Eat Here!'s topics - tribe.net

Wanna join a new Cocktail Tribe?

imandrew — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:09:20 GMT

So, I've started a new tribe that deals with cocktails and cocktail bars, so if you'd like to join on in - stop on by:

http://tribes.tribe.net/cocktailclub

I'll be working with bars in town to give special deals for those that are in this tribe, so we can put together a good list of where to go for great cocktails, and how to build a great cocktail bar in our own homes if we'd like to do that.

Stop on by.

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

New Malaysian restaurant: Salima

pak-hanafi — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 19:47:29 GMT

Its called Salima. Located at 6727 MLK Way. Just South of Graham on the West side of MLK.

We ordered WAY too much food for the 4 adults & 2 small kids, but it did give me a chance to sample a bunch of things. I'm sure that an appetizer and 2 dishes would be plenty for 2 people, but my friends, who go there often, ordered a few extras.

My favorite was the Beef in Coconut Gravy and Chili, which was only $6.95. The sauce was terrific.

We also had something called Fried Yellow Noodle w/Prawn that was super too. It was only $6.75! Again, with a great unique sauce.

Singapore Fried Noodle w/Prawn was good, but a little spicey for some. I liked it. It is also $6.75.

The chicken sate was alright, but I have had better peanut sauce, although this was tastier than the typical sweet Thai variety. Spring rolls were good too, but another favorite was the Roti bread, which came with a curry gravy. Everything came with its own special sauce, and they were all good.

We didn't try the Ramadan special platters because they had some deserts & items that my friends thought were not the best of the house.

If you're needing a spot for a quick inexpensive dinner there was a fried rice dish that was only $5.95. I'll definitely go back and my son Shaun was really impressed with the food too. They even gave us a complimentary desert!

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Mexican Breakfast! - Cafe Moose

pak-hanafi — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 23:16:23 GMT

So my friend suggested she wanted a Mexican breakfast as a b'day outing.. I couldn't think of a thing, but she suggested googling it and sure enough, this recent review turned up.
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=31591

Its in Ballard at 5242 Leary, a couple of blocks south of Market.

We met there at about 11 and spent a LONG time reading over their pretty extensive menu, while the server gave us their really good coffee and lots of advice & counsel.

Bottom line: The menu descriptions are fine, but none did justice to what they actually put in front of you. Presentation is really nice. Do get adventuresome and try the Mexican dishes.

We started with an order of guacamole and they served us a tray of different homemade salsas. The guacamole was chunky style and super and the chips were homemade too. The salsas were dynamite and not necessarily killer hot.

My friend got the Sopes con Huevos, which are small corn masa cakes covered with a green chile sauce & all sorts of goodies. I don't remember what the name of my meal was, but it was potato patties with cheese, grilled sweet peppers and it was fabulous! We shared everything and I even took home some leftovers. They even gave us a desert with birthday candle (something like "3 milk cake") and it was worth stuffing ourselves even more.

It wasn't cheap, ($30), but I will definitely go back. The various entrees were around $7-$9, add the guac & chips and coffees and you're spending a few bucks, but this was food of the highest quality.

They told us it gets pretty jammed on weekend mornings, but if you get there really early (<8AM) or wait till around 1PM, chances are you'll sit right down.

This place is a Keeper.. don't miss it.

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Blackbird

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 20:58:17 GMT

Another cute bistro in West Seattle, this one is 1/2 block N of Admiral on California, right next to the Mission.
It's great.
We had to wait to get a table, and ended up choosing the quicker option of sitting on tall chairs at the bar. She had some sort of cream ravioli which was rich and decadent (if a little too sweet), and I had the fried chicken with hand-mashed potatoes and spinach - amazing, even though the thigh was a skosh undercooked. Because of that, our delightful waitress gave us a dessert for free.
Good wine too.
Recommended. And not quite as spendy as O2 (but close).

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Lucky find - Pan Africa Market

pak-hanafi — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 01:06:28 GMT

We had about an hour to find a restaurant and eat last night before Shaun's band was going on. It was 7 PM and a mad scramble since everything had already closed near Pike Place Market. I was getting edgy from hunger and not wanting to miss the performance when we rounded the corner onto 1st from Pike. Bingo.. An open restaurant! We would have eaten anything at that point, but this seemed interesting, at least.

The menu has a few Ethiopian style things and a bunch of other good sounding choices from all around West Africa, including a fish of the day that was in a coconut milk-cilantro sauce for $8. There are also a few vegetarian entrees available.

My friend had the Chicken Groundnut stew ($7.50) & I went for the fish, which was served with sauteed shrimp as well.

In a word.. This place is GREAT. The quality of the food is something you would easily pay quite a bit more for at most restaurants. Each dinner was served with a mixed green salad and a vinaigrette dressing that is almost as good as mine. Both came with a cool rice mound. Mine was covered with the coconut milk sauce, while the other seemed like it was saffron flavored. We were both blown away at how good everything was and how reasonably priced. They served us a nice tasting complimentary clove-cardamom tea too.

