My friend Angie’s birthday coincided with Memorial Day Weekend this year. She had plans to celebrate with her son on her actual birthday, so I asked if I could take her to dinner to celebrate a couple days early. When she said yes, I immediately thought to take her to a nice weeknight dinner at Tandem Dinner + Wine Bar. I’d driven by it recently at night and thought it looked so enchanting and enticing.
We were lucky to arrive on a warm (though cottonwood-blown) and uncrowded evening. We were invited to sit on the patio – I was delighted that Angie wanted to sit outside and didn’t worry about getting cold or having cottonwood seeds blowing in her hair.
We were whisked through the beautifully decorated indoor part of the restaurant (I’ll have to come back and snoop around, because it looked so cool!) and the hostess/waitress seated us on the incredibly darling patio.
Angie runs a personal and business organizing business here on the Eastside. We met through our eBay stores we ran a few years ago and became friends while commiserating over difficult customers and expensive shipping rates. She’s been indispensable in helping me organize my merchandise, Christmas decorations, party decor, photography studio and home office.
We’d spent the afternoon struggling to organize my hoarder-like garage, so it was really nice to sit on this comfortable patio and relax.
Besides the fire pit burning merrily away in a corner of the patio, I appreciated that there were patio heaters available as well.
We were immediately brought fresh cold water served in darling green Ball Mason-style jars.
We were so thrilled with our friendly and personable waitress. I feel terrible that I didn’t write down or note her name for this post. She took our drinks order – Angie wanted a nice cold refreshing Lemon Drop.
I chose this opportunity to blab that we were celebrating Angie’s birthday, but that her actual birthday wasn’t until Sunday. I was pretty certain the birthday girl would track me down later and kill me or at least sternly admonish me for sharing that tidbit of info with our waitress!
I requested a Manhattan, and was offered one made with JP Trodden bourbon. I prefer Woodinville Whiskey’s bourbon, and was delighted that Tandem carries that local brand also. This cocktail was perfectly made, and I would have ordered a second if I wasn’t driving us that night!
Perusing the wine list out of curiosity, I was so glad to see so many Woodinville and Washington wines on the menu. There was a huge selection!
I love restaurants that bring out bread and butter while you wait for your appetizers!
While we waited for our appetizer to come out, I noticed the other table of diners get up and leave. We had the patio to ourselves, so I could explore and take photos without annoying other customers.
One side of the building pays tribute to Merlot; the other to Chardonnay!
Everywhere we looked, we noticed little touches here and there meant to provide comfort – little blankets you could throw over your shoulders if needed; patio heaters and a blazing fire pit; lanterns and candles sequestered here and there.
It’s expensive, I imagine, to stock a fire pit with wood all evening long. It sure adds to the atmosphere and the magic feeling of the evening we spent outdoors here.
We were absolutely enamored with the Brie appetizer we’d chosen for our starter. Check out the berry compote, and the drizzle of JP Trodden bourbon maple syrup! We ate up every last bit and swooned over how delicious it was.
We continued our meal by splitting the roasted beet salad. I’ve had quite a few beet salads lately and most don’t offer this many slices of beets, so I was grateful.
When Angie’s food came (the almond-crusted Lingcod special on the menu that night) we immediately started laughing at the nice surprise – the waitress had ensured Angie had a birthday candle on her plate! I was happy to see Angie happily amazed and glowing, and naughtily snapped her photo without asking her first.
We didn’t quite sing Angie the “Happy Birthday” song (I’m sure she was grateful we didn’t) but I encouraged her to make a wish, and not tell us what she’d wished for. (That would make it not come true, wouldn’t it?)
I’m vegetarian, and I ordered the fresh mushroom linguini. It was delicious, and I apologize that my photograph doesn’t do it justice. (It’s not easy to photograph beige food on a white plate!)
As we ate, we were complimenting another waitress (again I didn’t catch her name, I’m so sorry, let me know in the comments below?) on the garden landscaping. She’s in charge of it, and chatted with us for a while about the relative merits of plants from Home Depot, Fred Meyer and the like.
I took the opportunity to snoop around the patio a bit more and admire the plants and the charming decorations she’s put in place. You can tell a lot of love and creativity has gone into planning and decorating the outdoor spaces here.
This garden statue is so darling.
Everywhere you look there’s another cute vignette to check out, tastefully arranged and not cluttery.
We wouldn’t feel like we were in Woodinville if there weren’t some type of wine barrel decor!
Here’s an intimate table for two you could enjoy on a romantic date here!
There are several small tables here, and the patio doesn’t seem crowded.
Our incredibly friendly waitress brought out an unsolicited dessert to celebrate Angie’s birthday – a delicious apple crisp with two scoops of vanilla ice cream.
And another candle – a second chance for Angie to make a wish!
The expert gardener returned with an open bottle of Barrage Cellars wine and offered us a small taste of their 2013 Double Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon. We tried to decline, but she was really forceful and insistent – what can you do? She persisted, and we accepted and drank the wine.
This was my first taste of Barrage Cellars wine – I enjoyed it and it’s redoubled my efforts to get out to their Warehouse District tasting room and taste more of their wines.
Angie hates having her photograph taken (though she’s lovely) and got revenge by insisting on taking mine in return!
After our leisurely meal, we relaxed by the fire pit. There may have been some gossip flying around, but I’ll never admit to it.
After I’d paid our bill (making sure to snatch it away so the birthday girl couldn’t try anything funny, like paying? For your own birthday meal? Heck no!) I asked if the owner was around. I wanted to say hello and fess up that I’d taken photos all night long and inquire if it be ok to publish them.
Owner Lisa Havens came over and immediately embraced us, congratulated Angie on her birthday, chatted with us about her granddaughter’s preschool graduation that day, and made us feel very welcome and special. Her family were inside having dinner as well, and we got to meet the charming granddaughter, a young lady who was helpfully folding up and packing away the blankets and throws from the patio for tomorrow night’s crowd.
Lisa insisted on serving Angie a post-dessert drink, and finally talked Angie into a decaf Irish Coffee.
The staff ran over with this hilarious and festive collection of birthday celebration party supplies. I couldn’t get Angie to wear the boa, necklaces or party hat, but she lit the glow sticks they gave her, and waved them around happily. We really got a kick out of this!
We were so impressed by how friendly and genuine the staff was, by how warmly we were welcomed, kindly we were treated, and how special they made the evening for Angie.
If you’re looking for a special place to take someone to celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, a job promotion or just for a romantic dinner, I recommend Tandem Dinner & Wine Bar here in Woodinville!
-Carrie
RESOURCES:
Tandem Dinner & Wine Bar Website
Tandem Dinner & Wine Bar on Facebook
Tandem Dinner & Wine Bar on Instagram
Tandem Dinner & Wine Bar on Twitter
Tandem Dinner & Wine Bar on Yelp
Angie’s Organizing Solutions Website
Angie’s Organizing Solutions on Facebook
