The Seattle Traveler

Drink From This Vessel

by Mary Jo on March 26th, 2008

Before a performance at the 5th Avenue Theater, I stopped in for a quick pre-performance nosh at right-next-door restaurant, Vessel.

Vessel opened 2006 in what was previously retail space.  One look at the exterior and it’s easy to imagine.  The space has been cleverly used, and where mannequins and displays once were, now you’ll find bar seating where patrons can look out onto the sidewalks and streets of the city.  A little too close for comfort for some, however, as it nearly feels like you are on top of the people walking by.

Inside you’ll find a mixture of neutral and neon that was a little harsh at first, but soon started to grow on me.  The stairs were a neon yellow, the upstairs loft red (in photo right), and in between enough neutral color to balance it all out.

Vessel prides itself on a sophisticated cocktail menu, perhaps even in a snobbish way, but you’ll find the classics along with the Vessel-take on them.  During happy hour you’ll find a variety of these cocktail (although not all) offered for $4.

My dining companions and I sat a small table in the bar.  The place was not busy when we arrived, it was very shortly filled to capacity.   We were quite crammed in around a small table, spilling over onto the people next to us, not pleasant for any of us.  It was impossible to have anything remotely resembling a private conversation and, in fact, I overheard way too much about the various health issues of the woman seated at the table next to me.

So how was it?

I order a glass of red wine (which was excellent), I took tastes of other orders from around the table including a different wine (good, but not my personal choice), a lemon drop (a little too sweet for my liking), and a martini (hard to evaluate because I really don’t like gin).  Had there been more time, there were other options on the cocktail menu that I would have been willing to try.

Wanting to get a small bite before the theater, we scanned the menu of small plates and ordered a selection.  Here’s what tasted around my table:  potato chips with truffle salt (yummmmmm, but what’s not to like about homemade chips), stuffed dates (I loved them, but that was not the universal opinion around the table), a cheese plate (good, but nothing really special about it), and the lobster macaroni and cheese.  Since the mac and cheese was my doing, I’ll say that it was good.  Not great, but a solid good. I consider myself a bit of a mac and cheese connoisseur, so “good” is actually fairly high praise.

My overall opinion of Vessel – I’d probably go for a pre-theater stop, but there’s nothing compelling me to make a stop any other time.  It’s good, but not good enough to make an effort.

Location:  1312 Fifth Avenue, between Union & University, downtown (map it)

Hours:  Open daily, 4 pm to close.  Happy Hour is is daily 4 - 6 pm

Photo credit:  personal collection and SXC

_______________________________________

Share This

Related Stories

St. Paddy’s Patrol
Do You Have a Thirst for Speed?
2007 List of Favorites from The Seattle Traveler
Have an Art Attack in Georgetown
Uff Da — It’s Viking Fest

POSTED IN: Food & Beverage, People Watching