The Comfort Zone

About the Restaurant

For soul food with a healthy twist, check out the Comfort Zone, located in the historic Royal Esquire Club on Rainier. Owner Talya Miller opened her restaurant there ten years ago and has been serving fresh takes on classics like oxtails, mac and cheese, and catfish to the community ever since. After stints in Tacoma and Burien, Talya learned the Royal Esquire Club—a nonprofit that opened in 1947 to serve Seattle’s Black community—wanted to invite a restaurant into their space. She jumped at the chance to be part of the club’s revival.

“The club is more diverse now than it ever was before, and it’s because they’ve stayed committed to the idea that everybody is invited and included,” she says. “It’s a community hub and a warm, inviting environment, and I feel blessed to be there.” That environment makes the perfect backdrop for the Comfort Zone’s food—after all, soul food tends to bring out “that feeling of safety and comfort in everyone who comes to eat it.”

Talya’s commitment to serving the community extends beyond food. She has also served as a foster parent to kids who can’t be placed in traditional foster homes for 27 years. Running a business and foster parenting is demanding, but she says she and her daughter “always make time for the kids we take in so they know anyone who really cares about them will make time for them.”

Talya is excited to participate in Plate of Nations this year because she loves that the event exposes people to new types of food. “I’m not only excited to participate, but to try out all the other restaurants too,” she says.

Special Menus

• $25: Fish or Chicken, 1 Side, 1 Drink, Dessert (Pound Cake)
• $35: Fish or Chicken, 3 Sides, 2 Drinks, Dessert (Pound Cake)

Location & Hours

3642 33rd Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98144, United States

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday: 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
• Wednesday: 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
• Thursday: 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
• Friday: 11:30 am - 8:00 pm
• Saturday: 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
• Sunday: Closed

Proprietor: Talya Miller
Established: 2013
Neighborhood: Columbia City

Tags: Soul Food, Comfort Food, American