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0 Friends85 Reviews
17 people like my reviews
| What am I eating? | |
|---|---|
| American | 25% |
| Seafood | 11% |
| Coffee | 11% |
| Bakery | 10% |
| Northwest | 9% |
| Where am I eating? | |
| Queen Anne | 6% |
| Ballard | 5% |
| Downtown | 5% |
| Capitol Hill | 5% |
| Belltown | 5% |
| Which cities? | |
| New York | 16 |
| Philadelphia | 27 |
| Portland | 7 |
| Seattle | 201 |
| SF Bay Area | 39 |
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Reviews
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Seattle reviews
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Red Mill Burgers (Interbay) "head to phinney" May 04, 2008 - Somehow, flavor was missing from our bacon deluxe today and the beef patty was thinner than usual and too dried out. Cost-cutting ploy or a fluke? I'll have to wait until next time to find out. One advantage of this location is that there's more seating available. Disadvantage: not as lively and fun as the Phinney Red MIll. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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Tsukushinbo "good, simple japanese fare" March 01, 2008 - perfectly fried tempura, good spicy creamy scallop nigiri and the Japanese style fried chicken was nicely spiced and, again, lightly fried to perfection. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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How To Cook a Wolf "in love with the agnolotti" March 01, 2008 - each bit of the agnolotti was a superb punch of flavor . . . definitely the best dish of our night. am curious to explore the menu a bit more. nice atmosphere, nice service, pricey wine by the glass. |
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Agua Verde "mango mango mango" February 25, 2008 - the mangorita (mango margarita) and the mangodilla (mango quesadilla) were perfect for happy hour on a lovely sunny, near-spring day. i am a huge mango fan, but i think anyone would find both (made with fresh mangoes) tasty delights. |
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Bombay Grill "really hit the spot" February 24, 2008 - lamb nawabi korma paired with the mint paratha was delish; I normally don't like sweet curries, but the bombay mango masala was surprisingly enjoyable. we ordered take-out, but the service in the 10-15 minutes we were there was great--they had us sit by the fireplace while we waited for our order and served us complimentary chai tea. |
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Despi Delite Bakery "not so much" February 24, 2008 - tried quite a few items and didn't love any of them. would go back only for the fun of buying another giant egg tart. 2 people like this review - Recommend |
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Steelhead Diner "the jury's still out" January 23, 2008 - great appetizer, fair entrees and okay desserts. the standout dish was our appetizer of beet tartare with perfectly crisp yucca chips. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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Barriga Llena "what?" January 18, 2008 - Tried this place out after reading the P-I review but apparently didn't have quite the same experience. Had their signature torta. All I remember is a huge mass of dried out meat with little in flavor. |
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Purple Dot Cafe "50/50" January 18, 2008 - I've had two satisfying meals and two absolutely terrible meals here. Tonight's meal was just icky. I wouldn't suggest the kung pao chicken . . . .even diners who are not seasoned Chinese cuisine eaters would know that the dish served up at Purple Dot is not what kung pao is supposed to taste like. |
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Café Presse "ah . . ." January 18, 2008 - pure satisfaction. wish this place was down the block from my house! incredibly affordable good eats. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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Quinn's "LOVE it!" January 18, 2008 - had my birthday gathering here a week after they opened. loved the atmosphere, loved all the food. the upstairs communal table/group area was a little tight for our group of 15, but it made the experience all the more intimate. service was wonderfully attentive as well. 2 people like this review - Recommend |
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Bilbao "should've given them more credit" January 18, 2008 - Highly disappointed by the seafood paella which our group found greatly overpriced, however the slow braised oxtail (a little on the fatty side), the patatas bravas, and the grilled lamb chops were great. The complimentary 2nd pitcher of sangria from whom I assume is the owner of the restaurant was a nice touch and much appreciated. Overall, a better dining experience than I expected. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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Shoofly Pie Company "not into the namesake pie" November 11, 2007 - the signature shoofly pie didn't meet my expectations, but the key lime was excellent. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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Coupage "new favorite burger" November 11, 2007 - Who would have thought that a kim chee, foie gras, and short rib burger would be such a wonderful combination. Excellent fries with truffled mayo alongside. three of us shared it as a pre-dinner snack before heading to Harvest Vine. While the mac and cheese dish was tasty, it's definitely not the dish that would bring me back. