Dining: Such a Treasure

By Allison Scheff April 27, 2015

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What do you mean Trove hasnt been around for years? Owners and chefs Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, the couple behind Seattle restaurants Joule and Revel, have a knack for creating dining spots that just feel right, as though theyve been a part of the Seattle dining fabric even when theyre brand new.

And so it is with Trove, a vibrant, colorful and just plain fun Capitol Hill destination for the couples version of Korean-inspired flavors. I find myself at the airy noodle bar most often in this large space, which is divided into four sections. But the main attraction is the Korean barbecue in back, where friends gather around grill tables, wielding tongs to tend their dinners, sending savory smoke into the air. In another section, theres a bar with really good drinks, especially if you favor scintillating, tart and carbonated sippers.

Yang and Chirchi sure had a good time dreaming up Trove, and youll have a good time, too.

Whats best: The parfait food truck window in front, the cutest restaurant design idea of the year (a tip of the hat to designers Heliotrope and Electric Coffin), where layered frozen custard sundaes are served with sesame caramel sauce and fried peanuts.

What to order: Wide rice noodles in a rich beef ragout with rapini (or, really, any of the noodle dishes, $12) at Trove Noodle; chicken gizzard confit with nam prik, salt and pepper squid, smoked brisket, miso cumin eggplant and maple-mustard short ribs at Trove BBQ (barbecue dishes, $6$12); the new school Snickers parfait ($6) at Parfait; and a Pike Street Sour ($11) at the bar to wash it all down.

What we love: The Sriracha-hued ceiling, the hum of the place, the efficiency of the noodle bar, where the clever combos round, bouncy-chewy rice cake noodles with lamb curry and kale arrive in compostable bowls on aluminum quarter-sheet pans. No matter what were craving or what time of day it is, theres something good to eat at Trove.

TROVE Open daily (hours vary at each venue). 500 E Pike St., Seattle; 206.457.4622; troveseattle.com.

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