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The Great Foodening - PAX Foodie Destinations

MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
edited September 2010 in PAX Archive
Reading through previous PAX threads, it looks to me like eating at the convention center is pricey and not worth it. As a Seattle newb and a self proclaimed food lover, I would like to compile a list of awesome places to eat that are close enough to the convention center that someone can walk or catch a quick cab/bus to go eat there.

As people post places in the thread, post it in the following format and I will update the OP with all of them.

Restaurant Name/Miles from PAX/Type of food (ie Mexican)/Price ($=cheap, $$=moderate, $$$=Pinky Out Fancy Pants)/Website


Food Places -
Armandino's Salumi/1.1 Miles/Sandwiches/$$
Suggested by - MrDoctorProfessor
This is a place I have wanted to go since I saw Anthony Bourdain eat there. It is a little sandwich joint owned by Mario Batali's father Armandino. The cure all of their own meats there. Pancetta, Salami, Proscuitto, Hot Sopressata mmmmmmm.

Serious Pie/under 1 mile/Pizza/$$
Suggested by Wifflebat and mrt144
Wifflebat wrote: »
A hole in the wall Tom Douglas flatbread/pizza dive with serious gourmet pies. I had a flatbread with arugula, guanciale(sp), and fried egg and oh my god...
mrt144 wrote: »
Tom Douglas establishment with great pizzas and a long wait. ~Seating for 64 with long fire times for pizza. Communal Seating.

Emmet Watson's Oyster Bar/.6 Miles/Fried Seafood/$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Fried Oysters, Clams, Fish, French Fries, delicious. Several beers on tap and pitchers to boot. Located in Pike Place Market. Service varies from good to non existent.

Pike Street Fish Fry/.7 Miles/Fried Seafood/$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Up the street/hill from the WSCTC, has Fried Oyster Sandwichs and various fried veggies ranging from asparagus to red bell pepper. Few beers on tap. Located by several bars and open late.

Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream/.8 miles/Ice Cream/$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Delicious and somewhat exotic flavors. Homemade waffle cones and pints to go. Long lines at night and nice days.

Pike Place Pub and Brewery/.4 Miles/Beer and Pubfood/$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Excellent beers of several different styles. Food is good too and sticks to mostly pub classics. Large space, friendly and GREAT happy hour deals on beer.

The Saint/.6 miles/Mexican/$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Delicious and fresh food consisting mostly of smaller bites to eat and good cocktails. Smaller space. Must try a To Go; Jaritos with a shot of Tequila in it.

Sushi Maki/.5 milles/Sushi To Go/$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
When Blue C is too busy and you need your sushi roll fix, Sushi Maki is excellent. Rolls the size of your forearms made in a tiny kitchen space at the bottom of an apartment building, you will be full for cheap. 3-4 tables outside but you should definitely get it to go and enjoy at your hotel.

Cafe Ladro/.1 mile/Coffee/$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
I think it is some of the best coffee in Seattle. Great roasts, entertaining baristas (SO LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. DONT FUCK WITH MY PEOPLES THERE! KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO ORDER! Ice,Shot Amount,Size,Drink Type, Milk Type), and great value for the quality. 1 Block from the WSCTC.

Honeyhole/.6 Miles/Sandwhiches/$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Excellent sandwiches and the best fries in Seattle (Okay, I think they're great because they're double fried which makes them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside). Smaller space but they do lunches to go. Good deals on beer.

Le Pichet/.6 Miles/French/$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
French cuisine without the snobbery. The chicken for two is one of the best meals you can have at and at $26 it is very affordable. You can also order escargot and steak frites. House wine can be a great value. Smaller space so make reservations or be prepared to wait.

Cafe Press/1.0 Miles/French/$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Le Pichet's sister restaurant. Similar menu items but a bit more laid back.

The Hurricane/.6 Miles/Diner & Dive/$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Open 24 hours a day and serving breakfast all day this is your prime destination for greasy spoon diner food. 12 egg omelets, good burgers, excellent hand dipped shakes, fried snacks, strong pours. Decent sized space and I've never had to wait for a table.