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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Metropolitan Grill "not worth the money" July 24, 2007 - While the steaks we had were quite good, the overall package was lacking in some way that is hard to pinpoint. Poor atmosphere, so-so recommendations, completely over-priced bottle of wine. Definitely skip appetizers and desserts (we had the lobster bisque, which was way too salty. The calamari was decent, but not great. The coconut cake is not made in-house and tasted as if it'd spent a bit too much time in the fridge waiting for someone to order it. The burnt creme was too eggy in flavor and too heavy on the cream.). |
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Kamei Japanese Restaurant "not again" July 09, 2007 - wow, i'm completely befuddled by the rating for this site. our meal here was absolutely terrible--as far as the sushi is concerned. I'd gone with an out of town guest and was really embarrassed by the quality of the meal. Perhaps the non-sushi dishes are liked more? |
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Bakery Nouveau "something to crave" June 09, 2007 - The twice-baked almond croissant is definitely something that I can see myself craving again in the near future. While I salivated over the lemon blueberry brioche, it proved to be a bit too sweet for me. Can't wait to return to devour more of its pastries and sweets. |
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Grand Central Baking Company (Eastlake) "simple, easy satisfying meal" June 07, 2007 - Easy parking, free wi-fi, lots of seating, and fast service makes this the perfect stop for a quick meal or a eat-while-you-work meal. The drunken chili was delicious and the portabello rendition of the traditional Vietnamese sandwich, banh mi, was a nice light-flavored complement. |
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Saigon Vietnam Deli "not my favorite" June 07, 2007 - had the combination pork bahn mi and was disappointed. Though, for $1.75 for an entire meal--not bad. |
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Ototo Sushi "just okay . . ." June 06, 2007 - some of the sashimi on the house special sashimi platter was rather fishy. The caterpillar roll and the spicy negihama were good, but nearly as good as other sushi joints and not good enough to warrant the price. I liked that the agedashi tofu had a much lighter skin than other places I've been to. |
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Trophy Cupcakes and Party "cupcakes to heart" May 22, 2007 - I went to Trophy today, intending to buy one cupcake and, of course, ended up with two. Then, I tried to make it home before I tore into the deliciousness. I didn't make it--I made a first stop at the outdoor tables outside of Wallingford Center. After a couple of bites, I made my way to the car and couldn't resist opening up the box again. The hummingbird (banana-pineapple-coconut cake with cream cheese topping) was soo yum. The snickerdoodle was good, but I'll probably try another flavor the next time. |
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Takohachi "perfect comfort food" May 17, 2007 - Japanese curry has always been comfort food for me. I grew up eating it at home with carrots, potatoes, and onions. Curry with perfectly fried chicken or tonkatsu, both perfect at Takohachi, is a step above and an absolute treat. |
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Volterra "not impressed with brunch" May 13, 2007 - The mother's day brunch at Volterra was a disappointment. The bread basket, especially the almond clawfoot, was quite good. The rest of the dishes (wild mushroom eggs benedict prawn salad, chestnut pancakes, and bacon avocado scramble), however, were mediocre--nothing that couldn't be made at home or had for a few dollars less elsewhere. This being said, I'd like to try out their dinner on a return visit. |
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Rancho Bravo "hooray for food trucks!" May 11, 2007 - Having gone to college in Philadelphia where food trucks were an absolute staple on our campus, I have a huge love for food served out of a truck or off of a cart. So far, we've tried the fish burrito and the pork--both oh so good. The tamales are always sold out when I go . . . but one of these days, I'll get my hands on them. |
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Peach Tree Tea Room and Bakery "a display case full of deliciousness" May 11, 2007 - The Peach Tree Tea Room and Bakery is located in a cute little country village where plump and colorful roosters run free on the grounds. I'd suggest not going anywhere near them as you walk to your car should you not be able to resist tearing through your baked good first. Of the tropical bread (banana and pineapple) and the lemon scone, we liked the latter much better. It was still warm to the touch and more cake-like than your typical scone. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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Kiku Tempura House "nostalgia" May 10, 2007 - I grew up eating the oyakodon at Kiku. It's been a while, but I bet it's still just as good. |
