The views are more spectacular, the vibe is more lush, the experience is more elevated! 30 (31, to be precise) stories above ground level is officially where everything is better. And when the 31st story happens to be the elegance personified Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi, the food feels a lot more divine too.
As it happens, this well-loved restaurant overlooking Lake Washington and the Seattle skyline just intro’d a brand new weekend brunch menu. After the love they garnered for their tableside holiday brunch offerings, titled Carts & Carousels, it comes as no surprise that the culinary experts that reside atop Lincoln Square South in downtown Bellevue decided to make brunch a permanent weekend feature.
Frankly, using a term as mundane as brunch for the experience they’re offering falls a little flat. Yes, the spectacular views and the casual-meets-luxe vibe are definitely part of the charm. But the menu too is straight-up imaginative. Not in a ‘wtf is this’ kind of way, but in an ‘oh damn! How did they make this so good’ kind of way.
Think familiar brunch items but with an inventive twist. So, chicken is no longer just crispy fried chicken but is deliciously coated with hot honey and maple anglaise. And the waffles aren’t just your regular brunch staple but made better, aka malted waffles. Then there is a Tempura Lobster Roll Sandwich and the Caviar, Salmon & Eggs which are every bit as yum as they sound.
Other highlights of their highly shareable menu include Steak & Egg Fried Rice, Fruitopia Pancakes, Lardon, Hash & Eggs, Spicy Tuna Prosciutto Pizza, Robata Skewer + Congee (definitely give this one a try), and Tomato Sushi Roll.
Here’s the part that we liked second to most (the most liked one follows)− the brunch, that’s priced per person, actually has three different price plans. So you can pick your tier depending on how much of your inner foodie you want to channel. Apart from the pastries, freshly brewed coffee and fresh juices that are included, you can get two dishes for $65, three for $78, or four for $88.
Now to the part that we like the most-est− the cocktails, of course. Their talented mixologists are serving up innovative, brunch-appropriate concoctions. To name a few: Snuggly Duckling (duck fat-washed Crown Royal, old fashioned bitters, maple demerara), Ascend Bloody Mary, Mang-Mosa (Ciroc mango, fresh mango and mandarin juices, sparkling wine) and Aspresso Martini.
To sum it up, what you’ll get at Ascend every Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 2pm is a full-on culinary experience.
So, be sure to hit up this foodie paradise!
