*Since my last review and having visited several more times I am going to save you a lot of time, suffering and money with some tips.
*First-take $200 out of the ATM
*Second-Go to the grocery store and buy matches, jiffy pop, a small bottle of truffle oil, a gallon of crappy Paisano wine and a turkey Hungry Man TV Dinner
*Third-Go home invite a friend over and ask him/her to insult you relentlessly, you know, ask them to try their best to make you feel like a complete dbag
*Fourth-cook said Hungry Man, popcorm slathered with truffle oil, tell yourself the slop is Laurie's greatest creation ever (maybe its QUAIL! OOOOOHHH!), have your friend continue to berate you and slam crappy wine down on the table
*Lastly, take the remaining $160 bucks or so, light the bills, watch them burn and have your angry friend put them in a very uncomfortable place.

That my friends is EXACTLY what my last meal was here and if you don't believe me, go try it. Go in and smile and be kind to Phred and Laurie, I promise you they will be the worst restaurant hosts ever and kick out inedible slop to you-food and unbelievable attitude that just doesnt have a place anywhere let alone a dining room. Bon Appetit!

*PS-I hear that the Monroe State Pen is looking for a line cook and prison guard, my suggestion to these two is to polish your resumes.

ever not feel quite 'right' after a night at elemental? and i don't mean the wine. or the rude treatment - anyone been quickly sick?

They tell you there are 1500 'normal' restaurants in Seattle and this isn't one of them. Oh, they are spot on -- wouldn't touch this with a 10-ft barge pole again.

There's something to the effect of 'wine without snobbery' kind of sign outside. I am hard-pressed to think of a place that's snobbier than this one, though.

And, the owner/host/server. Maybe he can pick the wines and stay the hell out of sight. What a rude fella. But I am sure he has enough swooning over him. What a waste of an evening!

The guy, Phred, is rude and appears to enjoy being rude. I am amazed that people are so willing to ignore his clear disdain for them and refer to his rudeness and arrogance as "quirkiness". Over serving wine may be just a way for him to make you willing to put up with his being condescending and dismissive of any requests you may have. The food, while good, was not mind-blowing in any way. I am typically willing to give a restaurant the benefit of the doubt and go back for a second chance. Not with Elemental, though.

Put yourself in Phred & Lori's hands, relax and relish the experience. But be warned, they don't take reservations and there are very few tables (as in about 6). If you want one you need to be there for cocktail hour *before* 5:00. mmmmmm. cocktail hour. The food will blow your mind. Really. I have none left. All blown.

This place is a freakshow. The food is fantastic; I recommend that you not even pick anything and just tell the guy that you can't decide and make something good. You'll probably get to taste everything on the menu that night, and all of it will blow your mind. Beware: he will also pour you as many as TWENTY glasses of wine throughout the night, very small glasses, but still. And he won't tell you what most of them are, and he'll probably cackle maniacally when you ask. They will perfectly complement the food, though; as a taste master he's unsurpassed in Seattle. But be careful driving home.