Violet Reviews

I've been frequenting Violet about once a month over the past year and it never disappoints! The menu updates seasonally, and I love going with my friends and ordering a bit of variety to share. A few of my personal favorites are the burrata, risotto, scallops, short rib and espresso martini shaken to perfection by Declan, the bartender. The staff is small and consistent--it's been fun becoming more familiar with everyone each time, and receiving a warm, friendly reception. The talented chef/owner, William, always makes a point to step out of the kitchen and check in on each table, and the waiters (Karel and Kevin) are fantastic.

Everything was great from the tiny patio, the service and the food. Loved it!!! The s'mores dessert is great for two and comes with it's own little grill on the table.

A spectacular meal. Wonderful starters, outstanding main courses and maybe the best desserts I’ve seen anywhere in Seattle. Excellent service. This is the type of high quality restaurant that makes a night out with family or friends so enjoyable.. Will be back often.

Love Violet! What a hidden jewel!!! Food, service, ambiance- all were so wonderful! Chef and the team is so personal and hospitable. We felt like visiting someone home, so cozy and so tasty! ❤️

Hard No. We arrived and were seated. The waiter, Kevin, was charming and engaged us with some personal stories of his day. There were only 4 tables seated and I ordered a drink, which took 10 minutes...not too concerned at this point. We ordered food. The first course came in a timely manner as did the table next to us. Then the table next to us got another course, and then another course - and we got nothing and Kevin disappeared. I started looking to the kitchen with despair as it was now 40 mins since our last course. The chef noticed my looks and sent Kevin over - I said we were wondering if our entree was coming soon. 5 mins later the owner/chef delivers the food and asks if everything was OK. I mentioned that we had been waiting 45 mins and the table next to us had 2 courses while we waited. He started arguing with me that what I was saying wasn't true. He said "I am the owner and chef and that isn't the case". I said actually it was true. He said, well you ordered the chicken and that takes a long time to cook (no note mention of that or note of that on the menu). I said that we waited 45 minutes, and the table next to us seemed to get multiple courses so I am not sure where you are going. That was it - he walked off. Kevin said nothing, asked if we wanted desert and we took the check and left. Oh, and there was a 4% "administrative charge" added to the check. That was the end. Not going back. And the octopus was overcooked and hard as rubber, the fois gras was burned and while it should have been creamy and firm - was watery and tasteless. The chicken came with the woody ends of the asparagus. So sadly, the food didn't compensate for bad service.

This was an amazing experience. Honestly one of the best meals I’ve had in Seattle in a long time. The atmosphere is so welcoming and wonderful. It’s not huge. The staff is fantastic and the owner chef William came out and talked to us and even shared some of his secrets for his wonderful offerings. The food was fabulous. Every starter and appetizer prepared to perfection. One of us had a ribeye that was cooked to perfection, but the sauce that took 24 hours had this incredible depth of flavor. Best potato purée (too good to call them mashed potatoes) was heavenly. We will definitely be back. A lot.

Menu isn't large so check it before you go. Food and ambiance and service were all outstanding. A little outside Capitol Hill area but easy ride from downtown.

I get to come to Seattle once a year for a convention I work with. I found Violet when I was looking for a nice place to take clients for dinner the years ago. It has since become a must visit each time I come to Seattle. The atmosphere is delightful and goes very far in selling a cozy farm to table bistro. It is always clean and wonderful. The drinks are well crafted, a wine list that is just what it needs to be and nothing more. There is something for every pallet. The food is very well prepared and the Fois Gras is among the best I have every had. I have even had it for my dessert it was so good the first time. The food is prepared prefectly and seasoned very well. There is not a bad choice to be had. The seared Cod is out of this world and a must for every table. A wonderful experience everytime I come to town.

The selections are quite diverse and yet, all are prepared very well. For appetizers, the three of us shared the Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras, the Grilled Spanish Octopus and the Risotto—all were great. The Slow Roasted Rack of Lamb, the European Branzino and the Moulard Duck Breast were our entrees—no one wanted to share much, as each very much enjoyed their choice. They have a nice assortment of wines on their list, our server was particularly good about describing each of the menu items and it was a pleasure to chat with the chef who took some time to visit with each of the tables. One can go with a tasting menu (there is a wine pairing menu too) or order directly off of the menu. Check out my photos for more details

Outstanding food. Friendly service. We had a marvelous anniversary dinner. The tasting menu is a bargain at $100 given the high quality. We shared a wine pairing, which can sometimes be unimpressive, but were VERY good and complemented the food perfectly. At a time when many restaurant prices are exorbitant, Violet is a steal!

We looked for a quiet fine dining experience in a chef-owned restaurant - and we found it! Off of 12th Ave in a quiet part of Seattle's Capitol Hill, Violet's welcoming space is open to the outdoors so diners could enjoy the sunny spring weather. (Note - I will skip reviewing the cocktails and wine that we tried. They were lovely - all delicious and went well with our dinner. The real focus at Violet, though, it the food.) Appetizers - Maine sea scallop with asparagus braised in black truffle oil, on a bed of carrot puree, and the burrata, with cherry tomatoes and aged balsamic. The scallop and fat asparagus spears were cooked to perfection and the rich carrot flavor balanced ideally with the umami of the black truffle essence. Our other appetizer, the burrata, was fresh and soft, and the accompanying tomatoes a bright accent. A side of warm grilled bread magically appeared so we could mop up our plates. Entrees - The black cod with brown butter cauliflower and miso butter was perfectly cooked, flaking nicely. My husband loved his choice of grilled lamb loin with roasted vegetables: it, too, was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Along with these mains, we partook of a serving of the yummy Joel Robuchon-style potato puree. Desserts - A traditional creme brulee - not overcooked and bouncy, but soft and fragrant with vanilla, and sporting a just-right crackly sugar top - and a rich, smooth chocolate cremeux with poached pear and raspberries. Oh my, such deliciousness from start to finish. The classic training of Chef William Belickis shines through in every dish, and he made our dinner there extra special by stopping at our table to see what we thought. Well, it was the best dinner we have ever enjoyed in our many trips to Seattle (OK, I confess, I used to live there, too. We just can't stay away.). Violet is truly an underrated restaurant. Go if you're craving a relaxed dining experience with food that's made with elegant expertise. Go if you are tired of "the scene" and just want good food, prepared by a real chef. Go if you're looking for a romantic evening where you'll both fall in love with the food and presentation. We so enjoyed our dinner. Perfectly done, Chef!

This restaurant offers "American Omakase", which allows the chef to offer up a tasting menu showcasing his skill and the freshest ingredients. The food was delicious, especially the foie gras with vanilla and cocoa nibs - SO good! The service was excellent too and its fun when the chef comes out and chats.