Market Street Cafe

Market Street cafe is the only reason we go to the Eastside. I love to eat, and have been to some pretty great restaurants in different cities and countries, and it is some of the best food I've ever had. The atmosphere is great too -- cozy and warm, beautiful table settings, lovely music. The biggest problem is that the menu is so great, we always have the hardest time choosing. The food is classic Russian -- the kind of things Russian aristocracy have eaten before the revolution. There are dishes that will remind you of French cuisine, like frog legs or fillet mignon in different styles; and decidedly Russian ones, such as blini with caviar. Everything we've tried was excellent -- on a lighter side, salmon tartar, the salads, and sturgeon shishlik are just right, or you might ignore your diet and splurge on tongue julliene or beef stroganoff, both in lovely rich sauce. For dessert, one thing we weren't crazy about was the fried cheesecake, possibly because we were already quite full. But the mango dessert was delightful. The staff are not as polished as you would expect in a place like this, but they are very friendly and down to earth, which in my book beats pretentiousness any day. The musician on Friday and Saturday nights is first class, you are getting a free concert, but it is still subtle and soft enough that you can have a nice conversation. We are already trying to find something to celebrate so we could go back there again! Pros: The food, the atmosphere, the food! Cons: too many tasty things to choose from! more

We had a great experience with the the folks at Market Street Cafe - great food, beautiful live music, very homey and cozy. Being a Russian descent we always keep our eyes open for a Russian food. What amazed me that the chef/owner Sasha who is an exceptional cook almost doesn't speak, read or understand English and despite that had guts to open restaurant that turned out really nicely. I've read one of the reviews and thought of that immediately - may be the reason one of families wasn't spoken to at the door was that the owners simply couldn't say much in English and therefor was a little shy - it'll change as they go I'm sure... But hey the food IS great - give it another chance :) more

We have been here twice and it is extraordinary!! The atmosphere is warm and intimate.The food is terrific and the Chef is a true Artist. Bring your cellphone camera, because you will want a picture of it. I had the Trout in a puff pastry...very cool presentation and a flood of flavors. The desserts are unique and there are a lot to choose from. Check out the menu from their website. I challenge you to find something you aren't intrigued by. My advice is to get there before it is discovered and before it gets crowded. Pros: presentation,food quality, ambiance,uncrowded Cons: none more

My husband and I truly wish we had the same wonderful experience as the below diners. Not the case. We live within walking distance of Market Street Cafe and were excited to try it. Last night, was our first visit. Our distaste had more to do with the lack of warmth we experienced. A woman who we believed to be the chef/owner seated us - we were the only table in the restaurant. We just assumed if she was the chef/owner, she would take the time to talk with us for a moment. Not a word. We were there a little while alone, then a couple arrived who were clearly friends of the woman who we believe was either the owner or chef. During our dinner, we could overhear her in detail going over the trials and tribulations of opening the restaurant while we listened to a Sade cd play over and over again. Our waitress, while very sweet, not only struggled with opening our bottle of champagne, she admitted that she never does it. A fact I find strange at an upscale restaurant... I would think servers would be experience. With a $200 bill, we expected to have a server who is familiar with such a task. Also, we had just sat down and began viewing the menu when the server immediately launched into a UNICEF program they are supporting and eagerly asked us to help them out by donating a few dollars for bottled water that is normally free. It would have been nice had she simply waited until the end of our meal. It was awkard and not what we were in the mood to hear upon arrival. As we left, we just thought it would have been nice for the woman who we believed to be the owner/chef to say a few words to us - again - we were the only people there for awhile. It's unfortunate because all of the above instances overshadowed our meal. Because of that, our experience was good and not great. As any foodie knows, enjoying a meal fully has a do with more than just the food. Pros: The food was good Cons: Service was not stellar more

Absolutely the best restaurant my wife and I have ever dined at in the Seattle area. Generally, whenever we go out for a date there is a hole somewhere in the experience. There is a weakness with the ambience, staff, appetizer, entree, desert, wine, or a combination of them all. Both my wife and I agree that the Market Street Cafe exceeded our expectations in all the areas. The server, Violet, and owner, Elena, brightened the experience with their friendly personalities and pleasant hospitality. We are telling everyone within ear shot that the place to enjoy a great evening is the Market Street Cafe. Thanks for the wonderful experience! We will see you again real soon. Leetha and Stuart Ross Pros: Everything! Cons: We can't eat here every night. more

