Iconiq Reviews

The food here is amazing. Each of the 4 items we tried was fabulous. Elegant presentation, interesting and thoughtful flavor combinations with fresh and flavorful ingredients. Attentive service and a comfortable setting with a striking evening view of the Seattle skyline.

I chose Iconiq without ever being there before based on reviews and reading Eater updates that described it as a good casual place with elevated food. My hope was to treat a friend visiting from Washington DC with stellar local views and our equally stellar creative cuisine. Iconiq was perfect. The food was clean, deceptively simple in appearance and a creative taste revelation without ever veering toward "trying too hard." The server was personable and informative without over-explaining, and also didn't hesitate to go to other staff for more information about the sake menu when it was needed. The chef-owner stopped by to check in and was informally engaging. The Japanese clam chowder was a full bowl of freshly and perfectly cooked clams over a small amount of tasty miso broth. My companion ordered that dish and, while I'm not a particular fan of even the freshest clams, I tried one and it was super tender and tasty. Cold asparagus soup was a bright, satisfying burst of flavor. The caramelized scallops were perfectly cooked as were the green vegetables artfully paired with them. I didn't try my friend's black cod but he was swooning. In terms of atmosphere, the space feels intimate and homey in a softly stylish modern way. I can't recommend this place enough.

We had the duck and the cauliflower steak with the soy sauce ice cream for dessert. Portions were small and the food tasted less than fresh. Not worth the reasonable-sounding prices though. Our server was very nice and attentive. The soy sauce ice cream was wonderful! We were there with reservations right at opening (in an empty restaurant), still the manager was unwilling to let us sit in one of the seats with a view of Seattle. I'm assuming those seats were somehow spoken for, but still frustrating. No wait time for us. The dining room was quaint and comfortable. Overall, their concept sounded intriguing, but this place was mostly a letdown.

Definitely a hidden gem. We are long-time residents and were surprised by how cool the location. Great city views. But more importantly, wonderful food. Love the French-Japanese fusion, very clever and very tasty. We've been twice and will be back soon with out-of-town visitors. Special place!

When I think about the term “fusion” as applied to restaurants, it often strikes me that it is misused, misunderstood, or both. What passes for fusion in many restaurants is having more than one cuisine represented on the menu. To me, true fusion is achieved only by combining more than one cuisine or technique in a single dish. In the Seattle area, no restaurant accomplishes that better or more consistently than Iconiq. Chef Toshiyuki Kawai, born in Osaka, Japan, and trained in French techniques in the kitchens of the late great Thierry Rautureau (among others), prepares what at first glance appears to be French food. However, after sampling his food, it quickly becomes clear that there are subtle Japanese influences in almost every dish. My most recent meal at Iconiq demonstrated this very well. I had just 3 courses and a glass of wine. My first course was cured salmon over a bed of white asparagus mousse. The mousse was delicious, with a firm, pudding-like consistency, and it complemented the salmon beautifully. My main was locally caught Neah Bay black cod, grilled exactly right so as to crisp the skin and provide a white flesh that was firm enough not to be gelatinous (an issue sometimes with cod) without overcooking. The cod was served over wonderful white beans and other vegetables, some of which appeared to be pickled but lightly so, as well as fingerling potatoes and a tomato-yuzu broth. Delicious! For dessert, I had a scoop of soy sauce ice cream, accompanied by candied walnuts and compressed Fuji apples. I have to admit that sounds a bit weird but I have come to trust Chef Kawai and he recommended that I try it. I am very glad I did. It was a delightful combination of flavors and textures and very refreshing. In addition to providing some of the most creative and delicious food in town, Iconiq’s position on the west side of the Mt. Baker Ridge affords the restaurant some very nice views of the Rainier Valley, the downtown skyline, and even a piece of Elliott Bay. The place is gourmet and high-end but always warm and inviting and never stuffy. I highly recommend Iconiq.

The place is tiny and unassuming. I was surprised that the chef both attended front of house and the (open) kitchen. The food and wine were delicious. The octopus was tender and perfectly seasoned. The fish main was perfectly cooked, although I felt the endives were a little too bitter. Dessert was light and refreshing. Food choices are a bit limited, but everything tried was really good. Service was friendly and attentive. So why 4/5? I think some kinks still need to be worked out. It would make sense to hire at least one waitstaff to better tend to the customers. Will be back!

The dishes were all excellent and full of flavor while having a great visual element as well. The leek soup had a wonderful unctuousness. The duck breast was perfectly warm, soft, and the fat rendered; wholly satisfying with a light glaze. The fish was a flaky Branzino with a skin just crusty to add to the earthy flavors of the foraged mushrooms. The sake selection was outstanding. We really enjoyed the dining experience. There were multiple families with active small children on a Saturday night though.

This food here is amazing. We loved everything on the menu. We ordered to go here a lot during the pandemic because it was delicious. However, we had never gone into the actual restaurant until recently. It was an absolute delight. The owner/chef is there to make sure your food is done to perfection. The ambiance is casual/elegant. It is a true Seattle gem.