Lunch Spots in Seattle

**Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo** · 05-30-2006, 02:26 PM

My girlfriend and I are climbing Ranier in July and are spending an extra day and night in Seattle for a romantic interlude and some sightseeing since she has never been. We are eating dinner at Ray's Boathouse or Canlis (I needed somewhere expensive and romantic since she will probably be my fiancee

and no longer just my girlfriend after this trip. And no I am not so cheesy as to propose on the top of Ranier so don't worry.) My question is if anyone has any recommendation for fun lunch spots or brewpubs downtown, preferably near all the tourist spots(Pikes, Space Needle) since that is where we will be. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. And our dinner reservations are not set in stone so any suggestions there would be great.

**Viva** · 05-30-2006, 02:41 PM

Elysian Brew Pub is close to downtown and Pikes- about a 20 min. walk. There are also several hotel bars in downtown that are very nice. There's also Pyramid Pub near the Kingdom...Safeco park and the football stadium. There, you'd be right on the fringe of downtown, to the south. Alki Beach is a cool place to hang out, especially if the fog rolls in. Alki's about a 15 minute drive from downtown.

**Art Shirk** · 05-30-2006, 02:49 PM

Low key great Deli is the Buffalo Deli on First Ave. in Belltown. Also, maybe check out Ballard Ave. and have a sandwich at the Other Coast or check out Hattie's Hat. Also, for a bit of Seattle nostalgia, check out the Athenian in the Pike Place Market-little hole in the wall, decent food, great views. Have fun.

**TomK** · 05-30-2006, 03:08 PM

At Pike Place Market, The Pink Door for itallian and dine on the rooftop patio if it's a nice day.
Order the Carmello for desert - it's about the only non-chocolate desert to get my wife's endorsment.

Congrats on stepping it up a notch. Best of luck to you both.

**LAN** · 05-30-2006, 04:11 PM

Dinner suggestions:

Ray's (like you mentioned)
Palisade (excellent view of the city, good Pan Asian cuisine)
Queen City Grill (I think it's on 1st Ave)

Lunch:

Emmett Watson's osyter bar (right across the alley from Pike Place Market)
Brouwers (Belgian brewhaus in Freemont, my personal fav!)
Ivar's fish bar on either Lake Union or down on the waterfront
Dukes on Alki (has good chowder, and my favorite spinach salad)

**whatcomridaz** · 05-30-2006, 04:30 PM

The Met for lunch and/or Dinner
El Gaucho for Dinner

Mmmmm

**LAN** · 05-30-2006, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by whatcomridaz

The Met for lunch and/or Dinner
El Gaucho for Dinner

Is El Gaucho really that good? I've heard mixed reviews. Scoober went to the Brooklyn for a Bachelor party and raved about it. He had bacon wrapped monk fish, oysters, the vodka sampler, etc. etc.

One of the guys I work with doesn't care for El Gaucho, but I've never been. One of my patients is a bartender there and told me if I ever want to drop in, he'll make me the best lemondrop I've ever had. I should take him up on that!

**whatcomridaz** · 05-30-2006, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by LAN

Is El Gaucho really that good? I've heard mixed reviews. Scoober went to the Brooklyn for a Bachelor party and raved about it. He had bacon wrapped monk fish, oysters, the vodka sampler, etc. etc.

One of the guys I work with doesn't care for El Gaucho, but I've never been. One of my patients is a bartender there and told me if I ever want to drop in, he'll make me the best lemondrop I've ever had. I should take him up on that!

The Roquefort is quite tasty. Its definetly on par with the Met. That said I've had some substandard service at the met but never at el gaucho. I'd also recommend USG and for mildy cheaper fare Daniel's Broiler

**Samwich** · 05-30-2006, 07:45 PM

The Met (Metropolitan Grill) is a shit hole. Don't go there. It's a huge restaurant that rakes money in by selling steak and (watery) mashed potatoes for $70+ a head. Veggies are extra. Service is subpar, and the food really leaves something to be desired.

Anthony's is pretty decent with nice views of Elliott Bay. Canlis is good.

Propose on top of Rainier. Chicks dig that shit.

**spindrift** · 05-30-2006, 08:40 PM

If you want to do a really special dinner thing, do Mistral ( http://mistralseattle.com/ ). True artistry in the kitchen. The food is astounding. Lower key and not physically imposing - and no grand views. However, unlike the big hustle bustle places, good odds the owner/chef will pay your table a visit. For something like a proposal, they'd probably conspire with you to make it super special. While the offical menu offerings may appear limited (vary by the day depending on what is at the market), they will tweak the courses to suit any specific needs/preferences you have (you are likely to hear something like "I told the chef you guys seemed like you had a preference for xyz, so he created this variation on the menu for you..."). Dinner will take the entire night - many nice courses & accompanying wines if you do it right.

So many good lunch places it is hard to make a suggestion. Start with a type of food and a part of town and narrow it from there...

**Viva** · 05-30-2006, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by LAN

Is El Gaucho really that good? I've heard mixed reviews.

El Gaucho prides itself on Euro-style service. I was suppose to take a date to their PDX site before leaving, but we didn't get the chance. Everything that I've heard suggests that they're a first-rate outfit.

Bon Appetit!

**Chainsaw_Willie** · 05-30-2006, 10:54 PM

If you do get to Alki and fish & chips sounds good, hit Sunfish. Do not stop at Spud, go right past Ivar's and Dukes, make it Sunfish. Trust me.