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Facing East Taiwanese Restaurant "not like the real thing, but good" May 10, 2007 - our favorite dish of 5 was the snack, five-spice fried chicken with basil puree, which is sold at street stalls in Taiwan. The Taiwanese burger and the spiced pork stew over rice was pretty good as well. We were not fans of the Tainan shrimp roll because of its inauthenticity and the blanced horfun noodle w/ veggies and shallot infused oil for lack fo tasty and use of way too much oil. |
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Green Leaf "adding to my list of favorite Vietnamese restaurants" April 23, 2007 - The grilled chicken and pork in the combo vermicelli was smoked well and very flavorful. Of all the dishes we had, our favorite was the humungous bowl of escargot noodles. And the coconut juice was so refreshing after a warm day and a stroll around Seward Park. The staff is warm and inviting and very helpful in picking new dishes to try. |
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Koot's Green Tea "addicted" April 20, 2007 - I'm absolutely addicted to the matcha lattes. |
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Top Pot Doughnuts (Belltown) "go for the bavarian cream!" April 18, 2007 - After I had the bavarian cream, I haven't been able to convince myself to try another. My little treat was not as chewy the last time I went, but perhaps it was the last of a batch? This fluke won't stop me from returning for more! |
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Blue Moon Burgers "good, but I'm sticking with Red Mill" April 18, 2007 - Had the single bacon deluxe with sauteed red onions. The beefy patty was a bit on the dry side, but easily repaired with a bit of ketchup. I'm not a fan of the plain batter on the onion rings, but it does allow you to taste the natural sweetness of the vidalia onions. I think the rings at Red Mill will remain what I crave though. For a burger meal of this price, I think Red Mill will still be the place I go for my burger fixes. |
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Two Bells Bar & Grill "gut-busting burger" April 17, 2007 - Two Bells has recently been the only place I've wanted to go when the craving for a burger hits. I love their blue cheese burger. Kudos if you can finish a burger AND a side of potato salad! FYI: the baguette "bun" makes the chowing a bit messy. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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Red Mill Burgers (Phinney Ridge) "a nice cheap eat" April 17, 2007 - While there are better burgers around, these better burgers generally cost almost twice as much as what you would pay for a very satisfying Red Mill burger. I always opt for bacon and sometimes stuff an onion ring or two under the bun while I'm at it! |
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Hosoonyi "so good in the winter" April 17, 2007 - One of the best dishes to have in the winter is a soon doo boo and the seafood tofu stew here at Hosoonyi always satsifies the craving. |
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Matt's in the Market "charming favorite" April 17, 2007 - I love the old Matt's space and loved eating at the counter, watching them whip up my delightful dishes. It's been my favorite place to take friends from out of town on their first visit before or after the requisite Pike's Place adventure. Hoping that it'll still be as lovely and charming after the expansion. |
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Pho Hoa "good, reliable pho" April 17, 2007 - If it's a simple and tasty pho you are looking for . .. this is the place to go. Inexpensive and so satisfying with huge portions. Go for the small unless you are HUNGRY. 2 people like this review - Recommend |
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Salumi "still loving it" April 17, 2007 - Stopped by for a roast lamb sandwich with gorgonzola the other day after having been absent for years. It was a bit more costly than I remembered, but still just as delish! 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
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Crush "the best birthday dinner" April 17, 2007 - I also hate to admit my love for foie gras . . . but I do (!) and, indeed, Crush has some of the best foie gras I've ever had (also to be had at Cafe Juanita, but in a much smaller portion). We also loved the slow-braised short ribs and the lambchop. The monkfish, in comparison to the meat dishes, was a little less flavorful but still wonderfully cooked. Dessert was not as flawless, but the rest of the meal covered for it. I love the simple but comfortable decor and the small, intimate kitchen--it was so cozy and welcoming on that chilly October night. |
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Flying Fish "thai crab cakes" April 17, 2007 - Crab cakes is one of those dishes that I can't pass up whenever I encounter it on a menu. More often than not, it disappoints. The thai crab cakes at Flying Fish, however, were delightful and much savored. |
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Moxie "still need to be convinced" April 17, 2007 - It wasn't a bad meal, but nothing impressive either. In looking at the menu online, it seems that none of the appetizers or entrees we had are on the menu any longer. Curious about the lamb burger . . . |