The 5 Point/1.0 Miles/ Diner & Dive/$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Open 23.5 hours a day. The menu selection has more traditional american food; Pot roast, chicken fried steak, cheesesteak, open faced sandwiches. The drinks are strong here and the space is a bit small but I've never had to wait.

"Baller Steak Restaurants" as suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
When I speak of value at a steakhouse, I'm directly speaking about how good is the quality for the price you pay; Metropolitan Grill and The Capital Grille have similar pricing but I find the steaks at Metropolitan Grill better.

Metropolitan Grill/.9 Miles/Steak/$$$
mrt144 wrote:
This is my favorite steak in Seattle. The steaks are wonderful, the flavor is amazing, the sides are great, the value is very good, the wine stewards are awesome, and the atmosphere is not stuffy or pretentious. The mood and setting of the place make it ideal for friends and family to go get a top quality steak with all the service and knowledge you'd expect from a more expensive place. A dress shirt and nice jeans with black leather shoes is advised.

El Goucho/.8 Miles/Steak/$$$$
mrt144 wrote:
I had to bust out the Fourth $ because it is considerably more expensive than any other steakhouse in Seattle. It has a dark and old fashioned style atmosphere where the waitstaff is clad in white jackets, and treats you with the upmost care. The steak is excellent and the sides are equally excellent. This is more of a romantic spot and yes, you should dress up to go here; Dress shirt tucked in, black slacks, black leather shoes.

For National Steak Chains in Seattle

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse/.1 Miles/Steak/$$$
mrt144 wrote:
Take the dark and jazzy atmosphere of El Gaucho, the friendly and casual nature of Metropolitan Grill, and add in a unique take on steak (Butter sizzled steak) and you have Ruth's Chris. Despite being a national chain, the quality is excellent, the staff knowledgeable and friendly, and the prices competitive. Dress is considerably more casual; Jeans, Polo or sweater, nice athletic shoes.

Morton's Steakhouse/.1 miles/Steak/$$$
mrt144 wrote:
Morton's, another national chain, is a bit more formal but just as good as the above. The waiter or waitress will bring around a cart with all their cuts of steak and a live lobster to choose from. A bit more spendy than other places but not on El Gaucho's level. Same dress suggestion as Metropolitan Grill.

The Capital Grille/.3 Miles/Steak/$$$
mrt144 wrote:
Another national chain, good steaks but not the best value. The atmosphere is similar to Metropolitan Grill with friendly and non pretentious waitstaff. One of the big things that makes this a weak recommend for me is that of all the places to eat steak in Seattle, this doesn't excel at any one thing more than any other place. El Gaucho has sleekness and atmosphere, Metropolitan Grill is a great value and has a great inviting atmosphere, Ruth's Chris does their steak uniquely, Morton's does the presentation and portioning well. It doesn't help me that I subliminally know the same parent company of The Capital Grille owns The Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

Night Kitchen/0.4 miles away/Comfort, Breakfast/$$/
Suggested by - zaxytara
zaxytara wrote:
The Night Kitchen is new (opened on Jan 1st, I believe), and is amazing. It's open from 6pm-9am, serves what one of my friends called "Gourmet Stoner food", and they use local ingredients when they can. I heartily recommend the Beecher's cheese curds.

The owner is really nice and strikes up conversations with guests often. They even have a backroom area that feels like a friend's living room. They encourage you to hang out and play games. I've even walked in on a Sci-Fi story reading!

Definitely check them out and treat your servers well. But save some room for me!

Pyramid/1.7 Miles/Pubfood/$
Suggested by - mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Excellent Macromicro beers. My favorite's are seasonal ales like Snowcap but the Hefeweizen is their bread and butter beer. Food is typical pubfood.

Elysian/.9 Miles/Pubfood/$
Suggested by - mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
More crafty with 3 locations in Seattle. My fiancee's favorite is the Dragon's Tooth Stout while I prefer The Immortal IPA. Food has received poor reviews in the past but the beer is great. It might be a good idea to eat elsewhere and then head up here to get pissed.

