Date Night at Sip at the wine bar & restaurant

This article was originally published on the Macaroni Kid

For many parents, date night is a rare occurrence that happens about as often as a lunar eclipse. But there’s a remedy for that: Sip at the wine bar & restaurant. It’s one of the Eastside’s finest restaurants, located close to home in Issaquah Highlands at Grand Ridge Plaza.

Sip is known for its extensive wine list, outstanding service, sophisticated décor, and exquisitely-prepared food. It’s a destination for foodies thanks to a reputation for dishes that appeal to the eye and the palate. The menu emphasizes New American cuisine—think finely-prepared and locally-sourced steaks and seafood, with seasonal specials and vegetarian options.

Sip recently welcomed Emran Chowdhury as its new executive chef. Chowdhury made his mark on the Northwest restaurant scene at Cantinetta in Wallingford and Bellevue. He made the move to Sip to pursue his passion for serving local and organic produce, as well as the opportunity to build on the restaurant’s stellar reputation while designing a new menu. A key attraction for Chowdhury was Sip’s organic garden on Mercer Island, which produces vegetables, herbs and spices.

Chowdhury’s passion for Italian cuisine is reflected in Sip’s new menu, which features pasta that’s homemade in the restaurant’s kitchen. He’s currently developing relationships with many local farmers to source food as close to Issaquah as possible. The new summer menu highlights seasonal vegetables such as chard, fava beans and beets, as well as fresh-caught, wild fish.

“Sip’s menu reflects both the local harvest and the weather,” explains Chowdhury. “In the summer, we strive for lighter dishes that suit our longer days and outdoor lifestyles. In the winter, you can expect dishes that offer the warmth we crave on dark days, such as braises that simmer slowly.”

Sip’s wine list is too long to describe here, but the varied selection has placed the restaurant firmly on every wine connoisseur’s roadmap.

Executive Chef Emran Chowdhury (left) and Manager R.J. Minard (right) welcome guests to Sip at the wine bar & restaurant at Grand Ridge Plaza.

Reviewers praise Sip’s collection of Washington wines and many options for wine flights, which offer a way to sample various wines by the glass. If you’re having trouble deciding on the right wine, be sure to ask Sip Manager R.J. Minard for advice.

Reservations are recommended for weekends, especially for a special event. The good news is that if your babysitter cancels, Sip has a great kids’ menu that includes mini sirloin sliders, grilled fish and Beecher’s mac & cheese.

And in case you were wondering, there’s an average of zero to three lunar eclipses per year. The last time there were three in one year was 1982. So, here’s to planning a great date night. May it come sooner than the next lunar eclipse.

Click here to view this article published on the Macaroni Kid.