If you're willing to walk a bit you won't get stuck in too horrible of lines. The sushi in Seattle is amazing but I can't say I'm a big fan of Blue C. More expensive than others and pretty long waits around cons. Head up that hill 15 minutes you'll be surrounded by amazing restaurants that are much cheaper than most the downtown places. and bars. To clarify 15 minutes up 5 down. It's a pretty big hill.
Yeah, that area is capital hill. It has some great bars and some really good food. It gets a little more upscale every year but there are still some awesome places to eat there. Again, if you're willing to walk a little ways(walk up the hill, take a left on broadway, just past the university, big orange sign, can't miss it) Dick's is pretty amazing fast food hamburgers. Local chain, kind of amazing, bring cash, make jokes. Molly Moon on Pine just past broadway. Pike Street Fish Fry just past broadway on pike. Via tribunali close to that for napolean pizza. Boom Noodle a bit up Pike a little further past broadway for good noodle bowls. Six Arms just up the hill for decent bar food. Victrolla just past that for my favorite cofee in seattle. At least two distilleries; Sun liquor and Still Liquor(not tried either of these yet). Marination station, the brick and mortar location for Marination Mobile who have catered for us a couple of times to great success, is now on Cap Hill. Bill's on broadway is passable food. Lots of stuff on broadway. Lots of bars including the Pinebox and Six Arms.
So I've got to agree with the 'Only Try this at Home' advice about BBQ in Seattle. Sure, there are a couple of places that don't suck entirely, but absolutely not worth the trip outside of the area immediately around the Con to bother. Case in point, Smokin' Pete's in Ballard. Ballard is a Scandinavian neighborhood. Do you have any idea what happens when Scandinavians try to make BBQ? *shudder*. Yet it's inexplicably popular.
Mexican:
SEATTLE HAS KICK ASS AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD. This is where @Quintious and I differ fundamentally on restaurant tastes. I prefer small, unknown hole-in-the-wall places off the beaten path where some guy and his wife (or kids) do real cooking from wherever they're from. It's mostly Tijuana-style Mexican though, so don't expect much in the way of regional specialties.
Arguably the best Taqueria-style Oaxacan restaurant in the city: La Carta de Oaxaca. Very affordable, but LONG LINE WARNING
Our household's personal favorite is a small, local family run chain: Taqueria el Rinconsito. Only available in the 'burbs. Try the Campechana.
Near the con, there's El Puerco Lloron which was one of Seattle's first authentic taquerias. It's halfway down the Pike Street Hillclimb toward the waterfront.
Lastly, don't be afraid of the taco trucks scattered around the city. The food is more authentic and move lovingly prepared than most of the brick-and-mortar restaurants, and the trucks tend to have cleaner kitchens and higher health department ratings too.
IMHO, El Camion is completely overrated. I call it "Authentic Mexican-Style Food" - daring, authentic food for people who've never had Mexican food outside of Taco Bell.
So I've got to agree with the 'Only Try this at Home' advice about BBQ in Seattle. Sure, there are a couple of places that don't suck entirely, but absolutely not worth the trip outside of the area immediately around the Con to bother. Case in point, Smokin' Pete's in Ballard. Ballard is a Scandinavian neighborhood. Do you have any idea what happens when Scandinavians try to make BBQ? *shudder*. Yet it's inexplicably popular.
Mexican:
SEATTLE HAS KICK ASS AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD. This is where @Quintious and I differ fundamentally on restaurant tastes. I prefer small, unknown hole-in-the-wall places off the beaten path where some guy and his wife (or kids) do real cooking from wherever they're from. It's mostly Tijuana-style Mexican though, so don't expect much in the way of regional specialties.
Arguably the best Taqueria-style Oaxacan restaurant in the city: La Carta de Oaxaca. Very affordable, but LONG LINE WARNING
Our household's personal favorite is a small, local family run chain: Taqueria el Rinconsito. Only available in the 'burbs. Try the Campechana.
Near the con, there's El Puerco Lloron which was one of Seattle's first authentic taquerias. It's halfway down the Pike Street Hillclimb toward the waterfront.
