. : seattle foodster : .

The 5 Spot in Queen Anne is diverse as a restaurant can be, hipster Seattle eatery and friendly family dining that supports philanthropic contributors. The 5 Spot has a “roaming” menu, and at the time I ate there was currently focused on the Big Easy. In fact, you were able to buy the New Orleans theme art that decorates the restaurant and the proceeds will go to help Katrina victims.

I’ve been to the 5 Spot twice; once for dinner and once for lunch. Both times it was loud and both times my servers were a bit more focused on being hip than actually concentrating on the customers seated at their tables. The kitchen was loud, and the crowd was a mix of families, and also Seattleites who spent way too much time partying from the night before.

My fiance tried the soup and salad combo. The side Caesar salad, although fresh, was underdressed and not crunchy. The bean soup had a nice, savory touch to it with a little kick but nothing to worry about.

I was feeling a little more adventurous and decided to try the Shrimp Po-Boy. I once had an Oyster Po-Boy at another Seattle restaurant and spent most of the night hugging my toilet. Honestly, I wasn’t happy with this sandwich… but at least I didn’t get sick.  The Gulf shrimp would have been nice as an appetizer, but in the sandwich they seemed to find a way to constantly fall out and onto the plate. The toasted bread was too dry and I had no choice but to drown the disappointing meal in hot sauce in an attempt to salvage it.

It’s difficult to give a bad or mean review to the 5 Spot. After all, they do challenge themselves by having a changing menu and even go as far to incorporate current events into their restaurant themes. I appreciate that and commend them for their effort, but that doesn’t mean I have to like their food or their service.

I admit that I saw a lot of people enjoying plates of breakfast food, so maybe that is the foundation on which the 5 Spot has built its reputation. I plan to eventually go back and give breakfast a try. In the meantime, I’ll just have to live with the fact that the 5 Spot is a trendy Queen Anne diner where your meal might be a hit or a miss.

Technorati Tags: america, Breakfast, Northwest, seattle, seattle foodster, seattlefoodster.com, shrimp po boy

American, Breakfast, Northwest america, Breakfast, Northwest, seattle, seattle foodster, seattlefoodster.com, shrimp po boy

Read more…

Technorati Tags: American, capitol hill, fremont, Northwest, Pan-Asian, Sandwich, seattle, seattle foodster, Vegetarian

American, Asian, Northwest, Sandwich, Vegetarian American, capitol hill, fremont, Northwest, Pan-Asian, Sandwich, seattle, seattle foodster, Vegetarian

I’ve heard people complain that Bellevue is too quiet. Perhaps they haven’t hung out at Lincoln Square around 7 pm. Or perhaps they haven’t eaten at the Brief Encounter Cafe.  You won’t notice it after you exit 520 from Seattle and head down Bellevue Way, but you will notice the QFC and gas station in the strip mall on your left as you head south towards Bellevue Square. Tucked away behind the gas station is a tasty Bellevue secret.

It’s hard to tell who’s a server and who’s a customer; although it does seem that more customers wear sweatshirts, sandals and pajama bottoms than the staff here.
Remember to sign the book when you enter or else you’ll never get called, but once you do, your waitress will appear super quick at your table with fresh, hot coffee and ready to take your breakfast or lunch order.

Read more…

American, Breakfast, Northwest

I’m a meat eater. I have nothing against vegetarians or even vegetables for that matter. In fact I’m trying to find a way to prove the cuter the animal the better the meat. I also think that a cow would try to eat me if she had the chance so I’m really doing my part in helping to protect humanity.

Needless to say I was a little embarrassed when I showed up at Café Flora in Madison Park and realized that it is an all vegetarian menu. I’ll be honest, lots of the items looked and sounded delicious, plus I’ve heard a lot of good things about this restaurant. I was just kind of shocked that I’d be eating in my first vegetarian restaurant.

Cautiously, I tip-toed into the vegetarian world, sampling two of the restaurant’s salads. The Caesar Salad was typical fare, in that it had romaine, parmesan cheese, and croutons. However, it was a different Caesar because of its light and refreshing dressing with fried capers. Caesar salads usually have a pretty salty flavor, however since this dressing was so light the fried capers did a great job of adding extra flavor.

