Miscelaney

By Thea Nyberg

Sometimes visiting a new restaurant is like a first date. You do a quick background check on the web, get all dolled up and feel the anticipation as the “big night” draws closer. You leap into it with an open mind and hope for a happy future together over many delicious meals.

Last week I had a date with Bastille, one of the latest restaurant additions on good ol’ Ballard Ave. I’d walked by a few weeks earlier, and like a wink from a hot stranger, it drew me in. A peek in the window revealed a large room with high ceilings, walls coated in glossy white subway tile, beautiful lighting and intricate black ironwork. An outdoor terrace housed happy diners sipping cocktails while an expansive antique bar inside was coupled with a cozy open “hearth.” The menu was classic French Bistro fare. What more could you ask for in a dinner date? I was charmed. Reservations were made immediately for my best friend’s birthday dinner.

And on a rainy Thursday I arrived, heart in hand. The first thing I noticed as I approached the front desk was that everything inside was beautiful–including the staff. The hostesses were a delight and understanding when I said I wanted to wait in the bar for my friend’s arrival. A great sign.

 Next stop: the 45-foot zinc-topped bar. And quite a bar it is. My gin martini was divine, served in a large frosted glass with two generous olives. Just a whisper of vermouth. Heaven. A bad martini, after all, is a dining deal-breaker.

As the hostess led us to our table, she filled us in on the source of the eclectic décor. Obviously familiar with the importance of storytelling in the art of the sale, she explained that many of the decorative elements had been chosen by the owners from flea markets around the world.

So, we’ve established that the owners obviously have excellent taste, but what about the food?

We ordered a salad to share; the Heirloom tomato with frisée and bacon. I was looking forward to fat slices of bright red tomato, so perfectly ripe in the late summer. And I figured, having just had one from my own garden, that their storied rooftop garden would surely produce something as delicious. But when the salad arrived, it was a little disappointing. There was too much frisée, a few small chunks of tomato, and only a hint of bacon. You can save any dish with more bacon! It was wanting in every way. As I tried to eat large pieces of frisée elegantly (not possible, by the way), I longed for the tangy tomato of my dreams. At $12, I could buy two lbs of heirloom tomatoes…organic ones at that. I’m just saying.

I hoped for the best with the Steak Frites ($18). Because, how can you go wrong with steak and potatoes? It arrived, perfectly seasoned, perfectly medium (the way that I like medium, anyway, not going to get into that old debate), and with a side of a delicately creamy béarnaise in a silver-plated sauce boat to pour as little or as much as you like. The fries were crisp, without a trace of grease, and I must admit they were dipped frequently into the béarnaise. Because fat on fat is so darn good.

A note about the dinner service: While the beautiful are certainly a welcome addition to any room, sometimes, as in dating, choosing beauty over skill is a big mistake. I got the distinct impression that our server would “rather be modeling.”

So they have the story down: the eclectic flea market finds, the rooftop garden, the antique bar from an old Seattle mansion. But are they too in love with their own tale–like a date who talks too much without letting you get a word in edgewise?

Do I want a second date, you ask? Yes, I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt here, because, well, it WAS a first date, and there were definitely a few very high notes among the missteps. And as with any new relationship, only time will tell.

Bastille Cafe & Bar, 5307 Ballard Avenue NW 

Thea Nyberg is a homegrown Seattle girl, a mom, a writer, a caffeine addict with a wicked sense of style who has an aversion towards her growing celebrity and is a contributing writer for Miscelaney.

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