Comfort Food: Mac 'n' Cheese

Seattle Magazine, January 2011

Whether your ideal plate is showered with buttery bread crumbs or strewn with bits of bacon, behold our picks for other bests.

We love the “World’s Best” mac and cheese at Beecher’s, but it’s time other cheesy pastas shared the spotlight. Whether your ideal plate is showered with buttery bread crumbs, strewn with bits of bacon, robust with a hearty kick of blue cheese, copiously creamy or vegan pleasing, behold our picks for other bests.

1. MEATY
Served in a white ramekin, the pancetta three-cheese mac and cheese ($9.50) at Ravish on Eastlake seems like a petite portion. But dig a little deeper. As they say, looks can be deceiving. Rosemary cheddar, blue cheese, Parmesan and pancetta combine in a luscious sauce that cradles each bite of white-truffle-oiled pasta.

Elite '12 on 01-07-12

I love having this modern spot in the neighborhood. I have gone three times now for happy hour and will definitely be returning. The decor is modern, trendy, and bright.

Ravish reminds me why pigs in a blanket are so genius. The baked brie served with caramel sauce and apples is fantastic and i can't get enough of the hummus and olive tapenade. it's classic and satisfying.

The staff is so friendly and casual, providing you with a comfortable place to unwind. The drink specials are awesome and they create fresh tasty cocktails.  

Best part: they are connected with a catering company, Ravishing Ravish and those guys bring it.

Cleo on 12-29-11

Our party of three enjoyed a wonderful assortment of small bites and drinks. Quinoa, brie, sweet potato latkes, squash salad, along with some custom drinks made for a lovely meal. The service was excellent. Definitely recommended for meatavores, omnivores, and vegans. Would gladly eat at Ravish again.

Lindsay T. on 11-9-11

We had an even better time than we could have possibly hoped for. It was fun to put our trust in the bartender's hands — he was so spot on in his creations that we all ended up sharing each others' drinks. Our server was so patient, genuine and funny throughout the course of the meal that every time he walked away we could only keep saying how awesome he was. It was because of Luke and the bartender that we spent over 2 hours laughing, talking, and enjoying our food, which I must say was incredible.

I have since recommended Ravish to almost every person I have talked to when the topic of going out comes up. As a fellow server, I feel like successful establishments — establishments where the staff is sincere and enjoy their jobs, where the quality, originality, and affordability of the dishes, and the ambiance are so crucial, yet are so hard to come by. I feel like Ravish is one of those hidden gems that's got it all figured out. So thank you for being a hidden gem, and please tell the guys 'thanks' from all of us for being so fun. You can guarantee that we'll will be in many more times to come!

Agnes K. on 11-23-10

Try the Mac N' Cheese,
Melted Brie and Caramel,
Go for happy hour.

I've been to Ravish a few times and have loved the food every time. Their food is always very fresh and seasonal, making their salads sound attractive even when there are dishes like Mac n' Cheese and Melted Brie and Caramel on the menu! You can't go wrong here; all the food is worth trying and I look forward to coming back again and again to sample their ever-changing menu.

Note that they are closed on Mondays, which is a bummer. Also, it is a wonderful place to be around sunset, especially in the summer, as the sun sets right into the restaurant, through the big west-facing windows. Oh, also LOVE that they have happy hour until 7pm AND they have a pretty good happy hour menu. What's not to like about Ravish (except for when they are closed)

Elite '11 on 10-12-10

I rarely give anything or anyone 5 stars. LOVE this place. Heart heart heart to my awesome-asaurus for taking me here.  TWO winning reasons: 1) the Mac-n-Cheese. No joke — it's so good you'll lick the bowl afterwards.  I've been comparing EVERY bowl of mac-n-cheese I eat now to this one ever since.  
2) this crazy cocktail called the Prickly Pear.  It has some "hot monkey" in it which gives it the kick.  It's delicious.  It should win awards.  Platinum medals.  High fives.  Their other cocktails are delicious — Had the ginger martini, the happy birthday cocktail, ...  Nick, the bartender and manager is super friendly, too.Couple other items that were tasted:
— pigs in a blanket = YUM  
— grapple salad = YUM

Let me repeat #1 again: Mac-n-Cheese. OMG. To die for.

