Divine

Having heard many good things about Divine, I was looking forward to having "brunch" there for a belated Mother's Day celebration. The restaurant was very cold inside. Coffee served was barely lukewarm. It took nearly an hour for the food for our party of 5 and there was only one other table occupied in the entire restaurant. Suggested starter of "doughnut hole" type fried pastry was an oily mess, nearly inedible possibly from being cooked in oil that was not hot enough. When our food finally arrived, two of the meals were partly room temperature and partly ice cold - not a good thing for a scrambled egg and goat meat dish. The waitperson gladly returned these two dishes for reheating, but when they were returned a few minutes later they were still cold and one serving mysteriously diminished by half. We decided it was pointless at this time to try for a meal that might be warm as it would further hold up the rest of our party which included a very patient well behave six year old. A final cup of coffee, served after we had been there for an hour and a half, was a bit warmer - at least with steam rising (though that might have been due to fact the room remained icy cold). Perhaps the two candles I noticed burning were an attempt to heat the place up a bit. Had I not been the guest at a long planned family outing, I would have refused the second serving of nearly inedible food, asked it be removed from the bill and sought another place to eat. Very disappointing breakfast experience, especially considering the $100 bill at the end. I would have rated Divine with no stars, but this review format requires at least one star. Pros: not crowded, handy parking Cons: poor service, cold food, icy cold resaurant more

We absolutely love Divine. The seats remind us of Europe, as does the food. The service is ok, but in all seriousness we find the food flavorful and yummy, all the time. Easy parking in the lot as well. Outdoor dining out back. Yummy. We'll be coming back for more Pros: brunch, spinach dishes, main entrees Cons: a little hard to find more

My husband and I first visited Divine a few years back when it first opened to celebrate Valentine's Day. We have since been back multiple times, and we have not once been disappointed!! On our first visit to Divine, we definitely committed one of the 7 deadly sins by being totally gluttonous, but, hey, that's what you're supposed to do when you're trying out a new restaurant on a special occasion, right?!? :-) Anyhow, we started the meal with some yummy rustic bread to dip in an assortment of 5 traditional Greek spreads. Yum. Gosh, if I could only learn the secret to these spreads---I'd be the star of any party! Then we decided to be extra crazy and order saganaki (sp?), which is a very traditional Greek appetizer---it's basically a big, heart-healthy :-) slab of super yummy cheese that has been doused in a traditional Greek alcohol (the name of which I cannot recall), then lit on fire to basically fry it---talk about a cheese-lovers delight!!! (both my husband and I just love cheese!!!). Anyhow, we then had our entrees, which were likely the best entrees either of us has ever had at a restaurant in a long time! My husband had pastichio (sp?), which is basically a 4-inch or so thick, beefy macaroni pie of sorts (that's the best way I can describe it), and I had an AMAZING stuffed chicken breast w/ asparagus, mushrooms (both of which I don't like, but I wanted to try the dish anyhow) ,and gorgonzola (my FAVORITE!!) among other things. The entrees were so yummy, I went so far as to tell a few people who were waiting to be seated that 'the food was excellent, especially the stuffed chicken!'---no really my nature to just breeze by people I don't know and blurt out to them something like this. So, we finished off our food frenzy with a super tasty Greek dessert---a phyllo dough creation with creamy custard inside. Again--YUM! :-) I apologize if my descriptions don't make you want to pick up the phone and make a reservation today---I am a horrible writer---but you MUST go visit Divine next time you're looking for a fantastic dining experience!! :-) Pros: Absolutely AMAZING food!!! Cons: Not always 100% pleased with wait staff. more

I've had a few entries and appetizers. They were all excellent. I would call them Greek fusion, leaning on the Greek. That said, don't expect falafels and feta all over the place. Though I like these dishes as well, Divine's dishes are are different--they are bistro quality. Pros: Simple, elegant menu with excellent offerings Cons: None come to mind more