Its at 1521 First Ave, kind of diagonally across from the Deja Vu, whose flashing billbord has great entertainment value.

posted in Eat Here! - 2 replies

Indo Cafe!

pak-hanafi — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 21:58:09 GMT

I LOVE Indonesian food and its rare to get the good stuff in Seattle.

SO.. I was really excited to be taken for a surprise-undisclosed birthday lunch at the Indo Cafe. Neither of us had ever heard of it before, although my friend had read a little review somewhere that seemed to be pretty positive.

The place was almost invisible from the street and I didn't even spot it from the parking lot in front. Its in one of those little strip mall buildings, just past Tony Roma's on the South side of Northgate Way.

We decided to go for the lunch specials & an appetizer. I had Rendang (Beef in a dark sauce that must have coconut milk in it) and she had a Javanese style vegetable, chicken & noodle dish. The appetizer was fried tofu stuffed with shrimp... yummm. It had a bit of kedjap on it, which I have always loved. (Kedjap is sweet Indonesian soysauce.. slightly thicker than the regular stuff. )

By the way, you'll see Indonesian words spelled different ways since they changed some spellings a few years ago. Kedjap can be spelled kejap and I think there's a way with a "c" too. They changed the spelling of the sound ch (as in chocolate) from tj and dj to c or j. The "D" and the "T" have always been silent before a j, but people try to add it into the pronunciation. (Djarum cigarettes are pronounced Jarum).

ANYWAY>>>...

Both lunches came with soup (mine was luke-warm, hers was nice & hot) and a spring roll, plus mine came with a hard-boiled egg covered with a moderately spicey Sambal (Indonesian hot sauce - there are LOTS of varieties).

It was definitely good stuff. I enjoyed the Rendang (Indonesian beef is usually chewy, but very flavorful.) The noodle dish was really good too and my friend liked it a lot. The place was empty (we had an early lunch at 11:15 and worried that they needed more customers. ) Have to go back again and it looked like they had an expanded menu for dinner.

The lunch specials were $5.95, and while not huge, they were large enough for each of us, particularly with the addition of the appetizer.

Indo Cafe
543 NE Northgate Way
Suite J
206.361.0699

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Mashiko - for sushi lovers

awa02 — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 21:00:54 GMT

So this place is on California Ave in West Seattle.. feels a bit like a hole in the wall, but my friend Jody loves their sushi. Me, I'm not so much a sushi fan, but I tell ya, the stuffed mushrooms w/ dungeness crab are f'n incredible. As is the garlic edemame. I have no idea what they put together to make this sauce that goes on the edemame, but it's addicting. Apparently the sake is good too. I know I had a few other things, but don't really remember. Trust me when I say this is one place you need to check out - prices are pretty reasonable too. Mmmmmmmmmmm!

posted in Eat Here! - 2 replies

"Tatami" rooms

pak-hanafi — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 21:54:48 GMT

Often, when we go out to eat as a family group, which can include 5 kids ranging from 6 mos to 11 years old, I attempt to go somewhere that has some kind of small "room". It saves great energy and enhances the whole experience if we don't have to think about our impact on the rest of the diners.

We have a birthday dinner coming up next Saturday (mine!) and I am thinking about trying someplace different. I'd welcome any suggestions about some new places that can offer a little privacy. This time there will be 6 adults and a 1 year old.

We like Maneki, in the ID, a lot, and may fall back on that one.

Any food style is ok, as long as its really good!

Thanks!

posted in Eat Here! - 1 reply

Damn it!

pak-hanafi — Sat, 26 Nov 2005 05:53:41 GMT

I didn't have a clue that sprouts could ever be dangerous. Sounds like they are easily contaminated per this Canadian report (and they had previously criticized Americans for being alarmists).

What a drag! Mung sprouts, which I Love with my Pho, are an occasional carrier Salmonella.

There's an internal link in the story that details dates and locations of outbreaks. Most are in the US, although there is a recent outbreak in Ontario. http://www.foodconsumer.org/777/8/Sprouts_in_Canada_Commentary_from_the_Food_Safety_Network.shtml

posted in Eat Here! - 9 replies

Saigon Deli - Great Cheap Lunch!

pak-hanafi — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 20:49:51 GMT

Its on Jackson, South side, just east of 7 Stars Pepper ( around 4th?), maybe only a couple blocks from Rainier.

ANYWAYS.. Its a take out only place with a variety of hot entrees that sell for $3.50 for 2 items, with rice. Maybe $4.50 for 3? I had some little fish and an eggplant with prawn thing. Fish were pretty good, but the eggplant was dynamite! 2 items was plenty for me.

Sandwiches are $1.85 (!) Maybe some are a little more. Fresh rolls. I had chicken, my friend had tofu. Beware the jalapenos in there!

There are all kinds of odd stuffs in saranwrapped packages. I hear the deserts aren't much, but the spring rolls are nice. Lots of Vietnamese spoken here. I felt at a little disadvantage not knowing what things are, but I get more adventurous each time I go back. So far no major disappointments.

AND..There's a parking lot! (adjacent & just east of the place)

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Da Lat: great Vietnamese on Broadway

rangerziptie — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 18:27:09 GMT

Howdy.