Big Time/3.3 Miles/Pubfood/$
Suggested by - mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Up in the U-District there is a place that has gotten me through tough times and created so many good times(Heartbreak, Studying,Dates with my fiancee) . Excellent beers covering all the typical styles and pizza, loaded baked potatoes, and nachos. Their Atlas Ale is the most popular there but I really like the Scarlet Fire and Bahgwans Best IPAs.

Elliot Bay/6.1 Miles/Pubfood/$
Suggested by - mrt144
Funny side note from OP...first google search for Elliot Bay brings up an escort serivce..just an fyi
mrt144 wrote:
My favorite Brewpub in Seattle. They have a few year round beers and of those the Luna Weizen is my clear favorite. The food is typical pubfood but I really like their burgers the best of the brewpubs. It's kinda funny but part of the reason I'll be moving from Capitol Hill to West Seattle for this place.

Taphouse Grill/.1 Miles/Eclectic Pubfood/$$
Suggested by - mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
160 Beers on Tap! You'll find Hales, Maritime, Pike Place hell almost any good craft beer AND Belgians here. So help me God if you can't find something you like here. Food is good and different from classic pub fare although sometimes that's all you want.

Mee Sum Pastry/.4 Miles/Asian Pastry/$
Suggested by - mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Located in Pike Place Market they have a few basic things to order. Of those the BBQ Hom Bow is hella good and cheap. The potstickers are okay, but seriously stick to the hombow.

Pho Bac/.3 Miles/Vietnamese and Pho/$
Suggested by - mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Located in the Greyhound station building, this place feels like a dive but the food is anything but. It's also ridiculously cheap. Small bowls (which are gigantic) of beef Pho are 6 and change. Don't let appearances fool you, this place is great.

Dick's/.8/Burgers/$
Suggested by - mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Cheap, Fast, Grubtastic. A Seattle institution for over 50 years, these little burgers are a post drinking ritual. The fries are softer and and oily but so freaking good. The shakes are the final piece of a delicious hang over lunch or 1:30 AM pig out. My fiancee claims that they have magical tartar sauce(which they put on the Special and Deluxe) It should be noted that they have no seating except for their Queen Anne location (Which is not likely where you'll be going). There are few smells in this world that compare to it. I live slightly downwind from the Capitol Hill Dick's on E Thomas St. and on cold nights with a little breeze you will get the craving the instant you smell it. That greasy burger. That American cheese. The fry oil. There are people that will say they aren't that good and I agree, their burgers arent the best burgers in the world. But they own the cheap fast and ridiculous craving inducing market in Seattle.

Mae Phim Thai/.3 Miles/$
Suggested by - mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Primarily a lunch spot this place does cheap Thai right. They also do takeout and not just takeout food but you can get Thai Iced Tea and Coffee to go. I know that caffeine is integral to PAX enjoyment.

Tup Tim Thai/2.0 Miles/Thai/$
Suggested by - mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
My favorite Thai place on Queen Anne, I primarily go for the classic meal dishes; Green Curry, Pad Thai, Swimming Rama. It's pretty low key but excellent and filling.


Panos Kleftiko/1.6 Miles/Greek/$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Leave the Gyros to Pita Express, this place is traditional Greek with so many great dishes. The
arni kleftiko sto psomi is probably the signature dish there. It's lamb baked insides sourdough bread with feta and onions and other stuff. Smaller space so it may take while to get seated.

Peso's/2.1 Miles/Mexican Cantina/$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
I've been here strictly for drinks and happy hour and it doesn't disappoint. The various appetizers are cheap the drinks satisfying, and the space large enough to handle groups of 8-12. I'd order one of everything on the menu.

Pegasus Pizza/7.3 Miles/Pizza/$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
Located on Alki Beach, the scenery is every bit as good as the pizza. The crust is thick unlike the current trend towards thing crust which makes it unique. Tom's Special is the go to pizza here with sunflower seeds and shredded pepperoni.