**Monique** · 05-30-2006, 11:24 PM

Lunch in the Pike Place Market area: Get a panini to go at Boticelli 101 Stewart Street (which = 1st & Stewart) and the cross 1st Avenue. Go 1/2 block down Stewart and cut left into the entrance to the Inn at the Market. Walk to the guest elevators as if you know what you're doing. Go up to the top floor (6?), exit to your right and find the (unlocked) door to the private rooftop garden. Eat lunch up there overlooking the entire bay. I've never had another person show up when I've been there. Suggestion of the Pink Door is also fabulous for lunch. Cafe Campagne or Etta's Seafood are good options (right there as well) if it's raining. Macrina up in Belltown is great for breakfast or lunch.

IMO Canlis, El Gaucho, Palisades, and even Rays are overpriced and not worth it for the dusty, old school atmosphere (Canlis, Palisades) and mediocre food (El Gaucho, Rays). Some stellar, creative and uber-romantic local spots are Matt's in the Market (doesn't take reservations, though), Chez Shea, 94 Stewart, The Dahlia Lounge, Place Pigalle, Il Bistro or Lampreia. If you're popping an ever-so-romantic question, I'd recommend 94 Stewart, Il Bistro, Chez Shea or Lampreia--a tad quieter, slightly more formal (anything's still okay though) and moodier than the others. BTW I recommended Lampreia to my buddy Stephan when he was going to propose to his girlfriend and she said "Yes," so it's got that going for it!

Trust me, I'm a foodie!

Also most menus are on the web, now that you have names you can check it out yourself.

**Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo** · 05-31-2006, 08:12 AM

Thanks for all the great suggestions and positive vibes. I knew you guys wouldn't steer me wrong. As I suspected a week at least would do that city justice. Maybe another trip. I will let you guys know how goes when we get back. Thanks

**mittens** · 05-31-2006, 05:03 PM

Most of the places suggested are pretty much tourist traps.
Except:\
Moniques suggestions

Mistral-awesome place

other coast cafe- great sandwiches and they are opening a location in downtown-union square building 2nd floor.

plus-
Matts in the market
Black bottle
I could go on and on.. I've been a chef in Seattle for 12 years.
I will be opening a new restaurant on 4th & University at the end of the month. Feel free to come in for lunch and if you want anything special done just pm me.
The place is called the Purple Cafe & Wine Bar

**spindrift** · 05-31-2006, 05:40 PM

mittens, your Purple the same as the eastside Purples? They yours? Had a great lunch in the Kirkland one a little while back. Thumbs up...

Also, regarding the ongoing discussion & some of Moniques suggestions - I'd also give big thumbs up to Matt's and Chez Shea. I especially like Matt's as it is very low key and kind of funky/friendly. IMO, neither is in the same league as Mistral though.

I really like Tom Douglas and his restaurants, but the last few times at both Dahlia's and Palace Kitchen I was pretty disappointed - both service and food were not what they should have been (and I used to love the old Dahlia's for both lunch and dinner). I'd pitch Etta's rather than Dahlia or Palace if you want to do one of Tom's restaurants.

Have heard generally excellent things about Moniques other suggestions.

Oh, on the lunch front if you hit the Kingfish Cafe (they do dinner too) on Capital Hill, the fried chicken is so good it'll make you cry. Dim Sum at the Purple Dot Cafe for lunch in the International District is a winner too.

Any other good local suggestions or input (mittens, this is where you can go on and on

)? Always looking for something interesting...

**PNWbrit** · 05-31-2006, 05:43 PM

Another vote for Pink Door, Place Pigalle and Ettas.

I actually like Rays for lunch - but it's not worth you schlepping all the way up to Shilshole from Downtown.

Good luck on Rainier... and with the proposal

(edit good call on Kingfish another fav)

**spindrift** · 05-31-2006, 06:02 PM

Seems to be a definite consensus shaping up.

I should have mentioned that I'd throw in another vote for the Pink Door too. Was a favorite lunch stop when I worked in the neighborhood. I don't think I ever had a bad meal there.

**String** · 05-31-2006, 07:46 PM

Brasa on 4th or 5th has some damn good american style moroccan food and they have a killer happy hour as well. I think it's half priced entrees and select cheap drinks. Wine selectionis good too!

I'll second Palisades, I go there every year for a friends birthday and have at it with the menu!

**scoober** · 06-01-2006, 08:36 AM

Wow, that's the first time I've heard someone proclaim themselves a foodie like it's a good thing.

And a cook calling out tourist traps but admitting to working for Purple? Astounding.

**Bawheed** · 06-01-2006, 09:48 AM

Superb suggestions Scoober, now I really know where to eat in Seattle.

For some excellent Italian, hit up La Vita E Bella on 2nd between Wall and Battery.

Joey, is the name Eleusis familiar to you?

**Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo** · 06-01-2006, 09:51 AM

Eleusis? Should it be familiar to me?

**scoober** · 06-01-2006, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Bawheed

Superb suggestions Scoober, now I really know where to eat in Seattle.

For some excellent Italian, hit up La Vita E Bella on 2nd between Wall and Battery.

Joey, is the name Eleusis familiar to you?

With all the pretensiousness flying around dissing dinner joints I forgot what the thread was about. Thanks for setting me straight, champ.

For lunch with beers, I'm going to Brouwer's. Honest sandwiches and frites and one of the best (but for sure the freshest) tap selection in town.

**SkiCougar** · 06-01-2006, 10:07 AM

lots of places in pikes place and its great on the weekends. makes you wonder if seattle has grocery stores.

also, and yeah its touristy as hell; but the space needle does serve sandwiches, chips, snacks and drinks and has a few tables. i always choose the best view over a good sandwich.

proposing at ranier would be cool. proposing at the space needle is cheesy.

and if she drops you and you go it alone, hooters has good views all around.