Redmond – June 22, 2018

We often spend time on the Eastside in the Bellevue/Redmond area to visit friends and family. While there aren’t as many restaurants across the bridge as there are in Seattle, Ray and I ventured to Woodblock in Redmond for some New American fare.

Let’s talk about the…

SPACE

Woodblock is located on the bottom floor of an apartment complex in downtown Redmond. It has a variety of seating from bar, patio, high-tops and a variety of table sizes to accommodate varying party sizes. The restaurant creates a laid-back, modern feel with their heavy use of metal, wood tables, mix of light bulbs and shades, and high ceilings. The space is large with ample seating.

That being said, the tables can get filled up pretty quickly. This was Ray’s first time at Woodblock (my second – the first time I came for brunch with family) and we went around happy hour time (4-5 p.m.) and we were able to grab a high-top table in the bar area. After about 30 minutes, the tables were full and some patrons had to wait for a spot, with many putting their names down on the waiting list.

The kitchen is slightly open and allows patrons to see what chefs are up to. The bar wall is fully stocked with different types of alcohol with a heavy focus on whiskey, something Ray and I can appreciate.

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SERVICE

As aforementioned, when Ray and I visited, the restaurant wasn’t full yet so we were closely attended to as soon as we sat down. As time went on and as it got more crowded, we saw less of our server but this was understandable. Our server brought our drinks quickly and checked in once our food had arrived and been served. After making sure there was nothing else we needed, he provided us with the bill.

All in all, the service was adequate and appropriate considering the busyness of the restaurant as time went on. Nothing extraordinary to note.

FOOD

Ray and I ordered two entrees, a side of fries, and some drinks to share.Ray and I ordered two entrees, a side of fries, and some drinks to share.

• Woodblock Burger: Their take on a classic burger, Ray and I decided to add pork belly to our split burger and it was definitely a good choice (have we mentioned that we love pork belly and will order it whenever and wherever possible?). We asked our server to put the onion, tomato and aioli on the side as Ray is not a huge fan of these accoutrements on his burger and the kitchen was accommodating of this request. Thankfully I AM a fan of onions, tomatoes, and aioli so I happily took Ray’s share for my half of the burger. The burger was nicely balanced with all of the different ingredients, including the additional pork belly slice. I can’t say if it would have been as tasty without the pork belly addition, but the burger was definitely satisfactory.
• Mac & Cheese: The mac and cheese overall was delicious. The dish had the perfect amount of cheese and had the perfect amount of gooeyness (no runny cheese here). There were other ingredients in the dish that provided some elevation and sophistication including mushrooms, apples, and bleu cheese crumbles. Full disclosure – Ray and I are not fans of bleu cheese usually, but the amount Woodblock used in this dish worked for us. The bleu cheese wasn’t overwhelming (save a few larger chunks) and didn’t overpower the other flavors of the dish. The mushrooms and apples provided a nice textural mix to the mac and cheese and the apples provided a good hint of sweetness to the overall savoriness.
• Parmesan Truffle Fries: The fries were perfectly crispy and not overly truffle-y. Ray was a fan of these fries over the ones we’ve had at Eureka, which are super truffle-y. Woodblock created the perfect crispy, cheesy, and truffle-y fries to pair with our burger.
• Beer & a Shot Deal: Both Ray and I partook in Woodblock’s beer and a shot deal for our libations. We chose between a menu of four different beers paired with their own individual shots. We both decided to go with the pilsner & whiskey set, because you know, we love whiskey. Neither the beer nor the shot was super special but the drink deal itself was enough to satisfy us.

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IN SUMMARY

Woodblock satisfied our desire for some laid-back comfort food that day. Are there other establishments in Seattle-proper that we prefer? Sure. However, if you’re on the Eastside and jonesing for some good drink deals and good comfort food, give Woodblock a chance.

Space and ambiance – Laid-back modern spot with large amount of space and variable seating choices.

Food – Tasty, laid-back comfort food. Opportunities for elevated classics.

Service – Adequate and appropriate.

Price – Appropriate and intriguing (especially the drink specials). Not fast-food or casual pricing for sure.

Next visit – Maybe the next time we’re on the Eastside and in the mood for some burgers and/or comfort food.