I feel compelled to promote my favorite Vietnamese in town, Da Lat, at the very north end of the Broadway strip, next to the gas station.

Da Lat has fantastic food, a very pleasant atmosphere, and the price is right. If you check it out, try the bun (vermicelli noodle salad). It's delightful.

-Noah

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

02

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 22:38:56 GMT

Okay, so i've lived in west seattle for three months now. I still haven't been to Ovio, but i finally made it to O2, their other location.
Fantastic.
cute little bistro that was very cozy and inviting.
we started with prosciutto-wrapped scallops ($9) served on top of a red and green pepper tapanade of sorts. delish. only two scallops, but they were gigantic, 5 bites a piece maybe?
a great bottle of red (L'Ecole No.41 2003 Syrah, overpriced imho, but super good)
i had the pan roasted chicken over mashed potatoes in it's own juices w/brussel sprouts. it was great, though i'm not a big brussel sprout guy.
but she ordered the winner: juniper-encrusted salmon with mini roasted potatoes and green beans. that salmon was to die for. slightly sweet, a little crunch, mmmmm.
we skipped dessert due to fullness, but the menu looked amazing, with various slices of flour-less chocolate torts and whatnot, with a nice selection of ice creams and sorbets.
bonus: they even let us take our unfinished bottle of wine home (which i think is illegal, not sure, they disguised it in a tin foil sculpture in the shape of a bottle-shaped rose)
we finished the bottle back at my house, and the rest of the evening is not suitable for the Eat Here tribe. (or is it? hmm .. ) ; )

posted in Eat Here! - 1 reply

Black Bottle

principessa — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 14:49:33 GMT

On the corner of first and vine, former home to Two Dagos....the space has been completely transformed. Simple decor, a tall white candle on every table, a full corner full of windows...lovely indeed. Though I didn't sample the food, the menu looks interesting and everything that went by looked and smelled amazing. They seem to have a decent wine selection, a couple of beers on tap and a full bar. I will most definitely go back, you should check it out!

posted in Eat Here! - 8 replies

Zao noodle bar is good

Symi81 — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 10:39:19 GMT

Zao noodle bar is located in U-Village. Although I'm not a huge fan of U-Village, I have to say this is a good restaurant. I have tried the Veggie Spring Rolls with tofu, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, leaf lettuce, rice noodles & mint wrapped in rice paper. They were good and tasted very fresh. I've also had the chicken Pho soup and their ginger-garlic-chili chicken and prawns. Both were excelent. As opposed to some restaurants where they overload the dish with too many noodles, the ginger-garlic-chili dish was loaded with plenty of chicken, prawns and great vegies. The prawns were a tad over cooked, but still good. The noodles with it were excelent.

Here is a link to their menu: http://www.zaonoodle.com/menu.html

posted in Eat Here! - 2 replies

Dinette

Fri, 04 Nov 2005 04:08:10 GMT

A semi-fancy joint where the Green Cat used to be on Cap Hill i think. On Olive.
Anyway, drinks were fab. mussels as an app were extra fab.
i had the game hen with cranberry and stuffing which was like all the goodness of thankgiving reduced on to one plate. she had some swanky ravioli in a cream sauce which she raved about.
we split desert if i remember correctly, some sort of cake-like thing a la mode. i ate more of the mode than the cake, but it was de-lish.
it's a skosh spendy - like $75 - $100 for the two all in.
atmosphere was minimal in a great way, low warm lighting all around. very cozy.
and the service was perfect.
scrump-dillyishous.

posted in Eat Here! - 2 replies

Troiani

Deux_Chevaux — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 20:49:38 GMT

Troiani is across the street from my building on 3rd and Madison. We have a little book club in my office and we went there after work for one of our book discussions. It was during happy hour. Now, go to this site and download the bar menu. http://www.troianiseattle.com/troianiseattle/ Look good? Let me tell you, everything we ordered was wonderful. And guess what? During happy hour, each food item is FIVE BUCKS! I kid you not!

posted in Eat Here! - 2 replies

What the pho?

principessa — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 20:48:06 GMT

Ok, can I just say one more time how much I luuurrrve the Than Brothers? And can I just say how happy I am that they FINALLY have veggie pho in the U-District? Just had a big ol' steaming bowl of soup with lots o' chili sauce...the best I say!

posted in Eat Here! - 4 replies

Broadway Wok and Grill

principessa — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 18:49:14 GMT

Though the Jade Pagoda does have its charm and history (my parents used to hang out there when they were young and living on the hill) the Wok and Grill is the place to go for good eats.
The family style dinners are tasty and HUGE. I recently went there with two friends and we were served enough food that we ALL had enough leftovers for two more meals!
The dinner included: bbq pork, potstickers, egg rolls, soup, rice, and 3 entrees. We could have easily fed 6 people with the food that arrived for the 3 of us.
We had beef w/snow peas, orange beef and a scallop, prawn and veggie dish. I'm not much of a beef person, but it was tasty. The veggies are always cooked to perfection, still a bit crisp. Given the choice I will always opt for Thai food as it has much less sauce and much more spice...BUT this place is consistent, has good service, and delivery..so it's a good option when dining with non-Thai food eaters ;)

posted in Eat Here! - 1 reply

New Discovery-Provincial Vietnamese Food

pak-hanafi — Fri, 20 May 2005 22:26:14 GMT

Its called The Tamarind Tree.

