jamesbra's Profile
Most Overrated Restaurant in Seattle
Wow. Crush is getting crushed on here. Canlis too a bit. It's too bad Canlis can't tighten it up and really deliver. I hear that. Maybe they get by being average. I think Seattle overall is a bit overrated in the food city category while Portland might be under rated. Just a hunch. Most under rated? No one mentions Seastar both in Seattle and Bellevue - always super, super consistent and the salmon is just really done well. Pagliacci pizza is probably not only under rated in Seattle, but nationally. Go Dawgs!
Seastar in the Pan Pacific for lunch?
Just ate at Seastar in Bellevue on Sunday - it's some of the best, most consistently good salmon I know of in the city. Lark is expensive but good small plates. Def hit up Matt's in the Market
Some Questions about Sushi in Seattle, after a Search
Flo Sushi Restaurant Belleuve, WA and Umi Sushi House & Bar..yum! Both a thumbs up. Nishino is very good as well.
Izumi, Brazil, and Totem Lake West Shopping Center
we were at Flo last night and had a lovely time. I can't remember the name of the sake, but it was wonderful. Sashimi was divine. Straight up really good sushi. And it was almost packed at 845pm on a Tue. when we walked in...
Best Restaurant for Salmon in Pacific NW?
Love Ray's Boathouse. Old school Seattle and great fish / salmon options done in classic, standard Northwest preparations.
Seastar is good. New restaurant in Seattle provides some of the best salmon I've had in a long time at lunch a month or so back...
Third Annual Ultimate Seattle Restaurant Poll (2008)
1. Lark
2. 35th St. Bistro
3. Seastar
4. Le Gourmand
5. The Iris Grill (Issaquah)
SEA-TAC or Seattle--blowout seafood meal
Seastar is a great seafood restaurant, especially to impress, but it is high end, somewhat formal and white table cloth. Great seafood, amazing wine list and definitely a place to grab some great martinis.
Lunch w/ the boss' wife in Seattle -- HELP!
I agree with the 35th street bistro call - it's causal yet refined, breezy for social occasions. It's got a vibe both in place (Fremont) and in setting (atrium and tree, open light) which makes you feel like your out of the "fray" so to speak. If you want a "downtown" "vibe" I'd go elsewhere, but this is a totally reasonable "french restaurant" pick
Casual standard fare Italian in Seattle or Eastside
I agree - Rialto was very tasty and very affordable. Great stuff...
The Refectory, Columbus Ohio
Agreed! Great review - I can't wait to try it. Will try and come back with a review after I do...
SEA: Danube Czech/Central European Restaurant, Bellevue
I've been hearing really good things about Danube and can't wait to try it - glad to find it on here...will try and remember to give an update shortly. Perfect weather for this type of hearty comfort food...mmmmm!
Where to lunch in Kent?
I have to second - from the original post - Punjab Sweets (great authentic Indian Food) and one of the most quality bakeries and cafes in the Puget Sound - Wild Wheat Bakery and Cafe! Few people realize the extent they go to to make a lot of their own products. Great food.
Suggestions for parents' 50th anniversary?
They don't 'quite' have a website yet but apparently are working on one:
http://www.legourmandrestaurant.com/
First date advice; need help
I agree - you will absolutely look like you know what you are doing if you take her to Le Gourmand - a drink at Sambar before or after: done deal!
5 days in Seattle beginning of September
Bruce Naftlay at Le Gourmand has been there since 1985...pretty amazing guy in terms of having been on the sourcing local thing even when it wasn't "hip". It's a very nice restaurant with a very cool bar next door. I'd say Bizarro is ok...it may source local "when they can" but its not the best rest in the world.
Lunch in Downtown Seattle
Three Girls is a very cool place to grab lunch.
Best chowder, very good sandwiches and also in Pike Place - Pike Place Chowder - they are also "downtown" in Pacific Place. Best Seafood Bisque Chowder on the planet.
Mae Phim Thai - classic!
Best Seattle Indian Buffet?
I just had dinner there again recently and was looking for new ideas on the Indian front - um...I think..humbly humble opinion - Bengal Tiger has the best food of them all - dinner and their lunch buffet has got to be one of the best deals in the city. site not so good but great restaurant (also, not high on "ambience" but that is part of the charm...SUPER nice staff:
www.bengaltigerwa.com
Challenge finding east coast favorites in Seattle
Snoose Junction: Awesome Pizza even though they charge for tobasco sauce
Pagliacci Pizza - someone was talking about "east coast" pizza and you can get good stuff on the west coast - my buddy was in from New York and he asked "I wish they had a Pagliacci's in New York - they don't make pizza this good there"
So THERE East Coast....
