Freida's Profile
Television-free Bar in Bellingham?
Had lunch at the Bellwether recently. Food was OK, service was glacial. We sat on the patio (lovely) then moved into the bar, which was cozy and pleasant with a great view, but definitely did have a TV. I would go here for drinks and make sure to sit either by the fire or right by a window.
Pandan Leaves?
We've found them at Uwajimaya in the past, in the fresh produce section. We buy a bunch and freeze them.
Television-free Bar in Bellingham?
We're both the sort of people who are easily distracted by moving pictures, so I feel your pain. The Bayou Oyster Bar (next door to Bayou on Bay) has the best cocktails in Bellingham, an absinthe drip, and no television. The Temple Bar is a fun place for a glass of wine or a cocktail, and while the waitress' clothing can be a little distracting (and the wallpaper is rather loud), also no TV.
Anyone Tried the Conway Muse?
Finally got around to trying the food at the Muse, and I suspect it will also be the last time for everyone in our party. Mostly it wasn't terrible, but for the price it wasn't good either. Things we tried:
The Reuben sandwich: this was pretty good, although very skimpy on the fillings.
French Dip sandwich: I didn't try it, but looked like a normal, not-very-meaty french dip.
Caesar salad with chicken: this was disgusting, I think the dressing was made with Miracle Whip. The chicken was very bland and cold, and the croutons were dried-out scraps of white bread.
Mixed greens salad: the dressing was an odd tropical melange of mango and coconut and not sure what else - some folks liked it, but the greens were getting a little wilty. The optional shrimp topping was the little pink kind, not prawns.
Soup of the day: we were pretty sure our waiter said "tomato-vegetable bisque" but what arrived definitely did not have tomato in it. The person who had it liked it well enough but couldn't identify what it was actually made of - it was sort of off-white and creamy.
Appetizers (what the menu refers to as "small meals") were very small indeed and not very good, based heavily on grocery-store style French bread.
Drinks, however, were just fine - they had a short but good draft beer list, some drinkable cheap wine, and the well drinks were reasonably priced.
Our conclusion - the Muse is a fun (and unusual) place to go to hear music, but eat before you go, and stick to booze once you get there.
Wenatchee recs?
Also, my father reports that there are some really good taco wagons in Wenatchee, I think clustered near the Staples? We've been meaning to go do a tour of them. And there's a good taqueria in Cashmere, somewhere off of Pioneer Hwy - again, just hearsay, but the reports are glowing. I'll try to get more detailed info.
Wenatchee recs?
Our favorite restaurant in Leavenworth is South, a wonderful Mexican place. I can basically recommend everything on their menu, but especially the pork tacos, the roasted green beans with lime, and the mission-style burritos. Oh, and the Stinger cocktail, a personal favorite.
In Wenatchee we usually go to McGlinn's - not new, but they've been working on their menu and their pizza is now quite good. I thought their chicken burger was also unusually nice last time I ate there.
Anjou is doing so well with their cafe and crostini business they no longer reliably have bread to buy, which is disappointing. But the baguette sandwiches are really good.
Anacortes WA - Good Eats Before Ferry ?
The fish market often has really excellent fish and shrimp tacos, and now they have Lopez Island Creamery ice cream as well. I haven't seen sandwiches or chowder before, they must be expanding their offerings. It's a great place!
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Lopez Island Creamery
3185 Fisherman Bay Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261
New Cooking / Supper Club, Bellingham and Environs
I love this idea. We're not in Bellingham but we're not far away, would be happy to be involved.
Another Bellingham restaurant closes: The Bistro on Magnolia
I never even heard of The Bistro, but I'm sorry to hear yet another restaurant is down. Flats and Tivoli are sorely missed. I love Prospect but can't afford to eat there often. We were delighted to discover Bayou on the Bay and especially its fantastic Oyster Bar - I hope they continue to do well.
Flats was doing fine until the original owner/chef moved on - I was sorry to see that the new owner changed all of the most popular dishes for no apparent reason. But Tivoli always seemed quiet when we went in, as did The Vines the one time we ate there. Not sure what the problem is with nice dining options in Bellingham. Although if you think you have it bad, trust me - Mount Vernon is much worse. If it's not a brewpub, forget it - it won't last.
The Nimbus [Bellingham]
Tivoli's gone? Crud. And Flats has closed, too, I hear. What's Bellingham coming to?
The Longhorn in Edison
Same goes for the Old Edison Inn just down the block. Great fried oysters, burgers and sweet potato fries (and shuffleboard!) Haven't had fresh oysters there, as we usually just buy those by the bag up the road at Taylor and take them home.
eating out on Thanksgiving - Bellingham area
Chuckanut Manor does do a Thanksgiving buffet. I don't love their food but it's a nice setting. Or the Oyster Bar, just up the road, is serving their dinner menu all day on Thanksgiving - similar setting but nicer restaurant. http://www.theoysterbaronchuckanutdrive.com/
Jacci's Fish & Chips in Bellingham, WA?
That's the place in the double decker bus? We've never actually eaten there, as we're always on our way to Flats (www.flatstapas.com), less than a block away. The fish and chips smell good, but when it's raining (as it so often is) I don't really feel like sitting outside to eat.
