zoogrrrl's Profile
Ballard Recommendations
We did an anniversary dinner at Volterra and it was ok. In retrospect, we wish we would have had small plates and the great bottle of wine at the bar. The boar was the best dish.
challenging guest coming. Help! (SEA)
I can't imagine any of my *friends* (let alone acquaintances) giving this much thought to my eating preferences. I advise doing what you do and letting her figure out her own stuff.
Seattle Downtown Restaurants
We ate at Tavolata last week for a special occasion and I can't speak highly enough about the food. The communal table must seat 24-30 (or any size party smaller than that). I would choose it in a heartbeat. I'd also call the chef (Morgan, when we were there) to talk through what you might order.
seattle musts
If it's a nice day, I love to eat on the Pink Door deck (on Post Alley, Pike St. Mkt.). Friends recently visited us from the Midwest and ate their favorite meals at Tom Douglas restaurants, all downtown. Several other friends always hit the happy hours at Union and The Brooklyn. We love Crow, Le Pichet and Restaurant Zoe. There are so many great places, but as BallardFoodie suggests, do your homework. There are also plenty of mediocre places.
Queen Anne/downtown with a young toddler
Your location is great for walking or busing. Here is the Metro trip planner link http://tripplanner.metrokc.gov/cgi-bin/itin_page.pl?resptype=U
Elysian is a good choice for the Mariners game. If you're a little more adventuresome and don't need beer, you could try Skillet Street Food (an airstream trailer) in the lot across the street (in the block just south of Safeco field). Wallet-friendly, unusual, and yummy, a few picnic tables or take into the game. (You can take food but not drinks.)
Chinook's might work for your family for seafood. At the Fisherman's Terminal (maybe 3 miles northwest of your hotel), inside and outside seating, bustling and noisy, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Looks out at fishing boats so lots for your son to look at.
Romantic Seattle/Eastside 25th Anniversary Dinner???
We're doing our anniversary on Monday at Ballard's new Bastille. Early reports are fabulous. Opens Monday, on Ballard Ave.
Not a (Mexican) taco, not a truck
We headed out tonight for what will be destination tacos. Tried them all, plus the fava soup. Loved the pork belly w/ micro-fries best, potato and chick peas next. Great concept, yummy, inventive flavors. Had them w/ a beer at the smoky Zoo. (What's with that?)
SEA: Spaghetti and Meatballs?
You can't beat the Monday night spaghetti and meatballs at Spring Hill in W. Seattle. $11 spaghetti, $3 for each giant meatball, and fabulous thick-sliced garlic bread.
sf 'hound needs help. please.
I would suggest weekend brunch at Spring Hill in W. Seattle, and maybe a beach boardwalk walk before or after. Amazing selections and a great price. My new favorite!
And while you are there, walk 2-3 blocks south to Bakery Nouveau. If you do this on a Sunday, visit the W. Seattle Farmers Mkt (will not compare to SF and Marin mkts, but lovely nonetheless). All of these are grand, and just the scale you can do easily, including parking.
http://www.springhillnorthwest.com/menu
http://www.bakerynouveau.com/welcome/
http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets/west_seattle
Seattle Birthday Dinner - Great Food with a Fun, Relaxed Atmosphere
I think Boat St. comes closest to what you say you are looking for. Ray's Boathouse also comes to mind, and you sure can't beat the view. Our friends from IL were here for 8 days and ate at numerous places. Dahlia Lounge turned out to be their favorite.
Seattle: super casual brunch place for 8
Here's another great casual option: McCoy's Firehouse Bar & Grill on S. Washington in Pioneer Square. I loved their hangover sandwich, even without a hangover.
http://www.mccoysfirehouse.com/index.php
Seattle: super casual brunch place for 8
I think it's Pyramid Alehouse. They are both close by.
The Macrina line went fairly quickly, but it was a bit of a wait for my pizza foccacia and salad to go.
Seattle: super casual brunch place for 8
How about sitting outside at the brewery kitty-corner from the stadium. Sounds like your kinda place on that kinda day. A little further south on 1st-a five minute walk-you can find Macrina Bakery's new HQ. Fabulous quiche and breakfast foccacia, coffee. Enough to call a light breakfast and delicious.
