Sonrisa Modern Mex, Seattle

Sonrisa Modern Mex, Seattle

UPDATE: unfortunately, Sonrisa Modern Mex has closed.

Sonrisa Modern Mex is a relatively new addition to the University Village. The outdoor dining area is complimented by a sitting area with oversized chairs and an outdoor fireplace. We found the flickering of the interior fireplaces rather inviting as we were walking along outside in the cold. Inside the restaurant, we were immediately taken in by the lighting throughout the restaurant, and the tiling on the bar. The place looks lovely. The service was wonderful as well.Sonrisa Modern Mex

The food – the food aspires to mediocre. The Guacamole was wonderful, full of huge chunks of avacado and served with plantain chips along with the usual corn chips. The plantains were a nice addition to the chips, but they weren’t really anything special and I certainly wouldn’t want a whole order of them alone. The corn chips were fresh, but much to greasy.

guacamole | CoffeeJitters.Net

Aaron ordered the Baked Chile Relleno (Roasted poblano pepper stuffed with ancho rubbed chicken, apricots, golden raisins, pepper jack cheese, cilantro and onions. With salsa verde and red enchilada sauce and achiote rice). It was underdone,the cheese hadn’t even begun to melt and the chile was still tough. But the flavors were nice so it wasn’t too bad.

chile relleno | CoffeeJitters.Net

I had the Picante Primavera (Penne pasta sauteed with roasted shallots, roasted garlic, zucchini, asparagus and spicy salsa fresca. Finished with grated cotija cheese). This struck me as intriguing so I just had to try it. Each of the ingredients was wonderful on its own. The garlic was mellow the asparagus had a wonderful flavor and texture. But I found myself picking though the dish for specific items, a bite of asparagus, a bite of zucchini, several bites of garlic; each one delicious yet together they just didn’t work.Sonrisa Modern Mex - Menu

The desert menu was interesting; a couple items included habanero peppers in the description. I wasn’t feeling that brave, so we opted for the flan trio. The flan trio is described as being a chocolate, vanilla and berry brulee. What arrived was a dish with six compartments. Three ramekins each with a custard, one berry, one vanilla (the only brulee), and one chocolate. The remaining three compartments had whipped cream, one strawberry flavored with a strawberry on top, a tiny speck of plain vanilla, and chocolate flavored whipped cream with chocolate chips. I must admit, this is precisely what the menu said. But whipped cream with chocolate chips didn’t work for me. None of the whipped creams were very good or even interesting. The creme brulee was good. The strawberry “brulee” was bland and over sweet and the chocolate “brulee” (neither of these two had been touched with a flame) was terribly thick, like fudge. I’m not one to leave dessert on my plate, especially where there is chocolate involved, but I couldn’t eat this. I didn’t even bother to ask for a box to take it home.

So would I recommend this place? That’s an interesting question. Certainly not for dinner. However the bar is nice, the service is great, they have an extensive inventory of tequila and a talented bar tender. The guacamole is great. The happy hour menu boasts $5 appetizers, $4 house margaritas, and $3 draft beers. I say, if you want to meet friends for margaritas at happy hour, this might be just the spot.

Sonrisa Modern Mex
2614 NE 46th Street
University Village
Seattle, WA 98105

http://www.sonrisamodernmex.com/

206-524-2242

Sonrisa Modern Mex on Urbanspoon

Duck Watching

Today was one of those stunningly beautiful days that take your breath away and make you happy to be alive.

We took a walk down to Lake Washington and under a tree just off the dock at the Water Activites Center at UW, we found this little family of ducks.

If you look very carefully, you can see mama behind the tall grass on the right (her bill is sticking out near the top of a blade of grass).

ducklings

She then herded her brood into a different area of their little marsh.

ducklings

duck and ducklings

keeping an eye out for predators (we watched her shoo away a crow that got too close; Unfortunately, I missed that shot).

mama duck with ducklings

Of course mama had to eat, too. (Remember that, you have to take care of yourself first in order to have the strength to take care of others.)

Duck Family

Time for some more exploring

Duck Family

Mama came over to check us out. (she didn’t seem to be too stressed out by our presence, but then we tried to stay as quiet as possible. We settled in and watched them for a good hour)

056

There were male ducks there as well

Mallards

they spent a lot of time bathing and grooming

Ducks

for the most part, mama was letting the ducklings explore more than she was herding them. But she wouldn’t let them get too far away.

duck and duckling

Fish Tacos at Aguas Verdes


Fish Tacos at Aguas Verdes, originally uploaded by coffeejitters.

On the south end of Seattle’s U-District sits a little lakeside cabin that houses the Agua Verde Cafe and Paddle Club. The cafe menu is short and simple: Mexican food made with fresh, healthy ingredients. Fresh house-made juices, such as the watermelon juice, taste like summer. Fish tacos are a house specialty with cabbage an avacado dressing, and your choice of bacalau, smoked salmon, mahi mahi, or catfish. I come back for the smoked salmon taco time after time and can’t get enough.

I’m not a fan of most of their salsas, I find them much too sweet. And the guacamole is merely a mash of onion and cilantro, what little avacado is in there lends no flavor. But the fish tacos have flavor enough on their own and any additional salsa would detract from this amazing balance of flavors.

Come for a day, come for an hour. Rent a kayak and explore Lake Union and Lake Washington, then follow up with drinks and dinner in the cafe. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy this beautiful city.

Watermelon Juice at Aguas Verdesaguas verdes paddle clubaguas verdes094
Agua Verde Cafe & Paddle Club
http://www.aguaverde.com/default.asp
1303 NE Boat Street, Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 545-8570

Agua Verde in Seattle