Pip's Plate

After an excellent lunch at Etta’s Seafood, my friend and I decided to lunch at one of Tom Douglas’s other Seattle restaurants: Dahlia Lounge.

We succeeded in having the second best dining experience at this restaurant (the first would be Etta’s). Whatever Tom Douglas is doing, he’s doing it very well at more than one restaurant.

The lunch crowd at Dahlia Lounge was definitely more hopping and business than at Etta’s, but that was fine. Our server was very friendly although a little busy.

I had steamed mussels served with smoked tomatoes, saffron broth and lemon garlic cream sauce. OMG! This dish kicks every other mussel dish’s butt. I thought my Tour of Mussels in Minneapolis this past year proved that Minneapolis has good mussel options, but the Dahlia Lounge shot right up to first place.

This dish had outstandingly fresh flavors. They mussels were perfectly cooked – tender, almost velvety in texture with a hint of the sea. The sauce was a light yet robust smoky tomato saffron sauce – delicious. The tomatoes themselves were incredible. I’m not a huge fan of tomatoes, but these were great. Smoked tomatoes will also go on my list of things I need to make.

The Dahlia Lounge serves a natural soda called Dry. I haven’t seen it anywhere but this restaurant, but it’s much better than the Izze sodas I’ve had. My friend had the lavender flavor and I had the lemongrass. Man, they were good! I’ll have to see if my local coop can start carrying it.

We shared Tom’s World Famous Creme Caramel for dessert. Oooh! Yummy! Silky and creamy, firm and not gelatin-like with a hint of vanilla bean.

Dahlia Lounge

2001 4th Ave

Seattle, WA 98121

206.682.4142