We were planning our first visit to Vashon Island and had done some research on where to go for dinner. Most websites ranked "Bramble House" very high on the list. So this was the only location we knew we must visit while we were on the island. We made reservations a few days in advance.
Upon arrival, the cute older house used for the restaurant is easy to find. It is at the end of town and has a sign in the front lawn with bulb lights around it. Parking is found on the side of the building.
You walk through a pink front door and are greeted by the staff and a modern contemporary interior. The tables are spaced a good distance apart. There are two options (indoor or outdoor dining). Outdoor dining takes place in a tent located behind the house. For our dinner we chose indoor dining. The menu is limited but don't let that fool you. The items that are offered are high quality with great taste.
We ordered:
The local greens salad was full of vegetables that tasted very fresh. The amount of cucumber, snap peas, and radish was great. The only feedback for this item was that the dressing became a little too strong after a while. This may be fine for some, while others may find the sourness a little overpowering toward the end of the dish.
Now, on to easily the best part of the dinner. The crispy chicken dish alone is worth the full 5 stars. The chicken was cooked perfectly, allowing the meat to maintain enough juice and tenderness while also not making mess. The fennel mash was the highlight of this item. Mix some of the chicken stock with the mash and the flavors mix so well together.
For dessert, the chocolate mousse was very good. The caramel and candied peanuts compliment the dark chocolate, but be aware, this is a rich dessert. It is awesome, just very rich.
Overall the atmosphere is relaxing and the staff was friendly but the combination of flavors and skill used to prepare the main course shows why this restaurant has earned its top status.
