Seattle Restaurant Critic

Cellars Steakhouse and Lounge

2011-12-10T17:49:00.000-08:00

The restaurant was clean inside. We went on a Friday night and was surprised it wasn't very busy. The restaurant is located in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood. I think Belltown is overrated. It's not very trendy as it's advertised and the restaurants are just alright.

The food at Cellars was alright, nothing fancy or special. I had steak, my company had the steak and shrimp special. I think the infused olive oil used for dipping bread was the best part of the meal.

The service could have been better. Slow on giving drink refills, even though there was hardly any one else in the restaurant.

Overall, I wouldn't waste your time or money on this place - there are much better places for a fun night out in Seattle.

Table 219

2011-12-09T13:23:00.000-08:00

We first visited Table 219 during the summer when they had a Groupon special. Groupon is good - especially since moving to Seattle recently, it lets me explore new restaurants with little risk of paying too much for a bad meal.

Table 219 is a small, cozy restaurant with friendly staff. When seated, servers present popcorn with truffle butter to snack on while you review the menu. Offering several small plates, it is fun to create your own meal. I've been there a few times just for snacks - a drink, popcorn, bowl of soup and a side of sweet potato fries. The macaroni cheese is very good - served in a pot, it comes out hot and very cheesey.

According to the website, http://www.table219.com/, the restaurant is being sold and will change names to Americana. The website says it will be all new decor with the same great food. For sure I will be back to check it out.

Mistral Kitchen

2011-12-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

Located in the heart of downtown Seattle behind a heavy door is one of Seattle's best fine dinning establishments. I have visited twice - once for dinner and once for the happy hour. Both times, I've left very happy with the overall dinning experience.

On your first visit, I'd recommend sitting at the bar that looks into the kitchen. The menu changes slightly every day to reflect what is fresh and in season - and if you sit at the bar, you'll get to experience the talented chefs prepare your food.

The first visit, I had a a great chicken dinner and a fresh bottle of classic Coke - served in a bottle. Service was excellent and overall an enjoyable evening.

The second visit, we went for happy hour and sat at the bar to watch the bartender make the classic cocktails. A well priced happy hour menu was presented - we chose cocktails, gourmet cheese, oysters on the half shell, and pizza. The margarita pizza was hot, spicy, and served complete with scissors to cut your pizza. We completed the meal with a twist on an ice cream sandwhich for dessert. All of this, including tip, was $50. A great happy hour for two - and the right price.

Check out the website for the sample menu - http://mistral-kitchen.com/. The address is 2020 Westlake Ave, Seattle.

Poquitos

2011-12-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

Seattle is divided into great neighborhoods - Belltown, Downtown, Queen Anne, South Lake Union, Wallingford, First Hill, Capitol Hill... Each neighborhood has distinctive food and great local restaurants. One of my favorite places for meeting friends for drinks and snacks is Poquitos on Capitol Hill.

Poquitos is a trendy Mexican restaurant with a great bar. We normally sit in the bar area - it's an outdoor patio, but is well heated - heated cement floors, heated cement booths, fire pit. Service has been consistently great in the bar.

For starters, I highly recommend the La Fiona or the Jala-Pina drinks. These are very spicy with enfused tequilla - habaneros and jalapenos. These are spicy! The good thing about them - the flavor of the spice is there with no after taste.

Fresh guacamole is wonderful - it is made to order. The chips and salsa are great - only downside is you are charged for it.

The mole enchiladas are awesome - the presentation is traditional Mexican in a hot skillet with the beans ad rice on a separate plate. The mole sauce is spicy - it pares well with the La Fiona drink.

If you're looking for a fun time out - try Poquitos.

Chopsticks - Capitol Hill

2011-12-03T22:56:00.000-08:00

Tonight we went to Chopsticks - a hole in the wall restaurant on Capitol Hill by Starbucks. I must have walked by it several times and never noticed it. We went with a friend on his recommendation.

It's a simple, low budget Chinese restaurant. Decor is outdated and the music doesn't match the atmosphere (Uncle Kracker in a Chinese restaurant??). We were the only customers when we first entered, but a few more came in while we were eating.

The service was fast and efficient. Prices were cheap - portions were large. I had General Tsao's chicken which was more than enough. The Bento boxes were huge - good place to go if you are looking to take leftovers home.

Overall, a good restaurant at a budget price.

Located at:

1631 E Olive Way
(between E Summit Ave & John St)
Seattle, WA 98102

Tap House Grill

2011-12-03T10:45:00.000-08:00

I had a work dinner in Bellevue this week - about 15 of us met at the Tap House Grill. Downtown Bellevue is a great location for business dinners. Trendy, modern and sophisticated, the downtown area is a fun place for shopping, eating, and meeting friends.

We started in the bar - naturally a great selection of local beer and wine. The bar was nicely decorated, attentive servers and the layout made for good conversation.

The friendly staff helped us move our drinks to our table - all of us were able to sit in a row. We all ordered different entrees. I had the Garlic Chicken Penne Pasta. The pasta was perfectly al dente, fresh tomatoes and the toasted pecans and basil made a great addition. Other diners had burgers and fish tacos with glowing reviews.

Overall, I highly recommend the Tap House Grill.

Website - http://www.taphousegrill.com/

Icon Grill

2011-11-29T18:05:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite places in Seattle is Icon Grill. Located at the corner of 5th and Virgina, across from the Westin Hotel, this restaurant offers classic American food in a relaxed atmosphere. Decorated with lamps and blown glass, the decor creates a home-like feeling. The location is perfect for a night out on the town, a trip to a play, stroll through the market, and downtown shopping.

Molasses glazed meatloaf, rib-eye steak, blue cheese tenderloin medallions, and classic chicken-fried steak are all great entrees on the dinner menu. Classic cocktails and fine wines make a great paring with dinner.

Service is consistently good. I've dined here on several occasions and never have had any issues.

Overall, this restaurant is great and classic Seattle. I highly recommend it.

Welcome!

2011-11-28T21:13:00.000-08:00

Hello!

Welcome to my blog. I grew up in the restaurant business and am an avid restaurant fan. After moving to Seattle last June, I started going to restaurants (almost daily!) to try the different styles of food in Seattle.

Sincerely believing dinning out is much more than food - it's the experience, the people, the atmosphere. It's an occasion that should be remembered and celebrated.

Some restaurants are good, others are not so good. It's my goal to help you choose the best restaurant for your dinning experience. After all, it is a bad economy, so why spend your money on a bad experience?

The first few posts will be my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Feel free to comment and give suggestions. If it's your restaurant reviewed, send me an email and we can chat.

Have a great night, Seattle!