When life’s hustle and bustle gets to be too much, head for Taste the Moment.

Step into this quaint Redmond restaurant and tea room and you’ll immediately be transported to a different time and place. Old World charm emanates from the floral hand-painted murals, embossed ceilings and Brazilian blood wood floors, to the antique furniture, delicate lace doilies and fresh flowers at every table. And artful touches abound everywhere you look.

Creamy vanilla curtains complement rich red and white linen tablecloths and natural light from all the windows streams in, giving the place a cheerful glow. Fine china and silver place settings sparkle, along with the smiles of the wait staff who are there to welcome you warmly.

Your only job is to take a seat, relax and enjoy a delicious meal in the company of people who will make you feel special.

Taste the Moment Restaurant and Tea Room is the pride and joy of Toni and Dick Monroe, long-time Woodinville residents, who are making their post-retirement dreams come true.

Photo by Deborah Stone
Toni Monroe takes special care of diners at Taste the Moment Restaurant and Tea Room.

The couple purchased the old 1907 house near downtown Redmond (it was formerly a French-style bistro) and completely remodeled the interior, as well as dressed up the exterior.

In December 2004, they opened the doors, with Chef Jose Alvarez at the kitchen’s helm.

“It was really my vision to have a restaurant of my own,” explains Toni, who over the years has been a realtor, general contractor, caterer and mom. “I wanted to create a special place where one could go with friends and loved ones to spend quality time together while eating good food. I wanted it to be a peaceful haven so that for a couple of hours, people could forget about their busy schedules.”

Dick, a retired United Airlines captain, supported his wife’s endeavors and has been her right-hand man all along.

The restaurant specializes in Mediterranean and French inspired cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as high tea in the afternoons. Emphasis is on fresh fare presented aesthetically (think edible violets adorning a colorful trio of fruit, vegetable and chicken salad on a bed of spring greens).

Breakfast features different types of omelets and scrambles, as well as several variations on the Eggs Benedict theme.

For lunch, the menu includes a variety of Croques, or grilled sandwiches, such as the Monte Cristo (ham, turkey and Swiss cheese grilled on the restaurant’s signature French toast with raspberry sauce), along with Chicken Crepes, Quiche Lorraine and Warm Salmon Salad. Homemade soups are also popular, especially the French Onion, a house specialty. Dinner entrees range from such delights as Chicken Marsala and Beef Bourguignon to Veal Cutlets Savoryarde (veal with mushrooms in a Madeira Crème Sauce, topped with Swiss cheese) and Seafood Crepes. For starters, there’s even escargot and another French perennial, Mushroom Provencal.

To tempt your sweet tooth, there is an array of homemade desserts including Tarte Tatin (caramelized upside down apple tart), Profiteroles (vanilla custard filled cream puffs in a pool of chocolate with ice cream on top), Crème Brulee and traditional bread pudding.

The restaurant is also known for its high tea, served in typical English style with scones, tea sandwiches and petite pastries.

“We often have small groups of women coming in for high tea in the middle of the afternoon,” says Toni. “They seem to have caught on to this civilized custom and really appreciate taking a break out of their day to engage in this ritual.”

Taste the Moment also makes the perfect space to hold special functions, such as wedding and baby showers, engagement parties or birthday bashes.

And an ample outdoor deck allows space for larger groups to dine al fresco, if desired. Wine tasting sessions occur the third Sunday of each month.

“These have been very successful because people like having a reason to get out and then they also enjoy learning about the different varieties of wine,” explains Dick. He adds, “We want this place to be a true destination restaurant, as well as a place for people to consider when they have something special to celebrate. Toni is very creative and she and Chef Alvarez are not afraid to try new ideas, so if someone comes to them and wants to do something a little different, they’re very accommodating.”

Dick also wants folks to know, particularly the gents out there, that although Taste the Moment may appear feminine in its décor, the food is hearty enough to satisfy a man’s taste. “I can vouch for that one hundred percent!” he says. “And the other important thing is that you don’t have to get dressed up to eat here either.”

Taste the Moment Restaurant and Tea Room
8110 164th Ave. NE
Redmond, WA
425-556-9838 or www.tastethemoment.com