price. That being said, give it a whirl to dazzle your palate. Just go into it knowingly with reservations made and that it'll cost you.

TLDRPrice: $$-$$$Favorites: Popcorn sweetbreads, Black codIn a word: InventiveReview:Blink and you'll miss the narrow, brick-lined dining room of Off Alley as you search the block, but that same narrowness gives the upscale restaurant its character. With only twelve seats, come prepared for a 1.5-hour wait (no reservations), intimate seating, and chefs emphatically yelling "Guest down the line" as you pass them to wash your hands. Once in the bathroom, you'll see generations of the rotating menu lining the walls, showing how every visit will be as unique as the first. When ordering off the chalkboard containing the current iteration, pick four to five dishes to share. Thankfully, plates come small so you can share many inventive offerings. Our sampling included quail-stuffed waffles and sausage-stuffed squid, with garnishes and sides that were composed and flavorful. My favorite was the popcorn sweetbread, which was delightfully crispy and had a sweet glaze and squash puree that complemented otherwise savory flavors.It's rare to dine like this anywhere, which is why Off Alley was the only Seattle restaurant in The New York Times' top 50 of 2022. I'll certainly be back to try a new version of the menu while the one I enjoyed joins their growing archive.

To eat at Off-Alley, planning ahead is a must. There are only 12 seats along a counter in a narrow alley, literally, no joke! Their website is very clear about how to get a reservation. Because of the size and physical constraints of the venue, I don't recommend this place for group gatherings. Also note that they are very strict on a time-limit of 1.5 hrs for 2 people, and a max of 2 hrs for larger size parties. Again, this is to-be-expected given the venue size.As for the food, because they change their menu daily and the menu is small, every visit is a new adventure. Bring some flexibility and a sense of wonder to try new flavors. We were suggested to order four to five dishes to share, which is fairly standard. The service was great, minus one thing. Our server answered our questions about the dishes and didn't push for additional orders. She did make a mistake and didn't tell us about the dessert menu. Turns out the most popular dish requires a 25 min pre-order, and the kitchen instead declined our order after she convinced us of its awesomeness. (We would have exceeded 1.5 hrs dining time.) That was disappointing. Gratuity is set at 20%. Despite the mistake, I thought it was well earned. The Food: Brussels Sprouts, Garlic Anchovy, Smoked Cheese, $13.50 - 5 Stars I never knew an anchovy sauce can taste this good. You really can taste the anchovy, but it is not at all fishy or weird. Smoked Salmon, Goat's Cheese, Salmon Roe, Grilled Bread, $18 - 4 StarsFor the salmon lover, this is a must. We ordered extra bread as it is a bit too salty to eat by itself, but it's perfect with the bread. Black Cod, Chanterelles, Garlic Croutons, $18.50 - 5+ Stars!!!This was the BEST dish of the night. Absolutely perfectly seared black cod. I have never tasted croutons so perfect. I should have ordered one more! Beef Tongue, Hatch Pepper, Onions, $16.50 - 4 StarsThe hatch peppers are made into a thick sauce. The combination of the sauce with the greens, the pickled onions become an excellent flavor profile. However, I personally like the beef tongue with more sear. This method yields an earthier flavor. Spider Steak, Beef Tendon Pot Pie, with added Seared Foie Gras on top, $24 + $24 - 5 StarsThe photo is close-up, so the little pot is maybe 3" diameter. The crust is perfection, the beefy sauce and ingredients are perfection. The foie gras is indulgence.

Okay, a lot to break down here. We had the tasting menu with two drinks, and it came out to be around $350.The space is super tiny, as many have expressed. We sat by the door, and our knees were touching the entire time. So I would say the seating is not the most comfortable, especially if you are taller or larger in size.I think the tasting menu was an experience; however, I don't know if it was worth the money. I think they were very creative, and the ingredients were very high-quality. However, some dishes were very small and plain. The steak we had was the best part of our meal and I would easily pay $60-$70 just for that dish but everything else was just OK. I would recommend to go and try the à la cart, but I don't think the tasting menu is worth it . For example, one of the dishes we had in the tasting menu was a bun with a rabbit kidney in it, but there is a dish on the menu that is a piece of bread with at least over 10 pieces of rabbit kidney on it and it was $14.It's still a must try and I would go back again for a la cart menu.

If you dine here at Off Alley, you might wonder, "Why me?" When perusing the menu, everything seems promising, but once the food hits your palate, regret and sodium overload set in. Presented with à la carte or a full eight-course meal, I opted for the former, not quite feeling up to the latter's challenge.My culinary journey commenced with the beef tenderloin and French onion soup, a dish that could easily contend for the title of the worst onion soup I've ever tasted. The lack of flavor was glaring, leaving me yearning for even a humble frozen soup from Trader Joe's.Next up were the fresh cheese dumplings with Celeriago Yellow Foot Chanterelles, a visually stunning dish that unfortunately fell short in seasoning. Not a grain of salt, pepper, or any discernible flavor profile graced the plate.Moving on to the grilled octopus with pork rind leek, the disappointment persisted. The dish was overwhelmingly salty, leaving me questioning whether the chef's affinity for sodium bordered on obsession.Saving the supposedly best for last, the lamb chops with wild rice polenta proved the ultimate letdown. Tasting akin to guzzling saltwater, it became apparent that the chef had declared war on balance and chosen salt as their weapon of choice. They emerged victorious, leaving me $200 poorer and pondering how everything went wrong. Exiting Off the Alley felt akin to being mugged--not by thieves, but by culinary disappointment.