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The Station Bistro "lovely setting" April 17, 2007 - I went to The Station for the setting--I love the old Garfield High School blackboards as tables and the use of the old garage space. It was a relatively warm the night we visited, so the garage doors were up, but still draped. The food was nice . . . I would describe it as a good effort by a friend who is trying to cook a gourmet meal for you. The awesome setting and the very reasonable places made anything lacking in the dishes forgiveable. I'd love to return just for a drink or for dessert--bread pudding on the night we were there. |
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Macrina Bakery "my staple bakery" April 17, 2007 - I've been nibbling away at Macrina for years and still love it. Current favorite: the buttermilk biscuit with strawberry preserve. Most missed: this lovely basil tart that I've only seen once and miss most dearly. And a side anecdote--one time, I dropped my just bought cookie on the floor as I was walking about of the bakery and they graciously gave me a complimentary replacement. I was so grateful . . . . I REALLY wanted that cookie! |
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Malena's Taco Shop "yum yum yum . . ." April 17, 2007 - Great neighborhood eatery and always at the top of my list on days when take-out is in order. |
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McCormick & Schmick's Harborside "Not at all recommended" April 17, 2007 - The best of two meals at the Harborside location was the jumbo shrimp cocktail which requires minimal cooking. At $3-4 for each shrimp, however, I'm better off buying and cooking my own from Costco or Pike' Place. The seafood-potato chowder was quite good and reasonably priced. Otherwise not worth going to at all. My biggest gripe would probably be the hazelnut crusted halibut which sold for $29, but would be more appropriately priced at half that for the quality of the dish. |
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Tamarind Tree "Be prepared for long waits on weekends!" April 17, 2007 - Great atmosphere, setting it apart from the typical chinatown restaurant. Portions are large, presentation nice, and the taste pretty good although a bit Westernized. For atmosphere, this is the place to go. For more authentic, yummy Vietnamese, I'd gladly go to the other restaurants with basic decor and fluorescent light. |
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Pies & Pints "probably won't return" April 17, 2007 - My pint was good. The mushroom-beef pie was not so great. And the chocolate cake with Bailey's Irish cream was so enticing on the menu but ended up being dry and crusty. A disappointment. |
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Baguette Box "filling meal that makes a little mess" April 17, 2007 - I felt a little iffy about my drunken chicken sandwich. By normal standards, I would have said that the chicken was decently tasty, but perhaps the novelty of having it on a baguette boosted my immediate response to the meal. Overall, the sandwich (paired with truffle fries) was enjoyable, but perhaps my next try will be another of their gourmet sandwiches. Warning: it is no easy feat to attempt eating this sandwich with relative grace and without making a mess. |
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Hi-Life "eh . . . so-so" April 17, 2007 - I love the atmosphere of the restaurant as I'm always intrigued by spaces with history used in unconventional ways. The mushroom pizza we shared as an appetizer was wonderfully flavorful but the crust was unremarkable. My entree of winter ravioli filled with squash was good in its chewiness, however, the pool of mushroom sauce bathing the ravioli lacked any flavor. An additional pinch of salt and maybe a thicker consistency would have made it a bit more appealing. Service was great--the waitress so very nicely gave a friend a complimentary drink for the late arrival of his entree. |
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Coastal Kitchen "To try again . . ." April 17, 2007 - Sad to say that I was disappointed with the breakfast at Coastal Kitchen. We'd opted to go salty with the scramble special w/ a side of salmon sausage. This might've been where we went wrong as the pancakes that waltzed by our table looked rather good and oen couple at a nearby table polished off three pieces the Kitchen's coffee cake. The next time I go for breakfast, I'm definitely going sweet. Looking forward to a dinner here as well. |
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Cafe Besalu "pure yum" April 17, 2007 - Besalu is, for me, like a great food blog come to life! The long lines from the door to the pastry case is entirely enjoyable with views of the often picturesque working space and pastries being skillfully formed into what will be pure joy. My absolute favorites are the leek quiche, spinach quiche, the french apple tart, and Besalu's extra-spicy chai. The last time I was there, I witness a man wolf down a slice of quiche, a pain au chocolat, and a plain croissant and all I could do was envy him for his wonderfully high metabolism. |
