$$$$Price: Expensive • Farm-to-table • Ballard / Fremont
While in Seattle to catch a Mariners game, my group of 3 wanted to visit a nice Whiskey Bar. We found Ballard Cut through a Google search and gave it a shot. It was a short drive from the park and there was good parking. It’s in a cool neighborhood and was easy to find. We were warmly greeted and sat down during happy hour. The menu was easy to read with amazing options and great prices. We were beyond impressed with their drink selection. It would take years to try everything they have available. When served drinks, we had a bottle of the drink brought to the table. This was done so you could read about your drink, learn about its character and really appreciate the dinner as an experience. The owner Tommy came by to chat. He was visiting with several patrons along the way but we enjoyed his genuine enthusiasm about his restaurant, its products and his employees. He shared insights on the menu, drinks and his passion for service. We purchased everything he recommended and were not disappointed. While there, we tried a flight of Makers Mark and were greeted by a rep from MM. This just coincidentally added a whole new element to our experience. We also had the most fun and efficient server named Sassy. She made us laugh, was clearly enjoying herself, her coworkers and customers and was a critical element of our dinner experience. The three of us in our group are already looking forward to visiting Tommy and Sassy and their team again. It’s extremely rare for me to write a review but when dinner turns into an experience, it’s worth sharing. Thank you to Ballard Cut for an amazing night! Oh- and if Makers Mark decides to name their next line of drinks after leadership principles, I recommended “retention” as a theme. You have amazing and happy employees because you value treating people right. MM is a legacy brand with similar values and the utmost important leadership trait is a retention focused mindset. Retention, Steadfast, Wisdom! You heard it here first!