Ashley P. on 12-23-10

Everything was extremely tasty and fresh. We had the lamb panini, the curry lentil soup, the chicken skewers and the pumpkin polenta. My husband loved the panini and my favorite was the polenta. Everything had a wonderful flavor and texture. We don't have a single negative thing to say about the food! I'll be dreaming of that polenta for a while.

Ambiance: This place is adorable. I love all of the mismatched chairs, painted the same color green. Freaking adorable. However, this place is pretty loud. It's great for dates since it's small, the food is delicious, and you share everything which is nice and intimate. Some heavy curtains, even just a few, would help absorb some of the noise. This is the only reason my review isn't 5 stars!

Price: For the ambiance, location, and the tasty food the prices are pretty reasonable. We found the panini and the polenta the tastiest and the most bang for your buck.  

Bottom line: Delicious place great for weeknight dates.

Lola & Bliss 07-03-10

Things: Ravish

I am a firm believer in many things … Simple elements that make life a happier place to be … Milling about with the beliefs I hold on a metaphysical level, are those of a less metaphysical nature. Unwavering belief in things like memory foam mattresses, laughter, great skin care, Timbaland, premium denim, and sunscreen. I also believe in great happy hours. As they’re essential to life in the city, one of my favorite past times has become seeking out restaurants that offer this magical time of day to sample their offerings.

Today, I set out on such a venture with Lisa Holman, dear friend and fellow connoisseur of all things delicious. Our journey took us to Ravish on Eastlake, the “naughty little sister of Ravishing Radish Catering” and she proved delightful.

Delightful.

Our happy “hour” turned into four as we sipped on champagne cocktails and snacked on a variety of epicurean masterpieces, including, but not limited to flank steak skewers, a grapple salad, and the American classic, Pigs in a Blanket.

How exactly does happy hour become four, one might inquire? Well, it’s actually simpler than you’d imagine when you’re in a place like Ravish … eclectic, delicious, downright pretty, and happier than Disneyland.
Bartenders, Nick and Luke, thanks for the experience. You’re both quite divine.

What would Alix do? April 2010

From the moment I stepped off Eastlake Ave and through the door at Ravish I was in a better mood. It probably helped that I was there on a rare gorgeous spring afternoon, but I suspect that the brightly painted green mismatched chairs with their orange and red patterned seats and complementary-hued glassybabies would be cheery on the dreariest of days....more »

Urban Spoon 1-20-10

Delicious and fun! Ravish has a lively atmosphere in part from its whimsical decor. The food is just as whimsical with variety to please any diner. Great wine list that won't overwhelm. Add warm and attentive service and you have a perfect night out with a group of friends or date night with your honey.

Yelp 2-24-10

It's about time the Eastlake area had a nice bar. For years I was forced to chose between the zoo and Eastlake bar and grill which was like deciding between bad and worse. Sustainable, fresh, delicious AND they have Mexican coke in a bottle? I'm sold. The awesome happy hour doesn't hurt either.

Yelp 11-21-09

Finally, after hearing many good things from friends and neighbours we went in. Our experience: awesome! Drinks: really good. Great selection, and unique choices. Food: we had trouble picking what to eat because we wanted everything. Luckily there were 5 of us so we got a decent spread. Everything was really good. (my fav was the... hmmm... well, all of it). Price/Value: We walked out pleasantly full and happy, and our wallets hardly felt it. Rare for a small plates place, which made it all that more special. In short: Go.

UrbanSpoon 11-07-09
Read all Urbanspoon reviews »

Ravish specializes in delicious seasonal, local, organic small plates combining wonderful flavors, beautifully presented. We shared the Free-Range Coconut Chicken Skewers (which, unlike many chicken satay was neither dry not burnt), French Brie & Pear Panini (a melt-in-your-mouth pairing), Beet & Blue Cheese Salad, and Organic Pigs in a Blanket (the maple mustard and flakey wrapping really set these apart) — followed by a couple of cups of joe and two Creme-puffs, one filled with chocolate gelato and the other ginger gelato. Since happy hour is from a civilized 5-7 PM our filling and delicious meal amazingly only came to $36!!!!! On top of that, Becca's service was attentive and excellent.

9-27-09 via The Stranger

Great Drinks, Fabulous Food

I've been o Ravish several times since they opened in mid-August. This is definitely not a spot to miss — try it once and you'll become a regular.