Salty's/5.6 miles/Brunch Buffet/$$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
This is the place to get your brunch grub on. Crab legs, eggs Benedict, omelet bar, waffles, everything. Yes, it's touristy. Yes, it's buffet. Yes, it's 35 per person. It's so worth it though to eat such good food, have a beautiful view of Seattle with all you can eat. If you set up your reservation through the SCVB concierge you can also get a complimentary shuttle ride to the restaurant.[/

Mamma Melina Ristorante/3.8 Miles/Italian/$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
One of the more renowned Italian restaurants in Seattle and a classic date spot, this delivers the atmosphere with live piano, excellent food, and slightly dimmed lighting. With most places like this the wait can take a while especially for larger groups but that shouldn't dissuade you from making the venture

Cedar's/4.2 Miles/Indian/$$
Suggested by mrt144
mrt144 wrote:
During the summer months this is the spot to relax and drink glass after glass of iced Chai tea. Why? because it's awesome and you get free refills. I swear by Cedar's being one of the best Indian in Seattle. The garlic naan is particularly good, which seems kind of a silly thing to mention but when you're sopping up curry and korma it's great.it can take a while especially for larger groups but that shouldn't dissuade you from making the venture

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Posts

  • WifflebatWifflebat Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    I'll be back for more later, but I found this place last year...

    Serious Pie/under 1 mile/Pizza/$$
    A hole in the wall Tom Douglas flatbread/pizza dive with serious gourmet pies. I had a flatbread with arugula, guanciale(sp), and fried egg and oh my god...

    Wifflebat on
  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Basically any place that is hip and delicious will be worse than any PAX line if we recommend it here;

    Serious Pie/.5 Miles/Pizza/$$/
    Tom Douglas establishment with great pizzas and a long wait. ~Seating for 64 with long fire times for pizza. Communal Seating.

    Emmet Watson's Oyster Bar/.6 Miles/Fried Seafood/$$
    Fried Oysters, Clams, Fish, French Fries, delicious. Several beers on tap and pitchers to boot. Located in Pike Place Market. Service varies from good to non existent.

    Pike Street Fish Fry/.7 Miles/Fried Seafood/$
    Up the street/hill from the WSCTC, has Fried Oyster Sandwichs and various fried veggies ranging from asparagus to red bell pepper. Few beers on tap. Located by several bars and open late.

    Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream/.8 miles/Ice Cream/$
    Delicious and somewhat exotic flavors. Homemade waffle cones and pints to go. Long lines at night and nice days.

    Pike Place Pub and Brewery/.4 Miles/Beer and Pubfood/$$
    Excellent beers of several different styles. Food is good too and sticks to mostly pub classics. Large space, friendly and GREAT happy hour deals on beer.

    The Saint/.6 miles/Mexican/$$
    Delicious and fresh food consisting mostly of smaller bites to eat and good cocktails. Smaller space. Must try a To Go; Jaritos with a shot of Tequila in it.

    Sushi Maki/.5 milles/Sushi To Go/$
    When Blue C is too busy and you need your sushi roll fix, Sushi Maki is excellent. Rolls the size of your forearms made in a tiny kitchen space at the bottom of an apartment building, you will be full for cheap. 3-4 tables outside but you should definitely get it to go and enjoy at your hotel.

    Cafe Ladro/.1 mile/Coffee/$
    I think it is some of the best coffee in Seattle. Great roasts, entertaining baristas (SO LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. DONT FUCK WITH MY PEOPLES THERE! KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO ORDER! Ice,Shot Amount,Size,Drink Type, Milk Type), and great value for the quality. 1 Block from the WSCTC.

    mrt144 on
  • MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Awesome you guys! Thanks! I didn't realize that Pike's Place was so close. I was there for a few hours one time and really enjoyed myself. There was a big festival going on that day so it was super crowded and my daughter decided that it was a good day to let us know she was allergic to penicillin, so I didnt get to see much, but I still would love to go back and wander around.

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  • MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    After looking up some of the websites for the places, Im super excited to try some of the different ice creams at Molly Moon's (Lavender and Meyer Lemon? Yum!) and to get some tequila at The Saint (ingredients like elderflower and cucumber in their cocktails)

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  • babelfishbabelfish Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Of equal importance to foodie destinations are foodie friends.