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Cascadia "disappointed YET again!!" March 29, 2007 - I was disappointed with the 25 for $25 at Cascadia back in November and couldn't eat my way through the March promotion without giving it a second chance. Sadly enough, I was disappointed with our meal yet again. While the menu sounded absolutely fabulous, the flavors were just not there. The potato-leek soup with slices of duck salami ended up being the highlight of the night--silky and with a wonderfully subtle flavor. The presentation of this dish was beautiful as well, and could have easily been featured as is in Saveur or any other culinary magazine. The buffalo savernaccio, while pretty nice in taste, was extraordinarily tough. Our eggplant spring roll entree with honey-carrot sauce and pea-vine salad was an incredible disappointment. While I thought that the dish would be a wonderful segway into spring cuisine, the single spring roll was not filling enough and tasted much like my mom's spring rolls easily made at home for 1/100th the cost of this meal. The ginger-crusted soft shell crab was much too deeply fried and the ginger flavor nonexistent and served on a bed of rock shrimp-bamboo shoot risotto that fell a little flat as well. Our third course was equally disappointing. I mistook the strawberry-rhubarb upside down cake for steak tartare as it was being brought to my table and it tasted much like white cake drenched in syrup and red food coloring. The passion fruit meringue tart was much better, but still not wowing. The best part of the night may have been watching the blurred figures of the chefs and cooks as they worked busily behind the beautifully etched glass separating the kitchen from the dining room. |
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Serafina "comfort food at its best" March 29, 2007 - Serafina's $15 3-course lunch was one of the best deals of this month's restaurant promotions. While the proscuitto was a bit tougher and fattier than desired, its combination with the appropriately-ripe canteloupe on one of the first beautiful sunny days of spring made up for the texture of the meat. The potato-leek soup, while not pureed like it is in many restaurants this season, was delicious and homey. Both entrees, the baked ribolita and the salsicchia with soft polenta were delightful--the ribolita aptly described on the menu as the ultimate Tuscan comfort food. For dessert, the apple-rhubarb crisp was a step above the coffee-espresso cake, but both were highly enjoyed and a great end to a very satisfying meal. Restaurant staff were attentive despite the incredibly busy noon-time business crowd and the atmosphere charged with energy. |
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Campagne "three cheers for fabulous service" March 29, 2007 - Our party of three dined at Campagne for their 25 for $25 promotion tonight and were especially delighted with their service--our waiter was warm, informative, attentive, comfortable, and impressively courteous. The meal started out with complimentary biscuits laced with gruyere and thyme as an addition to the bread basket. The generous slab of pork and chicken pate appetizer was delicious and came surrounded with a lovely assortment of toppings including two types of mustard, sea salt, pickles, and olives. My entree, the petit choucroute garnie a l'alsacienne (a combination of sausages, smokes pork, and cured pork with sauerkraut) was good, but not entirely satisfying. The other entree we tried, however--the beef bourguignon, was delightfully soft and seeped in the beef's natural au jus and red wine. Had that been MY main dish! For dessert, our decision was made easy. Three choices outside of sorbet and ice cream and three of us, so we had one twice-baked chocolate cake with buttermilk ice cream, one cardamom and orange creme brulee, and a blood orange tart. Each of us had our own favorite, mine being the wonderfully flavored and appropriately sweet, tart, and ever so slightly bitter blood orange tart. Overally, just lovely. |
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Market Street Grill "against my intuition and better off for it." March 29, 2007 - As an early dinner tonight, we tried Market Street Grill for their 25 for $25 promotion. While I know not to judge a book by its covers, I have to admit that I let Market Street's exterior and website influence my decisions prior to tonight. Driving by, I always thought the place was more of a fast-food joint and nothing that would pique my interest. I will gladly admit that I would have missed out if I had let my assumptions prevail. Even before our appetizers came, we had already devoured two platefuls of the best bread from Columbia City Bakery. Our appetizers--a french lentil soup with a whole seed mustard sauce and the baby arugula salad with sliced pear, hazelnuts, and roquefort cheese--were absolutely delectable. Our entrees were enjoyable enough as well, although both the duck breast and the ribeye steak were a little tough and fatty for our tastes. This being said, the flavors were still great and we want to believe that the poorer meat quality was just a fluke. The side of truffle fries that came with the steak was absolutely the most satisfying mound of fries I have had in years. For desserts, we had the profiteroles (yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!) and the lemon tart. Service was wonderful and the environment unpretentious and low-key. I loved the large-scale street map of Ballard that stretches down the main wall of the restaurant, and can't wait to return on any given Sunday for this very same promotion. Yes, it's not only March and November for these guys! |
