Seattle Restaurant Reviews

On a recent trip to Seattle, I managed to do a ton of dining out on a shoestring budget. Here's what I found, what I recommend, and what I don't.

Green Papaya



If I lived in Seattle, I'd eat at Green Papaya as often as possible. Though their Vietnamese food is somewhat anglicized, that doesn't bother me when it's full of flavor, beautifully presented, and reasonably priced. They also have a wide selection of tofu dishes and a nicer atmosphere than most Vietnamese joints. Don't miss the spicy banh mi and the lime ginger mint drink.

Green Papaya
600 E Pine St
Seattle, WA 98122
206.323.1923
Green Papaya Website



Dilettane Chocolates



On a Sunday evening, this popular Seattle institution is quite crowded and full of energy. They serve all kinds of desserts, most of which involve chocolate. With a much wider selection than you'll find on any restaurant dessert menu, Dilettane is the perfect place to get your sweet fix. They also sell truffles, cakes, and gourmet coffee drinks. My slice of hazelnut cake (called japonaise gateau) had a bit of that stale display case taste. It was also too dry, but the presentation was gorgeous. Prices are reasonble for what you get (my generous slice of cake was $7). I've been underwhelmed on both visits, but my friends and everyone else seem to love this place, so you probably will too.

Dilettante Chocolates
416 Broadway E
Seattle, WA 98102
206.329.6463
Website



Dragonfish Asian Cafe



Dragonfish, an Asian fusion restaurant on the outskirts of Downtown, reeled us in with the promise of cheap happy hour drinks and sushi. Since moving to LA, my standards in sushi have shot through the roof, but my untainted friends were pleased with their rolls, which are all standard combinations involving shrimp, crab, avocado and cucumber. This happy hour isn't actually a good deal though: with rolls at $2, you only get 4 pieces, and the $3 drinks are really watered down. In addition to sushi, you can also order $3-4 small plates like fried tofu, tamarind chicken satay, beef satay, and spring rolls with nuoc cham.The atmosphere was nice, though, and the place appeared to be a popular dinner spot, so you may do better here if you stick to the regular menu.

Dragonfish Asian Cafe
722 Pine St
Seattle, WA 98101
206.467.7777



Owl n Thistle



Like most bars, this is not a place to go for food, but rather to watch sports, enjoy live Irish music five days a week, and drink beer. The burger seemed like it had been frozen previously, and you should avoid the sickly pink raspberry vinaigrette dressing when ordering a salad, but the hummus plate is quite tasty as long as you're a fan of garlic. Other vegetarian options include grilled cheese and a Gardenburger.

Owl n Thistle is off the beaten path - it's around the corner and downhill from the much more prominent Fado. Owl n Thistle's beer is $1 cheaper though and the atmosphere is more casual. It's also a bit moody--the bar has few windows so it's dark even during the day, and the dark wood tables, faux red leather booths, exposed pipes and exposed wooden ceiling beams don't make things any brighter.

Owl n Thistle
808 Post Ave
Seattle, WA 98104
206.621.7777



Honey Hole



With its wild decorations and lengthy menu, Honey Hole is a great place to pick up a sandwich at just about any time of day. Whether you like your sandwiches hot, cold, meaty, or vegetarian, you're bound to find something tasty. They also have a full bar, which would seem out of place in most sandwich shops, but somehow fits right in here.

Honey Hole
703 E. Pike St. Seattle, WA
Hours: 10am-2am daily
206.709.1399
Honey Hole Website



Bauhaus Books and Coffee



When you think Seattle, do you think coffee shop? Bauhaus does Seattle's reputation right by serving strong, frothy, delicious lattes in a friendly, non-corporate setting complete with books you can read and a cozy (or crowded) upstairs. Though the music can be too loud, this is still a great place to linger over a book and people watch--and judging by the almost constant stream of visitors, I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Bauhaus Books and Coffee
301 E Pine St (at Melrose Ave)
Seattle, WA 98122
206.625.1600