    My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

    So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

    Someone help me out with this.

    babelfish on
  • nemaihnenemaihne Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Last year I ate at a sandwich shop up the hill called the Honey Hole. The BBQ was pretty good, and with a name like that it was certainly worth stopping by just to see what it was all about...

    nemaihne on
    I *think* that's what I meant to say...
  • MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    babelfish wrote: »
    Of equal importance to foodie destinations are foodie friends.

    My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

    So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

    Someone help me out with this.

    Maybe closer to Pax time, we can set up a #Paxfoodie on twitter or something so people can broadcast where they are going to, "get their grub on" and have an impromptu meet-up.

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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    The problem with jonny rockets is that
    A. Its gonna be packed.
    B. Its a poor value
    C.its a national chain and therefore less interesting
    D. Its not as good as other places.

    Ill post more today.

    mrt144 on
  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Honeyhole/.6 Miles/Sandwhiches/$
    Excellent sandwiches and the best fries in Seattle (Okay, I think they're great because they're double fried which makes them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside). Smaller space but they do lunches to go. Good deals on beer.

    Le Pichet/.6 Miles/French/$$
    French cuisine without the snobbery. The chicken for two is one of the best meals you can have at and at $26 it is very affordable. You can also order escargot and steak frites. House wine can be a great value. Smaller space so make reservations or be prepared to wait.

    Cafe Press/1.0 Miles/French/$$
    Le Pichet's sister restaurant. Similar menu items but a bit more laid back.

    The Hurricane/.6 Miles/Diner & Dive/$
    Open 24 hours a day and serving breakfast all day this is your prime destination for greasy spoon diner food. 12 egg omelets, good burgers, excellent hand dipped shakes, fried snacks, strong pours. Decent sized space and I've never had to wait for a table.

    The 5 Point/1.0 Miles/ Diner & Dive/$
    Open 23.5 hours a day. The menu selection has more traditional american food; Pot roast, chicken fried steak, cheesesteak, open faced sandwiches. The drinks are strong here and the space is a bit small but I've never had to wait.

    mrt144 on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    babelfish wrote: »
    Of equal importance to foodie destinations are foodie friends.

    My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

    So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

    Someone help me out with this.

    wait
    how can you call yourself a foodie if you're afraid to try new stuff on your own and you not only don't like sushi, but fresh pacific salmon?

    Druhim on
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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Druhim wrote: »
    babelfish wrote: »
    Of equal importance to foodie destinations are foodie friends.

    My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

    So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

    Someone help me out with this.

    wait
    how can you call yourself a foodie if you're afraid to try new stuff on your own and you not only don't like sushi, but fresh pacific salmon?

    :lol: I was thinking the same thing.

    mrt144 on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    and yeah, mrt is right about Coldbrew's suggestion
    in fact, if you're looking for really good local food ignore Cold's entire post

    Druhim on
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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Did he just delete that?

    mrt144 on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    huh, guess he did

    no hard feelings Coldbrew, but you didn't really get what Mr.Dr. was looking for

    Druhim on
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  • ColdbrewColdbrew Down in Front Productions Lake Stevens, WARegistered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Yeah I know. I just figured it's at least worth knowing what's available. I'll just save it for the other food/local attractions thread that will inevitably show up later on. :P

    Coldbrew on
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  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    just wanna make sure there's no hard feelings :)

    Druhim on
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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Baller Steak Restaurants:

    Metropolitan Grill/.9 Miles/Steak/$$$
    This is my favorite steak in Seattle. The steaks are wonderful, the flavor is amazing, the sides are great, the value is very good, the wine stewards are awesome, and the atmosphere is not stuffy or pretentious. The mood and setting of the place make it ideal for friends and family to go get a top quality steak with all the service and knowledge you'd expect from a more expensive place. A dress shirt and nice jeans with black leather shoes is advised.