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Ray's Boathouse "borderline" March 27, 2007 - We ate at Ray's Boathouse back in November, also for the $25 promotion. While my guest's ling cod was fabulous, my alaskan king salmon was just terrible with parts of the filet still cold and frozen. As it was a birthday celebration, I didn't want to put a damper on the night by sending the dish back. I merely chewed and swallowed. Tonight, our party of 3 attempted the March $25 promotion and our experience was split down the middle yet again. The cauliflower soup of the day was wonderfully smooth and the generous pieces of smoked scallop a wonderful touch. The pan-seared scallop appetizer topped with bacon and leeks served as a decent amuse bouche in preparation for our entrees. We found the the grilled halibut in muscat grape cream sauce to be a tad bit on the dry side, but borderline enjoyable. Two of us had the sablefish in sake kasu. I had high hopes for this dish after having read reviews touting this as Ray's signature dish. Both of our dishes came out rawer than it was intended; one absolutely needed to be sent back to the kitchen. Our waiter was extremely gracious about the return and the dish was nicely prepared when brought back to us. While the sablefish, otherwise known as black cod, was tasty enough, I was not at all a fan of the honey soy sauce that tasted much like brown sauce that can be found at any corner teriyaki shop. It lacked the sophistication that I seek in a restaurant such as Ray's. All of the desserts we had, including the coconut rum creme brulee, the chocolate-pepper cake, and the rhubarb-strawberry twist were uninspired and a blah end to our meal. Our wonderful waiter made the savvy gesture of gifting us with a bar of gourmet chocolate to compensate for the returned dish. Wihle the food was borderline, the service was delightful and very amicable. |
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Restaurant Zoe "sooooo good and worth every single penny" March 26, 2007 - The last time I had a full course meal at Zoe was nearly 7 years ago when the restaurant first opened. Our experience was memorable then and our meal tonight brought back the very same smiles and sighs of satisfaction. We had the $25 3-course meal tonight and it was fabulous. Every single course was amazing. The ricotta-filled gnudi, cousin of the gnocchi, was dressed in a sauce made from brown butter and truffle oil--a sauce so delicious, i wanted a few more spoons full. The potato-leek soup was silky and smooth, just a beautiful consistency. For entrees, we chose the incredibly moist pork tenderloin on a bed of curried barley, figs, and the most tender spinach leaves, and the pink trout on top of a hazelnuts and turnip mix. I have to say that I was not sold on the trout when the dish was suggested, but it certainly exceeded my expectations. And lastly, for dessert we had the warm chocolate tart with peppermint ice cream and the lavender panna cotta topped with a rhubarb compote and side of strawberry juice. What a great night of dining! |
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Nishino "25 for $25" March 22, 2007 - We tried the 25 for $25 3-course meal at Nishino tonight and were pleased with the meal overall. For appetizers, the ginger dungeness crab cake was meaty and perfectly pan-fried. The seared tuna sashimi, however, did not taste fresh and the texture overly mushy. For entree's the assortment of nigiri and rolls was just the right portion. While I got what I expected of the nigiri, the cucumber rolls were unexpectedly delicious as they seemed to have been marinated first. The other entree we had, the broiled black cod in miso was absolutely fabulous--soft, flaky and moist. It was perfection. Desserts, like the appetizers, was one thumbs up and one thumbs down. The sorbet trio was delightful and a great light end to the meal, while the green tea mousse seemed much too heavy to be called a mousse and the green tea flavor not strong enough. Despite a couple of blahs, our overall dining experience was superb. We were 30 minutes late because of horrible traffic and Chef NIshino and his staff were still gracious enough to seat us and to serve us well! |
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Brasa "first let-down in years" March 20, 2007 - I've dined at Brasa many times since it first opened and have always found the fare to be consistent and of great quality. A week and a half ago, our party of 3 dined there for the 25 for $25 deal and left wholly dissatisfied. The service was lackluster--we had trouble finding our waitress throughout our 2 hour meal--and the meal itself was quite disappointing. For appetizers, while the cataplana mussels with chorizo was quite good, the soup was lacking in taste. The flavor of the short ribs were good, but nothing special and the extraordinary fattiness of the meat left cancelled out any goodness of flavor. While I thought the tuna okay, my dining partners both disliked the dish for being flavorless. And this brings us to dessert--the cheeseplate was great, however the spanish doughnut and the tres leches were both terrible. The tres leches cake was particularly horrible, tasting dry and stale. Perhaps we should return during a non-promotion month and give one of our staple restaurants another chance? |
