Setting the bar

"Good things happen when you sit at the bar."

So she says during our recent dinner at Steelhead Diner. And it's factually correct, sitting at the bar of an open kitchen is truly awesome. You're in the midst of all the action, you're able to talk with the line, chat with the chef, and who knows? You might be surprised what you can learn about your experience.

When you have the chance to sit at the bar take it! For instance, this weekend at Steelhead Diner, we eagerly walked up to the counter outside of Chef Kevin Davis' open kitchen. We've always wanted to do this, especially there, but never have, so seeing a bunch of open seats we had to seize the opportunity.

But it's not just a Steelhead Diner thing; people all across town are noticing that sitting at the counter in an open kitchen is the 'cool' thing to do. You'll have a great time with your fellow patrons, the other people sitting at the counter will often be regulars; they'll tell you ins and outs of what to order, trivia, and even gossip!

As mentioned on Nancy Leson's All You Can Eat blog, there a ton of places all across Seattle where you'll happily sit on rotating chairs.

It's a great experience and one you should take at any restaurant or bar. Again, you'll have to trust me on this one. You'll love the experience. You'll even start to wonder what the big deal is about sitting in a booth.