Besides Flats, our other B'ham go-to is La Fiamma pizza on Railroad, or Boundary Bay Brewery if we can get in.
Mt. Vernon, WA
No, haven't been to the bowling alley, but I'm willing to try it if you think it's worth it :)
Need Great Bar Recommendation
As much as I love ZigZag, the last time we went we (both under 40) were the oldest people there except for the bartender.
Our favorite cocktail place is Liberty Bar on Capitol Hill. Loud and only serves sushi, but fantastic drinks and cute bar staff. And Licorous might be a great place to check out, it seems like less of a hipster scene - and there are lots of other places to walk to if you want to bar-hop.
Mt. Vernon, WA
You're probably thinking of Bamboo Garden next to the Value Village. It is a big intersection, but thankfully that is not our downtown, which is a mile south and much much nicer.
I have never had good Chinese food in Mount Vernon, but we do have some excellent Thai places, not to mention taco trucks.
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Bamboo Gardens
907 6th St, Clarkston, WA 99403
Good Mid-Priced Restaurants with Trained, Professional Waitstaff
Sounds like my last experience at Tilth as well. Our server was snotty and brusque and did not do a good job answering questions about the food. There's a reason I haven't been back.
Lunch in Ellensberg
We usually go to the Valley Cafe, which has a pretty solid menu of pastas, bistro dishes, salads, that sort of thing, plus a nice wine list. They've been there forever. Not sure what else has opened since we moved - the Tav is a popular pub, but fried food is their specialty. And sadly, Mama's Cookin' Cajun went out of business. Do stop at the Winegar's Dairy drive-thru for a milkshake, they're incredible.
The Table in Bellingham
Not yet, but their pasta is amazing so I have high hopes. Would love to hear a report.
Best Indie Dive-ey Roadhouse Food in Skagit?
Been to the Train Wreck? Also, Porterhouse is fine, but we prefer the Empire most days for our beer needs.
any cool spots on way to chelan from seattle? Burgers/Winery/Taco Truck?
I always like to make a plug for Old School BBQ. It's in the same parking lot as the Reptile Zoo near Sultan on Hwy 2, and they do very fine meat and beans AND you get to sit in an old school bus. We usually stop there or at the Sultan Bakery on our way over Steven's Pass, and then hit the Espresso Chalet in Index for coffee.
Anjou Bakery is definitely a good rec, or stop at South in Leavenworth for amazing Oaxacan food.
Or, if you're heading over on 90 and don't mind detouring through Ellensburg, the Valley Cafe has been a favorite of our family for something like 20 years. And don't forget milkshakes at the Winegar's drive-through.
Beef I can feel good about eating: Canadian border south to Everett
I'm not sure. The Slow Food group for Bellingham is called Fourth Corner, but they don't seem to have a webpage. There's an email contact listed here: http://www.slowfoodskagit.org/Slow_Food_Skagit/Our_Friends.html or you could go to the Bellingham Farmer's Market and talk to local producers there.
Beef I can feel good about eating: Canadian border south to Everett
Excellent beef can be found in this area. Skagit River Ranch is a popular source, and I can recommend Martiny Suffolks in Birdsview for both lamb and beef. Slow Food Skagit has a list of local meat producers here: http://www.slowfoodskagit.org/Slow_Food_Skagit/Meat.html
Rhododendron Cafe
Slough Food is a fabulous shop right next door to the Breadfarm, with excellent cheeses and cured meats. They have a few tables and can make simple sandwiches and salads. Also, just down the street is the Farm to Market Bakery. I highly recommend whatever sandwiches Jim is making that day. Or if you're in a burger mood, go to the Old Edison Inn. Edison is where it's at these days!
And, of course, the Rhody is very good too :)
Sunday brunch in the Tri-Cities: a forlorn hope?
I forgot about this thread. We have since discovered our Richland breakfast place: Sage Port Grill. The corned beef hash! The chicken fried steak! The decor! Check out the size of this pancake: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessamyntuttle/3898059411/in/photostream/
Where to eat in Leavenworth?
Absolutely! Get sausage and sauerkraut elsewhere if you must, but South is some of the best Mexican food I've had anywhere - we go every time we're in town, if we have time.
Anacortes WA - Lunch Near Ferry Terminal? Suggestions, Please!
You can't walk into town from the ferry terminal, it's too far (maybe if you had your bike?). There have been restaurants or snack bars near the terminal at various times, but the last time we were down there they all looked rather out of business - maybe someone who takes the ferry more often would know for sure. I would suggest stopping in town, perhaps at Gere-a-deli or The Market, and getting some takeout to eat in the ferry line. Or have a large late brunch at the Calico Cupboard before driving out to the terminal.
Bellingham area with kids....can you recommend somewhere?
Was it La Fiamma? That's our favorite pizza place. They also have a new place down the street called Fiammaburger.
Eat my way to Leavenworth
The Squirrel Tree is still around. The place by Skykomish, however, has been empty for several years now - they put a bright red roof on it and tried to rent it out, but no takers so far.