Lastly, don't be afraid of the taco trucks scattered around the city. The food is more authentic and move lovingly prepared than most of the brick-and-mortar restaurants, and the trucks tend to have cleaner kitchens and higher health department ratings too.
IMHO, El Camion is completely overrated. I call it "Authentic Mexican-Style Food" - daring, authentic food for people who've never had Mexican food outside of Taco Bell.
We don't differ on "Mexican" food (as a matter of fact, La Carta De Oaxaca is in my spreadsheet). What I"m saying doesn't exist here is "Tex-Mex". Whooooole other category. You can find authentic Mexican up here (though as someone pointed out, the ubiquitous Calimex is more common). Tex-Mex? Don't even try.
There is -one- good place for BBQ in this area, but it's by invite-only. I try to host a post-PAX BBQ at my home each year to celebrate the end of another successful PAX. I've walked at the American Royal, and have a number of other national awards under my belt, so I'm reasonably certain it's good hehe. The issue that I face this year is that PAX runs into Monday, and in order to host my BBQ, I need about 17 hours worth of smoke time, which means I either A) give up a night of gaming and a whole day of PAX to prep for this thing or don't host it this year, as most people won't be able to attend a Tuesday post-Labour Day BBQ.
Given where I grew up tex-mex = mexican food. It's not true of course but I can't separate the two in my head and other mexican including genuine mexican and calimex are just not my scene. Truth is, there are some really good taco trucks. But that's fair anywhere. El Rinconsito is our goto for street food tacos. There's one in Bellevue that we went to a lot for awhile. Taqueria Guadalajara was our favorite for many meals but their brick and mortar went out of business and their taco truck while still good, is not quite the experience we used to have their sit down location. That said, if you see any food trucks around(and if they are smart they will do everything they can to be in close proximity of that many geeks looking for a quick meal) they are probably worthwhile. I have a personal vendetta against Skillet, but otherwise, go to town. ^_^ Marination Mobile is obviously one of my favorites. Taco trucks are always good for quick cheap meals.
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AlazullYour body is not a temple, it's an amusement park.Enjoy the ride.Registered Userregular
There is a good place for BBQ up here in Anacortes, which I judge by all the good BBQ I had growing up in Georgia, but it's not really a Northwest thing so as you can see not very prolific. Soul food is much easier to find thanks to Seattle's days as a jazz capital. Mexican...well, there are sizable Mexican populations in Everett and Mount Vernon, which both have authentic eats (heading to Mount Vernon today to grab some tongue tacos) but I don't know about Seattle. However, I do know a lot of Mexicans I can ask, so I'll check around for you guys.
The fun part about all this is I'm starting to organize trips down to Seattle to scout places for all y'all. I'm definitely going to be flabby and happy even if I don't make it to PAX!
User name Alazull on Steam, PSN, Nintenders, Epic, etc.
I can't remember if I even ate when I went to PAX '10...
That being said, Cheesecake Factory is a MUST (Breakfast is a good idea). PAX/WSCC is right across the street from it anyway.
Shorty's (Pub, 21+) was pretty awesome too, we had the G4 meetup there in '10
They have a pretty decent set of pinball machines in the back.
Although, if you have a fear of Clowns/Clown Paraphernalia, you may want to steer clear.
Previously Attended: ~Prime '10 ~East '11
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I can't remember if I even ate when I went to PAX '10...
That being said, Cheesecake Factory is a MUST (Breakfast is a good idea). PAX/WSCC is right across the street from it anyway.
Shorty's (Pub, 21+) was pretty awesome too, we had the G4 meetup there in '10
They have a pretty decent set of pinball machines in the back.
Although, if you have a fear of Clowns/Clown Paraphernalia, you may want to steer clear.
I have to disagree here. If you come all the way out to Seattle from another part of the country, and you go to The Cheesecake Factory (a nationwide chain)? You've done it wrong.
I have to disagree here. If you come all the way out to Seattle from another part of the country, and you go to The Cheesecake Factory (a nationwide chain)? You've done it wrong.
Ahh, I guess, i'm speaking from a Canadian perspective.
We don't have them here.
