The Kingfish Cafe Seattle,WA

When you think of Seattle you think … Rain..Pike Place..Space Needle…Jimi Hendrix..Kurt Cobain ..maybe even Sir Mix a lot but not soulfood. Having been to Seattle more times than I can count I was starting to run out of good recommended spots to dine.  So after some thought out research on my Blackberry I found this place via trusty old urbanspoon.com where I have an account under Rameroyale. I was excited to visit the number one rated Southern cuisine restaurant in Seattle. The Kingfish Cafe has been around since 1997  holding down the soul scene for 14 years and is very much a staple in the Capital Hill neighborhood of the Emerald City. After a much needed and overslept nap from my flight from New York, I had 20 minutes to make it before they closed for the evening. Being that I’m quite familiar with the Seattle area having been here enough to consider it my third home (Portland being 2nd). Upon entering I am delighted with the cozy and rustic feel this place has and it reminds me of a loft with the wooden floors that add that old Alabama country feel. There is a certain calm in the air as soft jazz plays  through the speakers setting the mood just right for a great meal. I feel like I’m in the south somewhere getting a home cooked meal served my Gma after a long day of working in the field…..Southern hospitality at its best. The walls are lined up with what I later  find out are the relatives of this family run establishment dating back to the early 19th century. The owners Laurel & Leslie Coaston are even third cousins of the famed poet Langston Hughes who I recognized first walking in on sight. I got there just in time to be seated by the lovely staff. Looking at the menu I’m excited just in the choices but in particular the crab & catfish cakes for a starter and buttermilk fried chicken caught my eye for dinner. Being that I was coming at the end of the day on a traditionally busy Saturday evening the weekend before a popular lovers holiday I didn’t get a chance to eat the regular side dishes mashed potatoes or yams instead I was forced..yeah right…to get the red beans and rice. Perfectly coupled with a signature Kingfish cocktail the French Quarter made with Hennessy and lillet blonde yes the place has a very well equiped bar. After  what seemed like an eternity (in actuality it was surprisingly fast) of 20 minutes I was treated to an excellent dish of what I like to call ” Down Home Goodness”.  This was my first stab at crab & catfish cakes and was I in for a treat as it was a perfect combo for my seafood loving taste buds. Perfectly deep fried with a nice crust outside joined the tartar sauce in instant hand in hand food marriage. The fried chicken was no second fiddler at all to my starter as it was seasoned to perfection not too much salt but just enough with the use of buttermilk to give it that just right crisp of the skin. The star of the evening hands down had to be the beans and rice which hit the spot with just enough heat to let you know what kind of food you were eating….soulfood. There is no doubt in my mind that i’ll be returning to try EVERYTHING on this menu at least once. For a run of the mill dinner such as mine that included appetizer, entrée and cocktail the pricing was great as I spent a total of around $35 bucks. So now if your headed to Seattle you know where to go for the food that touches your soul….I’VE GOT SOUL!!!…Do You?

So I’ve also decided to add some Seattle Soul music for your listening pleasure so enjoy some “Grown Folks” music by none other than Seattle’s own soul songstrss Choklate.

For more information about The Kingfsh Cafe please visit them at www.thekingfishcafe.com