    El Goucho/.8 Miles/Steak/$$$$
    I had to bust out the Fourth $ because it is considerably more expensive than any other steakhouse in Seattle. It has a dark and old fashioned style atmosphere where the waitstaff is clad in white jackets, and treats you with the upmost care. The steak is excellent and the sides are equally excellent. This is more of a romantic spot and yes, you should dress up to go here; Dress shirt tucked in, black slacks, black leather shoes.

    For National Steak Chains in Seattle
    Ruth's Chris Steakhouse/.1 Miles/Steak/$$$
    Take the dark and jazzy atmosphere of El Gaucho, the friendly and casual nature of Metropolitan Grill, and add in a unique take on steak (Butter sizzled steak) and you have Ruth's Chris. Despite being a national chain, the quality is excellent, the staff knowledgeable and friendly, and the prices competitive. Dress is considerably more casual; Jeans, Polo or sweater, nice athletic shoes.

    Morton's Steakhouse/.1 miles/Steak/$$$
    Morton's, another national chain, is a bit more formal but just as good as the above. The waiter or waitress will bring around a cart with all their cuts of steak and a live lobster to choose from. A bit more spendy than other places but not on El Gaucho's level. Same dress suggestion as Metropolitan Grill.

    The Capital Grille/.3 Miles/Steak/$$$
    Another national chain, good steaks but not the best value. The atmosphere is similar to Metropolitan Grill with friendly and non pretentious waitstaff. One of the big things that makes this a weak recommend for me is that of all the places to eat steak in Seattle, this doesn't excel at any one thing more than any other place. El Gaucho has sleekness and atmosphere, Metropolitan Grill is a great value and has a great inviting atmosphere, Ruth's Chris does their steak uniquely, Morton's does the presentation and portioning well. It doesn't help me that I subliminally know the same parent company of The Capital Grille owns The Olive Garden and Red Lobster.


    When I speak of value at a steakhouse, I'm directly speaking about how good is the quality for the price you pay; Metropolitan Grill and The Capital Grille have similar pricing but I find the steaks at Metropolitan Grill better.

    mrt144 on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    one place I'll recommend is Black Bottle over in Belltown. It's a bit further away, either a longish walk or a short taxi ride on 1st Ave & Vine. Pretty much everything on their menu is good, but the smoked wild boar ribs are amazing and you get a good amount for only $6 (no, that $6 isn't going to be a complete meal, but for the quality it's a really good deal in my opinion). Most of their menu is served like tapas and meant to be shared. The flatbreads are good choices as well. So go with a few friends and order several dishes and share. But definitely get the wild boar ribs.

    Druhim on
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  • MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Smoked Boar Ribs sounds incredible.

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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    I'll post some more Capitol Hill stuff later.

    Quinn's
    Bimbo's
    La Spiga
    Old School Frozen Custard
    Rancho Bravo

    And More Market Stuff Later:

    Kell's
    The Pink Door
    Jack's
    Le Panier
    Steelhead Diner

    mrt144 on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    not just boar ribs
    wild boar ribs

    man, now I'm drooling

    Druhim on
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  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    mrt144 wrote: »
    I'll post some more Capitol Hill stuff later.

    that reminds me of someplace I meant to post earlier

    if any of you are looking for some good vietnamese, especially pho while in Seattle
    one of my favorites is up on Cap Hill

    Pho Cyclo.

    Druhim on
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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Druhim wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    I'll post some more Capitol Hill stuff later.

    that reminds me of someplace I meant to post earlier

    if any of you are looking for some good vietnamese, especially pho while in Seattle
    one of my favorites is up on Cap Hill

    Pho Cyclo.

    We should really devote an entire post of 5 Pho/Thai places in Seattle. There's Pho Bac which I go to for lunch and is located in the Greyhound bus station. People are scared and think it's grimey but the prices are awesome and the food is good. After a long trip to NYC Pho Cyclo was the first place where me and my fiancee went to eat since there is a lack of viet food in NYC.

    I'm also do an entire post on Dick's Hamburgers.

    mrt144 on
  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Another thing we should consider is at some point creating a map with all these points on it and making it printable.

    mrt144 on
  • MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Another thing we should consider is at some point creating a map with all these points on it and making it printable.

    Already working on it

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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Another thing we should consider is at some point creating a map with all these points on it and making it printable.

