Open for lunch: Crémant in Madrona

Gratinée des Halles (Gruyère glazed onion soup) @ Crémant last Tuesday

A couple weeks ago, while making a reservation for dinner at Crémant I could hear lots of voices and noises in the background. It was the middle of the day and I was hungry so even though I knew Crémant only opened for dinner service I had to ask if they were, by any chance, open for lunch.

No not today, but starting December 5th we will!

That was all I needed to hear. I made a dinner reservation for two (my friend Su and I) for that evening and a 12:45 for Tuesday. Later in the week I went back for a late dinner with Mr. C and while savoring our Salade d’Endives à la Crème de Roquefort, Gratinée des Halles and Steak Frites I was already thinking ahead to my little Tuesday lunch.

On most days all I have time for is a a big latte, pastry and a coffee, soup and sandwich or a quick trip home for whatever yummy leftovers are in the fridge.

However, there are days with plenty of time, motivation and opportunity to indulge in a leisure lunch that allows me to take my time, savor every bite and imagine I'm somewhere else, an escape from work and traffic stress.

And when the options are so delectable and a short drive to Madrona has the ability of instantly transporting me to Paris, with welcoming service, friendly faces and even a quick chat with the server, lunch can certainly become the best kind of quick escape and sanctuary around.

The lunch menu at Crémant just happens to be their dinner menu, the same delicious array of carefully prepared and impeccably executed dishes I've fallen in love with since this gem of a place opened in Madrona.

So it makes it very easy for me to get giddy over a lunch that may include what I consider to be the best French onion soup I've ever had, anywhere (including Le Pichet). Believe you me, this bowl of soup is a meal all by itself.

Or I can always order the frissée salad with poached egg. Or the very tasty Steak Frites when I'm in that meat and potatoes kick. Depending on time, appetite and budget you can have a very simple lunch or an absolute feast.

The most exciting aspect of the prospect of lunch service at Crémant is the fact that since securing a dinner reservation has become so tricky with the restaurant being an instant Seattle favorite, lunch will offer a fantastic opportunity to sample the fabulous work of Chef Scott Emerick to those who have yet to dine there.

Reservations for lunch are only necessary for groups of five or more but as soon as the word spreads I'm sure they'll be a wait out the pretty yellow door.

So, where are you going for lunch today?

Crémant on my Flickr

Crémant
1423 34th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
206-322-4600

As French as It Gets: New in Madrona, Crémant begs a look at the brasseries and bistros of our past

Crémant (a review by The Stranger)

What's new: French bistro in Madrona

Comments

[Jimmy-in-Seattle]

Hi...Yes the food at Cremant is good. Obviously though you haven't had the GREAT onion soup at LYNN's BISTRO in Kirkland! The drive for the devine is worth it.

[s]

Somebody's cribbing your notes, Viv! Check out today's PI for a review of lunch at Cremant.

[MichelleBee]

That soup looks amazing! But $12 seems kinda steep, I know I know, but c'mon it's soup!

Ahh! But this is not just any soup. Here's a case where you get exactly what you pay for. I'm always for a good lunch deal (thinking my favorite taco truck for a quick, delicious and authentic Mexican lunch for $5) but sometimes only a bowl of soup this good will do the trick. :) V

[Megan]

Ach, that soup looks divine. What I wouldn't give for a bowl right now, with the rain slapping the pavement outside. Question: is it rude to gnaw the crusty cheese off the outside of the bowl?

[jenny vorwaller]

oh YUM. you realize, that after my wanderlust has been satisfied, and i make it back home to my seattle...

that i will have to read every last post in your archives and see what i have missed.

im drooling just reading this. its 2am and i am in dire need of a midnight snack now darling!!

[jack]

Cool... I'm gonna be visiting Seattle just before Christmas, and Cremant was on my list of places to check out. After reading your posting, I'm looking forward to it!

[janelle]

Thanks for the tip! I hadn't yet heard about this gem-of-a-newcomer. Seattle is so full of great food! Just these past few months I have come to appreciate the occasional escape to a gastronomic foray at lunch. I so look forward to taking a drive to Cremant... do you need rez for lunch?

Hi Janelle! No reservations needed for now but you can always call them and see how busy they are for lunch. :) V

[bernadette]

Viv~

The menu looks divine!

Also, thank you for recommending Jane Birkin's Arabesque CD. I love it for yoga practice!

Best,
Bonnie

[j]

Oh man. I'll be ruined for rest of day after that much enjoyment at lunch. But I'll suffer through!