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Eva Restaurant "lovely little restaurant" March 20, 2007 - I went to Eva for the 25 for $25 deal about two and a half weeks ago with a friend. The meal was delicious and satisfying overall. I had the pan-fried prawn cakes topped with cilantro sauce (awesome!), the pan-seared tuna with olives (satisfactory, but not great), and the ginger cheesecake with blood orange topping (so good!). Aside from the tuna, my friend also ordered the clam chowder (which she loved) and the hazelnut-rosemary chocolate tart (good, but not as good as the ginger cheesecake). the service was great and ambience warm and comfortable. |
New York reviews
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Buttercup Bake Shop "the cupcake wasn't that great, BUT" April 20, 2007 - the cakes looked fabulous. 1 person likes this review - Recommend |
SF Bay Area reviews
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Primo Patio Cafe "so affordable and satisfying" June 06, 2007 - Had the jerk chicken platter with a very generous and perfectly grilled portion of chicken. Yum, yum, yum and very cute "backyard" atmosphere. |
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Bi-Rite Creamery and Bake Shop "just delicious!" June 04, 2007 - Salted caramel, roasted banana, and balsamic strawberry ice cream. Yum! |
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Sotto Mare "chow on the chowder!" June 01, 2007 - The clam chowder at Sotto Mare was excellent--wonderful flavor and clams that were fresh and had great texture (unlike many restaurants that have clams that taste rubbery and fishy). I was there on a Thursday night, close to closing time. It was just me and a couple of guys at the counter. The service was so welcoming. This is definitely the type of place that I could become a regular at. |
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Papalote Mexican Grill "not a fan of the soyrizo" June 01, 2007 - The veggie options using tofu and soy substitutes are not bad, but you don't forget that you are eating subs for meat. Will have to try the meat dishes the next time to issue a verdict. |
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El Toro Taqueria "gut-busting portions" June 01, 2007 - The taco especial was ginormous and very good (had the al pastor). I was particularly curious to see if the dishes would taste any different from the tacos at any other taqueria or taco truck because El Toro doesn't use lard in its cooking. Even without the lard, it was delish. |
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Tartine Bakery "i'm in love with this place" June 01, 2007 - If only I had 4 stomachs--2.5 for baked goods. I didn't get to try what I set out to try (the passion fruit cake, the morning bun, and the tarts) due to the portions being too big for one person or them not being available. What I did try was just fabulous though--the frangipane and the hazelnut chocolate tart. This is the type of place that would convince me to relocate! |
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Bombay Ice Cream and Chaat "great flavors, good ice cream" June 01, 2007 - Loved the flavor of the cardamom rose and the mango ice cream. The texture of mango ice cream was creamier and so much stronger and much more bold than East Asian or Western mango ice cream. Tasty! |
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Powderface "spectacular!" May 31, 2007 - The beignets remind me of the elephant ears I used to eat at food fairs when I was younger. Just-fried dough and powdered sugar can't get any better. One of the girls here deserves extra kudos b/c she fired up the fryer and made the beignets for us when we arrived a bit after closing time upon hearing that I was only in town for the weekend. She was my hero of the day. |
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El Novillo "must stop after Ojo" May 31, 2007 - Across the street from El Ojo de Agua--come here as a 2nd stop and order the tripas. Interesting texture and great smoky flavor. |
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El Ojo de Agua "i love taco trucks!" May 31, 2007 - highlights--chorizo taco and the milkshakes (walnut and banana). |
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Sam's Chowder House "touristy" May 31, 2007 - clam chowder had pretty good flavor, but the clams left a fishy after taste. This was a huge disappointment given that the restaurant also has a seafood market attached--supposedly. The lobster roll was pretty good in of itself. When compared with the North Beach lobster roll that I had later, however, it paled in comparison. |
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Sketch Ice Cream "creamy, the way it should be!" May 31, 2007 - The earl grey was okay, but the coffee and the pistachio were delish! |
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Acme Bread Company "perfect crust with soft centers" May 31, 2007 - perfect place to buy baguettes for a picnic. Also picked up a ham and cheese croissant in the morning--a bit greasy, but very flavorful and satisfying. |
