SeaStar Restaurant in Bellevue

[Really Nice!]

It seems that everynight I see a commercial advertising this place. Where is he getting his funding? Did he get out of the internet boom before the collapse?

Has anyone been here? Is it worth it? What's the pricing? He claims that you don't have to go downtown for fine dining; but how fine is this place.

Thoughts?

[Schielke]

I was working next door to this place around the time it was being built. That area has insanely low rental rates due to all the open office space from the dot com blowout (myself included ).

I am guessing they got in at a nice low monthly rate which frees up some extra cash.

Ben

[heyjude]

Maybe you don't have to go downtown, but going here won't make you forget your Seattle favorites. I admit I was only there once for lunch, but I won't return unless I hear updated raves from someone I trust. The service was pleasant (the waiter called us "ladies" instead of the usual and hated "you guys". The food however was shockingly bad. My friend's meal was ruined by black beans both too spicy hot and undercooked. I can't remember my entree but I didn't bring home the leftovers. It was the desserts which were the worst, 'tho they call them signature and special. The waiter said we would drool over them. We actually ordered four because another friend joined us late and we wanted to forget the mains. We had a vanilla and chocolate creme' brulee which was neither and ugly to boot, an apple pastry with caramel which was woody, a cheesecake with passionfruit sauce that looked so much like bad acne that we barely tasted it and finally a two-person coconut cream pie with a texture not unlike Vaseline and Coolwhip with a crust that had to be broken by hand. We couldn't get a fork and knife through it. Any questions? Mine was, " why was this food allowed to leave the kitchen?"

[Really Nice!]

The service was pleasant (the waiter called us "ladies" instead of the usual and hated "you guys").

Heyjude, I'm sorry to hear that the food was that poor for any restaurant. I'd think that since they're advertising they'd have their act together.

I liked your comment regarding "ladies" vs. "you guys." Having been an editor in a past life my 'ear' was always sensitive to this gender basing. I'm still astonished when watching the news and an on-the-scene reporter (usually a woman) returns the news back to the the two anchorwomen with, "back to you guys."

[girl chow]

We had a vanilla and chocolate creme' brulee which was neither and ugly to boot, an apple pastry with caramel which was woody, a cheesecake with passionfruit sauce that looked so much like bad acne that we barely tasted it and finally a two-person coconut cream pie with a texture not unlike Vaseline and Coolwhip with a crust that had to be broken by hand. We couldn't get a fork and knife through it. Any questions? Mine was, " why was this food allowed to leave the kitchen?"

HeyJude, thanks for your very honest review!

Never had dessert there or eaten an actual meal there *yet* (uh, maybe not at all after reading HeyJude's excellent, honest review), but I've been in the space and the atmosphere is pleasant enough.

This is a head scratcher for me because this place should, in theory, be a winner because it's got all the makings for success: 1) a decent chef who (from what I gather) is there just about every day 2) a great location with easy traffic access 3) decent parking and 4) an interesting concept.

It's got absolutely no competition (save for Daniel's or Ruth's Chris or maybe Sans Souci, which isn't really competition for a seafood centric restaurant), so why isn't it packed every night? Well, I guess probably for the exact reasons HeyJude outlined in her post.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's loved their experience there. Schielke, didn't you eat there last year? I think I remember you being not all that excited about it too?

So far, from friends and other posts on other restaurant boards, the consensus I've heard is to skip this place. And that sucks... I had really high hopes for Seastar when I posted about its opening eons ago (and I STILL haven't gone for the full deal... I'm such a lameass):

Clickety here for past posts on Seastar:

Seastar post from back yonder

[Schielke]

Yeah my experience was not terrible, but it was just okay. We had some appetizers and then dessert. The apps were about average and the dessert was ok. I think it was the coconut cream pie. We must have gotten a little bit better one than HeyJude. Overall it was an "ehh" experience.

I do have some friends, however, that enjoy their raw bar for lunch from time to time.

Ben

[Fish]

Has anyone been here? Is it worth it? What's the pricing? He claims that you don't have to go downtown for fine dining; but how fine is this place.

I went once (on someone elses' dime - they were trying to recruit me ) and it was very ordinary, except for the service, which was Eastside-horrible (you know, young, white, blonde obsequious kids with no self-confidence, no knowledge of food). I don't remember much (which says a lot), except that I wouldn't bother. They were very busy though, which makes since they don't really have any competition. Perhaps that's why they're mediocre: they don't have any competition, so why bother trying ?

- S

P.S. Is it obvious how little I like the Eastside ?

P.P.S. Except for Chez ReallyNice and Chez Mr. Toast ! Mmm, pizza!