Living Large in Seattle

A travel journal to Seattle by uyyek

Quote: Here are some things to see and do in my hometown!

Living Large in Seattle

Overview

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Visit the Space Needle at Seattle Center for a bird's-eye view, the Pike Place Market for a little local color, and the Museum of Flight or the Burke Museum for history. Definitely eat out; just about every cuisine imaginable is available, and for every budget. Several large parks offer walking/jogging/biking/skating options, and for more outdoor fun, there are excusions to the mountains just an hour away for hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing.Quick Tips: Best Way To Get Around: The bus system is affordable and efficient, and you can purchase a tourist/visitor 1-day pass online for (http://buypass.metrokc.gov). Sea-Tac airport is a pretty major transport hub to the area, and ...Read More

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Ivar's Salmon House

Restaurant

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This place is hard to beat: it's location down under the Aurora Bridge gives the diner quite a view of the water, and if you're lucky, you can catch a sunset that will take your breath away (be sure to swallow first). The selection of local seafood is unbeatable, the prices are comparable to other quality restaurants in the Seattle area, and in this instance especially, you definitely get what you pay for - servings tend to be on the larger side. Sunday mornings feature the added bonus of a brunch buffet with everything from oven-roasted salmon tips and clam chowder to quiche to made-to-order omelets and crepes. Yes, all you naysayers out there, clam chowder is excellent at 10am in the morning.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 23, 2005

Ivar's Salmon House
401 Northeast Northlake Way
Seattle, Washington 98105
+1 206 632 0767

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Stella's Trattoria

Restaurant

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For tasty and affordable Italian food, my wife and I agree that this is a good pick. Located in the University District, this restaurant is easy to locate and hard to forget. As far as I can tell, without dragging the few old Italian mothers out of their rocking chairs to verify it, this has some of the most authentic Italian food you can find, their menu featuring such classic dishes as garlic mussels in marinara sauce, fettuccini alfredo, and several dishes served over a polenta that I can only describe as stick-to-your-ribs good. Mama mia!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 23, 2005

Stella's Trattoria
4500 Ninth Ave Northeast
Seattle, Washington 98105
+1 206 633 1100

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McMennamin's

Restaurant

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This is an old Irish pub if ever there was any. It is a chain of pubs with locations all around the Northwest. They offer a number of excellent locally produced and imported beers, and the food is quite good. I strongly recommend the house hard cider, and I happened to like their Terminator Stout as well. Oh, by the way, when you order a large side of fries, be prepared to eat a LARGE side of fries; they don't skimp on the portions at McMinnamin's.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 23, 2005

McMennamin's
200 Roy Street
Seattle, Washington 98109
(206) 285-4722

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Kostas Opa Greek Restaurant

Restaurant | "Kosta OPA"

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We can't say enough about this place. Run by a Greek staff, they serve Greek food the way it was supposed to be eaten. Prices are exceptionally affordable, and the food is heavenly: rich moussaka, seasoned dolmades, and several excellent dishes I'm not sure I'll ever be able to pronounce, let alone remember how to spell. Don't forget to leave room for the tasty desserts (of COURSE they've got baklava... what do think this is, Burger King?). Beware of the spirits; the brand of ouzo they serve as an after-dinner drink nearly knocked me off my feet. A couple of those and you won't even notice how good the food is.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 23, 2005

Kostas Opa Greek Restaurant
3400 Fremont Ave. N.
Seattle, Washington 98103
206/633-4141

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Sun Ya

Restaurant

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A sentimental stop for me, this is the dim sum capitol of Seattle as far as I'm concerned. Located in Chinatown, this restaurant serves a normal lunch and dinner menu, but the weekend dim sum parade is what I'm usually interested in. You're seated; given a pot of tea, a plate, and a set of chopsticks (okay, you WIMPS can use your forks if you insist); and every few minutes, someone comes by with a cart loaded with Asian delicacies. You pick out what you want and you get it - they tally up the bill later. The prices are incredibly low for what you get - I actually went and figured it out: you'd actually spend about four to five times as much if you went and made most of this stuff yourself, if you incl...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 23, 2005

Sun Ya
605 7th Avenue South
Seattle, Washington
(206) 623-1670

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Pontevecchio Italian Bistro

Restaurant | "Popntevecchio Italian Bistro"

