Sunday dinners are typically help at my parents’ house as an excuse to get the family together. And I welcome the one day a week (aside from pizza night) where I don’t have to cook. But if I didn’t have my mom’s cooking to look forward to, dinner out would be a sweet alternative. And maybe in Seattle at Samara – a wood-fueled bistro designed by Mutuus Studio. Inside, rich earth tones dominate, bringing to mind a tranquil wooded understory. Dark-stained oak paneling and wainscoting wrap a portion of the space and the bar front, while the balance of the space features a section of the building’s original firewall that was revealed during construction. The firewall is composed of framing timber turned on its side, and now provides a subtle homage to the cooking method of choice. Seating for 30 is handled through a mix of seating groups featuring anti-tip tables topped with wood recycled from old piers, and a leather banquette. A chef’s counter, finished in soapstone, seats an additional six guests. Copper cladding wraps the area above the grill features a rich patina, and hand-made Danish brick, embedded with fused glass, surrounds the grill to create a delicate dance of firelight. 

Photos: Kevin Scott