NFT Radar: Village Sushi

Foodieism is unquestionably all the rage these days. Hipsters no longer flock to destinations for their on-tap PBR ironic decor, but for their wacky fusion dishes, local cheese selection and exotic meat offerings. Somewhere along the line, tater tots were replaced by foie gras. So that’s why it’s rather refreshing to find a place that just serves straight up, traditional genre cuisine and does it very well. Village Sushi doesn’t have any cleverly named house rolls. They just have the usual: Unagi, salmon nigiri, cucumber rolls, tempura, and everything you would expect a sushi restaurant to serve. It’s not fancy, but it’s perfectly executed and damned delicious. It doesn’t hurt that they have the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic sake sommelier I’ve ever met. She’ll ask you questions and pick the sake she thinks you’ll like the best. She’ll offer to let you sample her wares and she won’t try to talk you into the pricey stuff. If you like sushi, you will leave Village stuffed and satisfied and you won’t have dropped a lot of coin either. Sure trying new things is fun, but you gotta love the classics!

4741 12th Ave NE 98105
206-985-6870
www.villagesushi.com

X-posted from Not for Tourists.

July 28, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: La Rustica

Sure, every Italian restaurant claims to provide the authentic experience. Even the Olive Garden. But take it from me; La Rustica is the real deal. Everything from the stone interior to the vine-covered patio to the fresh, tender pasta will transport you straight to the Old Country without having to endure the long, crappy flight. Spoil your appetite with fresh garlic bread sticks. Take your time perusing their enormous menu. But don’t stress too much. Anything you get is going to be awesome. And you’ll definitely want to save room for dessert. Best Tiramisu in the city. In true Italian fashion, you will not leave the place without having to unbutton something. The downside is that the dining room is tiny, especially when the weather is too crappy to utilize the outdoor patio. And no, you can’t make a reservation, unless your party is 6 or more. But trust me. Put your name on that list and wait. Prego.


4100 Beach Dr SW 98116
206-932-3020

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

July 20, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Berserk Games

Here’s a scenario for you: You’re having 3 of your closest friends over for a game night. Then one of them calls and mentions they’ve invited a couple more. This is a disaster! Sure you have enough alcoholic energy drinks to go around, but Settlers of Catan is only a four-person game. Fortunately, there’s still time to get your butt over to Berserk Games and pick up that expansion pack. Now everyone can join in and get wood for sheep! If you have no idea what any of that means, Berserk Games is probably not for you; stick to the Scattegories and Apple Martinis. Otherwise, you will love this place. They have every nerdy German tile game you can think of plus plenty of Magic and Magic-like card games. If you’re tired of regular Carcassone, they have all kinds of expansion mods to make for a riveting evening hunting Wooly Mammoths and getting trampled by Dragons. All this plus a bucket of 12-20 sided die at the counter to entice you as a last-minute impulse buy. Go ahead and treat yourself. Those lands aren’t going to settle themselves.

7217 Greenwood Ave N 98103
206-523-9605
www.berserkgames.com
X-posted from Not For Tourists.

July 7, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Hula Hula

Situated between the d-baggery of Belltown and LQA is a tropical paradise of good clean fun. Well, maybe not clean. But definitely good. Besides offering a fun Polynesian theme (without all that pesky sunshine), Hula Hula is currently the best option in town for weekend karaoke. The book is decent, the rules are fair (newbies get shuffled into the mix whenever possible) and you get to sing in style amongst lights and a disco ball. Like any good karaoke joint, it’s best to get there early because it fills up fast. But that’s OK because you’re gonna want extra time to drink those lethal tubs of tropical booze. Hungry? Their pupus may be a little westernized but they still help to soak up the hooch in a most delicious way. Plus, it’s just fun to say pupus.


106 1st Ave N 98109
206-284-5003
hulahula.org

X-posted from Not For Tourists

July 7, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Seattle Laser Dome

If you’re looking for great recession time entertainment, (and let’s face it, who isn’t?) you should really check out Laser Dome at the Pacific Science Center. Sure, most of the audience is comprised of teenagers looking to hang with their crushes in the dark. But there’s also loud rock n’ roll…and LASERS! They have classic shows like “Pink Floyd: The Wall” and “Laser Queen,” and they’re always adding limited engagements for contemporary bands like Radiohead and Muse. It never hurts to sneak in some beers in your tummy. But even in a sober state, lasers are pretty cool. Especially when they depict robot battles. It’s already cheaper than a movie but there are even more ways to save at Laser Dome. Thursday is “cheap date night” at $5 a pop. Concessions on Friday and Saturday are just $2. They have $1 weekend matinees with your PSC ticket. Teen admission is always $5. Best of all, it’s a live show, which means there’s a guy in the booth customizing each performance. If the crowd is keen, he’ll even do an encore. Besides, you should support the Pacific Science Center because financially, it’s not doing so hot. The people need their science!