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Pontevecchio has a very intimate atmosphere, because the owner wanted to recreate the neighborhood gathering-type environment he remembers from his youth in Italy. The food is simple, uncomplicated by the uber-sophisticated nouveau cuisine that has infected much of the industry with its squeeze-bottle sauces and overly artistic "towers of power." A decent selection of imported wines is available, and (my favorite part) the owner scours the university music schools and local theaters for promising young talent to show up on selected Friday evenings and sing Italian opera while you eat. Reservations are STRONGLY advised -- it's a small place that fills up fast.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 23, 2005

Pontevecchio Italian Bistro
710 N 34th St
Seattle, Washington 98103
(206) 633-3989

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Buckley's Bar and Grill

Restaurant

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This is a small neighborhood bar-and-grill with fairly standard fare done well. Happy hour is, I hear, the time to go, when the drinks are cheap and plentiful and the appetizers just keep coming. I started with the Triple Spread: warm pita wedges served with smoked trout spread, a black bean and cumin dip that actually tastes rather like baba ghanoush, and a roasted garlic-artichoke dip. As I stated to my companions at the time we visited, a place that is confident enough in its meat supplier that they offer temperature ranges for their burgers should be given the benefit of the doubt and the meat ordered as rare as legally allowed. I wasn't disappointed: just slightly pink in the center and sti...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 23, 2005

Buckley's Bar and Grill
232 First Ave. W.
Seattle, Washington
(206) 691-0232

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Thai Ginger

Restaurant

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A small, well-decorated establishment, Thai Ginger sits nestled among fast-food establishments on the fourth floor of the Pacific Place shopping mall in downtown Seattle. While long lines of patrons await a table across the way at Gordon Biersch, there is seldom a long wait here. The menu contains a variety of standard Thai dishes, none of which really set me on fire (heat-wise or enthusiasm-wise to be honest). It is certainly a decent alternative to burgers and steaks while shopping and not the worst food or service I've had, but given the choice between driving downtown to eat here or cooking Thai myself at home, chances are that a good dinner will be at my place.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on March 23, 2005

Thai Ginger
600 Pine St. Ste. 406
Seattle, Washington
(206) 749-9100

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Fado Irish Pub

Best Of IgoUgo

Restaurant

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This is a loud and boistrous bar with an Irish theme, very popular with the after-work crowd. They serve a wide variety of domestic and imported beers (including Guinness and Harp, of course), as well as hard cider (usually English Strongbow is available, though sometimes only in a bottle). The well-stocked bar is able to provide most mixed drinks as well, including the infamous Irish Car Bomb (Guinness and shot of Bailey's). Happy hour is from 4pm to 7pm, when most drinks are $5 and appetizers are $2.50. The appetizer menu changes periodically, but you can usually bet on finding potato chip nachos (homemade potato chips with classic nacho toppings), chicken boxty quesadillas (potato pancakes...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 4, 2005

Fado Irish Pub
801 1st Ave
Seattle, Washington
(206) 264-2700

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Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour

Attraction | "Underground Seattle tour"

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This is an entertaining and enlightening look at the early history of the city of Seattle and how several major feats of engineering raised a modern city on rocky hills bordering on a muddy bay. You'll learn why a major portion of the city had to be raised simply to make the sewer system work during high tide. The tour starts with an introductory lecture in Doc Maynard's Public House, a restored saloon from the 1890's. Since the current street level is nearly 30 feet above the original sidewalks, the tour descends below Doc Maynard's Tavern and gives you a good look at Seattle's underbelly. There are some rough spots in the path and several flights of stairs along the tour, so wear good shoes. Th...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 23, 2005

Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour
608 First Ave.
Seattle, Washington 98104
206 682 4646

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Pike Place Market

Attraction

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The Pike Place Farmer's Market has been a Seattle landmark since 1907. Despite several efforts over the decades to demolish the existing structure and replace it with more modern environs, the market has persevered and become a cherished icon of Seattle's culture. Near the main entrance on Pike St. is the now world-famous fishmongers, where "flying fish" are the name of the game; if you want, they'll help lend credence to your claim that you "caught" your own salmon. From spring to fall, fresh local produce is always available, and specialty vendors surround the market with everything from artisanal cheeses to kosher bakery goods and micro-brewed beers. Local crafts--people sell their wares at rent...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 28, 2005

Pike Place Market
85 Pike Street
Seattle, Washington 98101
(206) 682-7453