This is a really attractive restaurant. Very cool decor, with some concrete tables & interesting colors (check out the bathrooms too).

I recently went back for the 2nd time and was equally mystified by the menu. First time there I asked folks at the adjacent table what they were eating. They expressed a similar doubt and related that they just kept trying things and had yet to be disappointed!

Lots of things that could be ordered as a platter or bowl. The platters have the rice discs that you soak in hot water and roll up the goodies. They're served with cilantro, mung sprouts, rice noodle, mint and broad lettuce leaves for an alternative roll up. We tried the Yellow Fish and some skewered prawns, that were terrific. The portions on the platters are pretty large. You don't need to order a lot of stuff. I bet 4 people would be satisfied with 3 platters and an appetizer. I think the bill was around $25 for the 2 of us

Its off Jackson, maybe around 3rd or 4th, next to the Viet Wa market.

If you ever go to the Saigon Bistro, this is in the same area, a couple of hundred feet to the East.

Try something different and let us know!

posted in Eat Here! - 1 reply

Columbia City

principessa — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 18:04:56 GMT

This neighborhood is bursting at the seams with little eateries. Many I have tried and will return to again and again...the rest are definitely on my list!

Tutta Bella - AUTHENTIC italian pizza and salads 4 stars
http://www.tuttabellapizza.com/

La Medusa - Sicilian fare..a bit spendy but good
http://edb.seattletimes.nwsource.com/ae/scr/edb_vd.cfm?ven=3154&s=st

Jones BBQ - OMG, this is some good BBQ, have had it before, though not at this location
http://seattle.citysearch.com/profile/10794174

Geraldine's Counter - the owners of El Greco have opened up this breakfast and lunch joint. The breakfast is fabuloso! Dinner may be coming soon as they work things out.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/food/restaurants/deuxtamalescolum.php

El Sombrero - Fancy Mexican fare: http://www.seattleweekly.com/food/restaurants/deuxtamalescolum.php

The Wellington - "Good southern cooking" as the article states:
http://www.seattleweekly.com/food/restaurants/wellington2.php

Columbia City Alehouse - My friends that live just blocks away say it's a good one! http://www.seattlealehouses.com/columbia/welcome.asp

We need to explore this neighborhood!!!

posted in Eat Here! - 13 replies

Ray vs. Anthony

principessa — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 14:57:21 GMT

So I ventured on down to the waterfront in Buh-lard last night to have a drinky-poo and some food with friends. We began the evening on the sunny deck at Ray's, where, by the way, happy hour is NOT in effect...only in the teeny-tiny bar inside. (what is that about seattle..no happy hour outside..greedy bastards!) anyways, we had the ahi appetizer and also the smoked salmon skewers to start, both were quite tasty. I had a beer to start (lukewarm in a warm glass) and as it was 80+ degrees, quickly realized that a drink on ice was the better choice and so switched to a mojito, which was good, though not as good as at Cactus, or as one made by Eric at the Broadway Grill. For dinner I had steamed clams..OMG they were good! Steamed to perfection! I am always hesitant to order them as they are either spot on, or horribly bad, there is no inbetween in the steamed clam world. My companions enjoyed their food as well: blackened rockfish, curried prawns, and an ahi salad.

After dinner, not ready to go home, my friend Di and I sashayed across the parking lot to Anthony's. We grabbed a table in the oh-so-70s bar and waited for someone to acknowledge our existence. Finally the bartender came by and with a less than enthusiastic swipe of a tiny cocktail napkin and a less than friendly attitude, wiped a couple of crumbs off of the table. We both received our horribly watery drinks and settled in for a few. Ok, so Anthony's does have a lovely patio, with nice furniture and plantings...I can't say anything for the food as I haven't eaten at an Anthony's for years. The combination of decor and clientele made us feel as though we had mistakenly wandered into the dining room of the local retirement home. This restaurant needs an extreme makeover in the worst way...as do a number of it's patrons ;)

So, the final score Ray 4, Anthony 1

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Tribe Merger?

Deux_Chevaux — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 21:37:23 GMT

There is the "Eat Here!" Tribe and the "Seattle Restaurants" tribe, and I seem to remember that they both started about the same time. But they cover the same subject - places to eat in the Seattle area. This may sound SO crazy, but why not just have one? Not that there's anything unusual about two tribes on the same subject, but why not have a single brain trust?

posted in Eat Here! - 13 replies

Sundaes

principessa — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 22:19:22 GMT

Ok, my new avatar got me to thinking. Where can a girl get a good ice cream sundae around here since Farrell's is ancient history. IMHO, Baskin-Robbins and Dairy Queen are for cones only...a nice big sundae...where?

posted in Eat Here! - 14 replies

Sunset Supper.

jonnyswitchblade — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 21:21:00 GMT

Anybody going?

