Why: Three Sixty Kitchen & Bar is located in a strip mall where QFC anchors a shopping center on Southeast 192nd Avenue. The premium casual restaurant serves seasonally inspired Italian dishes, as well as pizza and desserts. It is a convenient and comfortable dinner spot and a snazzy place to meet friends for a drink.
What I tried: My dining companion and I started with Nonnie’s meatballs from the small plates menu. These come in a sweet-pepper tomato sauce. I settled on the Dungeness crab ravioli, and my dining companion had the Italian sausage and sweet pepper pasta. We also tried the tomato pizza, which is topped with olive oil, garlic, fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato slices. For dessert we had the butterscotch budino with rosemary and almond brittle.
The meatballs had a tasty traditional flavor, and the sweet-pepper tomato sauce was a robust, rich departure from typical marinara sauce.
The crab ravioli imparted a freshly made, from-scratch quality, and the combination of asparagus, shallots, garlic, white wine, lemon and butter that completed the dish elevated it. I would revisit for this dish alone.
Dining out guide: Three Sixty Kitchen & Bar
Where: 3425 S.E. 192nd Ave., Vancouver.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday, 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Happy hour is 3:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Contact: 360-260-3605 or threesixtykitchen.com
Health score: Three Sixty Kitchen received a score of 45 on Nov. 16, 2018. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
My dining companion found the sausage and pasta dish appetizing and appreciated that there was adequate sauce for all the fettuccine.
The pizza’s crust was thin and held up well to the toppings. The fresh sliced tomatoes did their duty in distinguishing the pie for its namesake.
Our dessert choice brought our meal to a satisfying close. The rich, creamy custard was topped with a sweet layer of butterscotch goodness and garnished with a portion of brittle that imparted the essence of rosemary, with all its aromatic qualities, directly onto the palate.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: Grilled Gulf prawns with ginger scallion sauce, roasted carrots with whipped ricotta, spiced green sauce and walnuts are on the small plates menu, along with grilled asparagus, fried Yukon potatoes, and eggplant caponata. Salads include a Caesar, a wedge, a steak, a butter lettuce and a chop. Among the pasta and entree choices is mac ‘n’ cheese with toasted bread crumbs, Grandma Lorane’s lasagna, butcher shop Bolognese, flank steak, fried chicken and grilled lamb chops. Desserts on my visit were a warm fudge brownie, tiramisu and gelato.
Atmosphere: The rectangular dining room is decked out in wood and accented with gray and red walls. The open kitchen is just over a high counter on one side of the space, and a wall bench and chairs are paired with tables for seating a moderate crowd. The bar is to the left, just past a handsome, fence- style wall. Interesting light fixtures provide a subdued glow, and art tastefully adds culture to the vibe. A chalk menu board near the entrance lists daily specials, beers and the daily cocktail.
Other observations: The waitstaff tries hard and is attentive. The food delivers and is priced accordingly. The atmosphere is causal yet chic. The bar has its own distinct space apart from family dining. Outdoor seating is available.
Cost: Small plates are $3 to $12. Salads cost $8 to $17. Pastas and entrees range from $15 to $28. Lunch sandwiches cost $13. Pizzas are available in two sizes and cost $18 to $23. Happy hour options cost $5 to $12. Kids’ pizza, pasta and a few other options are $4 to $9. Craft cocktails are $8 to $14. Beer is $4.50 to $9. Wine by the glass is $7 to $14 and by the bottle for $34 to $85. Carafes are available for $16 to $24. Non alcoholic beverages cost $3 to $3.50.
