Rover’s

Dinner at Rover’s was a great experience. The service was friendly and very elegant, without being stiff. The food was excellent. I had the menu dégustation while my wife ordered à la carte. I thoroughly enjoyed the unusual combination of known flavors and the unique twists on familiar ingredients. I also enjoyed the wine pairing, although ended up quite intoxicated. Not a terrible thing for sure :)
We were not as wooed by the dessert as we were by the savory dishes, but they were without a doubt of fine quality. The paired wine (a muscat) was also not my favorite but I am not a big fan of thick sweet fruity wines in general. A port or a liquor would have agreed better with me.
All up a great destination for our special dinners.

Table for 6 in order to bid a fond farewell to a true institution of Seattle food. Rovers, you will be missed. That said, I’m so excited to see what Chef spins up next. On this visit, I noticed that the dining room seemed dated. Especially following a pre-​dinner drink at the light and lively Luc, around the corner.
As expected, our 8 course menu (16 if you consider the vegetarian option) was… perfection.
The service was lovely.
When my 5 dining companions went for the full menu– our waiter graciously committed the kitchen to whipping up 3 additional courses for vegetarian me, on zero notice.

is it the French Laundry — no. not even in the same league or should be in the same conversation.
Is it really good? yes absolutely. one of the very best in Seattle.
great execution, seamless service, and a willingness to make everything right for the diner.
Looks like they’re closing. time for one more visit then.

It is sad to hear that Rover’s will be closing in late April after a 25 year run. I am looking forward to their new secret project, rumored to be in the works. I was fortunate to visit them during the last Seattle Restaurant Week event for a sample taste:
Duck Confit, Preserved Apricot Purée. Quail Egg, Pistachio Tuile — Confit can be found at most high end restaurants with Rover’s being no exception here. Pairing in quail egg and the crispy pistachio biscuit — simply amazing.
Smoked Trout, Wakame Salad, Yuzu Vinaigrette — fish eggs on top — intense but light taste. The seaweed and sesame salad I usually see more in Japanese restaurants create a bed for the trout. I find myself hard-​pressed to understand how something so light and refreshing also be so satisfying.
Halibut, Potato Custard, Mushroom, Olive Cream — slightly firm and dense with a clean, natural taste. The cream and dressings prove to bring in even more out of the halibut. The better half couldn’t get enough of this.
Tapioca Brûlée with a couple of Salted Cashews — a different approach to crème brûlée’, one of my most favorite desserts of all time. The carmelized, blow-​torched brown crust and pearls combination is simple and a generous portion.
The plating, the presentation and careful decorations of each plate provided exciting foreplay into an adventure for the taste buds. Maybe another trip to do the multi-​course Grand Menu Dégustation before they close their doors for good can be arranged. If not, let me say au revoir, Rover, ’till we meet again.

My first/​last/​only meal at Rover’s was a complete delight!
Chef Thierry’s creative menus seem based on flavor profiles and textures. I haven’t experienced a meal like this on the West Coast.
I did something crazy (as the typical steak eater at fine dining establishments) — I went for the vegetarian menu! The meal was incredibly thoughtful and was probably the healthiest meal I’ve ever eaten. I am almost considering having quinoa again! But I know it will never be the same.
My favorite courses were the soups and the winter squash.
Everything was beautiful presented, well-​seasoned, properly proportioned and flavored. As a dessert lover, the experience was perfectly capped with a symphony of desserts. It’s always difficult to narrow down a dessert decision and you don’t have to at Rover’s.
Try to get to Rover’s before it closes for good.