It is a bennefit for various components of Pike Place Market. I am photographing the event and will be there for sure. It is kind of pricey but all for a good cause with what I am sure will be some good food and drink.

posted in Eat Here! - 3 replies

Speaking of thai food...

principessa — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 19:06:41 GMT

Rom Mai Thai at the north end of Broadway is the best! The food is EXCELLENT, the portions are big enough for 2-3 meals, the prices are great...and the staff, what can I say, they rock! They used to work at Thai Heaven over by the Opera House, then opened up this place on their own...they are the best! They always remember my favorites, ask about my family, etc...they've even given me little gifts from their trips home and wave to me every time I walk by...super nice people! I would give this a 4.75...I don't give anything a 5 ;)

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Thai Ginger - Madison Park

awa02 — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 17:58:48 GMT

Now.. I love thai.. you can hardly do it badly, but y'all know when a place is good. I can't keep all the names straight w/ the word 'thai' in them.. but I think this one is a chain.. I don't really know and honestly, don't care. The food is goooooooood! That's enough for me..

Last night was just the regular phad thai and cashew chicken. My date picked the cashew thing.. I usually stay away from that cuz it's so typical - but I still love phad thai. Both were really good and arrived quickly. We were starving when we got there and got the spring rolls.. mmmm.. really light and tasty. They didn't drown the phad thai w/ ketchup and for once, I didn't notice. It was really good.. We got both w/ 3 *** out of 4 for spiciness and honestly, this was perfect for me and I like spicy. Still had a good kick but I could taste the food w/out burning my mouth forever.

AND if you get there early enough in the summer, you'll get one of the cute tables outside. The little birds are cute and love it when you give them a few grains of plain rice. Don't be mean and give them anything w/ spice on it.. I was scared I'd burn their little throats! :)

The bonus is you can watch people in the area.. we watched this poor unaware probably not more than 16 yr old girl new to driving try to park her mothers Van/Suv thing.. and block the road til this very nice man I think she forgot even to say thank you too got out and helped her back in.. tho she STILL didn't look the other way here and there and I'm like.. oh.. should we warn her mother she's going to be a problem later? Her mother wasn't with her while parking.. and I think she would've also reminded the girl to mind her manners - but she got on her cell phone right after and ignored the guy.. Rude! We thanked him for her cuz really, it was just TRAGIC!

posted in Eat Here! - 4 replies

The Elysian Brewery

awa02 — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 17:17:25 GMT

I like this place in general. I dig the beer, the bartenders are pretty cool and it's a big place.. even tho there's smoking there, you can kinda get away from it if you try.. spread out..

Usually the food is ok.. tho I think it's on the spendier side. They charge for everything, including their special sauces for the fries. But this time I decided to try the mac.. since I'm quite the mac fan. And I have to say, I think I like my mac on the non traditional side.. as in.. not made w/ macaroni noodles. To me, anyone can do that, like costuming a Shakespeare play in Elizabethan dress.. dull dull dull.. shake it up.. put it in the 50's.. or w/ mac, give me shells or bow tie.. or something.. So it had that going against it.. and then, just wasn't creamy.. more sticky. Not enough sauce to dip the bread I was given. Didn't taste bad.. was decent.. not garlicy or anything.. just basic. And it came w/ a salad.. tho that was just lettuce and dressing but at least it was dark greens. And I think it's less than $8.. so not bad.. eh.. Would give it a 5..

posted in Eat Here! - 4 replies

Space Needle

jonnyswitchblade — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 04:22:10 GMT

Ok, I am new to town, have to take a lady friend out for a nice dinner (she is from/just returned to Seattle) and I would like to check out the view from the top. I figured for her coming back, it being such a distinctive land mark here and she hasn't been up there in over 20 years that this would be a fun place to eat. We both like more of the local & organic scene and prefer vegetarian type palces (I do have a back up). So the menu doesn't totaly fit our vibe but it could work for one night and I can appreciate a well thought out menu that has meat on it.

Here are my questions for the rest of you. Is it worth a trip to the restaurant? Does the menu live up to it's potential?

Thanks.

posted in Eat Here! - 10 replies

El Gallito

principessa — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 15:14:45 GMT

I sooooooooo wanted to like this place. It reminds me of a restaurant of the same name located in Palm Springs. Same type of setup, building, etc. You know how you get these things in your mind...ie: "OMG, the yummy mexican food that I had in Cali, right here in my own backyard...yipee!" Well, sadly, this was not the case. I can get past the children running around crazily..yelling and screaming; the people yapping on cell phone, etc..as long as some fine food is placed before me. Feeling rather hungry from a long day with no food, I decided to spring for a combination plate. I chose the taco and tamal combo while my friend had 2 or 3 tacos (not remembering just now) so, if you ever go to El Gallito, do not, repeat DO NOT order the chicken taco...unless you like a taco shell filled with boiled chicken...no spices, nada, not even a lil' S&P. I had a chili verde taco, which wasn't too bad and it was accompanied by a pork tamal which wasn't too good. As this post is getting a bit long, I will wrap it up by saying..eh, this place was disappointing...I'd opt for Bimbo's or Mr Villa's any day...still searching for a really good mexican joint though....any recommendations? (The Principessa would like to find the real deal...not these microwave entrees topped with 43 lbs of cheese....over and out.

