Cuisines:
American/New American
If there's a soul reading this who still doesn't believe that whole, handmade, and additive-free foods taste more vivid than enhanced ones, proceed directly to Bennett's Pure Food Bistro and be enlightened. There, in a bistro at the base of one of Mercer Island's many downtown apartment buildings, a late harvest of heirloom tomatoes sliced atop a hunk of mozzarella and dressed simply in basil oil, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt achieved the very ideal of tomatoness. Owner Kurt Dammeier prizes the freshest seasonal ingredients and their producers, one of which is Beecher's Handmade Cheese—which Dammeier also owns. Hence things like creamy bufala in a caprese and choice artisan cheeses on the dinner menu—which proceeds through a well-curated list of pastas (including Beecher's killer mac and cheese!), salads, meats, fish, wines, and cocktails. Mercer Island's been waiting all its life for a restaurant to embrace as both “casual evening off” and &ldquodestination evening out.” Now it's got all that—and culinary distinction besides.
Updated 10/10/2012
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