Food & Drink
Bisato is Affordable Brilliance
It seemed out of character when, in January, chef Scott Carsberg closed his revered fine-dining dest
It seemed out of character when, in January, chef Scott Carsberg closed his revered fine-dining destination, Lampreia, after 18 years. Even more of a shocker: He reopened the same corner space just a month later, serving his version of an Italian cicchetti-style (small-plates) menu. Gone (and, if you ask me, not missed) are the hushed…
Restaurant Review: El Pilón
“Homespun” may have become a ubiquitous term, but at Marta Vega’s 5-month-old restaurant, El Pilón,
With the help of son Luis, Marta Vega realized her dream of cooking the Puerto Rican food her neighbors and family have loved for years. In a snug space between Columbia City and Hillman City—with room for just six red vinyl booths—families share Vega’s specialty, mofongo, a soulful, comforting mash of plantains and slow-cooked pork…
Elliott’s Oyster House Pleasantly Surprises
Does Seattle’s premier tourist-friendly seafood restaurant deserve a better reputation?
Every August, our guest room fills up with friends from out of state betting on seeing the Seattle I swear exists: the one that doesn’t require an umbrella. Planning their itinerary, they ask the inevitable: “Where should we go for the best seafood?” And…hmm. For the seafood-focused Best Restaurants issue of Seattle magazine in April,…
Wabi-Sabi Sushi Restaurant Review
Fresh food in a comfortable, neighborhood dining place.
Southenders (myself included) have had “sushi restaurant” on our wish lists for years. So when I heard Wabi-Sabi was the latest project from Thoa Nguyen (formerly of Columbia City, now living in the Central District) who serves tasty pan-Asian dishes at Chinoise Café and Thoa’s Restaurant & Lounge, I was heartened. Could it be that…
Toulouse Petit Restaurant Review
Brian Hutmacher get's serious with Toulouse Petit and a New Orleans inspired menu.
Brian Hutmacher could have cut corners when he opened Toulouse Petit in November. As the owner of Mexican restaurant (and singles meat market) Peso’s, right next door, no one would’ve blamed him if he had taken the easy road and opened a New Orleans themed doppelganger aimed at the flirty, heavy-drinking party crowd. Instead, it’s…
Bakery Nouveau’s Triple-layer Chocolate Cake
The moistest triple-layer chocolate cake we've tasted.
Look past the gold-speckled truffles and the loaves of crisp-crusted breads at Bakery Nouveau (4737 California Ave. SW 206.923.0534 bakerynouveau.com), and you’ll spy the sweet-as-pie staff selling slices of chocolate cake to patrons in the know. That’s because this triple-layer Classic Chocolate Cake ($4.50/slice; $30/8-inch cake) is the moistest we’ve tasted, and definitely worth a…
Crepes, Sandwiches at Citizen
Queen Anne welcomes a mellow neighborhood eatery.
For some folks who live within stumbling distance, Sunday mornings have become synonymous with inexpensive mimosas and heartily stuffed crêpes at Citizen. This laid-back neighborhood spot, open since September, is full of charm and character, reminiscent of a New York artist loft studio: plenty of exposed brick, a wrought iron and wood staircase that leads…
Southern Comfort: Best Down Home Breakfasts
These are what comfort foods are made of
Best Northwest Spin on Chicken and WafflesTaste, Seattle Art Museum’s in-house restaurant, serves up the most wonderful fried chicken and waffles ($14) for Sunday brunch, made with Olympia’s Stokesberry Farm chicken. A buttermilk-brined thigh and drumstick are served on a crisp and hearty Bluebird Grains waffle. The pile of vinegary mustard greens served alongside is…
Shopping: The Most Beautiful Soap Ever
Made in one of the top neighborhoods of 2009, these soaps are almost too pretty to use.
I am not in the camp of buying pretty soap only to have it set out and have it collect dust for years. Life is too short and as a result, luxe soaps have long been my little indulgences. So I just have to share this amazing soap that my son’s teacher from last year gave…
Where to Get a Tasty Sandwich: Ballard’s Paseo
Paseo’s newest sandwich shack in Ballard raises the bar for picnic-perfect beach eats.
Hey, anyone want to join me for a day of playing hooky and having lunch at the beach? Great, we’ll just stop at this pink roadside shack in Ballard for onion sandwiches and hit Golden Gardens. Wait, did he just say onion sandwiches? Oh yes, he did. The pink roadside shack is the Ballard outpost…
Perfectly Polished
Julep
Now that summer is officially upon us (the first day was June 21st) and the sun is making an extended stay, we can finally pull out the bright colors, happy sundresses, flip flops and tanks. Julep Nail Parlor (multiple locations, including 1427 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle and a new locale in Bellevue) must be…
Arts: Seattle Opera Explores Marriage and The Ring
Catch the hilarious Marriage of Figaro before it closes this weekend. Editorial assistant Deanna Du
Figaro! Figaro! Figaro! You have two performances left to catch Seattle Opera’s The Marriage of Figaro before it ends this Saturday. Mozart’s Figaro remains one of the most performed operas in America and is a great choice for opera newbies. The music is gorgeous and it’s the type of enchanting romantic comedy that would be perfect for Hugh Grant and…
Talcum Moves to The Baltic Room Tonight
Capitol Hill
Talcum, Capitol Hill’s Northern Soul dance night, moves to The Baltic Room (1207 Pine St.; 625.4444) room this evening. The new location is good news for Cap Hill soul fans left in limbo when Talcum’s former venue, King Cobra, closed last month. For those of you unfamiliar with Talcum, think of it as a little…