DAME

Dame operates on a residency model, meaning the restaurant you find here depends entirely on when you visit. Set inside a 1920s-era building on NE Killingsworth, the space functions as a permanent home for a rotating lineup of chefs, each bringing their own distinct concept to the kitchen for a set period. While the food is always changing, the one constant is the extensive natural wine program that has been the restaurant's foundation since it first opened. The wine list is curated to pair with whatever menu is currently in residence, and bottles are also available for purchase to take away. The building’s large windows look into a small, intimate dining room that seats just 37 people. Inside, the space is defined by old wooden floors, dark peacock-and-gold wallpaper, and a marble bar that serves as the room’s focal point. There is also a separate private dining room with a single 12-seat communal table. Currently, the kitchen hosts two different concepts during the week. From Thursday to Sunday, you’ll find Chelo, serving seasonal Mexican dishes inspired by chef Luna Contreras’s grandmother’s cooking in Guadalajara. On Mondays and Tuesdays, the menu shifts to Plant Based Papi, an entirely vegan concept from chef Jewan Manuel. Given the small size of the room and the popularity of the chefs, making a reservation is always a good idea. There is also a heated outdoor seating area, which is pet-friendly.