We went to Divine on Friday night: two adults and one child. We were promptly seated @ 7. The ambiance is very nice,: Candles, dark walls, low lights. The menu is small and surprisingly didn't have the traditional Greek items you see at other restaurants: taramosalata, falafel, stews. We had the platter of spreads for an appetizer. This was delicious. Feta and garlic; eggplant; cilantro pesto; yogurt; hummous. My daughter had the octopus appetizer which was very good. She ate the entire thing. I had the Prawn and Scallop entree with escarole and bacon. It was very good and the seafood was done to perfection. I question the $24 price point. My husband had the lamb shank with Isreali couscous. It was very very good and it was $17, a better value in my opinion. The service was promt and not overbearing. The server was kind to our 4 year-old. It's a great neighborhood restaurant and we will definitely return. Pros: service, good Cons: small parking lot, looks like it could get very crowded more

Divine is a wonderful neighborhood spot that is worth traveling out of the neighborhood for. Their lamb is simply the best in the city. All dishes are delicious and the service is friendly and warm. The owner is almost always on the premises and does everything in her power to make your stay memorable. There's no better neighborhood spot in the city. Pros: great food, cozy ambiance, friendly staff Cons: none more

Thanks to Divine's lack of details to their customers, I am unable to comment on the food, though I was so excited to try this place on Valentine's Day. My husband and i were ready and dressed up for a romantic dinner and when we arrived were taken to an attic room with low sloped sealings, a table seated for 2 couples and a set menu that no one told me about. I had looked over the menu, knew before we arrived what I wanted, only to arrive and have only a set menu at $60/person as the only option for dinner. No staff ever told me this when I made reservations and it was never listed on their website. Thanks for the disaappointment Divine. Instead, we waited for an hour and a half that night to try to get into another restaurant! more

Nothing is better than being able to walk to a neighborhood restaurant for a weekend breakfast. Divine is so close to our home that I have given them three chances to improve their breakfast service. Each time I have left this restaurant promising not to come back. After my experience this morning I am sorry to say I will not give them any more chances. On all three visits I have experienced the slowest service imaginable. I have been forgiving in the past and reminded myself of my years as a server. Perhaps they were short handed, or maybe my server was new. My experience today was in a half full dining room, with servers that I recognize from past visits. Today I could not make any excuses for them. No one came to the table for ten minutes, a table seated after us was served first, no water refills during the meal, no check was brought until asked. The server herself was cheerful and friendly, just very very slow. The most annoying part was that she didn't seem to even realize her service was poor or that we were disappointed that they were out of ketchup to serve with breakfast potatoes. The food is good, its a cute restaurant , just bring lots of patience and your own ketchup. Pros: good food, nice patio, close to home Cons: painfully slow service from the host, servers, and kitchen, some breakfast items are over priced more

We have dined at Divine several times, and it has been consistently excellent. The cuisine is innovative, the staff is knowledgeable and helpful, and the prices are very fair for the quality and quanity of food. We recently had dinner here and made a meal of small plates - wow, everything was fabulous! They make the best spanakopita we've ever eaten... spicy and flavorful. The octopus was perfectly prepared, tender and succulent. Our waiter, Paul, described the dishes and flavors beautifully - clearly the staff knows food and wine, and they are passionate about what they do. It's great to have a restaurant of this caliber in a neighborhood setting... definitely check it out! Pros: Outstanding food and service Cons: none more

I found Divine on the internet because I was looking for greek restaurants who have Lukumades and they are the only restaurant offering it but then after dinning there I loved their food too. More important they have a Super super friendly owner (Vivian) she is amazing woman. All other staff are very nice and friendly too. I also liked the restuarant decoration and did I mentioned: Great Greek music in the backgroung while dining. I had a great experience and loved their tender Lamb (it worth the price- try it) - I loved their lukamadas (actually without the Jam just ciniman and Honey) - will go there again and again - thank you Divine and particularly Vivian! more