Previously Attended: ~Prime '10 ~East '11
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StarYoshiGame Designer / Data ScientistUSARegistered Userregular
Cheesecake factory is a fine restaurant... but not one I'd consider going to when I'm on vacation. It's all about trying things you can't get back home! (EG No national chains - with exceptions):)
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That being said, Cheesecake Factory is a MUST (Breakfast is a good idea).
Cheesecake Factory is just a chain like TGI Fridays and Applebees. I'd personally avoid it all costs. Rude and I've gotten sick there before. To each their own really, but it is not a worthwhile endeavor in my eyes. Better cheesecake can be had at The Confectional in Pike's Place and on Cap Hill. And since they are smaller and personal, they can be eaten on the go.
Aside from Skillet being horribly overpriced, I like it. I'll just go sit over there. By myself, apparently. :P
Lots of people love it, no worries. Tastes are very personal and they just don't do it for me. I was really excited to have them cater one of our holiday parties a year or two back because I'd heard it was really good but they really disappointed a lot of us. So it was back to marination mobile and veraci's pizza. They supposedly have poutine but it wasn't on the menu for catering and they were out the one time I went back to them. I've also heard differing reports about it's actual tastyness. I think poutine would be an awesome food to serve at the Beecher's cheese in Pike's Place(their flagship is super duper good. It's also a bit crumblier than cheaper cheddars.) I sometimes deep fry their cheese curds. >_> They are amazing.
I keep hoping to get a chance at Where Ya At, Matt's, but I'm lazy and hate driving and I missed them at the fremont outdoor cinema last year. =P
Catering is hard to do. Making food for a bunch of people is so much harder than one (or even six) dishes at a time.
I have yet to try Marination and Where Ya At Matt. They're on my list!
It was burgers. Shouldn't have been that hard.
Marination is awesome. I highly recommend the spam sliders. I know it sounds kinda gross but it is soooooo good. Spam Musubi is never on the catering list but I need to try it sometime. It's on my list for that specifically. Almost everything they have is delicious though. Don't forget the sriracha.
This thread is on its own for a "food truck" recommendation - I've had a couple ppl private message me asking to put one up. Can't get behind that, unfortunately.
The recommendation to go to Confectional instead of Cheesecake Factory is spot-on, though. The other, less talked about peril of Cheesecake Factory is most of their menu is over 2,000 calories per meal. They are sooooo heavy with the cream sauces and the cheeses (aside from in cheesecake, obviously). I'm not one to preach healthy eating, but even I have limits to how bad I'll get.
For those that do like Skillet, and for those that are not as jazzed you might consider giving Skillet Diner a try! It's about a mile up *that* hill almost towards First Hill. We unexpectedly ended up there after ECCC last month when Six Arms was packed (seat yourself so tables don't turn fast and we wanted food now), walked up further to 8oz Burger Bar also packed to the gills, then decided we were half way to Skillet Diner. I do not recommend that uphill hike after 3 full days walking the con, but grab a cab and try it, they can experiment with a lot more in a real kitchen.
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sanovahNerd of the WestSan Diego, CaliforniaRegistered Userregular
edited April 2013
@pandadiablo can you put @quintiuos big list as part of the OP or does anyone have a link to it? I keep losing it
Anybody able to steer me in the direction of a market/grocery? I'm going to be staying at a place with a full kitchen and would rather cook food since it's generally cheaper than eating out. Near the convention center or Melrose court apartments.
For you PAX regulars how early do you put in restaurant reservations? My group for this year looks to be 8 people.
Posted this question a while ago and never got a response so trying it one more time.
Not a regular, but if you know ahead of time what you want, I would put them in sooner than later. Honestly, I've always found a table, even at swanky places, but I've sometimes had to wait and I've never tried a table of 8 during one of the biggest events of the year. Also, I guess it depends on the particular places you want to go. If you want to go to the herb garden, I'd seriously drop the $400 deposit in now. Other places, you'll probably want to put in at least a month ahead of time if they'll let you and confirm your reservation before you get there. Some places won't take reservations and some won't take them until the day of. I would figure out your itinerary and give those places a call to check their reservation policy and always confirm the day of.
+1
PandaDiabloRuler of CanariesParadise LostRegistered Userregular
Anybody able to steer me in the direction of a market/grocery? I'm going to be staying at a place with a full kitchen and would rather cook food since it's generally cheaper than eating out. Near the convention center or Melrose court apartments.