Favorite Salumi Sandwich?
#1 Porchetta--all that juiciness soaks into the baguette--yum!
#2 Proscuitto, goat cheese, fig compote
#3 Meatball, cheese of your choice
#4 Fennel sausage
Then again, everyone has their particular favorite. You can hardly go wrong! And given the interview in the Seattle Times this morning, I'm wondering if Tony Bourdain will show up there for lunch this Friday, 5/29!
Looking for an "Only In Seattle" type place
I was going to recommend Paseo. And who could describe it any better than patriciajane. Skillet Street Food (an Airstream trailer that changes locations daily) is very Seattle-like, as well.
Be sure to hit the Theo's chocolate tour, 1 and 3 pm daily, right on your way to or from Paseo. This posting includes some other hidden food gems:
http://www.examiner.com/x-255-Seattle-Food-Examiner~y2008m12d4-Food-lovers-guide-to-Seattle
Late(ish) eats downtown Seattle
I would go 6-7 blocks north to Palace Kitchen. You would be fine walking north on 5th at that time, maybe take a cab or bus back to your cross street. Kitchen open till 1 am. My second choice would be Tulio, a block east of your hotel, and open till 11 am. And Sazerac, connected to your hotel, is great as well. You can't go wrong on any of these.
Best Restaurant outside Seattle and Portland
That's a "big" question, hickdolphin, so you'll have to take the kind of best-shot suggestions people toss out. I love the happy hour at Asado in Tacoma on 6th Ave. Great Argentinean steak house, and a bargain for HH. Then again, I hate I-5 around Tacoma during rush hour.
Cinnamon Rolls Northend
My cinnamon roll-loving friends swear by Grand Central Bakery. Obviously not in the right location, but getting all the favs out there!
Looking for the best Seattle (fried) calamari
Friends swear by the calamari at Flying Fish. Part of the happy hour menu, as well, daily 4-6 pm.
Two Days to Sightsee, Eat, and Drink Our Way from SF to Vancouver
I think you'll have a great trip if you don't need to sleep. Someone once said, in a poem, that it's next to impossible to have a career, a family, and good friends, and meet the needs of them all. So riffing on that, I say it's next to impossible to do SF to Vancouver BC, in 48 hours, driving, eating&drinking, sightseeing, and sleeping! Then again, maybe that's just me!
bars in Portland
I'm all about Bar Avignon. The cocktails, the wine, the food. Wonderful.
Source for padron peppers at this time of year?
Anyone have any leads on where a person could find these? I suppose it's not hot enough anywhere!
great ideas for 50th birthday dinner?
Here are several more that come to mind for me, more neighborhood-based, hence a little more reasonable:
Crow
Stumbling Goat Bistro
Cafe Lago
Downtown Seattle for lunch?
I love the sandwiches and soups at Three Girls Bakery in Pike St. Market. Also the seafood offerings across the way at Jack's Fish Spot. Both very informal (counters) and great people watching. (Don't confuse with Three Sisters, also good, but I prefer Three Girls).
Memorial Day Weekend - Two Parter
Another morning option is to hit Bakery Nouveau in W. Seattle. OFF THE CHARTS great, but maybe a little refined for your tastes? Macrina also has a new HQ two blocks north of the Starbucks HQ in the old Sears bldg on 1st. You can't do the tavern thing ALL day! :-)
Looking for Seattle restaurant to accommodate 85 (mostly 5th/6th grade)
Tutta Bella might work if it's before their evening rush. They have one $12 per person option for large groups that includes salad and pizza. One of their restaurants is close to Phinney.
Seattle happy hour on Saturday?
Flying Fish has a 4-6 pm happy hour, seven days a week. One of our friends says they have his favorite calamari in the city.
SF Foodie going to Seattle - Etta's for Seafood?
The last suggestions--Jack's, Pike Place Chowder--are casual and great for lunch or mid-afternoon. If you want a nice salmon dinner ... I had great salmon at Steelhead Diner, tho' it was pricey. Our recent visitors from the Midwest had their best salmon at Dahlia Lounge. I've also had good salmon at Ristorante Zoe. Wherever you have it, it will likely cost you.