I want to give 4.5 stars but I can’t. So it has to be 4 (breaking the rounding rule here) because a couple of the items were either salty or under seasoned.
Hubby and I had the Grand menu and it was amazing. Our waiter was great.
King Salmon, Parsnip Purée, Leeks, Fennel, Black Truffle Vinaigrette — love it
Diver’s Scallop, Spinach Gâteau, Black Trumpet Mushroom Nage — scallop was perfectly cooked (just melt in my mouth) but the bacon that came with it was a bit salty
Foie Gras, Savory Profiterole, Apple-​Calvados Sauce — wonderful…
Cured Escargots, Beet, Celery Root, Puff Pastry — not my favorite
Blood Orange, Mint Tea — interesting, make sure you pop the blood orage. My husband didn’t pop it and it was weird.
Elk, Butternut Squash, Wild Mushroom, Black Peppercorn Sauce — WOW!!! Just so good.
Symphony of Desserts — my favorite… Soufflé was so good
We had a bottle of 1979 Riesling and just so wonderful. I can’t wait for Thierry’s new restaurant.

After finding out that Rover’s will be closing in April 2013, I stopped by Rover’s again this weekend with two other friends who have never been there. This time, though, I learned not to let my eyes go bigger than my stomach… and actually toned down on ordering to just the Degustation Menu (instead of the Grand Degustation Menu like what I did last time!). I also did ask to substitute my duck main course with their signature appetizer dish– the scrambled egg with caviar eggs on the top :) My 2 dining companions also opted for the Degustation menu along with a couple glasses of wine and we had a great time!
The food was pretty and tasted really great as usual. The butter poached cod was excellent and the pork pâté was to die for (one of the 3 small dishes in their first course –Amuse Bouche)! What I loved most from today was the palate cleanser, a coconut-​infused shaved ice with lime and cocoa nibs​.hmm​.yummm​.so original and refreshing… I could have that alone for dessert, too! :)
Still love my awesome dining experiences here. and will be really sad to see this restaurant close its doors in April 2013. I have never tried its sister restaurant Luc’s but because Rover’s is closing down. perhaps it’s time to try out their sister restaurant to see if it’s as good as this one, too.

Rover is the best french restaurant in Seattle IMO.
(Most recent honors: A rare ²⁹⁄₃₀ score in the new Zagat ratings, where it was judged Seattle’s #1 restaurant for food and for service.)
I am very sad to hear that Thierry Rautureau decides not to renew his lease so Rover’s will be shutting off the light in April 2013. Rover is a «beautiful landmark» restaurant that has become an institution in town, and that locals & guests come here for their birthdays, anniversaries, and then 30^th anniversaries.
I was here to celebrate friend birthday. My friend dines at all the top French restaurants like Gary Danko.
We got the Grand Menu Dégustation. Dish after Dish after Dish was a masterful presentation and art form of delight. Each dish elevated in taste by our wine.
The service was on point and water never empty. Every need was taken care of… even when my friend’s duck dish was too gamey for her, the staff immediately took it away and cook wagyu steak dish for her to replace it.
Yes, you will be paying an expensive meal but you are paying for Excellence who is a master at his craft. You also get to meet him after your dinner. Thierry Rautureau is a hard man not to like with his signature hats why he is called chef in the hat.
I know Seattle is lacking in French restaurants but Rover’s is here til April 2013. If you haven’t been here for your special occasion dinner… just come make reservation to at least dine here once so you experience one of your best meals here. What are you waiting for??? Make your reservations Now!!!

