The Pink Door Terrace

The Pink Door

1919 Post Alley (Between Stewart and Virginia Streets)

206 443-3241 http://www.thepinkdoor.net/

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 The rule is: Spend no more than $25, taste as many different dishes as possible, off of other people's plates. September. Perhaps the last warm summer day (over 70 degrees Fahrenheit - this is Seattle). I arrived to meet my friend who had just returned from a five-week research trip in Liberia. She had already ordered a drink: Pimms and Sprite. 

"What is Pimms," I asked? 

"Well, I discovered it through a neo-colonialist ex-pat party network” in Monrovia, Liberia, a young set that has been installed to rebuild, redesign and reconstruct the Liberian government after years of devastating civil war,  Apparently the drink was originally served as a digestive in the United Kingdom – a gin-based, herb-infused, fruity refresher. 

So while she sipped her Pimm’s, I sipped my own summer drink, a Grape Knee-High (vodka, triple sec, Chambord, and lemon juice).

 The Pink Door terrace was abuzz with the after-work, after-shopping-at-the-Pike-Place-Market-crowd.  We got the last no-reservation-required table outside – a vibrant, densely packed patio with views of Seattle’s Puget Sound and the sunset. With around 40 tables outside, it was a perfect place to see and taste everyone’s food. We ordered the Cheese Board Deluxe – a beautifully arranged cheese selection on a wooden board. We picked at the little wedges of artisanal Italian cheeses, dipped and played with the fig and chianti compote, and played with the crispy house-made crackers. 

The cheeses were pungent, flavorful, and varied - one blue, one harder, one mid-aged and mild.  Our waiter was a terribly serious, bespectacled guy and we asked for his recommendations. He offered: the risotto, the Special of the Day (whole fish, Mediterranean style, with head on, accompanied by a nice fresh pesto sauce), and the sautéed calamari. I had a rough road map now, and knew what I was looking for (fish, risotto, fish, risotto). And as the drink started to kick in, I needed some substantial food to soak it up. 

 So…I got up and meandered about, eyeing everyone’s table. I looked at their food. I looked in their eyes. I found a talkative couple finishing off the remains of the whole fish Special of the Day. 

“How was that?” I asked. This led to a long conversation with the couple about whole fish, seafood, the Mediterranean region, Seattle, the Pink Door. I was hunched over their table, standing. I told them I hadn’t been here, to this restaurant, in years. 

“Where have you been then?” they asked. 

“Morocco, I guess,” I said. 

“Ooooh….” and we launched into a long discussion of North Africa. He had driven across the border to Algeria, back in the 60’s…. 

“Is that the pesto that came with the fish??” I asked. 

“Yes,” she said. 

“Can I taste it?” It was electric green, syrupy pesto sauce in a little cup. 

“Sure...here, dip the bread in it.” 

“Mmmm…lovely, thanks!" I tried it again, with more bread.  

The woman raved, over and over again about the calamari...it wasn’t deep fried...I just had to order it.  I believed her. Back at my table, my friend had finished her second Pims. And coincidentally, the couple next to us had just ordered the calamari. 

“Is that the calamari?” I asked the couple. 

“Yes, do you have a fork?” 

“Yes, here.” He speared me a nice bit of sautéed calamari in spinach, tomato, garlic and wine sauce. Wow. 

The couple with the calamari then asked me if I wanted to marry their son. What? They explained he was well established, single and living in San Francisco. They had just come from visiting him, and they were frustrated that he wasn't settling down. I wondered what they had in mind. Why me? I eat other people's food! They gave me his contact info. 

We called it a night at the Pink Door and made our way to the next stop on our circuit. Great Grape Knee-High, nice pesto sauce and cheese selections on a beautiful and lively terrace with friendly folks. I may even meet my new husband. And I only spent $25.