The Innkeeper - Seattle

The owners of Black Bottle, where my fiancé planned our surprise engagement party, opened The Innkeeper recently. The name is an inspiration from the Chef Chris Linker's favorite book, Don Quixote, which makes the literary nerd in me happy. It serves up small plates of Latin American food, and has a bustling but laidback bar vibe, fun for some grubbing and drinking on a Friday night.

Wooden cigar boxes hold utensils and napkins.

How can you beat $1/oyster happy hour!? It was our favorites, half Kushi and half Kumamoto with cava mignonette. We split a dozen but I could have easily eaten all this by myself..and then ordered another round..and another.

House-smoked Annatto chicken drumettes with chile tamulado (a habanero sauce they make in house), which isn't so hot initially but definitely builds in intensity in that gooood way.

Argentine empanadas and chimichuri filled with savory beef and raisins.

Grilled queso fresco with vegetarian green chili. I love Mexican cheese, so it was heaven having it simply grilled in its gooey goodness.

Tres Leches cake with whipped cream and strawberries. This was one of the best Tres Leches I've ever had!