As far as Seattle greek food and restaurants go, Divine has been one of our favorites for over a year. Again, as said below, its really nice to have fresh, locally sourced, often times organic ingredients. The eggs Benedict at brunch is 'divine'. The service is slow at times but always friendly and warm. Vivian the owner is super sweet and gracious. It's a true neighborhood joint but worthwhile to travel to. They won the Bite of Seattle for a reason. Great food. Nice outdoor seating and a cozy environment make this place one of those reasons Seattle has a great dining scene. Pros: Great food, fresh, daily menu changes, yum Cons: a tad small in front, large room in back though more

I lived in Greece for a year and have always loved the country and the cuisine. I've eaten at a few Greek restaurants in Seattle and have enjoyed them all, but always in a "nothing to write home about" way. I can honestly say that this cosy little restaurant serves the best Greek food I have ever eaten outside of Greece. It isn't your standard Greek place: it's more upscale and creative, with touches of originality added, but always over a firm commitment to the basics of Greek cuisine. The care taken by the kitchen over every meal is very obvious; the only other place in Seattle I've had this sense of individual care is at 94 Stewart. We were seated immediately and found the staff to be very friendly and helpful. It was a longer-than-average dining experience, but that was fine with us... we loved the slow enjoyment of the courses that came out. At one point our waiter came over and put two plates of small lamb chops on the table for us; we were about to ask whether this was a mistake, but he explained that they'd just made them and thought we might like to try them at no charge. They were incredible (so much so that even the one vegetarian at the table decided she had to try a bite!) Divine uses local organic produce and the quality of the ingredients is obvious in everything that comes to your table, from the fresh-baked bread served with superb olives and olive oil to the wonderful entrees and the exquisite desserts (the galaktoburiko was the best I've ever had, inside Greece or out). All four of us at the table were hugely impressed with the food; my wife and I both had the lamb shank, which was delicious. All in all, we loved this place. It's not cheap, but not overly pricey either - entrees are in the $20+ range, and cheaper than at many restaurants in Seattle of far lower quality and much greater pretension. Divine is truly divine; it will become a favorite eating place from now on. Pros: Superb Greek food, individual care Cons: None more

so today, my sister-in-law said, "We are going to Nell's for dinner." I said , "No, no! You have to try this place called Divine." she said, "But Nell's is always great and the atmosphere is quiet." So I said, "I am serious, you have to try Divine. The food is better. The atmosphere is fantastic. I am begging you! Go there! Take everyone you know. Look at the menu on line! Look at the beautiful owner and her beautiful family." There is really something special about this place. Something beyond food and good service. You feel as if your mother is taking care of you. As if someone wants you to be happy....really happy...and that all the gods are cheering as you take each bite. Pros: food and mood Cons: none more

Holy moly, they have an awesome patio. With a fire pit. Crazy, but true. We went on Saturday night and found the two meats that make my heart break with pleasure: lamb and goat. The lamb is always great, rubbed with a nice, subtle mix of herbs (lemon and oregano?) and perfectly grilled, allowing the sweet richness of the lamb to shine. The goat, which was one of the night's myriad specials, was crazy-tender. Mixed with a warm fresh spinach pasta (the waiter said they'd picked the pasta up from a farmers' market in the neighborhood), it was the perfect foil to a balmy, rainy Seattle night. Too bad my friend didn't save more for me. Oh! And the salads! And happy hour! You know, now that I think about it: I love you, Divine. A couple of months ago, some friends and I stopped in, with horrible results. The service was okay and the food was pretty good, but the wait for our meals was interminable. A group of other friends said the same about their experience there. But then, about a month ago, we tried it again. I've never been happier that I gave a place a second chance. Since then, I've been back three times. The waitstaff is friendly, knowledgable, and attentive without being cloying. The owner is usually there, smiling and welcoming. Even the chef comes out to say hello to diners. Speaking of the chef: the food his kitchen puts out is.... no, that's too easy.... let's just say that it's awesome. Whatever they've done (just took a while to get their groove on?), it's working. Oh, and did I mention their patio? My friend and I came in for drinks a couple weeks ago, sat at a warm, glowing fire table/pit thing, and lost ourselves in friendly coversation with other diners. Ah, NW summers. One thing, though: save room for dessert. The portions are pretty big, so plan ahead. Also, their website seems to be pretty outdated. Pros: secluded patio, parking, food, service Cons: none, anymore more

