Looking for a modern take on American cuisine? A new restaurant has you covered. Called Sawyer, the new arrival is housed in a renovated 1920s sawmill at 5309 22nd Ave. NW in Ballard.
The restaurant says it has a "casual yet chic" vibe and features floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed beams and cozy booths, per its website.
The menu includes both small and large plates, meant to be a communal family dining experience. Look for notable options such as fried potato jojos with ranch; pork belly steam buns; a blackened halibut fish sandwich with lemon tartare and avocado; and a wood-grilled flat iron steak with tempura onion rings.
Wash down your meal with a selection from the full-service bar, which offers beer, wine and signature cocktails.
Sawyer is off to a promising start with a 4.5-star rating out of 10 reviews on Yelp.
"The highlights for us included the ahi tuna, cheese bread, bone marrow matzo ball soup and the quatro leches cake, but it was hard to not order everything on the menu," wrote Katie M., who reviewed the restaurant on July 31. "The service was friendly and well-paced, ensuring we had time to enjoy every shareable plate but never having to wait for the next round."
Yelper Jana P. added, "The food was delicious, the staff friendly, great sound track and they had a delicious cocktail based on one of my favorite TV shows. What's not to love?"
Swing on by to take a peek for yourself: Sawyer is open from 4–10 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 4 p.m.–midnight on Friday and Saturday. (It's closed on Monday.)
