7314 Greenwood Ave. North
Seattle, WA
206.706.7703
www.carmelita.net
Many restaurants have their own gardens to deliver the freshest food possible to the table. But Camelita not only delivers fresh from its garden, but does so with original and unique combinations that surprise and delight. It's not every restaurant that has on its menu wild nettle spaetzle or almond-bamboo rice bon-bons or wild ramps on pizza. But Carmelita does so, and does it very well.
The wild nettle spaetzle (below) with sun-dried tomatoes, morels, sunchoke slivers and truffle oil was a flavorful pasta combination. The wild nettle pasta would have held up well all on its own, but was enhanced with the harmonious incorporation of the other ingredients.
Yakima Valley asparagus risotto (below) was tasty and cooked well, but overwhelmed the toasted cumin-pumpkin seed pesto.
Desserts are given as much attention here as the entrees. A molten chocolate cake was rich and moist with a perfect creamy center. Chocolate mousse with first-of-the-season cherries (below) was so rich and flavorful, it was difficult to believe it was vegan. (It was made with semi-sweet and dark chocolate, tofu and soy milk.)
Carmelita is all-vegetarian, with many offerings being vegan. Starters run about $12, entrees are about $18 and desserts are about $8. Wine and beer are available.Carmelita's menu is creative and original, but the focus on good-tasting food is not overshadowed by the chef's desire to showcase his own skills or unusual recipe combinations. Quite the opposite. Carmelita is a vegetarian restaurant not to be missed.
