The Old Sage

I didn't know much about The Old Sage beforehand except that they had an impressive Scotch collection. I went in on a whim to have a quick drink with friends before going elsewhere for dinner. Instead we ended up canceling our dinner reservation across town because the menu here looked so good. I was honestly getting a little bored with the Capitol Hill fare; it's a bit predictable and repetitive. Not the case here. We opted to go somewhat family style and try a little bit of everything. I tried the burger, the hamachi, the duck, the short rib and the sour bread. Every dish was fantastic, with bold and unique flavors, enticing presentation and a very good value for the high quality. For the drinks, the bar manager, Mason, recommended a great Scotch I hadn't seen before, and later made a a perfectly balanced cocktail after asking me a few questions on preferences. The service was spot on: attentive, personalized but not overbearing. Also, the vibe of the space is pretty killer too. It has a great mood. This has honestly been one of the best dining experiences I've had in the past year in Seattle. Adding it to my list of regular spots, and look forward to bringing guests from out of town and clients from work.

The smoked pecans are really good, and every drink I've had here has been perfectly balanced.

Good atmosphere, bring your night vision goggles in the evening though. Really good nukazuke and duck wings.