The Organic Wild Greens and Lettuces salad followed the same light refreshing recipe with its crisp herbed balsamic vinaigrette. Topped with a carrot twirl you will find that this salad looks a little plain but had quite an uplifting taste. Also this dish is Vegan and Gluten free.

There are few things more embarrassing when you’re a food critic and you cannot pronounce a menu item correctly. The Oaxaca Tacos (according to the menu pronounced wa-ha-ka) are roasted corn tortillas filled with mashed potatoes, cheddar and smoke mozzarella cheeses with lime crème fraiche and topped with feta cheese. Black beans and pico de gallo are served on the side. I always associate vegetarian foods with healthy foods. Not to say that the Oaxaca Tacos are unhealthy but damn were they cheesy. The mashed potatoes and lime crème fraiche was very tantalizing to the tongue.

Are you catching a trend here? Refreshing, uplifting, tantalizing? Towards the end of my meal I realized that this is what Café Flora’s is all about, very fresh and light but tasty food. If you’re a vegetarian then you probably already know about Café Flora. If you don’t know about it then go and give it a try. If you’re a carnivore willing to take a break from the usual fare, want a light meal and are willing to give vegetables and other non-meat dishes a try, then I definitely recommend you visit Café Flora.

Technorati Tags: American, food, madison park, Northwest, seattle, seattle foodster, seattlefoodster.com, Vegetarian

American, Northwest, Vegetarian American, food, madison park, Northwest, seattle, seattle foodster, seattlefoodster.com, Vegetarian

Cutter’s Bayhouse near Pike Place Market is deceiving.  When I think of a restaurant located in the heart of a Seattle tourist attraction with a magnificent, jaw dropping view of the Puget Sound I immediately think of an eatery that will make my wallet weep.  I’m not saying that Cutter’s is cheap… their lunch menu is very well priced and their dinner menu, although more expensive, is also price fairly priced considering the quality of ingredients.  

After strolling through Pike Place on a weekend afternoon my girlfriend and I began to search for a place to eat.  We walked into Cutters while one of the chefs was preparing their “Sea Bar” which open every day at noon.  The restaurant setting is open which allows itself to capitalize on views of downtown Seattle and a panoramic view of the entire Puget Sound. 

One difficulty in being a foodie is the desire to order everything that looks good.  Fortunately during lunch this dilemma can be compromised by the “combo” meal.

After nibbling on the Foccacia bread brought to the table I ordered the Hot Dungeness Crab Sandwich and a cup of the Smoked Salmon Chowder.  My girlfriend opted for the Smoked Turkey Club and the daily soup which was Butternut Squash ($11.50 per combo).

After the second basket of bread (it’s really good!) our lunches arrived.  Ideally, I would have changed two things about our meals.  First the Smoke Turkey Club was not that good or eye catching in relation to the other things on Cutters menu.  The turkey was nothing more than slices of the white turkey meat and the bottom of the sandwich was beginning to get soggy due to the large tomato.  The only thing to complain about my Crab Sandwich was the size.  The sandwich is served open face with the crab mixed with artichokes, parmesan and cheddar cheese.  I like the idea of it being served open face, however I didn’t like that the sandwich was so puny.  On the bright side it forces you to take really small bites.  

Believe it or not the soups were the best part of the meal.  First the butternut squash was fantastically creamy.  The flavor is rich and manages to soothe your palate at the same time.  Also, I was pleased it was not pureed to the point that it was without any texture.  I would love if they made this soup a permanent fixture on a winter menu.

I do not ever recall having smoked salmon chowder before.  However, because of Cutters I will be on the look out for more of this soup.  Salmon cooked in an applewood smoker is mixed in with a lobster cream sauce and vegetables.  The best way to describe this is to think of lobster bisque with bite size pieces of salmon. 

I am still amazed and content that Cutters, in the middle of a tourist trap, surrounded by beautiful scenery manages to do high end and hearty cuisine with no hints of snobbery.

American, Northwest

Rumor has it that Duke’s is known for making seriously delicious chowder. They also have a fantastic happy hour, which is the basis of this review. Duke’s has several locations, Greenlake, South Lake Union, and Alki, each of them with scenic views. Normally, I’d be tentative to write a review based on a restaurant’s happy hour. It wouldn’t seem fair to judge the premier food at a restaurant with its simple happy hour snacks. However, when eating at Duke’s you can rest assured that their happy hour fare will stand up against their full menu.

