I think we came on an off day - it was someone who works there's birthday so his family/friends were all on one side of the room and there were decorations. We went for happy hour and it was kind of a mixed bag, but on the better side :) The layout is kind of weird - it's really open with the bar and a couple tables on one side of a wall full of archways, and tables on the other side. Lots of light, which we weren't expecting. Not very cozy, but it was nice in there. Probably a completely different feeling at night - we'll have to give it a shot later in the day sometime.
We walked in a little confused. Didn't know if we should seat ourselves, or wait..? A few people just looked at us. A guy sitting at the bar actually said hi, it's so and so's birthday, his family is over there, just sit anywhere! Which was great, because none of the employees gave us direction.
Sat at the bar - bartender was alright - a little awkward, not super friendly or talkative with us, but in a good mood and gave good service. We had the house red which was nice. We ordered the cauliflower gratin, spicy meatballs, and a caesar salad. It came quickly which was nice and unexpected as they had a full party on one side. The caesar was good. Light dressing, not overly creamy like many places, served with a lemon wedge which helped it out. I'd love more garlic, but overall it was good - my husband, who doesn't like salad dressing, loved it :) The cauliflower gratin was pretty good - a little overwhelming in large quantities but a really good flavor. The meatballs were pretty good as well - not great, but the sauce was pretty tasty, and the presentation on everything was nice.
The playoffs were on, so there was someone really into those at the bar commenting on them enthusiastically, then the birthday in the background, decorations everywhere, and no music until the last 20 minutes - so the atmosphere was a little unexpected. We liked it because it seemed more of a casual, low key place vs. other bars in downtown Kirkland. We were just expecting something else - the image of bistro in my head is pretty different than this place, but I'd like to give it a go when it's darker out and not an employee's birthday :)
Went here with two girl friends. Â Monday was happy hour ALL DAY, so that made the visit even sweeter. Â We sat up at the bar. Â The bartender was very pleasant and knowledgeable. Â My two friends are sort-of on diets. Â Mostly being no gluten or carbs, to which the menu kind of catered to. Â The food we ordered and ate was all delicious. Â Meatballs, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Caprese. Â The drinks were lovely as well. Â Just went for a snack / happy hour, and it was exactly what we wanted. Â I look forward to returning to experience even more delicious food and friendly service.
I guess if there was anything "negative" I could say about the experience is that I had bad timing with parking and didn't get to park DIRECTLY in front of the building like my two friends. Â However, it was easy to find/get considering so many other places in this area.
Atmosphere: Dim lighting, high tables with bar chairs, wood, dark paisley print tapestry framing window...
Food: Fantastic! I would go back for the Brussels Sprouts (fried, sprinkled with salt, comes with dip), Sweet Potato Fries (thickest cut sweet potato fries I've ever had), Roasted Beet Salad (perfectly dressed with balsamic, sprinkled with candied nuts and gorgonzola cheese--on the sweet side), and the Salmon with Pesto (love the flavorful pesto and accompanying mashed potatoes and veggie medley)!
Service: Attentive but not overbearing.
I also think the prices are really reasonable. Plus there's events (all day HH's, Girl's Nights, etc) all the time, including live music on several nights of the week!
Found new Kirkland hangout!
Went there with some buds for happy hour last night.  The service was speedy but that's not to say the food wasn't great.  I ordered fried brussel sprouts, a caprese flatbread, and a fabulous ganash mousse cake.  I liked it all very well.  I was impressed they offered blends as house wines.  The bartender was our server and he was really sweet at didn't over serve us at all.  I wouldn't go back for dinner though as I only saw one  option for vegetarians and I know this sounds crazy but I'm never really in the mood for a big plate of grilled veggies.  But it's a lovely place and I will surely be back for happy hour again.
Review Source:My review is based on their 9pm happy hour experience. We've not eaten a regular meal here yet.
We found the bar area to be quite a delight, with friendly staff, older but nice patrons, reasonably good happy hour food, and enjoyable live music on a more mellow note.
The meatballs & marinara was tasty, and the artichoke spinach dip was fine. The house red wines and assorted beers were all satisfactory. Â The chicken wings were okay, but I'm not a big fan of saucy wings.
I suppose you never know who you will see performing, but we had a nice evening with the soft signing and light percussion of Annie Eastwood and the entertaining guitar talent Bill Chism. Â We'd be happy to see them play any time.
I'll probably return, as I think this restaurant holds promise and deserves another tasting, especially given the high ratings. However, the food we had (crab mac and cheese, meatloaf, hamburger, chicken) was okay but not great. The burger was a bit on the crisp side (according to the person eating it), the meatloaf was overly soft and sloppy, and the crab mac was okay but not stunning.
Very nice server and good service - will give them another shot, I think.
We went here for a late dinner last night (~10pm).
Street parking was a little hard to find, but it wasn't too bad.
Once we entered the bistro, the hostess let us know that it was open seating. We picked a table close to the live music.
We were served promptly. We ordered the house red wine, which was good, and the meatloaf sliders, which were very delicious!
The live music was mostly jazz and blues - very relaxing.
All in all, a great experience. I will definitely be coming back.
