Visit to Seattle

[travelbuff]

I'm attending a conference the last week of March at the Westin hotel. Are there any good, reasonable spots (especially for lunch) within a few blocks for lunch? I'd like to do dinner in some of the neighborhoods by cab--reasonably priced and funky is good. I haven't been to Seattle in 15+ years and I'm very excited!

[sailcocktail]

If you go to Ballard for dinner, check out Volterra. If you can get away at 3pm on a weekday, head down to Elliott's Oyster House on the waterfront for their "Oyster Happy Hour" where oysters start at 50 cents each at 3pm and goup 20 cents each half hour. Yummm.

[mrnelso]

Ballard has a lot of good food - Cafe Moose is a treat and does a good brunch. Fremont, nearby, has Paseo

[travelbuff]

Thanks so much, these are great suggestions. I'm really excited for some new eating choices. If anyone needs Baltimore dining advice, I'm there for 'ya.

[charmedgirl]

Travelbuff, I'm a Baltimore native with strong Seattle ties (lived there up until a few months ago when I moved back to Bmore), so if you need some reccs or want comparisons of Seattle to Baltimore joints feel free to ask. :-)

[ptridel]

come out to Ballard, there's lots of cool bars and restaurants here. If you take a cab to Old Ballard Ave you can pretty much walk up and down it and see them. Some include: Hattie's Hat, the People's Pub, King's Tavern.

[firecracker]

The Icon Grill is just across the street from the Westin (Fifth Avenue side). Fun, funky and good food. Wait staff is knowledgeable of the menu and they always have a couple of funny comments. The butternut squash soup is terrific. Their fried chicken is really moist and good. Mac and cheese as a side or a main is yum-o. The meatloaf is one of their signature dishes and is very good. Tell them to go light on the blackstrap molasses gravy, though. The waffle cone dessert is a good one. Bathrooms upstairs are a hoot!

Good luck and good eatin'!

[Lauren]

I enjoyed The Icon Grill when it first opened. It was a fun, comfort food kind of place. It has gone down hill the last couple of years. I don't know if it's related to their decline, but they were purchased by Applebee's around the same time. The food quality has sunk to the level of the barely edible. I took my non-foodie parents there at Christmas time and even they couldn't tolerate the bad food and service.

[firecracker]

Yikes! Applebee's now? That's not a good thing. Think I'll rescind my endorsement!

[clauney]

What do you mean "purchased by Applebee's"? The Applebee's brand is franchised to a zillion different owners around the country--I don't think that Applebee's Inc. owns and operates non-Applebee's-branded restaurants. Do you mean that a local franchise owner owns Icon Grill as well?

Anyway, I haven't seen it go downhill at all. I've been eating there for a while (work nearby) and have seen it stay pretty consistent.

[xnyorkr]

Stroll through the Pike Street market and pick up all kinds of treats, especially Turkish food and salmon, of course. Then go 4 blocks up and see the original (?) Nordstroms.

Go across the river to Salty's for the best view in the world.

It's hard to go wrong in Seattle.

[malarkey]

Ooooohh travelbuff, 15 years is a LONG ass time, you will see many, many changes. but being right downtown you will have excellent choices.

Le Pichet for dinner, Cafe Campagne for brunch, Baguette Box for a sammie and truffle fries, Green Leaf (vietnamese) for bahn xeo, Sea Garden (cantonese) for whatever they have swimming in their tanks, Steelhead Diner for the Caviar Pie, Union for high end delectibles, Tavolata for italian comfort food, Lark for small plates of yummy foods, Vessel for cocktails & snacks, Harvest Vine for spanish tapas, Shiros or Saitos for knocked out sushi.

that should get ya started.

[Lauren]

I believe Belle's Buns is closed. Belle Epicurean is a 6 or 7 block walk from the Westin.

[mrnelso]

Thank you, Lauren, it was Belle epicurian I was thinkin of (ah, prosciutto and gruyere brioche).
That is a lovely little "tea with the queen" sort of place...

[mrnelso]

For Lunch, the baguette box is walkable, as is Belle's Buns.
Start your Market tour at the Athenian to really get back in your Seattle groove.

[justfeedme]

I love the baguette box. didn't they just open a 2nd one in Fremont? it's worth checking it out.

[Pete S]

I'm not a local (I'm from the UK in fact) but I really enjoyed the visits I made to Lowells(motto "Almost Classy" in Pike Place market last year. Try their Steamer Clams in a wine / cream sauce with garlic bread and one of their draft beers........

[ssusu]

Hey travelbuff: another recent thread that's right on point for you is this one:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/372323.

Enjoy your stay!

[barleywino]

the Westin is across the street from Barolo http://www.baroloseattle.com/pdf/menu... (walk past the McDonalds)

[bergeo]

Sorry to see nobody's posting, but pretty much all of your answers can be found in threads such as the "Seattlest" thread above. Good luck and happy eating.