VIP Sneak Preview of RN74

Tama Smith with friend, Dwight, Cathi, Ken

Tonight Ken and I attended the sneak preview of the new Michael Mina restaurant, RN74, opening in downtown Seattle in the Joshua Green Building.  As we arrived, there was a lineup of valets 20 deep leading up to the roped off red carpet entrance.  On the street, we ran into friends Tom Hedges, Jim Rose and Sam Baker on their way in the door also.   

JIm Rose, Tom Hedges, Ken, Sam Baker, Ken Advesian

The interior of the restaurant has warm wood and colorful pendant lights hanging overhead.  The star feature of the restaurant is the four sided bar located right in the center of the restaurant.  The invitation promised "cocktails and canapes" and there were a number of oyster stations set up throughout the restaurant and Ken was in heaven slurping various types of fresh oysters directly from the shell with mignonette sauce, cocktail sauce or a mustard sauce.  In addition to various wine offerings, there was a special martini house drink being offered, which included Citron Vodka, lemon juice, some kind of an "Edel" flavoring and garnished with a thyme sprig.  Yum!

We saw many additional friends at the event including Tama Smith and her friend Dwight, Aya Hamilton & Drew Welk, Ben Smith & Gaye McNulty, Julie & Tom Skerrit, Renee & Carl Behnke, Colette Courtion, Dani Ackerley,  Kathy & Mike McQuaid, Simone & Joe Torres, Lea Anne Quinn & Bob Farra, Janet Ketcham, Lynn Beck, Fran & Bob Davidson, Greg Lill and scores of others.

Since I am not an oyster aficionado, I look forward to returning for dinner soon to try out the whole menu when they are offering more choices than just oysters.