Chicken and turkey get a lot of love, but duck is the unsung culinary hero of the poultry family. These Seattle kitchens know how to cook it and plate it just right.
Cafe Campagne | 1600 Post Alley | 206-728-2233
Pike Place Market’s premier brasserie offers Southern French-style fare suited to Seattle palates. At dinnertime, the duck leg confit is tender with a crispy bite and served with hearty thyme skillet potatoes (bonus: dinner is served until 10pm on weekdays and 11pm on weekends). On weekdays between 4 and 6pm, opt for the happy hour menu, which features duck fat-braised pork rillettes served with dijon and crostini.
Cure | 1641 Nagle Pl | 206-568-5475
At Cure on Capitol Hill, guests can order from an extensive menu of house-curated plates or customize their very own dream charcuterie spread. Start by choosing from several meat options, including specialty smoked duck, which Cure serves thinly sliced and paired with fig jam and sliced Le Panier baguette. Then add cow, sheep, or goat cheese and a variety of complements from olives or peppers to sweet or savory jams and jellies.
Maximilien | 81 Pike St | 206-682-7270
If this list is any indication, it’s safe to say Pike Street is one of Seattle’s best French dining destinations. Maximilien is another great choice that pairs fine cuisine with a stellar Elliott Bay view -- a prime spot for people looking to spend a pretty penny on specialty plates and impress a date. The kitchen serves several duck options, including the rotating tasting menu’s current second course: Magret et Confit de Canard aux Poivre Vert (Hudson Valley duck leg confit, seared duck breast, gratin Dauphinois, broccolini, wild mushrooms, and green peppercorn sauce). For those dining in a large group, the Foie Gras Entier aux Herbes features whole-roasted duck Foie Gras with apples & fresh herbs, all served with a Brioche basket, lavender honey, pear, and bing cherry chutney (subject to availability).
Nell's | 6804 E Green Lake Way N | 206-524-4044
Fine European-inspired New American dishes are the name of the game at this Green Lake dining room. While the menu is constantly rotating (a new menu is printed each night), you’ll often find at least one duck-based delicacy on the list. No matter your order, Nell’s excels at offering the perfect wine pairing from its cellar. Pro tip: If you’re looking for an open table on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, reserve a spot at Nell’s!
Place Pigalle | 81 Pike St | 206-624-1756
The duck confit and aromatic duck breast at Place Pigalle are seasonal and worth digging into. The former is available on the lunch menu and features Garnet Yam Purée, Pink Lady Apples, Arugula, and Cider Gastrique; the former is perfect at dinnertime and served with forbidden rice, choy sum, and hoisin jus.