I had no intention to try this restaurant until i saw all the great reviews on Yelp...My misktake!
The restaurant is very average on decor. Â The server spoted us quickly and took our order...however, it took way too long (seriously) to get just the calamari...sigh!!
The 2 beers were fine, nothing special to write about. Â Food was a huge disappointment: calamari was too soggy and bland. And i had no idea what was the pile of cilantro for except adding volume to the dish. Â The pork silder was very meh. Â The food quality was so poor that it reminded me of getting food in deli section of any grocery store.
Don't waste gas money to get there, even walking 5 mins like us...
In the words of my boyfriend... "DAMN! That was good."
'Nuff said. This place has it all - cheap drinks, amazing food and great service. Totally worth a visit. Happy hour was fantastic, the drinks were well-poured and delicious (if you know what I mean) and the mains were fantastic. We had the chicken, the brussel sprouts and the caprese flatbread - all of which lived up to - and far beyond - our expectations.
Kids, I haven't even gotten to the dessert yet.
HOLY CRAP. LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE.
Let's just say, get the Lemoncello-Tiramisu. It will change your opinion of desserts for evermore. Tart, tangy, sweet and delicious, it's a treat for the tastebuds and it made me weak at the knees. Add a few raspberries on the side and you've got a convert for life.
The place is small, the ambiance is middle-of-the road, the music (on a Sunday night and open mic - which i assure you has the potential to be pain-worthy) was really, really good.
Overall, well-deserved 5 stars. Congrats on a great place and keep up the good work.
Everything about this place deserves five stars.
The food, the drinks, the bartender, and the weekend music are all wonderful. For food, you MUST try the Cauliflower Gratin (come during Happy Hour and it's wickedly inexpensive.) Drink-wise, we were delightfully shocked to find the traditional Brazilian drink, Caipirinha, on the menu. Made with lime and a sugar-cane rum, we had been searching for a bar that served these amazing drinks since our return from Brazil one year ago. Two Twelve makes them in true Brazilian fashion.
Other than that, the ambiance is chill and relaxing, and we like to go on Fri & Sat nights when there is live music playing. If you're lucky enough to score a seat at the bar, the bartender--who is the nicest guy--might play the best bar game ever with you, "Shut the Box."
It's an all-around friendly cafe and bar, with great food, excellent service, and friendly patrons. Could not recommend it higher.
A couple of friends and I came here for Happy Hour on Tuesday. It was completely dead, just the three of us. Sad, but nice for us :( Anyway, we ordered off the HH menu and got the Chili Chicken Drummettes, Caprese Melt, Caesar Salad, and the Sliders (one Pork and one Meatloaf) - actually, sliders are on regular menu.
The chicken was good - had a nice kick to it, but not too spicy. Decent portion for price. Caprese Melt was tasty. I don't eat tomoatoes, so I just had the cheese on bread essentially and I liked the flavor. The Caesar Salad was nice, flavorful. Enough for two people if you're having other appetizers. I had the meatloaf slider - it was yummy. Not too big, not too small. My friend had the spicy pork and he said it was kinda spicy for him, but good. House wine I believe was $4. Had no idea what I got, just ordered. Haha.
I like this place. The waiter was nice. I came here when it first opened and it was chaotic, but the food was good then and still is now. Sad to see that they were so slow. Hope things pick up for them.
Happy Hour Menu was a bargain. You get lots of bread with any happy hour item. We ordered everything on the HH menu and split it between 3 of us. The Caesar salad was my favorite and a generous portion. The caprese flat bread was pretty good. The spinach artichoke dip was to die for! The cauliflower dish was a bit weird- I think the gorgonzola cheese was just a bit overpowering. The happy hour wine is $4 a glass and it was pretty good! Two Vines Cabernet and Chardonnay. All in all, it was a nice atmosphere and our server was very friendly! I would definitely go back.
Review Source:My wife and I stopped in for a Sunday date night and had a fantastic time. The staff and owner were great. We received good reccomendations on both food and beverages. Found some nice wines and tasty beer.
The food was outstanding and we are looking forward to gathering a group and going back soon.
What a find!
Easy-to-find location right on 85th (Central) in downtown Kirkland. Â We came for the happy hour, which starts at 4pm every day. Â Easily found parking on a nearby side street and walked in to a tastefully decorated bar/bistro. Â It has a warm understated ambience that strikes just the right note for a casual date night with the hubby.
Though there was only one server/bartender on duty - service was impeccable! Â Perfectly timed, witty banter, great recommendations.
We mostly ordered off the small plates menu. Â We started with the Cauliflower Gratin (delicious - creamy without being too heavy and a nice kick of cumin), followed by the Asparagus Soup (unbelievably good and I am not typically a soup fan! Â The chef made me a believer that night!). Â My husband ordered the Pork Slider and was thoroughly impressed with its size. Â I had a crisp fresh Caesar Salad and we split the Salsa Shrimp.
