5 /5 Karl Smith: Charlotte Restaurant in Seattle is a standout dining experience that beautifully blends atmosphere, service, and creativity. The views alone are worth the visit—floor-to-ceiling windows showcase sweeping panoramas of Seattle’s waterfront, skyline and the iconic Smith Tower. It’s the kind of backdrop that instantly elevates the meal.
We went here for my wife’s birthday dinner and we had a great experience. The service was impressive: attentive without being intrusive, polished yet genuinely warm. Every detail feels thoughtfully handled, from timing to recommendations, making the entire experience feel effortless and special. They even provide a little stool for a lady’s handbag. Our server, Gene, was very gracious and answered many questions about the restaurant and hotel, the chefs, prix fixe courses and ingredients.
The cuisine is where Charlotte truly shines. The menu is innovative and refined, showcasing inventive techniques and unexpected flavor combinations while still feeling approachable. Each dish is beautifully presented and clearly crafted with intention, highlighting high-quality ingredients and a modern culinary vision. The Executive Chef spent some time working under Daniel Boulud, who would surely be proud of what comes out of this kitchen.
Everything we tried was delicious, but a few were especially scrumptious. The parsnip soup is surprisingly good, nutty and earthy with a slight sweetness and not a hint of the sulfurous notes that can sometimes accompany parsnips. Torchon de Foie Gras melts on the tongue like the creamiest of butters and is perfectly balanced with the quince coulis, a true delight to eat. Both desserts were fantastic. The Stone looks like a garden stone but is actually a sublime sesame mouse cake that tastes a bit like halva, just less sweet. The Nashi Pear Tart is very good but needed something to balance sweetness and the pear’s delicate flavor was a bit lost among the other flavors; perhaps an apple tart would have fared better.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply want to enjoy exceptional food with one of the best views in Seattle, Charlotte delivers on all fronts.