Creative Italian-leaning tasting menus in a cozy Ballard setting with attentive service; excellent cocktails, but pricing and consistency draw mixed reactions.
Staple & Fancy delivers solid neighborhood dining with strong food quality and excellent service attentiveness that exceed typical standards. However, inconsistent execution—particularly with pasta seasoning and course pacing—prevents a higher grade, and the tasting-menu format with premium pricing limits broad appeal. The charming Ballard setting and thoughtful wine program make it worth trying for special occasions, though it doesn't yet compete with the area's most celebrated restaurants.
One caveat: Pricing is genuinely high (pastas around $30, mains $45-50+) plus 22% service charge