There's a QFC a half mile up the hill on Pike. Straight shot from the convention center.
Anybody able to steer me in the direction of a market/grocery? I'm going to be staying at a place with a full kitchen and would rather cook food since it's generally cheaper than eating out. Near the convention center or Melrose court apartments.
The Pike Place Market is 5 blocks from the con. It's a massive farmer's market and there are a handful of little specialty grocery stores there too.
Anybody able to steer me in the direction of a market/grocery? I'm going to be staying at a place with a full kitchen and would rather cook food since it's generally cheaper than eating out. Near the convention center or Melrose court apartments.
There is a Whole Foods about a half mile from the convention center on Westlake.
Anybody able to steer me in the direction of a market/grocery? I'm going to be staying at a place with a full kitchen and would rather cook food since it's generally cheaper than eating out. Near the convention center or Melrose court apartments.
There is also Kress on 3rd ave and City Target on 2nd ave in downtown Seattle.
Anybody able to steer me in the direction of a market/grocery? I'm going to be staying at a place with a full kitchen and would rather cook food since it's generally cheaper than eating out. Near the convention center or Melrose court apartments.
Seriously. Just down the hill from the convention center is pike's place market. It's full of resh local produce, recently caught fish and shellfish, a dairy, a cheese maker, a couple of butchers, flowers for the table, boutique pasta, fresh sausage, mixed nuts, honey, pickles, chocolates, spices, tea, bakeries. It is, in short, AMAZING! It is also full of tourists and people taking the day off and enjoying the market. I can tell you that Beecher's cheeses are amazing. I go a little further in for fish than the fish throwers. There's a good fishmonger a couple of stalls further in. There is a really good butcher right next to the fish throwers on the other side from the rest of the market. Also in that corner just past the butchers is fairly decent spice shop(not my favorite but still pretty good). in the building across the street from the fish throwers and a little ways in is a dairy. They have some nice specialty butters and duck eggs as well as regular milk, butter, and eggs. It's inside the building a little ways. Also, there is a good little mexican grocery outside and if you keep following the sidewalk on that side you hit a bakery. Keep going a few blocks down is beechers. They make cheese. Good cheese. Inside the market proper you can find Uli's Famous sausage for good sausages. Keep going, you'll eventually bump up against two decent produce sellers, a couple of people that make honey, and a large booth for pasta. Also around pikes place market there is an italian grocer. It abutts the shorter portion close to pike. They will have a lot of specialty items including some fancy stuff if you want it, but also may provide you with some staples. Tinned tomatoes, pasta, hard cheeses, olives, oil, vinegar, probably sugar. That kind of thing.
+1
sanovahNerd of the WestSan Diego, CaliforniaRegistered Userregular
Anybody able to steer me in the direction of a market/grocery? I'm going to be staying at a place with a full kitchen and would rather cook food since it's generally cheaper than eating out. Near the convention center or Melrose court apartments.
I'm assuming you're at Homewood and in addition to what everyone else has said I'd try going to the store they have there not sure what's in it or how expensive it if, but it is right there. And right by the Westin if you're walking towards the convention there's a convenience/riteaid type store.
And thanks to everyone that answered before me. Thanks to ask of you I'll actually have real food during my stay.
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AlazullYour body is not a temple, it's an amusement park.Enjoy the ride.Registered Userregular
Anybody able to steer me in the direction of a market/grocery? I'm going to be staying at a place with a full kitchen and would rather cook food since it's generally cheaper than eating out. Near the convention center or Melrose court apartments.
You could also head over to Uwajimaya, they have a lot of awesome Asian ingredients available.
@Sanovah: If we're thinking of the same place, it's Walgreens. Good place to go to pick up booze.
User name Alazull on Steam, PSN, Nintenders, Epic, etc.
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sanovahNerd of the WestSan Diego, CaliforniaRegistered Userregular
@alazull not sure. I walked by out during the day on my way to pax, but it was always closed when I was walking back to my hotel so I never went in.