    Already working on it

    You're freaking awesome!

    Two more segments I'm gonna work on;

    Drinking Guide
    Get out of Downtown (Good stuff that isn't really walkable.)

    mrt144 on
  • MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    That would be awesome. Im going to end up breaking everything down by cost and then making one side of a page a map with markings and the back side a list of all of the restuarants

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  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    For those few that venture out of downtown, Ocho in Ballard is a tapas bar I really like. The pescado blanco they're serving right now is fantastic. Cod on smashed potatoes with anchovy butter, leeks, jamon, and slivered almonds. They rotate their menu of course so who knows what they'll be serving come PAX, but I'm sure there'll be good eats on the menu.

    Druhim on
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  • babelfishbabelfish Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Druhim wrote: »
    babelfish wrote: »
    Of equal importance to foodie destinations are foodie friends.

    My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

    So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

    Someone help me out with this.

    wait
    how can you call yourself a foodie if you're afraid to try new stuff on your own and you not only don't like sushi, but fresh pacific salmon?
    LOL, shush.

    Social anxiety, dontchaknow? :(

    On the other hand, how can you call yourself a foodie if you haven't made your own butter or charcuterie? (I'm still waffling on ordering pink salt, so I'm starting my first charcuterie project this weekend: Duck breast prosciutto from Ruhlman's book.)

    babelfish on
  • MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    I want to make something from charcuterie so bad but I have nowhere at all to cure it at the right temp/humidity. Have made butter though!

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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Quinn's/.7 Miles/Eclectic Savory European/$$
    Excellent food all around at a moderate price. The burger is amazing as are the frites but that's not even justice to the variety of menu items and how good they are. Excellent beer selection. The space can get kinda crowded on weekend nights.

    Bimbo's/.7 Miles/Pacific Northwest Mexican/$$
    Interesting Northwest takes on standard mexican fare such as a potato loaded burrito. Burritos are large and filling. Located above The Cha Cha, a bar that I'll cover later so can be good as either a pre drink or post drink snack.

    La Spiga/.9 miles/Italian/$$$
    Excellent high end Italian food in a comfy and fashionable atmosphere. This is a great place to go out to with 2-4 friends and talk, drink wine, eat a delicious dinner and relax. Plenty of space although can get busy. I went here on a double date with my fiancee and one of my best friends and his GF and we all agreed that it was remarkably good.

    Old School Frozen Custard/1.0 Miles/Frozen Custard (It's not Ice Cream)/$
    I went when they first opened and offered Coney Island style hot dogs. No more unfortunately but their frozen custard is awesome. The flavors rotate daily and they have a calendar with whats up on the rotation. You'll want to take a few laps around the WSCTC after going here cause it's so rich.

    Rancho Bravo/.8 Miles/Mexican Taqueria/$
    Housed in an old KFC building this started up a year ago. Being from The Bay Area this is the most satisfying burrito I've had outside of the spots I went to in SF and San Mateo. Surprisingly the thing that is best here isn't the burritos but the tamales. Make sure to get there early though because they do run out of them.

    Kell's/.4 Miles/Irish/$$
    I'm always happy when I go here for lunch because A. It's not busy B. It's delicious C. They have all the expected Irish beers on tap. Get a ballycastle or Danny Boy some soda bread and a pint and you won't be dissapointed.

    The Pink Door/.4 Miles/Italian American/$$
    Italian American with lasagna, rigatoni and meatballs and great simple seafood options. It has a great location and can be a great place either for groups or a romantic date. I would really recommend this place if you want to do a bunch of appetizers and wine.

    Pike Place Chowder/.4 Miles/Chowder/$
    Award winning Chowder with 2 locations; One in Pike Place Market and one in Pacific Place. The classic New England Clam Chowder is great and filling while some of the other menu options like fish n chips are tasty and light. This would be an ideal place to get a quick bite to eat.

    Le Panier/.4 miles/French Bakery/$
    I buy all my baguettes here but they do more than just that. They have macaroons which are pretty much one of the best French inventions ever and do baguette sandwiches like jambon and dijon, or just straight up brie.