I've only been in Seattle for a few months, but I've spent the majority of my life traveling and exploring cities and their food. Divine rates high on my favorites list. First and foremost, the food is outstanding; Greek tastes with a French finish that is very appealing to the eye. The seafood is amazing, especially the scallops and prawns in vanilla saffron sauce. The salads are also great, the carrot with cinnamon raisin and yogurt vinaigrette is outstanding for those of you salad lovers, i nearly inhaled it. There is a little bit of everything on the menu, so no one is bored. Lots of great wines at great prices that your server can recommend to pair with any dish. The service is great, and the owner is a real sweetheart, very personable and loves to get to know her guests. Nice quiet atmosphere but the food and decor make you feel like you're in the city. The menu is always changing for new and exciting dishes so call to ask about them!!!! Basically you have to go and check it out, you won't regret it. Pros: Food, service, ambience, parking(!), sweet owner more

My husband and I have been to Divine several times; we live in the neighborhood. It is a classy Mediterranean restaurant with very unique dishes. Everything we've had there has been wonderful, and we'll definitely continue to go back. The people that work there are very nice and conscientious of the customers. This is a great restaurant that provides a romantic and unique experience. Pros: The Food and Service! Cons: None more

I checked out Divine yesterday for happy hour. It's got a parking lot right beside it. The restaurant inside is warm, cozy, and inviting. The patio out back is wonderful with high fences, large umbrellas and welcoming decor. I thought you'd be able to hear traffic off of Roosevelt, but not at all. We had terrific wines by the glass for $5 each, and our favorite appetizers were the seafood dishes: the calamari with bacon and capers can't be beat, they have a very large and tasty crab caked wrapped in shredded phyllo (nice texture combo) and tender jumbo prawns. The experience was great and the guests I had in town said they wished they had a neighborhood place at home like Divine. The owner Vivian was gracious and friendly as were the staff. My new fave happy hour spot in Maple Leaf. Thanks! Pros: Food & Atmosphere more

We went to Divine for the Happy Hour. We had heard it was really good, and we live in the area. We figured it was a good way to sample a few of the many menu items. The drinks are cheap, and the food is well priced for a happy hour. We ordered two food items before our other friends arrived. Our friends arrived before our first order did. We soon placed an order for more food, including greek-burgers. We waited, and waited some more. Finally the first two items arrived. We waited at least 20 minutes before we asked the server about our next round of food. He came back with "good news and bad news." The good news was "the items were almost ready." The bad news was "we are out of burgers." Since the burgers were our "main course" (and half of our order) we were surprised. They waited so long to tell us they were "out." Since we were in a rush to catch a show, and happy hour was about to end, we left wanting more. We all thought the food that did arrive was awesome. The people were really nice. When all was said and done, as a whole the service was not good. I would recommend going, order quick and be patient. more

A new restaurant in Maple Leaf! So I grab my girlfriend, and we head out the door for Divine. Upon entry, we take a seat in the miniature lobby they have cleverly implemented in the tiny restaurant's interior and we scan the menu. After we are seated in the even tinier dining area, I order a Pastichio dish, (Greek Lasagna,) and my girlfriend requests a lemon-seasoned chicken dish. Both turn out to be absolutely delicious. The chicken was moist and flavorfully prepared, and the pastichio was wonderful, with VERY faint traces of a sweet cinammon in the sauce. As we paid for the meal and left, we came to the conclusion that while the interior is dreadfully tiny and the dishes a BIT overpriced, the food definitely lives up to the restaurant's name. more