I have to be honest about something. I kind of find the fisherman/beach theme a little tacky. But that’s just me; I just wanted to throw it out there. I’ve never even been fishing. Perhaps it’s some really cool fishing stuff. Regardless, it helps give the restaurant an overall comfortable feel. I found the staff to be really helpful. They were attentive to the needs of my girlfriend and me and made sure that we were comfortable at our table without being overly present.

Duke’s happy hour includes specials on cocktails and food, so when you go feel free to have a couple of “Duketails.” We drank the Strawberry Lemon Drop and Kamakazi. I know I should have been sampling a beer but it was such a nice day at the time I had to partake in the sugary cocktails.

It’s best to order and share several of the appetizers. Between the two of us, we shared the Dungeness Crab Dip and the Steamers. We also each ordered a cup of “Duke’s Award Winning Clam Chowder.” I have to admit at first I thought that we, or rather I, would have to eat again as soon as I got home. Turns out I was wrong. Although small, several little plates add up.

The Dungeness Crab Dip is served in a hallowed out sourdough bread bowl. The idea is to scoop out the dip and smear it on the sourdough bread slices and enjoy. The dip was nice and warm and you could definitely taste the fresh crab mixed in.

The Steamers, which are Washington Manila clams, are steamed in Mac ‘n Jacks Amber, garlic butter and dill. Granted, clams by themselves are not very filling, however this plate is huge and I definitely recommend taking some of your bread and dipping it in the broth.

Now for the clam chowder — it’s not exactly what you think of when you think of chowder. It’s creamy like the New England style but it’s not white. It’s also not red like the Manhattan version. Actually, it’s kind of brown or tan. Tan, blue or green it’s really good. It’s thick and flavorful and you can taste the bits of fresh clams.

So, this was Duke’s happy hour. As I said previously, I generally don’t like to recommend a restaurant based on its happy hour, simply because it’s one of the times where some tend to let their food slip. They focus more on drinks than food, so it’s really special when you find a place like Duke’s that does happy hour food right. And if their “snacking” food is this good I know we’ll be returning to try out their regular menu soon.

American, Bar, Northwest, Seafood

Formerly Sam’s Steakhouse, Eastlake Bar and Grill is one of three lakeside restaurants owned by brothers John and James Schmidt.  Although each of their three bar and grill restaurants serve similar food and offer up amazing views I believe that it is their Eastlake location that might be the most popular.  Although it wasn’t their original (opened in 2004) the Eastlake location offers panoramic views of South Lake Union.

I recently went to Eastlake on one of the first nice Seattle sunny days of the year.  Knowing how fickle Seattle weather can be, my girlfriend and I took full advantage of the restaurant’s large outdoor deck facing the water.  The deck was packed and although our server graced us with her presence ten minutes later than what would be normal for most restaurants after you’ve been seated, we decided to brush it off.

The Eastlake Bar and Grill offers the Sunset Dinner which is comprised of a soup or salad, one of twelve entrees and a dessert for $12.95.  Knowing that hot soup was the one thing I did not want I started with a Caesar Salad.  I know that Caesar’s aren’t that complicated to make but I’m starting to realize that I’m sort of a Caesar Salad connoisseur.  It was recently brought to my attention by a friend that I eat approximately five Caesars a week, never changing to a different salad choice.  Knowing this, you can understand why I was pleased that the Caesar at Eastlake was fresh and crisp and not drowning in dressing.

My girlfriend chose Alaskan Cod and Chips as her entrée.  Although we remarked about how cute the crinkle-cut fries were we both noticed that her fried fish tasted sort of soapy.  Yet another example of why I stay clear of fish and chips.  I decided to try the Blackened Fish Tacos.  Although the item title was “taco” and the description said that it was “two flour tortillas” I was still surprised when a Blackened Fish Burrito was served.  The fresh slaw and tilapia fish looked refreshing so I figured it would be a waste of time to talk about the dissimilarities between taco and burrito.  For as large and heavy as the fish tacos looked they were surprisingly light.  The tilapia had a good seasoning to it and the slaw and mango salsa had a cooling effect on this hot day.

