Seattle

 I'm posting this instead of mailing it because I've been in Seattle a
 total of 36 hours, so I am in no way an expert, BUT:

 I ate at a FANTASTIC restaurant in Seattle -

 Ivar's (near the University, under the I-5 bridge).

 I had Red Clam chowder, Alaskan King Salmon grilled over alder branches,
 and Cranberry Sherbet.  AN ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT MEAL!  for about $30,
 which included 2 pints of Ballard(?) Bitters and tip.  There are many
 less expensive things on the menu.

 This place is on some body of water (lake? inlet? river? Puget Sound?),
 so get a seat by the window on the water.  You'll see various boat owners,
 canoe-ers, kayakers, and seaplane owners coming in for dinner.  Also,
 there's great Northwest Indian lore overhead and on the walls.

 Keep Clam!

 - Steve Stein

 Someone wrote:
 ##>I am going to be in Seattle, WA the week of Nov. 10.  Does anyone know
 ##>of any interesting places to eat?  Also any best bargain info would
 ##>be appreciated.  Thanks.
 ##>
 ##>jenglish

    House of Hong. In the International District. Dim Sum.
    Raga. Indian (East indian lunch buffets) Near Bellevue Transit Center.

 Maj B. wrote:

       I'm going to Seattle, Wash next month and I'd like to get a few
       recommendations for places to eat...

 I was there a few weeks ago, and heard about a place called Chez Shea
 that sounded interesting.  We got there at about 10pm on a Friday night
 (our flight was a little late), but when I called a few days earlier,
 they said it would be no problem.  10pm in NYC is sometimes too early,
 but in Seattle it was clear we were the last table to be seated, though
 it was hardly empty when we got there.

 They have a prix fixe $35 menu, with a few choices for the entree.  We
 started with baked figs (2, with the skin thank god -- figs look so
 ugly when skinned) wrapped with proscuitto with a bit of gorgonzola
 sauce that was really yummy.  It really had a whole bunch of flavors,
 and quite effectively appetized me ...  Next was a quite good butternut
 squash soup with a touch of hazelnut pesto.

 This place is located at the corner of Pike and 1st, right in the heart
 of Pike Market.  It's upstairs in one of the buildings, and looks out
 over some of the market and the water.  It's a small room with high
 ceilings and has a very rustic-home feel to it, not unlike downstairs
 at Chez Panisse.  The tables were comfortably spaced, and the service
 was quite studied.  In fact, we tend to look for little slopiness in
 service (not because we're snobs, but just because it's interesting to
 see if people have been taught not to, for instance, drag silverware
 across the table as in scooping it up or if they take silverware away
 from the table without something to put it on) and we didn't see much.

 [ Example-not-related-to-this-review: if after sitting down you ask for
   the wine list, you should also immediately be given a menu, since
   you'll want to make reference to it during selection of your wine.
   Some places will give you menus later, which is mildly annoying; of
   course if you order form the bar, the menus can come later.
   Another:  as soon as possible after ordering, your set of silverware
   should be adjusted for what you ordered.  This obviously doesn't
   apply to places that don't make adjustments, but places that give you
   a fish knife or a steak knife should do so immediately after taking
   your order.  End soapbox :-) ]

 They have a small but tasteful wine list, which I'm sure we would have
 explored further had we not just gotten off a cross-country flight (by
 now it was close to 1:30am NYC time), but they did have an excellent
 Oregon Pinot Noir by the glass for $4.50.  Suprisingly, the location
 within the building avoids most of the street noise (which is plentiful
 on a Friday night) -- though not the view; that is, you can see the
 folks having a good time below, but you can't hear them -- and we felt
 quite comfortable.

 I ordered a King Salmon (when in Rome!) for the entree, and Red ordered
 a Tenderloin au Poivre.  The salmon was cooked skillfully, on a bed of
 fresh spinach with a few bright carrots for show.  Nice presentation.
 The tenderloin was huge (much bigger than her head) and was cooked just
 right.  Sometimes such a thick piece can be tricky to get "medium rare"
 but the chef did a great job.

 I wanted a blueberry tart that sounded great, but they were out of it
 (not that suprising, since we were last to be served and this place is
 fairly small, but hey?).  The other desserts sounded great, but we just
 weren't up for it by then.  I had a cup of coffee that tasted like
 Starbucks, and we walked back to our hotel some two hours after
 starting.  Dinner, 4 glasses of wine, tax and tip came to about $125.
 Zagat's gives this place a 25 I think, and I'd recommend it.  It's a
 little on the "romantical" side, so you probably don't want to take the
 gang there for a power dinner, but check it out.  I'd be interested to
 hear from any Seattle-ites about this place.

 -----

 Mini-review: the Metropolitan Grill reminds me of a place like Smith &
 Wollenski in NYC, only nicer looking.  The steaks are pretty famous,
 but they also have fresh fish-o-the-day (several) and is worth the
 trip.  Noisier than most, with a full bar (plus several local beers on
 tap) in the next room over, but not as staid as say Harris in San
 Francisco.  Was there 9/92, but I doubt it's changed much.

 /jordan

 Maj B. wrote:
 >I'm going to Seattle, Wash next month and I'd like to
 >get a few recommendations for places to eat...   I'd
 >especially like to find a good seafood restaurant...
 >
  without a doubt, The Coastal Kitchen on 15th AV in the Capitol Hill
  neighborhood. great caribbean/central/south american seafood. sit at the bar.