My friends and I were excited to try out Rover’s after seeing it as one of the restaurants for Seattle Restaurant Week. I really enjoy French cuisine and we had a wonderful experience!
The restaurant is located inside a converted house that is situated within a private courtyard. I appreciated Chef Thierry’s vision of making his restaurant feel romantic yet cozy and comfortable like we were dining in a friend’s home. We did not have a hard time finding parking at all.
I tried the wine pairing for each of the 3 courses with a friend. I had to drive so there was no way I could have all 3 full glasses to myself, but at $ 25 for all 3 it was a pretty good deal for the both of us. The sommelier was very helpful in explaining each of the wines throughout the meal. What was even more impressing was his French… I had no idea what he was saying at some parts of his explanations, but I was quite charmed.
All 4 of us had the Dungeness Crab soup for the appetizer and we loved it! It was very flavorful and creamy. This was probably my most favorite course. For the entrée, I had the wild guinea fowl. I was impressed by the presentation and you can definitely tell it was a work of art by a master. I really enjoyed the exquisite flavors of the wild fowl and the sauce. For the last course, I had the flourless chocolate cake. The cake came out in a very small portion but it was quite rich and chocolate-​y. I was actually already satisfied after eating half of it. One of my other friends had the bread pudding and it was sooooo good! I wished I had gotten that instead. The overall portions of the courses were smaller but they were all very rich and flavorful that will leave you satisfied.
We had a lovely time at Rover’s and I was amazed at everything. The ambiance, service and food were impeccable. I feel very lucky to have the chance to try out this beautiful restaurant, and I would definitely come back here for a special occasion.

Quaint place and Great service.
I had a great time dining her with my foodie friend who found this place. It reminded us of Manresa or French Laundry.
We went with the smallest course since we are both light eaters. I really appreciated how the waiter allowed us to switch courses from the other menus as I’m a picky eater. So then I ended up with my own perfect creation.
Everything was delicious, my favorite was the crab in vinegared cucumber since it reminded me of a Japanese dish (tsunomono). My friend enjoyed the cod in lobster sauce. I was so full when it came to the dessert so I couldn’t enjoy it as much as I would have liked. Great night with a great friend!

Handsome, prompt service. Setting is intimate and homey, feels like being hosted in someone’s home. Loved our hostess (wish I knew her name!) and server — both equally gracious and professional.
Starters
(5) Dungeness crab, potato leek soup with lemon oil — well-​executed, not too heavy. Perfect for colder weather. Crab was fantastic.
(3.5) Poultry Confit, Balsamic Glazed Apple, Hazelnut — was a bit dry for my friend’s taste and an unexpected gamey note.
Entrées
(5) Seared Guinea Fowl, Celery Root, Wilted Spinach, Huckleberry Demi — Fowl was perfectly seared medium rare. The celery root was delicious, and huckleberry demi provided piquant contrast.
(5) Poached Cod, Red Beet, Oyster Mushroom, Brown Butter Beurre Blanc — delicious, fresh.
Desserts
(5) Panna cotta with apricot — light and refreshing, perfect finish to my meal
(5) Chocolate gâteau — beautifully done, intensely rich.
Would return for special occasions.

25 years later and better than ever. Chef Thierry Rautureau continues to make his mark as a masterful chef and restaurateur.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and state that no one should be allowed to rate Rover’s. There are certain restaurants that should be removed from Unilocal and Rover’s is definitely one of them. For those who have given Rover’s less than 5-​stars, you my friends need an ego check. In the world where everyone’s a critic, it disappoints me for anyone to negatively judge the cooking talent produced from this kitchen.
There are restaurants and then there are dining experiences. Rover’s is a life-​changing experience. Pacific Northwest inspired French cuisine from the biggest jokester you’ll ever meet, but let me assure you, there is no joking around in this kitchen. From the moment of inspiration, planning, execution and delivery to the diner, you can tell no step in the process was taken lightly.
No one in Seattle compares to the quality and innovation of Chef Thierry’s talent. For those who want to be taken for a journey of sure culinary delight, please entertain the thought of entering Chef Rautureau’s corner of the universe. There is no doubt you will be shelling out the Bennji’s, but your investment will be well worth it.

Seattle Restaurant Week Round 2!
I was so excited to check out Rover’s based on the great reviews on Unilocal.Service here is amazing. The people who work here are very friendly and I appreciate how they take the time to explain the dishes and drinks they brought out for my date and I.
As for food, my date and I ended up splitting our dishes plus we decided to order the foie gras since it was one of the specials that went with the SRW deal.
The food in general was delicious. The dungenous crab soup, seared guinea fowl (especially the huckleberry reduction – SO GOOD!), poached cod (almost reminded me of buttered lobster) and panna cotta with preserved apricots were the highlights of the night. We also split the duck confit and pumpkin bread. Those were good but if I had it my way I would have preferred to have the crab soup and panna cotta to hog for myself. I was disappointed with the foie gras. I thought it was overcooked. The outside was charred, which ruined the fatty texture of the foie gras.
I would love to dine at Rover’s during the next Restaurant Week in the Spring and try their infamous scrambled egg.

