Staple & Fancy

Staple & Fancy is an Italian restaurant at 4739 Ballard Ave NW in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, part of the restaurant group of Seattle chef Ethan Stowell. It occupies a historic brick building on Ballard Avenue, one of the city's best-known dining streets. The cuisine is Italian with a Pacific Northwest sensibility, and the restaurant is best known for its chef's choice multi-course dinner, a family-style format in which the kitchen sends out a progression of dishes for the whole table. Handmade pasta is a recurring highlight, along with seafood, meats and vegetables that change by season. The dinner is effectively a set experience, so diners rely on the kitchen's selection rather than ordering every course, which suits groups wanting a shared meal. A more traditional a la carte option is also generally available, so guests who prefer to choose their own dishes can do so. The dining room is warm and rustic, with exposed brick, wood and a lively buzz; noise runs moderate to high on busy evenings, and the mood is convivial and relaxed rather than hushed. Dress is smart casual. The beverage programme includes Italian and Washington wines, cocktails and beer chosen for the food. Prices are in the upper-middle range, around $50-80 per person for the multi-course dinner before drinks. Dinner is served nightly, and reservations are accepted online and recommended for weekends and groups. Booking a few days ahead is usually sufficient, with prime Friday and Saturday times filling earlier. Ballard Avenue also offers independent shops, bars and a farmers market on Sundays, so a meal here pairs easily with an afternoon of exploring, and the Ballard Locks and Golden Gardens are a short drive away. Street parking in Ballard can be tight on busy evenings, so allowing extra time to find a space, or arriving by bus, is advisable, and groups often arrive slightly early to settle in before the first course.