For desert I kept it simple; ice cream sundae for me and my girlfriend went with key lime pie.  I don’t like key lime pie very much and I found their version too creamy for my taste.  My ice cream was served in what I can only describe as a melted state of being. I’m pretty sure this occurred because the weather was hot or perhaps because the ice cream bowl was served on top of a steaming hot plate.

I think the food at Eastlake Bar and Grill is more in the category of upscale bar food as opposed to high end grilled cuisine.  While the food was pretty solid there were definitely some aspects that could have easily been fixed.  Despite any of these negatives I know that come the next sunny Seattle day I’m going to consider sitting on the outside deck at this restaurant… I just won’t order the ice cream

Technorati Tags: American, Bar, bar and grill, eastlake, Northwest, Sandwich, Seafood, seattlefoodster

American, Bar, Northwest, Sandwich, Seafood American, Bar, bar and grill, eastlake, Northwest, Sandwich, Seafood, seattlefoodster

You’ve probably seen the Newport Bay restaurant while sitting in traffic on 520. It looks much like most suburban restaurants. I’m pretty sure it has a competitive happy hour, due primarily to the amount of people there who are sixty-plus. Notwithstanding its underground appeal to the blue haired crowd for blue plate specials, I found Newport Bay in Kirkland to be a solid eatery.

I met my Dad at Newport Bay one evening after work. I was late due to a stalled car on 520 (thanks, by the way), but that’s another story. After drinks we shared the calamari which turned out to be a very fresh serving of the fried squid. I don’t mind eating the tentacles but there were a bit too many even for me. Instead of the obligatory marina sauce, they served a spicy Serrano aioli. The batter was thicker then some other types of calamari I’ve had also. Let me warn you that you only need a little dab of the aioli, which is actually pretty spicy.

My Dad had the Chopped Chinese Chicken Salad. I didn’t take photos of it or plan to review it because it was a standard salad. He seemed to like it and I must admit it was much larger than I thought it would be; definitely a “man-sized” portion.

I decided to experiment with the Northwest Style Cioppino. Picture a large bowl filled with prawns, scallops, clams, chunks of other seafood, and spinach simmered in a tomato saffron broth. There were also some excellent garlic croutons in the broth. As you can see from the photo, and also imagine, it’s a pretty simple dish; bowl of broth filled with seafood.

Although they have a fairly extensive seafood special list beyond their regular menu, I wasn’t certain about Newport Bay’s reputation as a good fish restaurant. However, seeing as they have both “port” and “bay” in their name was enough to give me the desire to be adventurous and try the cioppino.

And, as it turned out I was actually really happy with it. All the seafood was fresh tasting and not over cooked. The tomato saffron broth was really flavorful and would have made a great soup without overpowering the delicate seafood taste.

So, the next time you find yourself squinting into the sun while stopped in a line of traffic on 520, jump off at the nearest exit and head over to Newport Bay and get some reliable, satisfying and tasty food.

American, Northwest, Seafood

Open-face Scallop “BLT”

Read more…

Northwest, Recipes, Seafood

Courtesy Miss CC

This past Saturday the Foodster crew decided to splurge and head to the new restaurant on Capitol Hill – Poppy.  It’s a bright addition to the Hill, with a warm interior of pale wood and orange and red accents. The menu is seasonal and prix fixe, for $32 you receive a thali – a platter of small dishes of the chef’s choosing, modeled off of the flavors of the Northwest.  

For cocktails, the men had scotch and I choose a “wine flight” – three glasses of 2 oz. pours for $14.  Each wine paired well with my thali dishes, and gave me the opportunity to try a few wines I might not have normally ordered.  To start we tried the popular eggplant fries with sea salt and honey.  The fries are also part of Poppy’s bar menu, along with other appetizers and a few entrées.  I would definitely consider returning to Poppy and sitting at the bar for some more eggplant fries – they were delicious.