We had a wonderful dining experience at Rover’s during Restaurant Week!
Now I understand why Rover’s has its reputation as one of the best restaurants in the city.
The restaurant setting is very cozy and comforting. As others have mentioned, eating here feels like dining in a relative’s dining room. Not too fancy or over the top though. You would feel comfortable here in a suit as well as jeans.
We easily found street parking nearby.
For Restaurant Week there were 3 courses for $ 28 and I opted to get the wine pairing consisting of a glass of wine with each course for $ 25. $ 25 for 3 glasses of thoughtfully selected wine– you can’t beat that!
I started with the Dungeness Crab soup. Absolutely heavenly. All four people at the table got the soup and we all loved it. It took restraint not to lick the bowl. We were in a nice restaurant, after all!
For the main course I opted for the guinea fowl. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted such a carefully crafted, exquisite sauce with a meal before now. And the carrot purée. Yum! This dish was obviously prepared by a master. The portion was fairly small but it was enough food.
Dessert was a pumpkin bread pudding with chai sauce. Delicious. I couldn’t finish it all.
I’m very glad I did the wine pairing. This was a splurge and not something I would normally spring for but with this meal it was a great decision.
I did not care for the sweet dessert wine but I normally am not a fan of dessert wines. Much too sweet for my taste.
Service was impeccable. I loved having each dish explained to me as well as each glass of wine. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and charming.
I look forward to coming back to Rover’s for a special occasion. Rover’s would be a perfect place to celebrate an anniversary. I’m happy I got to experience the restaurant!

Here’s the deal. When it comes to Seattle’s finest dining establishments, you go to Canlis to impress out of town clientele with the view and the gourmet food. You go to Rover’s for a true food EXPERIENCE.
Thierry Rautureau has proven himself as a masterful chef and restaurateur. His restaurants incorporate fresh, Northwest local ingredients. When your food arrives at your table, you should spend a good minute or so just looking at it. It’s a work of art. The gastriques, the garnishes, and the placement of everything on the plate is so precise and wonderfully presented. Thumb through the photos of the dishes here on Unilocal.They’re gorgeous and prepared to perfection!
At Rover’s, they want you to truly enjoy your experience. Let them know if you have any food allergies, you don’t like certain ingredients (foie gras, dark chocolates, coffee flavors, sweet breads, etc), if you’re pescatarian, etc. Even if you are ordering from one of the pre-​selected menus, they will accomodate for you. Portion sizes are intentionally small so you can have room for so many different dishes. If you walk away feeling hungry, you should have just ordered a bigger menu! If you’re somewhat hungry, get the Menu Degustation. If you’re starved, get the Grand Menu Degustation.
Their wine pairings are simply superb. If you don’t drink, you’re missing out on the *real* French portion of this French-​Northwest cuisine! Sure, your bill will be easier to swallow without the wine pairings, but those wine pairings are delicious to swallow!
Service is attentive, tailored to your needs, and wonderful. We accidentally left a phone and a credit card during our first visit, and their honest staff graciously saved us a lot of hassle. We also dined with a Groupon deal, and never once did we feel any sort of slight or annoyance with the fact that we used a Groupon.
Beyond all of that, Thierry Rautureau is a delightful man, and he deserves your patronage. Want to impress your spouse for a lovely birthday or anniversary? This is where you should go. Take a taxi if you’re both going to pair the wines!
If you aren’t «wowed» by the food, then you were too busy worrying about what the bill would look like at the end of the night. Just enjoy it! It’s worth it! If you can’t afford it, then go to Luc! Sure, the average family might not be able to make it to Rovers for a monthly dinner, but at least once a year or so, get out to Rover’s and celebrate your life!