The food is consistently fantastic. Chef Kelly Daly's macaroni and cheese is absolutely worth the 25 minute wait - with fresh thyme and bits of pancetta, you'll be scraping the bottom of the bowl with your spoon so you don't leave behind any of the sauce.

The chicken satay skewers are another winner — perfectly moist and seasoned chicken coated with nutty, toasted coconut, served with a sweet-spicy dipping sauce? Heaven.

Don't miss the artisan spread trio. The tapenade is perfect — briny and salty with chunks of olives, capers, and bits of fresh parsley. It's a wonderful complement to the creamy chevre and the smokey sun-dried-tomato spread. My only (VERY minor) criticism is that I'd like more La Panzanella crackers and fewer slices of baguette.

The caprese is wonderful — pillowy soft mozzarella sandwiched between thick-cut, juicy, fresh tomato and drizzled with savory-sweet balsamic vinegar.

Nick, the bartender, makes beautiful cocktails. His Pimm's cup is the best I've had outside of the UK. Sitting at the bar, service is exactly what it should be - attentive without being invasive, quick without any hovering, and heavy pours when you're having a bad day.

Ultimately, this is a fantastic new restaurant. You'll be glad you ate there!

9-11-09 via The Stranger's Questionland..."So I am new to Eastlake. Are there things I shouldn't miss in the neighborhood? Any gems? Practical things I should know?

Ravish just opened and I have been a frequent and very happy customer. The bartender knows what he's doing, the food is great, and they have happy hour through 7 PM.

Ravish on Eastlake is my new best friend.
Location - check.
Atmosphere - check.
Drinks - check.
Food - check.
Service - check.

8-19-09 — When it comes to all things neighborhood, the Eastlake Ave blog doesn't miss a beat...

With an eye towards seasonal and local, the trim but well-thought-out menu gives you plenty of tasty options without getting complicated. If the full meal deal isn’t what you’re after, belly up to one of the half dozen stools at the fully stocked bar and sample Ravish’s lengthy wine selection or try "The Ruby," a shaken drink with Raspberry Stoli, Grand Marnier and cranberry juice, or any other "Inspired Cocktail." With something for everyone’s palate, Ravish is another great addition to an already great neighborhood.

Yelp 8-20-09

I loved Ravish! It is exactly what the north end of Eastlake needs. Casual but stylish, friendly, lovely cocktails (try the basil lemonade). The food was very good. We had a lovely caprese salad, a beet salad, and tiny Dungeness crabcakes from the main menu, and tried their specials: pork tenderloin in a citrusy sauce, and salmon. It was very good - I especially loved the fingerling potatoes and the beet salad. Their house red at $6 is a tasty Cotes du Rhone.

We'll definitely be back, probably often if they keep this up. I like the idea of popping in for a drink and a snack, rather than a big dinner.

Yelp 08-21-09

Ravish packs a lot of sass into its little home beneath some condominiums on Eastlake. Stylistically, it walks the line between laid-back and dressy very well — I could see this being a place to meet up with gals for drinks and noshery as easily as a nice late-night stop after dinner on a date night. It's intimate, with a small bar and a fair number of two-tops (plus some benches against the wall for adjusting to bigger groups comfortably) but the white walls and big windows keep you from feeling like you're stuck in a box which just happens to serve cocktails.

This place definitely has a tapas-bar sort of feel; it's not a joint to stop by for a big dinner. The BBQ pork sliders were tangy and flavorful but my Italian panini was to die for. The hot coppa and salami were epic, and the delicious mozzarella and peppers that accompanied my piggy friend did full justice without overshadowing his spicy awesome. The spreads-and-breads appetizer was also quite good and a great deal for the amount of stuff you get. The sun-dried tomato and pine nut was my favorite, but it's really hard to say no to chevre as well.

With as much care as this place puts into their food, one may expect the drinks to be lackluster, but you'd be very wrong. The bartender here is seriously, seriously fabulous. By the time came for us to place our drink orders, my workday wonk hadn't quite worn off and I couldn't figure out what I wanted to order. Never fear! I asked for a surprise and he whipped me off something off-the-menu which ended up being just exactly what I needed: tall, crisp, and spicy with a great ginger kick. It was one of the best cocktails I've had, full stop, which only makes it more sad that I've forgotten what was in it.

Once you've been to Ravish, we hope you'll spread the word via Urban Spoon and other community sites as well as with your friends and family.