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AlazullYour body is not a temple, it's an amusement park.Enjoy the ride.Registered Userregular
As with most things, the most reliable time to hit up local stores would be before the convention starts, as after it starts you'll be busy, it'll be getting heavy use, and has the potential to be closed. Also, make sure you get anything you need from stores before 10 p.m., as almost all of them close around that time.
Myself, I literally pass two Costcos before getting to Seattle, so I make sure to stock up on anything I may need before even getting into the city.
User name Alazull on Steam, PSN, Nintenders, Epic, etc.
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bacon_avengerDefender of Pork ProductsPacific NW, USARegistered Userregular
As with most things, the most reliable time to hit up local stores would be before the convention starts, as after it starts you'll be busy, it'll be getting heavy use, and has the potential to be closed. Also, make sure you get anything you need from stores before 10 p.m., as almost all of them close around that time.
FWIW, according to the homewood website, the Pike Market is open during the following times. It's not 24/7, but it's also open a lot later than most places:
Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Friday 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
As with most things, the most reliable time to hit up local stores would be before the convention starts, as after it starts you'll be busy, it'll be getting heavy use, and has the potential to be closed. Also, make sure you get anything you need from stores before 10 p.m., as almost all of them close around that time.
FWIW, according to the homewood website, the Pike Market is open during the following times. It's not 24/7, but it's also open a lot later than most places:
Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Friday 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
The Pike Place Market is a giant farmer's market that spans about 3 city blocks and spills down the hill toward the waterfront. There are hundreds of shops, restaurants, stalls and vendors. Each one has its own schedule. The fresh food stalls tend to shut down around 5 or 6 PM.
Make sure you go to the official website if you want hours on a specific shop or product.
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bacon_avengerDefender of Pork ProductsPacific NW, USARegistered Userregular
The Pike Place Market is a giant farmer's market that spans about 3 city blocks and spills down the hill toward the waterfront. There are hundreds of shops, restaurants, stalls and vendors. Each one has its own schedule. The fresh food stalls tend to shut down around 5 or 6 PM.
Make sure you go to the official website if you want hours on a specific shop or product.
However, you are referring to the Pike Place Market, not the Pike Grocery.
"Featuring the best of Seattle coffee, beer, wine and sandwiches, Pike Grocery is just steps from Homewood Suites Seattle. Located on the ground floor of the hotel..."
Different place all together. And since the Homewood is a block away from the convention centre, I though it relevant to the current thread diversion.
On the topic of the grocery, most people aren't aware of this but where the bloke is staying is actually way down on Olive Way. There is a QFC near there, as well as some sort of organo-market type thing that's not called Whole Foods, if I recall correctly. Google will be your friend.
The Pike Place Market is a giant farmer's market that spans about 3 city blocks and spills down the hill toward the waterfront. There are hundreds of shops, restaurants, stalls and vendors. Each one has its own schedule. The fresh food stalls tend to shut down around 5 or 6 PM.
Make sure you go to the official website if you want hours on a specific shop or product.
However, you are referring to the Pike Place Market, not the Pike Grocery.
"Featuring the best of Seattle coffee, beer, wine and sandwiches, Pike Grocery is just steps from Homewood Suites Seattle. Located on the ground floor of the hotel..."
Different place all together. And since the Homewood is a block away from the convention centre, I though it relevant to the current thread diversion.
A) The post being responded to referenced the Market, not the Grocery.
And
. Pike Place Grocery FTW! I shall go check it out. Tx!
Posts
Yeah, that area is capital hill. It has some great bars and some really good food. It gets a little more upscale every year but there are still some awesome places to eat there. Again, if you're willing to walk a little ways(walk up the hill, take a left on broadway, just past the university, big orange sign, can't miss it) Dick's is pretty amazing fast food hamburgers. Local chain, kind of amazing, bring cash, make jokes. Molly Moon on Pine just past broadway. Pike Street Fish Fry just past broadway on pike. Via tribunali close to that for napolean pizza. Boom Noodle a bit up Pike a little further past broadway for good noodle bowls. Six Arms just up the hill for decent bar food. Victrolla just past that for my favorite cofee in seattle. At least two distilleries; Sun liquor and Still Liquor(not tried either of these yet). Marination station, the brick and mortar location for Marination Mobile who have catered for us a couple of times to great success, is now on Cap Hill. Bill's on broadway is passable food. Lots of stuff on broadway. Lots of bars including the Pinebox and Six Arms.