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Volterra

principessa — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 15:50:05 GMT

A new Italian joint in Ballardia...in that little house on Ballard Ave that used to be a Cajun place..anyone tried it yet? I am most curious!

posted in Eat Here! - 1 reply

La Carta de Oaxaca

awa02 — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 05:20:35 GMT

I can't believe I haven't posted about this place yet.. If you haven't been.. you so should. Right next to the Sunset Tavern on Ballard Ave in Ballard. Run by a little Oaxacan family and they're really nice people.. I usually end up joking w/ them about the wait - but we sit in the bar.. or stand.. and drink the margaritas which are very good. **Please note, they just got someone new for Wed nights.. and I know this cuz I went there... and she shorted all the marg's by an inch.. drove me insane!**

Most things are tapas style and served on small plates 2 or 3 each. I think just about everything is really good and homemade, even the chips and all the moles. The only thing I thought was dull was the item they call the house special that does have their mole sauce on it.. I think it's just rice and chicken and mole sauce.. eh.. everything else is really good.. and if I didn't mention it, really cheap. Go there..

posted in Eat Here! - 3 replies

Falafel, shish taouk, shawerma...

principessa — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 15:43:38 GMT

The Principessa loves her falafel, etc...anyone got a good spot? The Cedar's walk-up place in the U-dist ain't bad, but not like the stuff she ate overseas...please lend a Principessa a hand...spill the garbanzo beans on the best falafel, shish taouk or shawerma in town!

posted in Eat Here! - 1 reply

Dad Watson's

awa02 — Tue, 24 May 2005 21:15:16 GMT

I'm a big brew pub fan.. and have often liked heading out to one of the McMennamin's pubs.. they're alright.. usually, really good fries. The smalls are large in their portions. But I gotta tell ya, go on a busy night cuz the food is bound to be fresher than what we got on a Sunday early evening. Chips for the obviously frozen-tasting spinach artichoke dip were stale.. dip was not good.. and the quesadilla.. wow.. just cheese.. says it's served w/ black beans, sour cream and salsa on the side.. they don't tell you it's in one little dish altogether.. who does that? That's just weird..

The other reason I usually don't make it my first choice is cuz they always have the AC on high.. for once they didn't..but by the time we left, they'd hit it again and it was freezing in there.. hate that..

Good points: the chai they serve is yummy.. but they only carry 2% milk.. lame.

posted in Eat Here! - 1 reply

Late dinner recommendations?

Wed, 18 May 2005 20:08:05 GMT

Hello foodies ...
does anyone have any ideas for nice late dinner places?
say, for example, it was your birthday. And you had class that night, but afterward, you got to go to a wonderful dinner! At about 10pm!

where would you want to go?
Thanks!
- David

posted in Eat Here! - 9 replies

New Mexican joint - Chapa-something?

awa02 — Wed, 04 May 2005 17:16:24 GMT

Went to this new little bar - where the Stalk Exchange used to be on Phinney Ridge. First - I have to say, no, I can't fucking remember the name.. but it's the name of the Mexican boogie man, basically. Something about eating your goats.. lovely image, I thought.. Anyway, they painted the quaint former yummy brunchy joint w/ this garish red - and lemme say - my 5 yr old neice could've done a better job.. wrong color of red and hello painting tape.. maybe they never heard of that before.. This little house used to be so cute.. and I'm not saying a change shouldn't have been made.. but God, make it homey at least. The chairs and tables are cheap.. look like they picked them up at some restaurant garage sale from 10 years ago.. and their regulars - loud, obnovious, look like butt rockers who ride harleys or something.. just strange on the whole level..

HOWEVER - the burritoes rock.. like.. really good. I had the chicken tinga - whatever that means.. I dug it... my pal had the 3 tacos that looked good, but he said were only ok. I thought the burrito had great taste.. yummy chicken and lots of it.. So anyway, I'd go back and get a burrito to go.. maybe stay for a Pacifico.. but that's probably it.. the deck is a nice touch when the sun's out.. but that's not for a while yet..

posted in Eat Here! - 2 replies

Brooklyn Cafe

principessa — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 15:59:06 GMT

Had the "Baker's Dozen" (a tasting tray of 13 different oysters, served with cocktail sauce and FRESH horseradish...yum!) and the Beef Carpaccio (thinly sliced raw beef served with crisp, thin parmesan toast, caper berries, shaved parmiggiano, and sauteed onions marinated in balsamic vinegar)

The oysters were fresh and quite tasty. Though I couldn't quite relate to some of the descriptions (a watermelon finish? huh? no oyster tastes like watermelon!) the oysters were all tasty as can be. As for the Carpaccio...fabulous...the meat was so tender it literally melted in my mouth...yum! The beer wasn't bad either...passed on the martini though because I hate the stupid martini glasses that they have at this otherwise swanky bar :P

