One of the best restaurants on the West Coast, Canlis a place for special memories to be made. Caleb and I went there the first time for my birthday after our daughter was born. She was only 6 weeks old and I tearfully left her for 2 hours with a good friend. The evening was amazing and I adored every minute of it. It didn’t work out to go again this year for my birthday but my hubby had been trying to find a special time to just go for drinks and light food and sit in the bar. Last Saturday night was the perfect night, we attended a wedding (re-commitment ceremony where I couldn’t eat anything) so then we decided to go out for food afterward. Caleb had the special surprise in mind as we were already all decked out in our fancy clothes. It is amazing, very expensive and totally worth it once a year if you are a food lover!
I had their lemon drop martini (amazing), prawns, and arugula salad (that comes with gilled melon!). I let them know I was gluten-free and vegan (minus seafood) and they just substituted where needed. If you do go for a romantic night out and need a gluten-free/vegan full meal just call ahead and they can specially design you a meal that will work for you! Happy Eating!
Oh – their bar is absolutely amazing! Order anything/everything and enjoy their color changing drink and super fun drink list. Let the bar tender know you are gluten-free!
Dinner 9/17/2009:
la Carta de Oaxaca has been our favorite restaurant in Seattle for the past 4 years or so. It is located in downtown Ballard (where we live) and has great night life around it. We have gone there on many if not most date nights and have eaten almost the same meal every time. This week, being our first Vegan week, we had to change things up a bit!
Caleb, tried and true to his meal, ordered the same thing: Tacos Carne Asada and Quesadilla Fritas. I decided to branch out and get my seafood for the week. I ordered the Cocktail de Camarones and their Halibut (not listed on the online menu). It was all amazing. I didn’t eat Caleb’s at all but have been eating that dish for the last 4 years so I know it was very tasty. It is gluten-free but is in no way vegan as the tacos have beef and the Quesadilla’s are made with cheese. So really, he cheated big time.
My dinner, since I allow seafood, was amazing. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this restaurant if you don’t eat at least seafood as I think the substitutions might be more difficult but it is certainly a talented kitchen! The Halibut Tacos were truly the tastiest halibut tacos I have ever had and more than enough to fill one’s tummy. The Cocktail de Camarones is not my favorite but was in no way not good, I’m just not a huge shrimp person. No cheese on anything which was nice not have to omit things that were supposed to be in the dish – I hate doing that.
Overall I give this restaurant a 5 out of 5 if you can eat Seafood and a 3 out of 5 if you are a strict vegan. I also highly recommend their Margarita’s or any mixed drink for that matter – the bartender is fabulous!