    Steelhead Diner/.4 Miles/Soulfood and Pacific Northwest/$$
    They have Po Boys, Fried Chiken and Brisket sandwiches but also have a great seafood dinner menu. Portions are generous as is the wine selection. They also serve Poutine, which as many people know, is the crack cocaine of french fry concoctions.

    mrt144 on
  • MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    I am going to rename this thread to the "mrt144 knows everything about good food" thread.

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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    DONE

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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    I am going to rename this thread to the "mrt144 knows everything about good food" thread.

    The thing that's shocking is that I've been to all these places, most of them more than once, most of them regularly. But my fiancee also cooks at home a lot. Do I eat like 5 meals a day or something:?

    mrt144 on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Next Up

    Beer Heaven:
    Pyramid
    Elysian
    Pike Place Brewery
    Big Time
    Elliot Bay
    Taphouse Grill

    man, how can you have a list of breweries without including Maritime Pacific's Jolly Roger Taproom? (note they have move a few blocks east)

    (and yes mrt, you do know what you're talking about so taking this ribbing good naturedly)

    Druhim on
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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Druhim wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Next Up

    Beer Heaven:
    Pyramid
    Elysian
    Pike Place Brewery
    Big Time
    Elliot Bay
    Taphouse Grill

    man, how can you have a list of breweries without including Maritime Pacific's Jolly Roger Taproom? (note they have move a few blocks east)

    (and yes mrt, you do know what you're talking about so taking this ribbing good naturedly)

    HAHA, I've never been there though. I do enjoy Maritime Pacific though. I tried to keep it to places I could comment on but this is a gray area for me.

    mrt144 on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Druhim wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Next Up

    Beer Heaven:
    Pyramid
    Elysian
    Pike Place Brewery
    Big Time
    Elliot Bay
    Taphouse Grill

    man, how can you have a list of breweries without including Maritime Pacific's Jolly Roger Taproom? (note they have move a few blocks east)

    (and yes mrt, you do know what you're talking about so taking this ribbing good naturedly)

    HAHA, I've never been there though. I do enjoy Maritime Pacific though. I tried to keep it to places I could comment on but this is a gray area for me.

    ah, the Jolly Roger of course has Maritime Pacific's excellent beer on tap, but they also have a pretty solid menu from pretty tasty snacks to some very good entrees (entrees run $15-$20)

    http://maritimebrewery.ypguides.net/page/nun8/Chefs_List.html

    Druhim on
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  • MrDoctorProfessorMrDoctorProfessor Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    The only place I ate at when I visited was around Pike's Place and I had some steamed clams and some sort of salmon sausage. I wish I knew the name.

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  • mrt144mrt144 King of the Numbernames Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Druhim wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Druhim wrote: »
    mrt144 wrote: »
    Next Up

    Beer Heaven:
    Pyramid
    Elysian
    Pike Place Brewery
    Big Time
    Elliot Bay
    Taphouse Grill

    man, how can you have a list of breweries without including Maritime Pacific's Jolly Roger Taproom? (note they have move a few blocks east)

    (and yes mrt, you do know what you're talking about so taking this ribbing good naturedly)

    HAHA, I've never been there though. I do enjoy Maritime Pacific though. I tried to keep it to places I could comment on but this is a gray area for me.

    ah, the Jolly Roger of course has Maritime Pacific's excellent beer on tap, but they also have a pretty solid menu from pretty tasty snacks to some very good entrees (entrees run $15-$20)

    http://maritimebrewery.ypguides.net/page/nun8/Chefs_List.html

    Do you live in Seattle currently? I think we're spoiled on beer here. We have SO MANY good options. I'll have to make my way up there and check it out. I live on Capitol Hill and bus it everywhere.

    Oh, and just a note for everyone; It's Pike Place, not Pike's Place. I don't really care because I'm in the tourism industry and we hear it all the time but some locals bristle when they hear it. My fiancee included.

    mrt144 on
  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited April 2010
    I currently live just north of Ballard in Crown Hill
    before that I lived on First Hill

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