Atoma Reviews

I can highly recommend Aroma. Every bite tried was delicious, especially the mushrooms, as well as the crumpets. The meal was well paced and and staff attentive. The chef clearly knows how to make delicious sauces that elevated pretty much every dish tried. Overall a delicious evening.

This is a remarkable restaurant with creative and tasty dishes beautifully prepared and presented. We loved the radish cake, the appetizer cookies, the tomato salad, the cucumbers and the pork entree. The halibut entree was less successful because it was quite dry due to the cooking method used to create a crispy crust, which makes it virtually impossible to maintain a moist interior. With a bottle of wine, three mocktails (the bartender is a wizard) and a shared baked Alaska for dessert, the pre-tip tab was about $600 for the four of us. It’s true that the portions are somewhat small and it’s not an inexpensive place by any means but we felt it was worth it and would go back in a heartbeat.

Had heard about Atoma as they were gearing up to open and was intrigued when I read that previous Canlis Executive Sous Chef Johnny Courtney is the owner. Was very excited when my friend suggested we go for a girls night out. We had a blast and tried some cocktails: Garlic Honey Highball, Missing Miraflores and a Mini Martini. All amazing but I really loved the Pisco sour resembled one. Dishes are very shareable and so we did just that, except for when my friend enjoyed the pork collar…no thanks..said the pescatarian, here. I was disappointed they took off the fried mushrooms they had on the menu a couple of weeks ago but the Kohlrabi with Dungeness crab, almond milk, curried crab butter and the Lion's Maine Schnitzel made up for it. Perfectly seasoned. Service is very warm and friendly and great attention to detail to round off the evening. Can’t wait to go back…VERY SOON!

Atoma has a limited menu but the food is both unusual and excellent. Do not miss the small snacks: the rosette cookie and the chick pea pansies were terrific. We had really good sockeye salmon and a grilled cucumber appetizer.

I’m a huge fan and repeat guest, I think now the 4th time since they opened. It’s located in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood, has garnered significant attention since its opening and I’m very happy they have. The restaurant offers an eclectic mix of dishes influenced by global travels and local ingredients, not to mention one of the best wine selections both by the glass and bottle. Having met the sommelier and getting his business card, I look forward to staying in touch, particularly when it comes to Hungarian, Austrian, and Eastern European wines. The menu gains praise for its inventive vegetable dishes. Standout items include the lion’s mane schnitzel, which is my favorite. We also had the Halbut along with some sides. I love the personal touch and how the waiters take time explaining details about each dish and truly want to connect with their guests. Overall, Atoma is recommended for those who appreciate creative, vegetable-centric cuisine and are looking for a special dining experience in Seattle. Our evening was fabulous and I can’t wait to go back for their fall menu.

5 stars all around! This gem is tucked into the cutest craftsman, and while tables are close together, it's still an intimate setting. Derek was the best server. Loved his recommendations, descriptions of menu items, and demeanor. Dishes were paced to come out at perfect intervals. The food was amazing. If this place doesn't win the James Beard, then someone isn't doing their job. Surprising elements, bright flavors, delicious. The rosetta cookie, the maitake entree, and the sunchoke sundae were my favorites.

Okay, let's get into it! Free street parking is available if you have a bit of patience. It took us just a few minutes to find a spot a block away. The exterior in this renovated home is nicely lit and inviting with a small waiting area (previous mud room porch probably) that we spent just a few minutes in as we arrived on time for our reservation. The staff are exceptionally engaging and ready to serve. The hostess hung up our jackets for us while escorting us to a cozy table in the front. Note that a decor item in the waiting area was visible through a window at our table and I couldn't help but point it out because it was something I had in the 1980s. Made me smile and wonder what the story is behind it. Anyway, we pretty much ordered everything on the menu! Get ready to spend some serious $$. We ordered drinks that were delicious and strong. For starters we had everything minus the crab and for the next round we had the Jerusalem artichoke, kanpachi, and beef tartare. Honestly, I could eat a bowl of the kanpachi! I may or may not have entered into an arm-wrestling competition with the rest of the table to get my fair share of the tartare with chips. For mains we tried the lamb and pork collar. The proteins on both were outstanding. The kumquat sauce on the lamb was a little odd and paired with the salsify root vegetable it created a too sweet(ish) flavor for me. I would have preferred something a little more savory, but I'm not willing to say don't order it--personal taste and all. The sommelier was beyond helpful and had a great sense of humor while we chose a nice red within our budget. Of course, it was an excellent choice that we enjoyed to the last drop. The savory crumpets and heirloom spuds complimented our mains. I would skip the spuds next time. They were just okay. Crumpets are hearty and give that carb desire most of us have at dinner. Baked Alaska for dessert was a fun ending to a wonderful experience.

Yes, the food was excellent. My favorite : The Lion's Mane Schnitzel is as good as others have said. Also I particularly liked the Radish cake with fermented radish, geoduck and clam belly aioli - a two bite appetizer for $9. Other standouts : the Dungeness Crab appetizer $24 and the Kohlrabi Waldorf salad $13. We were a group of six. We like to try everything; that is our MO. We like to share each item with everyone expecting to get a bite or two. We knew to each order our own "Rosette Cookie". But we also found you cannot expect any appetizer or side to serve more than two people at this restaurant. Delicious, small, and expensive. Even the Zero Proof - non-alcohol cocktails were expensive - $15 for "Noughty By Nature". $15 x 6 people, plus tax and tip - plan $120 for a non-alcohol drink round. It is very noisy with the music being way, too loud. What's that about? Many other patrons have complained about that and yet they haven't toned it down. Would I go again? Yes, and I'd get each of the dishes mentioned above for myself ... not sharing with anyone ... lol. Would I go a third time? Probably not, too noisy. Food five stars - marked down to 4 for noise and portion size.

Very creative menu leaning towards small plates conducive for family style dining which allows you to experience a great variety of flavors. We had 6 dishes for 5 adults and were very satisfied. Nice wines professionally served.

Bad imitation of a 1980’s nouvelle cuisine with tiny portions and high prices. Good wine however at double what it should cost. They say plates should be shared but the portions are too small to share. After eating there I ate a great complete meal at home. Rip off.

A lovely spot for a special dinner. This restaurant is located in a charming converted home on a main street. We dined in the lovely patio in a fenced in, pergola framed space on a warm summer evening. Our waiter was charming and attentive and the other staff were friendly and welcoming, even though we did not have a reservation. The interior decorations were charming, including the spacious restroom which included a bold choice of wallpaper. The food was just phenomenal; the rosette cookie is famous for a reason, and we also really enjoyed all of the other dishes as well; the chef even made zucchini taste good. I couldn't recommend this restaurant more highly.