200 2nd Ave N 98109
(206) 443-2850
www.seattlelaserdome.com

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

May 19, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: 3 Comments

NFT Radar: RIP TUBS

In its glory days, TUBS was spa. A spa enveloped in rumor. These rumors suggested everything from anonymous sex in the secluded hot tubs to a full on prostitution ring. I don’t know what, if any of it, was true. I suspect there were some sexual indiscretions in the tubs at one point or another but what hot tub hasn’t seen at least one happy ending? And anyway, the speculation was half the fun of Tubs. It was a great conversation piece with a cool exterior. And now it’s about to be torn down. In recent months, a group called the Free Sheep Foundation started to paint the outside. Not graffiti but actual art. Really good stuff. The city let them because they were tearing it down anyway. Last Sunday, they held an open house and the artists were there. You could also go inside. Sadly, I encountered no ghostly reach-arounds. Just tons of broke tile and dust. An old TV. More art. I know we have a lot of art spaces in Seattle already but it felt like a waste to just haul it away. On the other hand, the coolest things in this world are only temporary.


4750 Roosevelt Way NE 98105

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

May 6, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: 2 Comments

NFT Radar: Smarty Pants

Finding good Eggs Benedict is a difficult and risky endeavor. Moreso than with other breakfast dishes (pancakes, for instance), you need to be careful ordering sight unseen. But I love any excuse to visit Georgetown and brunch at Smarty Pants is one of the better ones. I’m sure glad I tried the Benie because now I know it’s one of the best in the city. The hollandaise is perfect and they will throw some Morningstar Farms veggie sausage on there for you if you don’t dig on swine. If you do enjoy consuming farm animals, they have you covered there too. The corned beef hash is made from scratch and the Huevos Panteros is a delicious, crispy take on the ranch-style dish. The hash browns are all grease and crunch and could use a little work, but their featured dishes are spot on. Weekend mimosa and bloody deals help you recover from the night before. Lunch or dinner boasts an equally impressive menu, including brats, cheesesteak, succulent pork and the B.E.L.T. (B.L.T. with hard boiled egg). Sub any meat with field roast. You’d be stupid pants not to like this place.


6017 Airport Way S 98108
206-762-4777
www.smartypants.com.

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

April 29, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Chaco Canyon

Many have praised it and I’ve only been once so I’m guessing Chaco Canyon is pretty hit or miss. For me, it was a huge miss. This is the sort of experience that makes meat and potatoes folks run for the hills. Me, I love organic food. But, while they succeed at stocking organic, local ingredients, they fail epically in the culinary department. The BBQ Seitan sandwich ($10.95) lived up to expectations only in that it was hot. Devoid of BBQ sweetness, it’s surprising that something so spicy could be so bland. It also became a soggy mess on the 10-minute walk home. The carrot cake ($5.95) was an affront to desserts. While it resembled one of my all-time favorites from a visual standpoint, the first bite was a shocking disappointment. I couldn’t identify the white topping, but it wasn’t frosting. The “cake” was bitter, mealy and raisin-free. The whimsical buttercream carrot on top, in this case an actual carrot, was the only edible part. To add insult to injury, this place ain’t cheap. Sure, there’s the quinoa “recession bowl” ($3.95). Quinoa is very tasty and chock full of protein but I shudder to think what they’ve done to it.


4757 12th Ave NE 98105
206-522-6966
www.chacocanyon.com

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

April 22, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Skyway Park Bowl & Casino

Bowling, Casino games, karaoke and Asian Fusion cuisine? Could such a place really exist (and possibly fill the void left by Sunset Bowl)? The answer is yes! The downside for central Seattleites is that South Seattle is difficult to reach without wheels. But if you can convince a friend to D.D. (sodas and coffee are free for that standup guy/gal!), it’s a terrific place to spend the evening. There’s so much to do, it’s almost overwhelming. The karaoke book is staggeringly thorough. The regulars bring astounding performances and they will always fit in newbies. The food in the bistro hits the spot. If your cravings are more local, they also have Fast Food Alley for your pizza and nacho needs, as well as a pie of the day. I enjoyed a divine slice of peach. And man, are the staff nice! If it’s not your night at the Pai Gow tables, the dealers seem genuinely sad for you. The parking lot may get a little sketchy after dark but the giant doormen are more than happy to walk you out. I wish you were a bit closer, S.P.B., but I love you all the same.


11819 Renton Ave S 98178
206-772-1220
www.skywayparkbowl.com

April 20, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Sutra

Sutra fulfills a niche that is sorely underrepresented: The Vegetarian Foodie. As a regular Top Chef viewer, I know that most gourmet chefs have no idea what to do with a slab of tofu. One guy, when faced with a tofu challenge, elected to braise it with beef fat to make it “taste good.” But the folks at Sutra don’t need to cheat to make vegetarian food classy and tasty. They’ve designed a sort of supper club with 2 seatings, Wednesday through Saturday. The 4 course, set menu runs around $33 per person. Beer and wine is extra. All the ingredients are local, seasonal and organic. The presentation is professional and attractive. Even though you share the small dining room with 20 people, and they begin with a speech about the meal, you can still have a nice private dinner with your friends. The food itself is… good! It’s not life changing but if you’re having a birthday dinner or celebration of some sort wherein 2 or more of your party are vegetarians, this is a great place to go. The changing menu means that every Sutra experience will be new and exciting. Not unlike the most famous Sutra of all, the Kama.


1605 N 45th St 98103
206-547-1348
www.sutraseattlec.com.

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

April 16, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

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