The Grouchy Chef

The Emerald Palate put together a cool video of some of Chef Masumoto's food!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyhWJ4xxfHe/

Check out the full review at https://www.emeraldpalate.com/restaurants-worth-the-drive-from-seattle/

I’m nervous about sharing this Seattle-area restaurant. 👇 . It’s called The Grouchy Chef in Mukilteo ~30 min from Seattle. It’s run by Chef Masumoto who came to the US from Japan 35+ yrs ago and opened a French restaurant. The moniker “grouchy” comes from his brusk demeanor and rules, which he’ll call you out on if you don’t follow. One of those rules is no photos except for the food. I hope I’m not breaking this rule by sharing! 😅 . Masumoto believes America should dine as it used to with proper etiquette. He rejects modern norms where we wear jeans out, are loud, and spend $$$ on fancy food. So he opened a restaurant where he does everything (host, cook, serve, clean) to reduce costs and provide a coursed meal starting at ~$20 per person. . Here’s what to expect: Call for reservations, dress up, arrive on time, and bring cash, proof of vax, and ID. You need to wash your hands before sitting. Men: Pull out the chair for ladies. It’s antiquated, but his rule. Once seated, read the binder. . It’ll have an intro to his philosophy. It lays out rules like no makeup on napkins, clinking china, or tipping. It also has the menu. You choose your drink, main, and side to pair with the soup, salad, and dessert du jour. No substitutions. . You’ll place your order and pay ahead in cash. We spent ~$143 for a 4-course meal + glass of wine for 3 people. . I’ll admit I was on high alert the whole meal trying to have my best manners, but there’s no denying the food is good. The tortellini soup had a ton of caraway, which added interesting flavor and texture. The salad had truffle dressing and smashed chips, which was awesome. All the mains were awesome, my Chateaubriand steak and bacon mashed potatoes being the star. While the assorted dessert plate was our least fave, it was still solid. Overall, we kept gushing about the food and agreed we’d come back. . If you’re brave enough, definitely add The Grouchy Chef to your list. Want more destination-worthy dining sans the rules? Check out my article via the link in my bio @emeraldpalate or directly here 👉 https://www.emeraldpalate.com/restaurants-worth-the-drive-from-seattle/

We were sent a few pictures taken by a recent guest of Chef Masumoto, and we'll be sharing them over the next few days.

Here we have some Chef's salad course, with melons, spinach, lentils, pickled veggies, and cheese.

Have your own pictures or fond memories from The Grouchy Chef? Share them with us! For reservations, call Chef Masumoto at 425-493-9754