Came here for dinner while in Seattle… I was super excited to try Rover’s!
I have dined at many fine dining restaurants around the world and after walking out of Rovers… I have to say I wasn’t that much impressed with their food…
Not into the set up if the place either… seemed like I was having dinner at an old grandmothers dining room.
Would I come back? no…
Great customer service.
If you’re in Seattle… try out Rover’s… but I think Rover’s is more of a hype :(

An amazing place. The staff is wonderful. And the small cottage is so romantic. But the star of the show is the incredibly inventive cuisine made with just the finest ingredients.
Been there quite a few times and the menu is always changing. The egg is a terrific favorite. But the whole meal has always been super well done. We love the vegetarian set menu. It is even harder to make it work and therefore even more amazing and creative.
They have an incredible wine list which has some really unusual choices. Work with the sommelier and you should find something great.

I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting their restaurant but I HAVE had the pleasure of having their food. And I was floored.
From the amuse bouche to the dessert, every single item was beautifully prepared and plated to showcase the ingredients. While the waiters circulated, I met a man in a hat. After a lengthy conversation, I felt silly not knowing that I met Thierry Rautureau and felt quite silly considering so many people were following him around to get some face time.
Once we were seated, the courses began to arrive. I’m not usually a fan of duck but after a single bite, I devoured every morsel of the roasted duck salad, curry, beet chip with rhubarb and snow pea accents. There was also a Neah Bay salmon roulade with melted Harissa butter, sliced asparagus, and potato crisp filled with mash. And to finish the evening out, a chocolate bavarin with herbed cremeux and cocoa nib glass… it was sublime.
This place is definitely on our shortlist for the next celebration. Maybe our next anniversary!

Rover’s.
I want to sigh when I say the restaurant name (a good sigh).
My bf and I’s anniversary was coming up and we were looking for places to go for our dinner. Rover’s was on the list and then low and behold, there was a tippr/​groupon deal that popped up the next day so I took it as a sign that it was meant to be and we got the vouchers.
I booked reservations and we were the first table in. The interior itself is homey and comfortable. We decided on the Grand tasting menu (8+ courses) with one wine pairing to share, and an order of the scrambled egg w/​caviar.
Service was excellent, nothing pretentious, friendly, attentive without being overbearing, and I never got the feel that we were being looked down upon just b/​c we used a deal voucher here.
Now let’s talk food.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
Drool. Literally.
Yes, I drooled at Rover’s. Unintentionally of course. I remember it well. It was the uni (sea urchin) dish. I took a bite. and DROOLED. Trust me, I was as, if not more surprised than my bf was. But holy crap. It was THAT GOOD.
Rover’s emphasizes TASTE and FLAVOR. It’s impossible to describe all the imaginative, fantastic, and wonderful flavor combinations that were presented. An experience in itself and one that I doubt can be found anywhere else in Seattle. Each course had a purpose and I STILL think about the uni (I didn’t even like uni before!).
We were stuffed (and drunk) by the end of the meal. Other Unilocalers were right, one wine pairing is more than enough for 2.
An absolutely unique, outstanding, and great experience here. Yes, even with the voucher we had, the final bill was the largest I’ve ever seen, but, it was worth it.
And I really do hope I’ll be back in the near future. Even for full price, the quality and the experience is worth it.

I went to Rover’s for my 2^nd Seattle Restaurant Week visit. I have to say the food was good from the appetizer to dessert.
I had the salmon for appetizer. The texture and the flavor were great. Entrée for me was the Cod. Cod is not easy cook and sometimes can over cook. They did a GREAT job on Cod. It was moist and the side came with the Cod brought up even more of the flavor. I absolutely loved it.
I had the dark chocolate for dessert! LOVED IT!