Rovers- Best Restaurants Seattle

Editor’s Note: Rovers Seattle is now closed but I’m still a huge fan of Chef Thierry Rautureau a.k.a. The Chef In the Hat. As of 2015, he has two other restaurants well worth checking out if you’re not already a fan.

Tucked away in what is at first glance, a nondescript house, Rovers is exactly what its owner, the Chef in the Hat (appropriately nicknamed for his ever-present fedora) Thierry Rautureau set out to accomplish. Romantic and cozy, sophisticated yet relaxed, Rovers is an intimate dining experience. With decades of French cuisine firmly under his culinary belt, the Chef in the Hat draws on his extensive knowledge of French techniques to present an elite genre of cuisine he helped make infamous- fresh and seasonal Pacific Northwest cuisine.

Foodies couldn’t hope to find fresher or higher quality delicacies than in a restaurant whose menu varies daily according to what’s best in the local markets. Butternut Squash Bisque with Toasted Almonds and Crème Fraiche is a beautiful way to begin a cold winter day’s lunch with the earthy aroma of fresh squash complemented by the smooth cream. Hamachi Tartare with English Cucumber and White Sturgeon Caviar is an inspired fusion twist, executed to perfection as the hamachi melts in your mouth and the caviar adds a slightly salty burst of decadence.

Wild Cascade Mushroom with Brussels Sprouts, Fingerling Potato and Sherry Sauce showcases the brilliantly clean lines of Chef Thierry’s cuisine and use of local produce. While Rovers may be famous for its world class food, what some may not know is that specialty cakes can be ordered for birthdays, anniversaries or any special occasion. Dessert is a definite forte at Rovers, with tantalizing sweets such as Opera Cake (almond sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup with coffee butter cream covered in a dark chocolate) and White Chocolate Mousse Cake, each created with patient and artistic hands.

Dining at Rovers is indeed like going to a close friend’s house- a friend who has mastered the art of cozy interiors, fine service and excellent cuisine. Chef Rautureau is such a charming host always ready with witty anecdotes for his adoring guests.

The Chef In The Hat