NFT Radar: Tilikum Place Cafe

Two of my foodie friends had a simple request: A recommendation for a Belltown restaurant which serves quality food and isn’t touristy or owned by Tom Douglas. I’d just caught wind of Tilikum Place Cafe and was keen to try it. So we all went to dinner together to see if we had a match. Guess what, Chuck. We have a love connection! Their business model is simple, reasonably priced European food with quality ingredients and a dude who knows his wine. My French food enthusiast/cook friend loved his Duck Confit. This is quite an achievement in its own right. The Grilled Beef Tri-Tip also hit a home run. Vegetarians beware. Just like in Europe proper, they like to sneak meat in unsuspecting places. But if you ask nicely, they will be happy to accommodate you. Plus, with plenty of rock solid sides like mashed potatoes and the to-die-for Butternut Squash Tart, you won’t go home hungry. If you do dairy, you don’t want to miss their cheese plate. So dinner kicked ass. And since the Brunch menu includes sweet or savory Dutch Babies, I’m definitely itching for a second date.


407 Cedar St 98121
206-282-4830

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

March 8, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Mee Sum Pastry

Mee Sum Pastry is one of the only places worth braving Pike Place Market for even if it’s the height of tourist season. They make killer Hum Bow for under $3 each in BBQ Pork, Vegetarian, Chicken and Curry Beef flavors. Their fillings are sweet and savory and the buns are chewy and delightful. If you have a big appetite, add a Crab Rangoon or a couple of Sesame Balls to your order. Find a nice seat in the park and watch the Hobo Theatre while you munch. This is one of the most satisfying and cheap downtown lunches possible. Hum Buns are the cheeseburgers of China and you’ll want another one before you finish the last bite of the one you have. As a LOLCat might say, “Om nom nom nom.”


1526 Pike Pl 98101
206-682-6780

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

March 6, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Stella Cafe

Everyone knows that Seattle loves coffee. So it’s surprising that it took this long to get an authentic Italian cafe. Stella fills that void with ease. The Vespa in the window tells you they’re bona fide before you even order your espresso. You may think a shot isn’t your thing, but that’s because you’ve never had it the Italiano way. It’s not bitter like that Starbucks crap. Their dark Roman blend is brewed just right, covering every shot with a thick layer of “crema”. This is the magic of espresso and it lends sweetness to every nutty sip. Afterward, you will feel relaxed and pampered instead of jittery. Of course, Italians also like to eat and Stella serves up the classics with perfection. Choose from 9 huge Panini for under $6 featuring a variety of meats, cheeses and vegetables. They have the Sweet-tooths covered too. If you’re a native Seattleite, chances are you’ve never had a proper Canoli. Now is your chance to try these crispy, creamy confections of perfection. The portions are small so you don’t have to share unless you want to. They haven’t forgotten about the Panetone either. This light, sweet fruit bread is served grilled. La Vita es indeed Dolce!


1224 1st Ave 98101
206-624-1299
www.stellacoffees.com

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

February 27, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Carmelita

Perhaps February 14th was a risky date to try someplace new, what with set menus and fact that most restaurants are booked solid. But I’d wanted to try Carmelita for a while and their romantic but laid-back ambiance and upscale vegetarian cuisine seemed ideal for Valentine’s Day. Besides, their set menu sounded foolproof. So I made a reservation for two and scored one of the last tables. Truffles and risotto are two of my favorite things so imagine my delight when one available entree involved both of these things. Unfortunately, the result was lackluster at best. Truffles have a very strong and distinct flavor and I couldn’t taste them at all. Did they forget to add them? The orzo was al dente and the whole dish was overwhelmed by cauliflower, a fairly bland vegetable when under-seasoned. It’s disenchanting to have to add salt to a $40 meal. Perhaps they were off their game on account of being so busy. Still, everything else was terrific. My guy loved his Carrot-Mascarpone Gnocchi. Our wine recommendation panned out (Malbec). The Chocolate Muck Muck was both chocolatey and muck mucky. I’d go back again for sure. But what the hell happened with that risotto?