Poppy is an adventure – a restaurant to check off your list of places to go – and after receiving an explanation of our thalis, the guys and I weren’t feeling so adventurous anymore.   We each had differing opinions about which plates we enjoyed – and there were a few plates we unanimously loved or hated.  I choose the vegetarian thali and thought that my potato leek soup was a superb blend of flavors, but the vivid green spring greens soup on the non-vegetarian thali didn’t suit any of our palates.  After the soup there were two small plates with orange flavors – first a blood orange, taggia olive, and endive salad; and secondly, broccoli salad with toasted sesame and seville orange.  The broccoli salad had a little bit of heat to it, and the combination of broccoli and seville orange was curious but appetizing. 

Next on our thalis were our main dishes – for the vegetarian option: stuffed savoy with hedgehogs, goat cheese, and red pepper; and celery root ravioli with local white truffle butter.  I found the savoy interesting but unremarkable, but on the other hand, the ravioli were outstanding.  The butter sauce wasn’t heavy but still felt decadent, and the celery root was a subtle and surprising flavor.  On the non-vegetarian platters were spot prawns with cashews, cardamom, and clove; and anderson ranch lamb osso bucco with orange and coriander.  We all agreed the cardamom, cashews, and clove was an ideal seasonal pairing, but my dining companions were less impressed with the lamb, feeling it was slightly dry.  

There were four other small plates plus naan on our thalis.  We liked the saffron risotto fritter, and none of us finished the braised red cabbage with pomegranate.  We enjoyed the gratin, and I couldn’t understand the idea behind pickling fennel.  Overall, our thali small dishes were hit or miss.  A select few plates made us see the inspiration behind the seasonal Northwest cuisine, but many left us feeling not adventurous enough to return.

Fusion, Indian, Northwest

The first mainstream, non-bar restaurant to open up in Vulcanized Southlake is an establishment bearing its name. The Southlake Grill, under the Alley 24 apartment building, is sister to the Greenlake Bar and Grill and the Eastlake Bar and Grill. Although the food remains similar to the other two restaurants, the Southlake Grill takes you a step away from wooden tables and scenic views and moves you to a modern urban setting. Bright colored Seattle city art, flat screen TV’s, and fresh fixtures demand your attention.

The first thing you’ll notice when you enter the Southlake Grill is not the hostess but rather the size of the restaurant. It’s not big, but it’s also not small. Super high ceilings allow the restaurant to sport two levels of dining. Another thing you can’t help but notice is how friendly the staff is. Perhaps it’s because they only opened up a few weeks ago but it would also be hard not to have a positive attitude in this environment.

So how’s the food? I’ll level with you. It’s good but you’re not going to encounter anything groundbreaking. You won’t quit your job and devote your life to food because of their menu. However you’ll leave satisfied and pleased with your meal and thinking about when you’ll come back next. I’ve passed the Southlake Grill during their early and late happy hours and can honestly say they’re consistently crowded.

My girlfriend and I worked on two entrées and a dessert together. The first entrée was a bacon cheeseburger. We figured we’d try to keep it simple. As such we were delivered a typical burger you’d expect from a casual dining establishment. The meat was thick and the bun was firm. The only negative thing I noticed here was that the lettuce was wilting and discolored.

Our second entrée was the beef dip. I was a fan, however my girlfriend was not. Unfortunately for her I’m the Seattle Foodster, so I have the power to override her vote. Thin slices of beef were topped with horseradish and provolone cheese and sandwiched between toasted French bread. My girlfriend happens to hate horseradish so she obviously didn’t care for this sandwich. But assuming you’re not offended by the condiment you’ll find this meal quite pleasing. The tender beef goes well with the sharp melted provolone cheese. Also, it’s hard not to enjoy dipping your sandwich in au jus, softening the bread. As far as the fries go… you can’t have just one. They’re not exactly shoestring fries but they certainly aren’t overly starchy or stuffed with potatoes.

I do have a confession to make. Normally before I eat something I take a photo of it so you can see the item. Unfortunately, the Apple Pie alla Mode we ordered was so good that I can only provide pictures of the aftermath. That’s correct. There is nothing left on the plate because it was that good. Puff pasty, surrounding warm apple slices topped with cinnamon, caramel syrup and vanilla ice cream. Please don’t think that we pigged out. If you order this I’m sure you’ll behave the same way.