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Brouwer's Pub

awa02 — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 21:31:54 GMT

Helloooo new German/English pub joint that I LOVE! I just dig the whole atmosphere. This place is across from Red Hook and that little bicycle fixing place on Phinney in Fremont. If you walked by it, you'd probably not even know it was there other than the big door.. and then you open the door and it's friggin gigantic. They specialize in imported bottled beers.. and have a killer nitro stout that isn't just Guinness, tho I can't remember what it is now..but the waiter recommended it - no tasters allowed at this time - so I had to take his word for it.. and the word was gooooood.. Food - anything w/ fries is good.. I had some waterzooi thing that was a creamy chicken stew thing that seemed a bit thin..but was still tasty. I just like the way it's laid out.. it's big in there.. big tables that will seat huge groups or a couple of ppl.. and the feel of them is good for what we were doing.. playing cribbage.. like the smoothness. :) I'm all big on the tactile stuff.. Oh yeah.. and for never hearing of this place and certainly unable to tell that there was even anything there while outside, the place was packed..

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

The Mission

awa02 — Mon, 25 Apr 2005 21:24:29 GMT

Ok. I've been to this new smaller version of El Camino of sorts in West Seattle.. it's kitchy in its decor and I dig that.. plus the upstairs is bigger than you think it will be til you get up there. Drinks aren't cheap anymore - but it's average for around here. The food is good.. the only complaint I have is they literally stole the same plantains and guac idea from El Camino except The Mission only gives you 6 chips in a martini glass of guac instead of a plate of 'em.. I think that's a bit chintzy.. the rest of the food - I had some steak kabob things on yummy mashed potatoes sorta mexican-y and we had some quesadilla that was tasty.. I think I got super drunk on 3 martinis when I was there the 2nd time to last.. but we did think the last time the margaritas were a bit on the too sweet side.. Worth a try if you're near the Admiral theatre or that area.. the taquitos rock.

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Chandler's

principessa — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 17:19:52 GMT

The Principessa loves her happy hours...and the one at Chandler's on Lake Union wasn't too bad. Nice big bar and a happy hour that lasts until 7...she had a couple of pints o' Stella and the ahi appetizer (apps are 1/2 off). The ahi was seared on the outside, then sliced and served like sashimi with wasabi and soy. They also have a large outdoor patio which looks like a good bet for the summer months ;)

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Cascadia

principessa — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 22:39:51 GMT

Went to Cascadia on Friday for happy hour....nice! We started off with a couple of the Alpine Martinis...Absolut Citron with a "snowball" of sorbet and garnished with some Douglas fir or some such thing....mmm, tasty little things....especially once the sorbet begins to melt. They're even better by the third round! Add to that, mini burgers w/truffle oil at $1 apiece and a $2.50 cone of perfectly cooked calamari. The food was good, the drinks were great, nice atmosphere, nice view, outdoor seating, good friends and good times! It definitely gets the Principessa Seal of Approval!

posted in Eat Here! - 3 replies

Umm.. Mexican (top of Pacific Place)

awa02 — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 20:16:22 GMT

Ok.. so I have no idea what this place is called, but they have really really decent happy hour.. til 7 and the food is good, the drinks are good, including a pomegranite (sp?) margarita. Mmm!! The only thing is the server chic was so phony when she did pay attention to us and it's just bad business to drop a drink at your table and then walk away and not ask if you're ready to order.. dumb.. other than that and the fact it's in the mall, I'll so go back.. Yummy!

posted in Eat Here! - 7 replies

The Apartment Bistro

awa02 — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 00:56:45 GMT

Ok.. so we met up for apps and drinks here.. eh.. it's got that cold feeling that Tost sort of does.. gray walls.. nothing special about the decor. Felt like a guy decorated it - which isn't bad.. but give it a splash of color. What is wrong w/ color these days? The Graduate was playing above the bar.. that was interesting entertainment.. the apps - only 5 to choose from which I thought was skimpy. Calamari, ceasar salad, fries, mushroom something or other and I can't remember the other.. mainly cuz the waiter told us it was 7:01 and we were too late for happy hour that went to 7.. um.. ok.. thanks for being particular. I dunno, I thought it was a bit rude myself. So we opted for the $9 cheese and fruit plate which was really good actually and plenty of food to snack on w/ a side of bread that we gobbled up.. also skimpy.. just small little slices.. get a clue people.. but I heard from my friends the calamari was yummy.. I thought it was a bit pricey, but hey that's Belltown.. drinks ok.. atmosphere - blech and cold to boot. Not somewhere to go if you run cold like I do. It's not my first choice to go back to.

posted in Eat Here! - 0 replies

Thai Ginger

principessa — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 19:08:49 GMT

I have eaten at the Redmond, Factoria and Pacific Place locations and have to say that they all have excellent food....add to that some great drinks! I recommend the "South of Phuket" a refreshing blend of pineapple and lime juice, fresh mint and gin....mmm, mmm good! They have some great happy hour apps too!

posted in Eat Here! - 3 replies

Don't eat here...

