We were hoping for a nice birthday dinner for my girlfriend and were very disappointed in what we got from Cellar 46*.\r
The evening started out in a positive direction. My girlfriend ordered from the prix fixe menu, I did not.\r
She began with the dungeness crab dip. It was warm, gooey, and very good. They served it with crackers and sea salt potato chips. Unfortunately, the vinegar taste of the chips completely overwhelmed the dip. I had the soup of the day-crab bisque. It was fantastic. It was also the last really positive element of the evening. After our appetizers, we waited almost 45 minutes before we got our meal., during which time, no one even bothered to check on us.\r
She ordered the meatloaf. It tasted like someone used burnt gingerbread men for the breadcrumbs.It was very dry and had very little seasoning. The mashed potatoes were fine, but not good enough to save the meal. I had the apple-stuffed chicken. It had an interesting flavor, but a little bland and a bit gritty. My polenta was also very bland and somewhat runny. The dressing on my mixed greens salad was sweet and tasty, but the greens themselves were warm and limp. I had the Substance Syrah with the meal. It is a nice aromatic wine out of Walla Walla with a pleasant berry taste. It is 12 bucks a glass or, the cost of purchasing the entire bottle at your local grocery.\r
For dessert, we had the chocolate dipped cream puffs with raspberry cuolis. The raspberry was light and delicious. My girlfriend was a big fan of the cream puffs, but I thought it tasted a little rubbery.\r
Total bill came to just under 75 dollars with tax and before tip. \r
On another positive note, if I were taking someone out for appetizers and wine, I think this would be a great place to go. The wine list is very good and has a few unusual choices that were nice to see. It is a little overpriced, but it is also Mercer Island. The meal itself was not worth going back for.
Pros: wine list, crab bisque
Cons: service, meatloaf
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