Sawyer – Restaurant Review | Condé Nast Traveler

Tell us about your first impressions when you arrived.
Sawyer’s industrial-chic décor narrowly escapes feeling dated, thanks to stylish tiling around the bar and a beautiful blue-gray color scheme. Perfectly lit in the evening, the room feels at once hip and adult—a refuge from the raucous bars that line this once-easygoing What was the crowd like?
Once a separate city from What should we be drinking?
Not so long ago, this now-upscale area was a working-class fishing village full of Scandinavian immigrants who’d line up for belts of aquavit after a shift. Toast the neighborhood’s past with a Bitter Swede Symphony: aquavit, Campari, mulled vermouth, and beet-cherry juice. Or opt for a local beer from the excellent list.
Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.
Sawyer may be a serious restaurant, but it’s a serious restaurant that knows how to have fun. Chef Mitch Mayers populates his playful menu with duck fat tater tots, cheesesteak tartare, and Korean fajitas. Oh, and we can’t forget the S’more Choco Tacos for dessert.
And how did the front-of-house folks treat you?
Sawyer’s service can’t match its food. Long lags between courses, overworked employees who transfer stress to guests, and a general sense of unease among staff can plague an otherwise excellent meal.
What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here?
Relatively pricey, with a special-occasion vibe, Sawyer is a good spot for a cozy date, birthday dinner, or splurge-y vacation meal.

Sawyer’s industrial-chic décor narrowly escapes feeling dated, thanks to stylish tiling around the bar and a beautiful blue-gray color scheme. Perfectly lit in the evening, the room feels at once hip and adult—a refuge from the raucous bars that line this once-easygoing Ballard strip Once a separate city from Seattle , Ballard is the setting of choice for those whose crave the convenience of downtown without the noise and grit of urban existence. Expect young parents without the kids, tech tycoons and their adult offspring enjoying a family meal, and squads of singles fueling up on pork belly buns before a crawl through the nearby bars.Not so long ago, this now-upscale area was a working-class fishing village full of Scandinavian immigrants who’d line up for belts of aquavit after a shift. Toast the neighborhood’s past with a Bitter Swede Symphony: aquavit, Campari, mulled vermouth, and beet-cherry juice. Or opt for a local beer from the excellent list.Sawyer may be a serious restaurant, but it’s a serious restaurant that knows how to have fun. Chef Mitch Mayers populates his playful menu with duck fat tater tots, cheesesteak tartare, and Korean fajitas. Oh, and we can’t forget the S’more Choco Tacos for dessert.Sawyer’s service can’t match its food. Long lags between courses, overworked employees who transfer stress to guests, and a general sense of unease among staff can plague an otherwise excellent meal.Relatively pricey, with a special-occasion vibe, Sawyer is a good spot for a cozy date, birthday dinner, or splurge-y vacation meal.