unpretentious and utterly delicious (betty, queen anne)

I should begin with a small confession: Betty is by far one of my most favorite restaurants in Seattle. With its unpretentious, bistro-style food and PNW-influenced flavors highlighting local, in-season ingredients, Betty is neighborhood gem and long-time favorite of mine. Since its opening in 2007, this sister restaurant of the popular Crow has captured my heart -- and stomach. But in all fairness, I'll base this review on tonight's experience alone (mostly).

Betty: 1507 Queen Anne Ave. N.

Betty is located in upper Queen Anne amidst the small strip of restaurants, cafés, clothing boutiques, and other small businesses. The dining room is slightly smaller than Crow's, but shares a similar esthetic featuring tables mixed with dark-wood booths and bar-seating with a full view of the kitchen. Towards the back of the restaurant is the bar, with L-shaped bar seating and a few more tables. In the past year, a small outdoor patio was added -- although the patio doesn't offer a view, it does provide breezy, outdoor seating during the few sunny weeks in the summer.

The dining room is contemporary, warm, and inviting, with its muted colors, clean lines, and simple yet elegant table setting. Diners on this evening represented a mix of the typical Queen Anne crowd.. girlfriends dressed up for a night out, young and childless professional couples on a date, older couples enjoying a casual meal together, and the occasional family with young child in tow.

One of several booths at Betty. Behind the wall,
bar-seating with views of the kitchen.

I started the night with a sparking ginger lemonade -- a concoction of ginger infused vodka, fresh lemonade, and sparking water over ice and served in a wine glass. An excellent summer cocktail, and also a refreshing before-dinner drink. 

Cocktail: Sparkling ginger lemonade.

For appetizers, we ordered six Ocean Pearl oysters on the half shell (Henderson Bay in the Puget Sound) and the Bibb lettuce and pear salad. The oysters were small to medium size, similar to the much-loved Kumamoto oyster with a mild, briny flavor. These were served with lemon and a red wine vinaigrette, excellent complements to this refreshing oyster. The salad was a lovely mix of buttery Bibb lettuce, sweet pears, salty bleu cheese, and crunchy walnuts finished with a bright dressing and (optional) sprinkle of freshly ground pepper.

Ocean Pearl oysters on the half shell (Henderson Bay, WA).

Bibb lettuce and pear salad.

One of the things I love best about Betty is its approachable menu (ribeye, sausage, chicken, Betty burger!) with seasonal flair (fish du jour, cassoulet!). It's also un-apologetically meat forward with a nod to the herbivores at the table (there is always a vegetarian option in addition to 2-3 salads). Although tonight's menu only featured seven entrées, I found myself wavering between the delicious options in front of me. Tonight, we opted for the pan roasted chicken and ribeye steak with frites. We also ordered the Evening Land Pinot Noir (2009, OR) to complement our meal.

Wine: Evening Land Pinot Noir (OR).

Here is the part when I can no longer hide my on-going love affair with Betty. Confession: one of us at the table ALMOST ALWAYS orders the pan roasted chicken. It is simply the best chicken in town, with its perfectly crispy, salty outside and juicy, flavorful inside. It rests in a shallow bowl of juices mixed with garlic and thyme and is served with seasonal vegetables -- tonight's chicken featured brussels sprouts and fingerling potatoes. The ever-changing accompaniments adds to the appeal and means I have yet to tire of this amazing dish.

Entrée: Pan roasted chicken with brussels sprouts
and fingerling potatoes.

Another consistently outstanding entrée is the ribeye steak with frites. A generous cut of meat, the ribeye is tender and well-marbled. It is covered in a rich, wine and garlic-flavored sauce and served with a heap of golden, crispy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside frites.

Entrée: Ribeye steak with frites.

In previous visits, Betty's one downfall has been its desserts (similar to my experience with other restaurants). Even the summer peach pie has been mediocre, leading me to often avoid dessert here altogether with a few exceptions: a post-dinner cheese plate or seasonal ice cream/sorbet. Tonight, we skipped dessert -- not a difficult decision given our already full stomachs.

The final verdict: Betty is a restaurant I will return to time and again. It offers consistently delicious, unpretentious food with sophisticated, local and seasonal flavors. Whether you're dressed up for a nice evening out or wearing your favorite Lulu, Betty is sure to please.

Shoes: Gucci thong sandals with signature red and green web.

Shoes to go with my Lulu: Gucci thong sandals with signature red and green web. Also, check out that sparkling pedicure!