So I've got to agree with the 'Only Try this at Home' advice about BBQ in Seattle. Sure, there are a couple of places that don't suck entirely, but absolutely not worth the trip outside of the area immediately around the Con to bother. Case in point, Smokin' Pete's in Ballard. Ballard is a Scandinavian neighborhood. Do you have any idea what happens when Scandinavians try to make BBQ? *shudder*. Yet it's inexplicably popular.
Mexican:
SEATTLE HAS KICK ASS AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD. This is where @Quintious and I differ fundamentally on restaurant tastes. I prefer small, unknown hole-in-the-wall places off the beaten path where some guy and his wife (or kids) do real cooking from wherever they're from. It's mostly Tijuana-style Mexican though, so don't expect much in the way of regional specialties.
Arguably the best Taqueria-style Oaxacan restaurant in the city: La Carta de Oaxaca. Very affordable, but LONG LINE WARNING
Our household's personal favorite is a small, local family run chain: Taqueria el Rinconsito. Only available in the 'burbs. Try the Campechana.
Near the con, there's El Puerco Lloron which was one of Seattle's first authentic taquerias. It's halfway down the Pike Street Hillclimb toward the waterfront.
Lastly, don't be afraid of the taco trucks scattered around the city. The food is more authentic and move lovingly prepared than most of the brick-and-mortar restaurants, and the trucks tend to have cleaner kitchens and higher health department ratings too.
IMHO, El Camion is completely overrated. I call it "Authentic Mexican-Style Food" - daring, authentic food for people who've never had Mexican food outside of Taco Bell.
We don't differ on "Mexican" food (as a matter of fact, La Carta De Oaxaca is in my spreadsheet). What I"m saying doesn't exist here is "Tex-Mex". Whooooole other category. You can find authentic Mexican up here (though as someone pointed out, the ubiquitous Calimex is more common). Tex-Mex? Don't even try.
There is -one- good place for BBQ in this area, but it's by invite-only. I try to host a post-PAX BBQ at my home each year to celebrate the end of another successful PAX. I've walked at the American Royal, and have a number of other national awards under my belt, so I'm reasonably certain it's good hehe. The issue that I face this year is that PAX runs into Monday, and in order to host my BBQ, I need about 17 hours worth of smoke time, which means I either A) give up a night of gaming and a whole day of PAX to prep for this thing or
The fun part about all this is I'm starting to organize trips down to Seattle to scout places for all y'all. I'm definitely going to be flabby and happy even if I don't make it to PAX!
That being said, Cheesecake Factory is a MUST (Breakfast is a good idea). PAX/WSCC is right across the street from it anyway.
Shorty's (Pub, 21+) was pretty awesome too, we had the G4 meetup there in '10
They have a pretty decent set of pinball machines in the back.
Although, if you have a fear of Clowns/Clown Paraphernalia, you may want to steer clear.
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I have to disagree here. If you come all the way out to Seattle from another part of the country, and you go to The Cheesecake Factory (a nationwide chain)? You've done it wrong.
Ahh, I guess, i'm speaking from a Canadian perspective.
We don't have them here.
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OMG I also hate dislike Skillet!! The Grrls are definitely a minority, so virtual fistbump for you!
Cheesecake Factory is just a chain like TGI Fridays and Applebees. I'd personally avoid it all costs. Rude and I've gotten sick there before. To each their own really, but it is not a worthwhile endeavor in my eyes. Better cheesecake can be had at The Confectional in Pike's Place and on Cap Hill. And since they are smaller and personal, they can be eaten on the go.
Lots of people love it, no worries.
I keep hoping to get a chance at Where Ya At, Matt's, but I'm lazy and hate driving and I missed them at the fremont outdoor cinema last year. =P
I have yet to try Marination and Where Ya At Matt. They're on my list!
It was burgers. Shouldn't have been that hard.
Marination is awesome. I highly recommend the spam sliders. I know it sounds kinda gross but it is soooooo good. Spam Musubi is never on the catering list but I need to try it sometime. It's on my list for that specifically. Almost everything they have is delicious though. Don't forget the sriracha.
