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$$$$Capitol HillSteakhouse

Bateau

written by seattlebites April 18, 2016
For my birthday celebration this year the hubs was kind enough to treat me to a fancy meal at Bateau in Capitol Hill. It’s a new-(ish) steakhouse that is a part of Sea Creatures restaurant group, most popularly tied to renowned Seattle Chef Renee Erickson.

This lovely airy space is situated between two fantastic cafes, Bar Melusine and General Porpoise on Union Ave. Side note, General Porpoise has some of the tastiest malasada inspired doughnuts with daily made seasonal fillings. But be warned they are on the pricey side. Totally worth it for a ‘treat yourself day’ though.

I was super excited to finally try Bateau. I’ve read so many amazing reviews about this French, farm-to-table steakhouse and have been dying to visit for months. Some things that set this steakhouse apart from others is that they breed and raise their livestock locally, on a small farm on Whidbey Island. Their animals are treated in the most humane way possible, grass fed and grass finished. They also feature nose to tail butchery, so that you can order unique cuts of beef you wouldn’t usually try at other steakhouses. Finally, they dry age all of their meat in-house, which gives their beef a wonderfully robust, unique flavor.

When we first walked in I couldn’t help but notice the amazing caged lights hanging from the ceiling. The interior decor is beautifully done, with a contemporary French farmhouse feel. The table settings are vintage inspired, and the tables are made from dark, unfinished stone slabs that make the rest of the decor pop.


Bateau has an excellent selection of cocktails and wine. Most of the bottles of wine start in the $70 price range, which was a bit much for our party of 2 so we opted for wine by the glass. The glass offerings are fantastic as well and the Reds pair perfectly with their meats.

In the dining area, two chalkboards list the daily cuts of beef available. Once you order your steak or another cut of beef, they cross it off the list and it is no longer available for the day. They have about 3 – 4 pieces available per cut. So my advice would be to make early reservations, that way you have a larger selection to choose from. We came at 6:30 pm, which were perfect because there was still plenty offerings left on the board.

Along with a delectable array of beef options, they offer an amazing selection of side dishes that go beyond the typical grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes (although I totally ordered the potatoes because I’m a glutton for butter).  
We began our meal with a complimentary amuse bouche. I believe it was a chicken liver mousse or something similar. It was quite tasty and a great way to start our dining experience.
We then went on to our first starter which was the Spot Prawns—honey, walnut, cabbage, brussels sprouts, $17.  I really enjoyed this dish. The cabbage was nicely salted which balanced out the sweetness from the honey walnuts and lightly fried shrimp. Honestly, it kind of reminded me of the Chinese style walnut shrimp, which happens to be one of my favorites. So this dish was an A+ in my book. 

 

Our second starter was the Veal Sweetbreads – elderberry capers, pickled elderflowers, buerre blanc, $18. All I can say is wow. The pairing of the elderberries was delish and the sweetbreads were perfectly seared.
For our main course, we went for the New York 17oz, $78. I know, I played it safe but I wanted to make sure I enjoyed my meal since this was a bit of a splurge for my husband and I. We opted for the bone marrow butter, which was fantastic. They cook your steak to med-rare unless you request otherwise, this is my favorite temperature so it was perfect. There’s something about dry aged steaks that I can’t get enough of. The process just makes the meat taste so much more flavorful, and Bateau really knows how to do this well. The meat was tender, juicy and everything that I could ask for in a steak. I was a very happy camper.
And of course, as mentioned I totally went for the Buttery Mashed Potatoes, $10. Check out how gloriously creamy they looked!
Our second side dish was equally as delicious. We ordered the Roasted Mushrooms – egg yolk, toasted garlic, marjoram, $10. I mean, they pretty much had me at egg yolk. The mushrooms, while roasted had a flavor that reminded me of something seared in a wok. I really enjoyed this dish and would definitely order it again.
We ended our meal on a deliciously sweet note. We ordered the Bread Pudding (I didn’t get the price), which the server told us would take 8 – 10 mins to prepare.  It was seriously one of the best bread puddings I have ever tasted. If you are not a fan of dessert this is definitely for you, if you are a fan this is for you too! It was not overly sweet as many bread puddings are. It was a bit more on the firm side and not too custardy or cakey. It was served in a lush bath of heavy cream that gave it just the right amount of creaminess. It really was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal. 

I truly enjoyed my visit to Bateau. The service was impeccable and the ambiance really sets you up for a comfortable, unpretentious dining experience. While I wouldn’t be able to dine here regularly, I will definitely bring out of town Seattle visitors here and I look forward to celebrating more special occasions at this restaurant.
Cheers,
Sonya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Price Point: $$$$

 

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