  Ray's Boathouse and Ivar's Captain's Table (not any other Ivar's) for good,
  traditional northwest seafood.

  Anthony's Homeport is chain with three or four locations. if you don't mind
  big, noisey dining rooms, they have a great all-you-can-eat dungeoness crab
  feed on sundays. the crabs are big enough that you don't have to trash your
  hands completely before you're full. they have a decent selection of brews
  and great chowder, too.

  F.X. McCrory's near the Kingdome has an excellent oyster bar. another cool
  oyster bar is on the east side of the street at the Pike Place Market. can't
  remember the name (emmet watson's ?) but its the only one there.

  if you have time to head north, the Star Bistro in the town of Langley on
  Whidbey Island. a truly creative chef turning out tasty nouveau northwest
  goodies. depending on traffic (both freeway and ferry) and where
  you're located in seattle, it would take 1-1/2 to 2 hours to get there.
  Langley's a nice little town. make a day of it.

  hope you have a great visit...

  bon appetite-

  chrisb

 Suzy C. wrote:
 >I'm going to be moving to Seattle in the spring and I was wondering if there
 >has been a restaurant listing posted for the Seattle area.  If so and if any
 >one has it could they e-mail it to me?
 >I remember seeing on for the San Francisco Bay Area back in the fall and a
 >couple of other cities too.

 I am moving to the seattle area as well, although not until the fall.  BTW,
 the garlic soup was wonderful and so was Valentine's.

 I Stayed in Seattle this past fall for a couple of weeks, among the many good
 eateries is the Santa Fe Cafe (real SF recipes, good chili), and The Mandarin
 (chinese with wonderful desserts).  There are many others I cannot remember,
 however in the University district and down near Pike's market they abound.

 Oh, and for really good fast food, try Macheesmo Mouse.

 Good luck!
 -tyt

 In article , [email removed] (Ed
 Learned) wrote:

 > I'll be in Seattle for a few days, and am looking for the good restaurants
 > to hit. Don't give me the tourist places, but rather the little spots that
 > the locals hit.
 >
 > Thanks
  Risky to suggest since I'm not a local, but I think Kaspar's is worth a
 visit.

 --bill rohwer

 Susan S. wrote:

 >     Any recommendations for "must dine at's" in Seattle?  Thanks in advance.

 Pirosmani on Queen Anne Ave. N. - Georgian cuisine, incredibly good
 Palomino, downtown on 5th Avenue - fine mediterranean-influenced food
 Metropolitan Bar & Grill, downtown - for those who like quality steaks
 Cafe Flora, on Madison Ave. E. - for those who want no meat at all
 Nikko, downtown in the Westin Hotel - excellent Japanese, sushi and more
 Campagne, in Pike Place Market area - superb French cuisine

 There are more - The Painted Table, the Hunt Club, Fullers, Chez Shea,
 Saleh al Lago - but these make for a good start.  None of these are
 particularly cheap, although Cafe Flora is more moderate than the rest.

 Someone wrote:

 > >   Susan S. wrote:
 > >       Any recommendations for "must dine at's" in Seattle?  Thanks in
 advance.
 > >  --
 > >
 > I like Ponti's Seafood Grill and Ray's Boathouse a lot for seafood and
 atmosphere.

 About a year ago, we had a marvelous meal at Kaspar's (206-298-0123).
 Excellent salmon and an interesting wine list to boot.

 Bill Rohwer

 Susan S. wrote:
 >
 >     Any recommendations for "must dine at's" in Seattle?  Thanks in advance.
 > --

 The crab cakes and creme caramel are wonderful at -

       The Dahlia Lounge
       1904 4th Avenue.
       (206)682-4142

 Lois S. wrote:
 >
 >
 >What are the best restaurants in Seattle.
 >
 >Lois
 >
 You have to try Wild Ginger, a different type of oriental/eastern
 restaurant just down from Pike Place Market. Elliots on the waterfront
 is also quite good. I have been recommended to Painted Tables by
 several people but did not have a chance to visit. I had a mediocre
 experience at Palomino which is on the 2nd fl. of one of the office
 bldgs downtown.

 Dick

 Lois S. wrote:

 >What are the best restaurants in Seattle.

 Pick up a copy of "Seattle Best Places", published by
 Sasquatch Books.

 Briefly:
 Szmania's, 3321 W. McGraw St.
 Kaspar's, 19 W. Harrison St.
 Rover's, 2808 E. Madison
 Etta's Seafood, 2020 Western Ave.
 Dahlia Lounge, 1904 4th Ave.
 Le Gourmand, 425 N.W. Market St.
 Nikko (Japanese), 1900 5th Ave, in the Westin Hotel

 There are plenty more, but we gotta keep some of the
 good places to ourselves... so we'll have a table open
 for dinner!

 elaine G. wrote:

 >I am going to be in seattle on 10/26. Will be staying near convention
 >center I think. Are there any nice, not to expensive places to have
 >breakfast near? Also any great resturants, particularly seafood and
 >chinese?

 Get a cab to take you down to the Shanghai Garden, in the International
 District.  Try to take a couple of other people with you so you can
 sample a variety of dishes.

 Anthony's at Pier 66 will satisfy your basic seafood craving, as
 will Etta's Seafood, or Flying Fish.

 If you like it Japanese-style, head down to any of the good places
 in the International District, like Mikado or Bush Garden, or
 stay downtown and go to either Nikko in the Westin Hotel, or
 Shiro's, home to some of the best sushi and sashimi in town.