As you can see, the Southlake Grill proved to be a reliable restaurant. Its expansive menu can please different appetites and the food, although we played it somewhat safe, was dependable. It seems that Southlake Grill will become even more popular given its trendy, modern style in a new and hip Seattle neighborhood.

American, Bar, Northwest

seattlefoodster.com apologizes for the quality of the photographs in this article.  The lights in the restaurant were dim and any flash would have washed out the food. 

Friends have asked me what type of intrinsic benefits are there when writing for a food review site which receives millions of hits monthly (actual hits may be slightly lower).  My simple answer, which has never changed is that I enjoy being able to write about food.  I am passionate about eating it and passionate about talking food so writing about it just seemed to be the next step.  And, as an added perk, every now and then I have the chance to dine at a restaurant before it opens to the public, sometimes even for free.  Trust me when I say that whether a restaurant “comps” my meal or not it will never determine the outcome of my review.

In light of sometimes being able to get a sneak peek at a soon-to-open restaurant, I had the wonderful opportunity to dine at Seattle’s newest steakhouse, The Capital Grille, located downtown underneath the historic Cobb Building.  The décor is typical old world steakhouse, black and white or sepia photographs, wood paneling adorned by mounted animal heads watching over the dinner crowd.  The service, however, is characteristically Seattle; over-polite and generally down to earth.  Much of the historic charm is carried through with the service of the staff.  Once seated you and your dinner party will be asked if you prefer a black or white linen napkin.  Also worth noting is if a woman leaves her seat to use the restroom she’ll be escorted.  Once she is on her journey to the restroom another employee quickly gathers up and refolds her napkin. It would be difficult to be more courteous than that!

Although the menu was pre-fixe, I believe The Capital Grille put some of its best selections on for display.  For my appetizer I started with the Lobster Bisque.  If you enjoy the creaminess of bisque you are in for a lovely surprise.  I must admit that although I have never had sherry drizzled on top of bisque before it had the ability to highlight many other, subtle flavors. True to its name the bisque was loaded with lumps of lobster meat.  I was disappointed that the Pan Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers was not on the menu as I was told it is their featured appetizer.

It seems that I have this assumption that when food is served a la carte then each item must prove its own worth.  I was highly tempted to order the Porcini Rubbed Delmonico steak with an eight year old aged balsamic, however my server swayed me with the passionate way he described the dry aged Porterhouse steak.  An important side note for all those steak lovers is that all of the dry aged steaks have been dried in-house by the restaurant.

Normally I try to order my steak according to how the chef would prefer to prepare it.  It turns out the chef likes the porterhouse rare, warm in the center and I was happy to oblige.  To say that this porterhouse melted in my mouth is an understatement.  With only a hint of seasoning you’ll find the grilled outer layer of the steak perfectly sealed in every morsel of flavor.

My date was kind enough to share with me her filet mignon served with lobster in a lobster butter-cream sauce.  Aside from the steak and lobster being decadent, I believe that lobster sauce could be wonderfully paired with any type of food.

Much to my surprise appreciated the simplicity of their menu.  You’ll find the wine list is exponentially longer than the food menu.  After leaving the posh ambiance of this place, full and quite possibly smitten by my rediscovered love of red meat, I must say that The Capital Grille makes a bold statement and will be a worthy challenger to all other Seattle steakhouses.

Technorati Tags: American, food, Northwest, Seafood, seattle foodster, seattlefoodster.com, Steakhouse, the capital grille

American, Northwest, Steakhouse American, food, Northwest, Seafood, seattle foodster, seattlefoodster.com, Steakhouse, the capital grille

Read more…

American, Bar, Northwest, Sandwich

Ever since a friend at law school raved about the Volunteer Park Cafe, I’ve been hooked on their breakfast.  The decor is laid back: a long communal wooden table in the center and tables for two speckled around it.  During lunch and breakfast you order from the counter and pray that a table or a seat is available.  Here, you’re likely to find a mixture Capitol Hill’s twenty/thirty something’s and budding young-yuppie families.  Menus choices for each course is kept to a minimum.  Despite the slimmed-down menu items, I still fret over picking the right item because everything coming out of the VPC kitchen is going to satisfy me.

Read more…

American, Breakfast, Italian, Northwest