With the recent addition of Trellis and, more recently, the Market Street Cafe, fine dining on the Eastside is looking significantly better these days. In fact, I swear to you all that the Market Street Cafe is among the best the greater Seattle area has to offer. Although I originally read that this restaurant focused on Russian cuisine, Citysearch has it right to call it European as you will note a variety of influences here, though Russian and French are most prominent. And for less adventurous eaters, don't get intimidated by the Russian influence as many Americans seem to. The menu seems to be very strategic in the sense that you will observe Russian influences, but only aspects of Russian cuisine that would not be too controversial with western palates. You will also observe some exceptional and classic Russian dishes such as borsch. Market Street?s decor and color scheme are fairly simple, but comfortable and romantic. Our servers were very personable and attentive, but not overbearing. They definitely let us enjoy our dinner. The menu should have something for just about anyone. My wife and I had the Sturgeon (Black) Caviar and Foie Gras with an almond and raspberry puree?, both of which were the best I have tried. I had the Farmers Garden salad, which was simple in a good way and very fresh. I had the Forrest Quail with red hvanchkara and raspberry sauce and my wife had the Sturgeon Shashlik, both of which were wonderfully flavorful. To top it all off, we shared the Flaky Pastry Cheesecake with a fresh raspberry puree, a unique (as far as I know) twist on an old classic. In short, everything was just wonderful. Go check this place out...seriously?.right now (assuming of course you are reading this during normal business hours)! Pros: the Food! Cons: nothing more

Having already had a bite earlier we went to Market Street Cafe for late night appetizers and dessert. Greeted by a musician playing acoustic guitar quietly in the back of the restaurant we ordered three appetizers: the raspberry duck, escargot, and mussels. The duck (service with greens) was the most tender melt-in-your-mouth fowl we had ever had. The mussels were so good that we found ourselves spooning up the rest of the light cream sauce in which they were served. The escargot was truly special. Instead of being a heavy and over-buttered dish that you usually find they were served in a dill sauce that was like nothing we had ever had. Dessert was equally as impressive. We ordered the mango sorbet and flaky cheesecake. The sorbet was served in a hollowed out half-mango, and we wished we had brought our cameras they were so beautifully presented. But the best thing was how balanced the flavor of both desserts was. There was enough sweetness as you would expect in a wonderful dessert, but not enough to overpower the rest of the flavors. "Balanced" was never a word we would have used in the past to describe a dessert, but both of us commented how well the flavors complemented each other. The glass of port we had with the dessert was also excellent. If I could find one small area of improvement it would be in that our server--while very nice and attentive--might have been a little more knowledgeable, though being a new restaurant it was understandable. Overall, this is the place to go for a meal you won't forget, and we would not hesitate to compare it to Seattle's finest restaurants. more

I've been to Market Street Cafe twice now and each time I've been delightfully surprised by the creative and wonderful dishes I've tried. The first time I visited, I tried the Bifshteks (beef tenderloin stuffed with Armagnac-soaked prunes), and my wife chose the Alaskan Salmon (with a creamy wine and lemon sauce). Both were incredibly flavorful, had good portions, and great presentation. My next time back was with co-workers and we all enjoyed the other dishes we tried (Beef Stroganoff, Wild Boar, and another Salmon). The Beef Stroganoff was the best I've ever had--the meat would have melted away into the rich cream sauce if it was any more tender. While the dishes are priced at what you'd expect for this quality of food, their wines have surprisingly great price points. And next time I come back, I'll probably have another Flaky Pastry Cheesecake (with raspberry sauce). Pros: Wonderful food Cons: Parking more

My family and I went to the Market Street Cafe just before Christmas to celebrate a birthday. Rarely can we find a restaurant where everyone in the family is happy with the choice because of the varied tastes; my son is strictly meat & potatoes, my daughter is almost a vegetarian, my wife is conservative and I am adventurous. We all found something we liked from the wide and unique menu. The chef is from Russian and schooled in French cooking so his menu and preparation are unique, well to me at least. I haven't eaten much Russian food, but I regularly eat at many of the most recognized places in Seattle. From fillet mignon to frog legs; borsch to sturgeon, there was something for everyone. The restaurant has a nice wine list as well, not very large but nice selections. For appetizers, we ordered mushrooms in a champagne cream sauce, duck breast with raspberry sauce, and beef tongue (for me of course). They were very large and artfully presented. My tongue was very tende more