Where will I find fruit pie in Seattle?
WILD WHEAT - easily the best pies in the land - great little bakery for lunch, brunch, breakfast, coffee, etc. If your in Kent - wish they would move one to SEATTLE!!!!
Challenge finding east coast favorites in Seattle
Pagliacci Pizza is great - I've had guys in from Brooklyn mention" i wish they actually had these back east..." which shocked me - I felt they were a dime a dozen back there but apparently not.
Pike Place Chowder is the absolute bomb. They did win the Rhode Island National Chowder off, so a direct hit there....
Seattle Sushi and Bar Recs for solo diner
if your going to be in town for a bit and you want to hit up some late night dining, great sushi (under rated, especially on a board like this in my opinion - huge fresh pieces), a bar (great cocktail scene) and live music, all in one: Wasabi Bistro. It's on...2nd and..near Bell. I just went to yelp..here you go: 2311 2nd Ave
I can't wait to try Maneki - I didn't know it had that good of a reputation.
Dinner in Bellevue
Mediterranean Kitchen on Bellevue Way - next to where you were going to go anyway. Huge portions for a great price. Very well loved on the local dining sites (Yelp etc.)
Best Seattle Oyster Bar?
ai, I don't know if your still here, but in terms of great pac nwest oysters and knowledge, I've been going to Ama Ama for a bit now - they have $0.50 oysters at happy hour, their super fresh, their very northwest and the staff apparently just took a trip up to the oyster farms in the san juans / puget sound region for a day to learn about the oysters - so there you go for 'knowledgeable staff'. This place too is getting better and better...anyway, that's my two cents on some good local oysters (West Seattle)
Bellevue/Kirkland WA suggestions
If your still perusing around for suggestions, Bis on Main (main st. old town Bellevue) is one of the areas best. Always good. The Iris Grill in Issaquah - this restaurant keeps getting better and better (try Tim's Cheesecake as well). They have outdoor seating in a very cool part of Gilman Village in Issaquah (mountain views - 10 minutes outside of Bellevue - considered "eastside".
Low key options...
Downtown Bellevue for a quick lunch - huge portions - good food = Meditteranean Kitchen on Bellevue Way (downtown Bellevue). Pagliacci Pizza downtown Bellevue - Pagliacci's best location to date - great local company / local ingredients. Right in the heart of downtown Bellevue.
First time in Seattle
Wasabi Bistro: it could be said there are better pure sushi places in Seattle - I have consistently had some of the best sushi in Seattle here. Fun, vibrant and "night lifey" too.
Pike Place Chowder - best chowder in Seattle.
Pagliacci Pizza - standard, local classic: local ingredients.
Portage on top of Queen Anne - also a great little Italian "Seattle-esque" bistro.
SEA - Wedding Gift Dinner
Your not in LA anymore spot? Portage is your call on Queen Anne: really cool space in a really cool neighborhood.
http://www.portagerestaurant.com/
Solo (somewhat) Intrepid Traveller in Seattle
When you hit the Pike Place Market you HAVE TO hit up Pike Place Chowder as mentioned above. They have a great Bisque chowder that has won awards at a bunch of "chowder offs". It's the real deal...
Dinner in Bellevue before "Sex and the City"
Joeys is a fine "sex and the city" option.
Interesting, more 'original' location is 520 Bar and Grill right on Main St. - about 1/2 mi. from Lincoln Square. Always full, very fun atmosphere. A "locals" find.
Lunch in Bellevue/Issaquah
I agree - BIs on Main is a great restaurant...
The Iris Grill in Issaquah - not to be missed as well. www.theirisgrill.com
Huge deck outside if it's nice. A secret, very cool location / find in Gillman Village about a minute off I-90
Monsoon to replace Porcella Urban
There is actually plenty of places - tons of free spots - open and blowing in the wind, relatively speaking (seattle for instance) that I don't think parking was the issue. The place didn't succeed because it didn't execute. The owner said it was lack of foot traffic - that if he were in Seattle he'd have "killed it". Well, when I went in there it was a disaster - no one knew what was going on, nobody "addressed" me as I was pacing back and forth, trying to find a menu, finding a menu, etc etc and woila, nobody just addressed me the customer and said "hey, what would you like today". This is not space science.
My hunch is this place didn't succeed because it didn't grab the attention of its customers, prospective, potenatial or otherwise. It just didn't execute.
