The Herbfarm Awards

The Herbfarm Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: The Herbfarm's late proprietor Ron Zimmerman, who passed away in 2023, blazed culinary trails with seasonal, locally-inspired dishes long before this cooking style became mainstream. Together with his wife, Carrie Van Dyck, they celebrated the best of the Pacific Northwest with their epic, nine-course, multi-hour meals. Dinners are now under the command of executive chef Chris Weber, paired with appropriate wines and served in an elegantly rustic re-creation of a French farmhouse across from the upscale Willows Lodge. Seating in the romantic dining room may be at communal or at intimate private tables by request. An open kitchen keeps meal preparation activity front and center.

Food & Drinks: An autumn dinner --- The Mycologists Dream --- featured a variety of Pacific Northwest mushrooms in finely presented courses ranging from wood-roasted Alaskan ling cod and poached shimeji mushrooms with fried leeks to a duo of tender lamb served with braised wild cauliflower mushrooms. Desserts were also inspired by mushrooms, and included a poached pear flavored with Douglas Fir tips accented with a wild candy cap mushroom mousse. Service is professional yet casual, contributing to the convivial atmosphere. Although Seattle boasts many restaurants with visionary chefs offering seasonal fare, none match The Herbfarm’s dining adventure.