Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi - Bellevue, WA

Price Point: $$$$

For the longest time, this restaurant was on my list of places to try.  It didn’t take much convincing for my husband to go along for the ride (he himself loves trying new places to dine).  Eating here…well…it’s a little heavy on the pockets so make sure you save the money.  The hubs and I were celebrating our 23rd year of togetherness and whilst it wasn’t necessarily our wedding anniversary, it is certainly a tradition we have kept up with in the last several years.  It was just he and I while our kids stayed home (we made sure to have dinner ready for them) to hold down the fort.    

23 years since we first dated

Location & Parking

Located in a central part of Bellevue (a smaller city located just outside of Seattle), you can find this restaurant situated at the very top (31st floor) of Lincoln Square.  With breathtaking sights of Downtown Bellevue as well as the Seattle skyline, you cannot possibly have a bad view wherever you sit in the restaurant.  Many of the walls are lined with large windows.

The building has the convenience of having its own parking garage and is fairly simple to find a space.  We didn’t have to pay - possibly because it was after-hours – so I suggest, if you’re heading over in the middle of the day (and you’re driving in), it might be prudent to give the restaurant a call prior to your arrival asking about parking fees or validation.   

Interior & Ambiance

The vibe is modern yet sophisticated as well as sexy with a hint of mystery.  The dark interior played well with the abundance of natural light, creating a more intimate environment yet with an airy feel.  Sadly, the photos I took of the interior did not turn out they way I wanted so I have not included any images...you'll have to just visit the restaurant yourself!  

FOOD
Appetizers & Drinks

The appetizers and drinks really made an impact and presented a great start to the evening.  

Oysters are a must so it's no surprise we ordered a platter.  The bone marrow was friggin' amazing and probably was a fave for the both of us.  The bread plate was too good as a starter...whatever was in the little biscuits, had us yearning for more.  It was THAT good.  

Drinks were, of course, to let loose - it was a kid-free evening, after all.  

Entrees

The dishes we ordered were just as good.  Just the right amount of food on each plate and it was so filling.  Dishes were a bit on the expensive side but once you take a bite, you can see why.  Food was fresh and tasted of good quality - nothing fell short.  We each ordered steak (as we do when we dine out) and meat was tender and flavorful. 

Side of mushrooms

2nd side of grilled veggies

Dry aged steak - "medium" for us!

Dessert

Dessert is a course we hardly skip when we're on our date nights.  We ended up sharing our dessert and, as expected, it was plated nicely.  Not only was the dish beautiful, it tasted light with - yes - so much flavor.  Its taste reminded us of our time in Hawaii.  If food can elicit such thoughts, you know you've hit a jackpot!

The "HALO" - a tropical treat.

Ingredients include coconut ice cream, mango curd, passion fruit caramel - YUM!

The video you are about to see below made our experience that much cooler. 

It's called "Skyfall" and included macarons, berries, and goat cheese.  An interesting combo but so yummy!  We received this extra treat as a gift from the restaurant to celebrate our date. 

This gift had was the most unique we've seen  in person.  Once the (fog) effects started, we certainly became the center of attention.  People were inspired to order their own - you could hear lots of "oohs" and "aahs".  Pretty soon it was a fog forest (in the best way) in our area of the dining room!  

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, the experience was fantastic.  From the beautiful views to the quality flavors to the masculine and sexy interior to the wonderful staff, it made the whole vibe of our date that much more special.  The hubs and I were able to, once again, connect without being interrupted by our kids.  Surprisingly, they didn't call us on our cells.  They must've had in their minds to give us our alone time...haha yeah right!!  Nonetheless, it feels so good to be able to feel that "spark" and recharge our relationship...even if its just a few hours.

At the end of the evening, we both felt that, although this place is a bit spendy, we hope to make it back in the future.  Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi is very well worth it!

~XOXO, Mari

​RESTAURANT INFO:
Address - 10400 NE 4th Street, Suite 3100, Bellevue, WA 98004
Website - www.ascendprime.com