Tavolata equal to Cascina? Looking for a good vegetarian/meat eater restaurant
I'm meeting two friends in Seattle and staying at Hotel Andra. My first friend really wants to try Cascina but is afraid it won't be good for a vegetarian and thinks we should go there before my vegetarian friend arrives. I can't tell from the menu if that is true. Any experience? If you were to go to two Italian restaurants would Tavolata as good as Cascina? Is El Mestizo good vegetarian food? My vegetarian friend loves Mexican so that might be another option. Chez Shea sounds great as well, but doesn't look vegetarian friendly. Thanks for any help!
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Chez Shea
94 Pike St. Suite 34, Seattle, WA 98101
Tavolata
2323 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
El Mestizo
526 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
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I agree that Poppy is probably a delicious choice for both meat and non-meat eaters. I've only been once but had a great experience.
I've also tried Spinasse and ordered non-meat dishes that were amazing -- the butter-sage egg pasta for my main, and I shared an antipasti and a side (I don't think the antipasti I had is on the menu right now, and don't remember the side). I thought the pasta was incredible, even in its simplicity. I'm an omnivore and order meat dishes often when I'm out, but I would go back to Spinasse and order this dish again.
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re: Bethwick
I wonder if it depends who is in the kitchen that day. My butter and sage noodles at Spinasse were not good. Nothing about my visit was "world class"--not the food or the service (I think we got unlucky with a very indifferent waiter who ignored us for 15 minutes after we were seated; hopefully he's not there anymore).
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Spinasse
Seattle, WA, Seattle, WA-
re: christy319
lavaca
May 13, 2011 09:11 AM
You're the only person I've seen who wasn't excited by the tajarin, so I'd consider "bad night" before "bad dish".
Incidentally, the tajarin was served with veal ragu when I visited in January. The vegetarian pasta preparation that night was squash ravioli, which drew raves from the person who ordered it. The menu on the website probably isn't a good indication of what's coming out of the kitchen right now.
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re: lavaca
dagoose
May 13, 2011 11:25 AM
I've had the tajarin with butter and sage multiple times and I always feel a little like "um, peeps, the emperor has no clothes." I've never really understood the appeal. Very one note. I'm all for simple pasta (I could have pasta with butter and sage everyday for dinner if allowed), but this has never impressed me.
That said! I have always really enjoyed all the other dishes I've had there, so I have returned multiple times.
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I haven't been to Spinasse in a few months, and have never evaluated it's vegetarian possibilities, but in my experience over the last few years (and both chefs) it's a world class place. I would encourage you NOT to miss it. Tavola is very nice, but a different league in my opinion.
I have been to El Mestizo several times and it is also interesting and well done.-----
Spinasse
Seattle, WA, Seattle, WAEl Mestizo
526 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122 -
lavaca
May 11, 2011 04:28 PM
I really like Spinasse, but a vegetarian would have to order every single non-meat dish on the menu in order to full up. Given that the menu encourages sharing, your vegetarian friend would probably feel a bit left out. Tavolata has a wider variety of non-meat options, but the overall level of quality is not as high.
Sitka & Spruce does great things with vegetables and has a much wider selection of non-meat dishes than either Spinasse or Tavolata. Another place to consider is Poppy. The smaller dishes are almost all vegetarian, and the non-meat main courses are at least as good as the meat-based main courses. Neither of these is an Italian restaurant, though.
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From my one time experience at Spinasse, I think it is highly overrated and not good at all for a vegetarian. When I went, I thought the hand cut pasta with butter and sage was nowhere as good as a similar dish at Tilikum Place Cafe. My vegetarian friend was not impressed with the slim picking and was hungry within a couple hours of leaving. I agree with terrier, forget Mexican in Seattle for good vegetarian options.
Check the menus at Sitka & Spruce and Tilikum Place Cafe. As a fall back there is Palace Kitchen, always something for everyone.
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re: Bethwick
I completely agree with Bethwick. I ordered the single vegetarian pasta on the menu at Spinasse recently, and I was not impressed. It was overcooked and it was spendy for what it was. Our appetizers were just okay. I LOVE Tavolata though it's not the widest selection of veg entrees--check the day's menu first. I even like Osteria La Spiga better than Spinasse--it's a much better value and it has relatively large menu with plenty of veg options.
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Spinasse
Seattle, WA, Seattle, WATavolata
2323 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121La Spiga
1429 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122 -
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terrier
May 11, 2011 01:46 PM
If by Cascina you mean Spinasse, no, Tavolata is not nearly as good. I think Spinasse is fine for a vegetarian, if you're ordering a la carte. You can build a fine meal from the vegetarian primi, contorni, and antipasti on the menu.
I have never been to El Mestizo, but the better Mexican restaurants I've patronized in the area make absolutely zero accommodations to vegetarians. The fact that El Mestizo has a specific vegetarian menu is rare enough on its own that you might be wise to consider it.
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Spinasse
Seattle, WA, Seattle, WATavolata
2323 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98121El Mestizo
526 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122›1 Reply
