Location: Seattle, Washington (Capitol Hill District)
Rating: 5/5
It’s not easy to find good Mexican cuisine in Seattle, let alone great Mexican food; and being a California transplant Mexican food is an absolute staple in my food repertoire. Because of this, I went searching for a restaurant that would meet my Mexican cuisine requirements. Travelling around Seattle, I found several mediocre restaurants, a couple decent one, and one really great one, worthy of not only a return visit, but regular weekly visits! The Saint, located in Seattle’s hip Capitol Hill district offers a selection of appetizers and entrees to die for, and if that isn’t enough, The Saint is best known for their wide selection of Tequilas.
After a number of visits, I’ve tried just about every entrée on the menu. Thus far, my favorites include the carne asada, which is always brilliantly cooked to order (I recommend rare to medium rare if you really enjoy your steak) and the lamb tacos, a mouth watering entrée cooked to absolute perfection so the lamb is so soft it nearly melts in your mouth. Both entrees are served with rice and beans and perfectly prepared soft, warm corn tortillas. But, if you’re going to venture to The Saint, don’t just go for an entrée; try an appetizer to start you off. The mini gorditas or the house selection of guacamole, salsa, and chips are great choices for even the most picky of palates. Both are loaded with flavor and a special flair that only The Saint is able to offer. The guacamole is dangerously fresh, as is the selection of house salsa and pico de galo, while the mini gorditas offer delicately pulled pork, perfectly seasoned on top of flavorful polenta cakes. This latter appetizer also makes a great entrée if you’re not too hungry or want to save room for drinks or dessert.
As mentioned earlier, the Saint offers a wide selection of Tequila. In fact, they’ve got nearly two whole menu pages dedicated to different types and flavors. However, for your first experience, try their infused strawberry tequila. Infused in-house on a monthly basis, this tequila offers a light strawberry twist to ease and sweeten the traditional punch of tequila, and since it’s made in-house, it’s always a fresh treat! Equally as good are the blood orange or strawberry margaritas both promising a taste like you’ve never had before. And, whether you’re a tequila aficionado, or a beginner, you can always start off your Saint experience with their tequila samplers, a selection of three tequilas promising unique flavors to complement any entrée and neatly served in three mini martini glasses for an interesting and unique dining experience.
As if the food and tequila weren’t enough of a reason to visit The Saint, the wait-staff and bartenders are! Each and every person I’ve encountered while there has been friendly, helpful, and extremely competent! They are knowledgeable on their food and tequila selection, as well as appropriate pairings for each entrée and appetizer.
The Saint, in Seattle’s Capitol Hill district is an absolute must for any tequila lover, any Mexican food lover, or anyone adventurous enough to give either a first or renewed try! Definitely one of Seattle’s shining stars of culinary genus and well worth 5/5 stars from this reviewer!