The recommendation to go to Confectional instead of Cheesecake Factory is spot-on, though. The other, less talked about peril of Cheesecake Factory is most of their menu is over 2,000 calories per meal. They are sooooo heavy with the cream sauces and the cheeses (aside from in cheesecake, obviously). I'm not one to preach healthy eating, but even I have limits to how bad I'll get.
Posted this question a while ago and never got a response so trying it one more time.
Not a regular, but if you know ahead of time what you want, I would put them in sooner than later. Honestly, I've always found a table, even at swanky places, but I've sometimes had to wait and I've never tried a table of 8 during one of the biggest events of the year. Also, I guess it depends on the particular places you want to go. If you want to go to the herb garden, I'd seriously drop the $400 deposit in now. Other places, you'll probably want to put in at least a month ahead of time if they'll let you and confirm your reservation before you get there. Some places won't take reservations and some won't take them until the day of. I would figure out your itinerary and give those places a call to check their reservation policy and always confirm the day of.
Good idea
There's a QFC a half mile up the hill on Pike. Straight shot from the convention center.
The Pike Place Market is 5 blocks from the con. It's a massive farmer's market and there are a handful of little specialty grocery stores there too.
There is a Whole Foods about a half mile from the convention center on Westlake.
There is also Kress on 3rd ave and City Target on 2nd ave in downtown Seattle.
Seriously. Just down the hill from the convention center is pike's place market. It's full of resh local produce, recently caught fish and shellfish, a dairy, a cheese maker, a couple of butchers, flowers for the table, boutique pasta, fresh sausage, mixed nuts, honey, pickles, chocolates, spices, tea, bakeries. It is, in short, AMAZING! It is also full of tourists and people taking the day off and enjoying the market. I can tell you that Beecher's cheeses are amazing. I go a little further in for fish than the fish throwers. There's a good fishmonger a couple of stalls further in. There is a really good butcher right next to the fish throwers on the other side from the rest of the market. Also in that corner just past the butchers is fairly decent spice shop(not my favorite but still pretty good). in the building across the street from the fish throwers and a little ways in is a dairy. They have some nice specialty butters and duck eggs as well as regular milk, butter, and eggs. It's inside the building a little ways. Also, there is a good little mexican grocery outside and if you keep following the sidewalk on that side you hit a bakery. Keep going a few blocks down is beechers. They make cheese. Good cheese. Inside the market proper you can find Uli's Famous sausage for good sausages. Keep going, you'll eventually bump up against two decent produce sellers, a couple of people that make honey, and a large booth for pasta. Also around pikes place market there is an italian grocer. It abutts the shorter portion close to pike. They will have a lot of specialty items including some fancy stuff if you want it, but also may provide you with some staples. Tinned tomatoes, pasta, hard cheeses, olives, oil, vinegar, probably sugar. That kind of thing.
I'm assuming you're at Homewood and in addition to what everyone else has said I'd try going to the store they have there not sure what's in it or how expensive it if, but it is right there. And right by the Westin if you're walking towards the convention there's a convenience/riteaid type store.
And thanks to everyone that answered before me. Thanks to ask of you I'll actually have real food during my stay.
You could also head over to Uwajimaya, they have a lot of awesome Asian ingredients available.
@Sanovah: If we're thinking of the same place, it's Walgreens. Good place to go to pick up booze.
Myself, I literally pass two Costcos before getting to Seattle, so I make sure to stock up on anything I may need before even getting into the city.
Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Friday 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
The Pike Place Market is a giant farmer's market that spans about 3 city blocks and spills down the hill toward the waterfront. There are hundreds of shops, restaurants, stalls and vendors. Each one has its own schedule. The fresh food stalls tend to shut down around 5 or 6 PM.
Make sure you go to the official website if you want hours on a specific shop or product.
"Featuring the best of Seattle coffee, beer, wine and sandwiches, Pike Grocery is just steps from Homewood Suites Seattle. Located on the ground floor of the hotel..."
Different place all together. And since the Homewood is a block away from the convention centre, I though it relevant to the current thread diversion.
A) The post being responded to referenced the Market, not the Grocery.
And