The house wine was a Columbia Crest cab (ehh), so I ordered Kestrel Lady in Red and enjoyed every sip. Â
We concluded our delicious meal by sampling not one but TWO of the outstanding desserts.....The Limoncello Tiramisu is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Â I couldn't stop oohing and aahhhing over the amazing combination of flavors that work like magic somehow. Â We also had the Chocolate Pots de Creme and it was fantastic. Â It satisfied my chocoholic cravings while not blasting my husband away with over-the-top chocolate flavor.
As long as they continue to serve up delicious food and great service....we will be back to this lovely establishment...again and again!!
Went to this little neighborhood spot last night for the first time, and everything was outstanding. It was our anniversary, and they held a corner table for us, let me bring in flowers in advance, and even gave us a champagne toast. The food was the star, with exceptional quality for the money, and lots of shareable small-plate options. We went during happy hour, so the food was extra reasonable - multiple items were only $4 for full-sized portions. The cauliflower gratin was excellent, as were the daily specials we tried (giant pork sliders and deep fried brussels sprouts). The entire menu is approachable and affordable - definitely the kind of place that could serve as a "go-to" spot for a great meal when you don't want to cook. The atmosphere is cozy and warm (love that it's 21+), and the service was top notch. This will be a regular place for us.
Review Source:Prelininarynrating! This is a relatively new spot so I assume there are a few bugs to work out. Will definitely return and report any changes. My review addresses only happy hour drinks/food and Fri night entertainment.
My husband and I dropped in on a Fri night around 9:15 PM for a late dinner. We were pleased to see happy hour offerings and reduced prices were in effect (seems most places wait until 10). True to the banner posted outside, there was live music. The place was about half full, with a lively crowd of folks in their 40's - 50's, which matched our demographics. The bar/dining area has tall tables and nice lighting. My short legs prefer a standard table, but I managed to be comfortable in the high top.
(Note: you can skip this para if you don't plan to visit on Thu-Sat night when they have live music, We took a table in the back, as far from the music as possible, wanting conversation after my hubby's return from a trip to Salem.  We were quickly greeted, menus were on the table and we were served ice water. Within minutes we decided to try to find a quieter spot because the noise level was gratingly loud.  The sound level for the musician - a solo singer-guitarist - was extremely loud and this was made worse by the crowd who spoke even louder to talk over the music. The musician was pretty good and though I liked his song selections & voice, but one had to speak very loudly to converse - and even then it was difficult to hear or be heard. This is a good article reviewing sound levels in Napa CA restaurants (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.napanow.com%2Fnapanoise.html&s=526d848c3af642abb77ac493b4008d08543bc2f9e27dd4347a3fb4c33d898af0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.napanow.com/n…</a>) which indicates dB ratings should be under 7y5dB for conversation. I'm sure it was well over 100 last night. I prefer music that adds to a relaxed ambience, but the combination of loud music & conversation quickly gave me a headache!)
Now on to the food/beverages!
Happy hour wine, draft beer & well-drinks are a very reasonable $4. I like their house red, Columbia-Crest 2-Vines blend; Â very tasty red wine. Â My hubby enjoyed a frosty pint of a Pyramid Snow Top winter ale. They also have a Ninkasi Total Domination IPA and a few other good beers on tap. I give 5 stars for happy hour offerings & prices! I saw they also have a nice selection of specialty cocktails on the drink menu. May have to try a few of these in the future!
Food offerings were a mix of regular menu items at reduced prices and a "fresh" menu of daily choices. We selected several small plates to share. The Caesar salad was delicious - one of the best I've had with a fantastick garlicky dressing tossed with fresh bites of crisp romaine, not to dry or wet, topped with fresh-grated Parmesan and peppered to our taste. Next we had the crispy Brussels sprouts with lemon aioli which was perfectly cooked extremely tasty together. The bruschetta flat bread was a nice found of warm, crispy flatbread, topped with nice slices of fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes and strips of fresh basil, drizzled in just the right amount of balsamic. It was very good, but I would have liked to add a sprinkling of salt & pepper, however there was none on our table or any others. Â The baked cauliflower spread was OK, the cheese was thick, nicely melted and tasty, but the cauliflower was a bit bland. Not bad, just could have used a kick - perhaps a dash or two of Tabasco & some salt. It is served with Crostini - plenty of crunch slices to handle the crock of dip. The teriyaki beef tenderloin tips came with five nice bites of tender, medium-rare tenderloin, tossed with pineapple tidbits in a not-too-sweet teriyaki sauce. The flavor was OK; again, it seemed to need some salt, which could have been remedied if a shaker was provided on the table. Don't get me wrong - I'm not one of those who covers all my food in salt! I typically taste while cooking and try to get the salt level right before serving. My hubby is a different story - he tends to salt first and tast later - a frequent bone of contention with us :) However, I think restaurants should let diners have the choice of adding salt & pepper as desired. Our last plate was 3 large meatballs, which were topped with a marinara sauce and melted provolone cheese. These were very tasty and required no salt. Overall we were satisfied with the value and offerings.
We just recently moved to Kirkland from the Portland area and this could become a favorite place - if they can address the sound problems. I will know to request salt & pepper shakers when we order. The full menu has some nicely-described entrees which we'll try on the next visit. Â This is a spot I really want to love,
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