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Gregoire "cute little place" May 31, 2007 - I love the atmosphere of this place--with its open kitchen, small counter inside and 2 picnic tables outside. The duck breast sandwich with cole slaw that we had was flavorful and the duck well prepared. I did not like the potato puffs (as my friend describes it--tater tots with mashed potato filling) as much as I thought I would given my love for potatoes prepared in both ways. Would love to try some of the other sandwiches at this charming little place. |
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Caffe Trieste "amazingly good cappuccinos" May 31, 2007 - didn't try out any of the food, but my cappucino to go was fabulous! |
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Champa Garden "sets the precedent for Laotian . . ." May 31, 2007 - taking into consideration that this was my first time having Laotian. The combination appetizer including the rice ball salad, the Laotian sausages, and the mini spring rolls with mushrooms and rice noodles was great. The seafood curry was not bad, though a bit on the sweet side if memory serves me correctly. The Lue's Noodle Soup, supposedly a trademark dish with fermented bean, pork, and hofun noodles was was pretty good as well. For dessert--we had a tapioca pudding with condensed milk--very sweet, very heavy, but very tasty. Service was just fine in our books. |
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Miette Cakes "sweet tooth satisfied" May 31, 2007 - How could anyone not like Miette? Another one of those baffling ratings . . . the desserts that I loved here were the blueberry tart, the lime meringue tart, the banana cream tart, and the wonderfully chewy rose-geranium macaroon. Enjoyed on a sunny day on the benches outside of the Ferry Building--perfection! |
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Arizmendi "pizza of the day" May 31, 2007 - We had the pizza of the day--asparagus and goat cheese on a perfect thin crust that was slightly chewy and slightly crisp. It made for an excellent snack! |
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L'Osteria Del Forno "good food, bad service" May 31, 2007 - I'd gone to the restaurant for the roast meats. While I longed for the roast pork, my stomach cried for something lighter and this came in the form of the special roast of the day--roasted cornish hen. The flavors were wonderful and the natural flavors and juices of the meat were showcased. Next time, however, I'm going for the roast pork for sure! The only part of my meal that was sub-par was the terrible service. I was constantly overlooked by my waitress and waited for a long period of time just to have my plates cleared, was not offered the option of dessert, and had to wait another while for the bill. |
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North Beach Lobster Shack "hmmm ahhhh . . ." May 31, 2007 - The Maine Lobster Roll here is just incredible! A huge mound of lobster meat tossed in mayo and scallions bursting out of the seams of a buttered roll (more like a huge piece of light and fluffy toast slit down the middle). The cole slaw had a bit more mayo than I prefer, but that can easily be overlooked given how delectable the lobster roll was. The splurge (as far as sandwiches go) is absolutely worth it! |
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North Beach Lobster Shack "hmmm ahhhh . . ." May 31, 2007 - The Maine Lobster Roll here is just incredible! A huge mound of lobster meat tossed in mayo and scallions bursting out of the seams of a buttered roll (more like a huge piece of light and fluffy toast slit down the middle). The cole slaw had a bit more mayo than I prefer, but that can easily be overlooked given how delectable the lobster roll was. The splurge (as far as sandwiches go) is absolutely worth it! |
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Lulu Petite "very filling sandwiches" May 31, 2007 - I should have gone with the guy's recommendation of the salmon sandwich, but I wondered if that was a standard rec given to touristy-looking people. So I went with the egg salad sandwich wtih artichoke tapenade instead. And while I was expecting a burst of flavor, the sandwich ended up being rather bland. On the list of to do's: return for the salmon, duck breast, or lamb sandwich or perhaps one of the baked egg breakfast sandwiches. |
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Golden Gate Bakery "egg tarts" May 31, 2007 - Hmmm . . . nothing beats these egg tarts straight from the oven--steamy egg filling and the perfect flaky crust! |
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Slanted Door "good, but . . ." May 31, 2007 - My friend and I had a meal of Vietnamese crepe, lemongrass pork, and the caramelized tiger prawns yesterday. While everything was tasty, we both felt that the same yummy dishes could be found at any other Vietnamese restaurant for half the price. Its location in the Ferry Building and decor that is perfect for a power lunch are the reasons for the premium that you can expect to pay. |
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Benkyodo "melt in your mouth mochi" May 31, 2007 - I am baffled at how low the rating for Benkyodo is. I went for the first time this morning and savored every last bit of the four types of mochi that I bought. I brought some home to share and my friends were all of the same opinion, declaring, "this is heaven!" The manjus were not nearly as good as the mochi, in my opinion. I hope people look past the decor (the shop is set in a diner-ish setting) and get their hands on some of this oh-so-fresh mochi. |