Enjoy Southern Charm at the Sexton

Taking over the spot once occupied by Madame K’s, the Sexton oozes with Southern allure.

By Seattle Mag April 6, 2012

0412sexton

This article originally appeared in the April 2012 issue of Seattle magazine.

Creative cocktails
With a long, lean space that meanders past the bar and kitchen (and a back deck that promises to be dandy), The Sexton is a place to stroll into with pals. The drink menu is full of intriguingly designed drinks and the spotlight is on bourbon, such as in the Sexton Julep, a mixture of bourbon, homemade apricot brandy and mint ($9).

The bar itself is small, but its space is used wisely and includes a carefully cultivated bottle array. Don’t get impatient if drinks take a minute more than you expected to arrive; it’s a different pace once you cross the Mason-Dixon Line, and beyond that, good things shouldn’t be rushed.

Small plates, big charm
The Sexton isn’t necessarily a full dinner stop—you’d need to order a fair number of items to fill up. But with dolled-up traditional dishes like the Sexton Mac ($8), which has a bacon roux, five cheeses, arugula and a balsamic reduction, and hush puppies ($6) with roasted red pepper aioli, the cooks display their Southern credentials without being too stuck in convention.

Perhaps the most Southern item isn’t on the menu, though: the charm of the waitstaff, which seems determined to make you feel at home.

5327 Ballard Ave. NW; 206.829.8645; sextonballard.com

 

Bar Hop columnist A.J. Rathbun blogs at ajrathbun.com. His newest book is a how-to guide called Luscious Liqueurs.

 

Follow Us