principessa — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 19:06:52 GMT

Marrakesh...overpriced, rude waiter, so-so chow...good company though :)

posted in Eat Here! - 1 reply

Belltown Bistro

principessa — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 21:37:45 GMT

So the folks at Blu Water Bistro are opening a new Bistro in Belltown, hence the clever (ha!) name, Belltown Bistro. It's in the spot on 1st (near Bell) that was previously occupied by the Belltown Pub..yet another clever name. Our fine moderator and I attended their "mock dinner" last night. We started off our evening with a couple of Cosmos (tasty, but small and pricey) then opted for the Jerked Chicken Satay as our appetizer. The chicken was quite tasty and was served on a bed of mixed greens and accompanied by some pineapple/jicama salsa...we then had a couple of salads: pear, blue cheese and some kind of candied nuts; and spinach with egg, mushrooms and bacon...both of them were quite tasty. Main courses were: smoked mozzarella ravioli with assorted squash, tossed in a lemon butter sauce (YUMMY!); and a "steak skewer" basically a shishkabob...served with mashed potatoes and green beans..oh and a "cheddar ale sauce". The meat was tender and cooked to perfection, the taters were a bit dry..the green beans were excellent..crunchy and flavorful. Believe it or not, after all of this food, we decided to attempt a dessert as well..after careful deliberation, we settled on the Grand Marnier Chocolate Fondue...yum again! I was served with a plate of pineapple, banana, orange, strawberries and lemon pound cake...we both decided that though our pocketbooks may not allow a return for the feast that had just been put before us, we could surely return for some drinks and the fabulously tasty (and a bargain at $9) fondue!

posted in Eat Here! - 4 replies

Salumi

mattbear — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 21:15:07 GMT

I don't share this one with many people, because it has become too popular already, but for you people...

If you haven't heard of it, Salumi is lunch spot on the south end of downtown, only open 11am-4pm Tues-Fri. This is my absolute, hands-down, favorite place to eat in Seattle - but alas, I never get to go there because I work Mon-Fri on the eastside.

Salumi features their own homemade cured meats - salami, prosciutto, etc - made by owner Armandino Batali (who just happens to be the father of Mario Batali of "Malto Mario" and "Iron Chef America" fame).

There are a couple of small tables that will seat 2-3 people, and one big common table that will seat about a dozen. You go in and order your food at the counter, sit with a bunch of strangers, and eat some delicious food. Wine sits on the table and you pour yourself some - you just have to tell them how many glasses you had when you're all done and pay the bill.

When the gf and I get a chance, we head down there and each order a sandwich, and a bowl of soup to split. We never leave hungry, and the food is awesome. It gets dang crowded at lunch time now, so it's best to hit around 2 or 2:30 in the afternoon.

Salumi
309 3rd Ave S
206-621-8772

posted in Eat Here! - 6 replies

Bleu Bistro

awa02 — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 20:44:46 GMT

Ok.. so I've talked a lot about this place on the mac tribe.. cuz the mac, in my opinion, just rocks. And it still does.. it was tasty. My cohort had something else, which now escapes me.. hm. We got there at 7:30 on a Friday and luckily there was 1 table available w/out a reservation. These are needed now these days, which I should've known but was only crossing my fingers we'd be ok, and we were.. barely. The place is always a tad pricey - drinks can get up there if you're getting more than a couple but at least they give you the extra on the martinis in a side glass.. so it's like getting 2 drinks for the price of one. I still think the mac was really good and their side salad has so much stuff on it: hummus, red peppers, sunflower seeds and mandarin oranges..I'm surprised how much is on there and still how much mac I could eat. :) Service seems nice but they were busy and if you're in a rush, skip. You should be there w/ someone you need to catch up and focus on the chat w/ the food as an afterthought.. it does take a little while. Apparently they have another open down the street somewhere a bit further south w/ a much more limited menu. I found out the mac isn't on it.. so we didn't try it.

posted in Eat Here! - 2 replies

Nectar Lounge?

Deux_Chevaux — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 20:01:23 GMT

Has anyone eaten at the Nectar Lounge in Fremont? I'm going there tonight to take pics of the Dierdre Dubois performance for her record company and the menu looks simple but tasty.

Here's the link: http://www.nectarlounge.com/

posted in Eat Here! - 6 replies

Seattle Happy Hour guide

awa02 — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 19:21:48 GMT

Someone sent this some time ago.. links to all the places around the city and it's already listed what they offer and when.. awesome!

http://www.seattletravel.com/seattle-happyhour-ballard.htm

posted in Eat Here! - 4 replies

Bring it on!

awa02 — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 18:51:29 GMT

Howdy all - I got tired of wondering where to go in Seattle when I wanted to eat out.. I go to the same places all the time.. so, I created this tribe to help me out.. I'm sure you all might be tired of scoping out random places only to be disappointed.. so list your favorites and rate them from 1-5 stars based on the food, drinks, service, price and atmosphere - and don't forget to mention the district/location. You're welcome to add things like good for groups, good for dates, etc.. (places to avoid even) whatever you like.. just tell us about it so we can check it out too!

posted in Eat Here! - 3 replies