7314 Greenwood Ave N 98103
206-706-7703
www.carmelita.net

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

February 25, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: 1 Comment

NFT Radar: The Spectator

It’s the classic couples problem. One of you enjoys professional sports and one of you doesn’t. Fortunately, you both like to drink. The Spectator has your compromise. With 13 flat screen TVs broadcasting everything from American football to what the rest of the world calls Football, the sports enthusiast you are or love won’t miss a play. Numerous classic arcade games, pool, and shuffleboard keep the less enthused half entertained. They also have a video poker machine featuring my all-time favorite bar game: Naked Lady Poke (a.k.a. Spot the Difference). Their weekday happy hour prices almost everything below $4. The eats aren’t too shabby but they get a little too liberal with the nacho cheese. 5 minutes after your cheesy bacon tater tots hit the table, you’ll need a fork, lest you contribute to tree genocide with the amount of napkins you’ll need. That’s not all they’re liberal with. They boast about their famous pound of chicken wings but I suspect they serve everything there by the pound. Rent the mezzanine for private parties or settle into a big, cushy booth for impromptu gatherings. Go team!


529 Queen Anne Ave N 98109
206-599-4263
www.thespectatorsports.com

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

February 19, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Bengal Tiger

We’d passed the signs countless times. “NW Source’s People’s Pick for 2006 and 2007!” Every grocery receipt from the neighboring QFC had a coupon on the back. But I’ve never even heard of NW Source and besides, the Mister and I are Taste of India devotees anyway. Is there really room for more than one Indian restaurant in our lives? Well, in January, they had a new sign. Apparently, the People picked them again for 2008! We finally caved and gave it a try. And it was…pretty good! I love any place that gives you freebies and here you get Papadums (the Indian tortilla chip!) and a delicious lentil soup started included in your meal. Our curries were excellent, albeit a little spicier than we’d ordered. But what do those stars mean anyway? The sauce on my Garlic Wala was creamy and pleasant. The gentleman had the house special, lamb with mint sauce, and it was tender and…minty. No complaints about the service either. And the tiger motif is adorable. Bengal Tiger IS grrrrreat! But we live just as close to Taste of India. And frankly, it’s still OUR people’s pick. Sorry, Tiger.


6510 Roosevelt Way NE 98115
206-985-0041

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

February 9, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . Tags: . Author: Baxter . Comments: Leave a comment

NFT Radar: Mae’s Phinney Ridge Cafe

Longevity is rare in these condo-riffic times. But Mae’s has managed to overcome. In 1988, Midwestern Mae turned around a divey diner. Apparently, she’s really into cows. Seated in the Moo Room, replete with cow paraphernalia, you’ll feel a bit like you’re staying with your crazy aunt. The menu’s also cow-pun laden. Fortunately, the food kicks ass. Every breakfast staple is present and in top form including Corned Beef Hash and Eggs Benedict. The grits and biscuits are perfect and they’ve provided an excuse to have ice cream for breakfast with the Shake and Eggs. They’re also famous for their cinnamon rolls, which you can purchase to go. Just don’t look at the nutrition information, lest you meet the same end as the Nazis in Raiders. Nobody is more obsessed with local ingredients than Washingtonians and Mae’s honors this institution with Snoqualmie Gourmet ice cream, in-house-roasted coffee, and Bacon Salt on every table. Lest you think vegans out of luck in this meat and dairy Valhalla, there’s Tofu Scramble and Biscuits with Mushroom Gravy. It gets pretty crowded on weekends but they have plenty of space in the back so you won’t be waiting long.


6412 Phinney Ave N 98103
206-782-1222
www.maescafe.com

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

February 4, 2009
Categories: NotForTourists, Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: 1 Comment

Candy-Colored Sky

Seattle is pretty.

January 30, 2009
Categories: Seattle . . Author: Baxter . Comments: 5 Comments

NFT Radar: Clever Dunne’s Irish House

It’s kind of dirty and falling apart. Even though they supposedly remodeled the infamous bathrooms, I can’t really tell what they did other than paint. There was a head-sized hole in the wall for a while. But for some reason, every time I go to this place, I have a blast. The occasionally Irish, but mostly punk music selection keeps everyone jaunty. The amusing graffiti in the bathroom distracts you from the grossness. You can turn a hole in the wall into a hilarious photo shoot starring your drunken friends. There’s also plenty to do besides make hard lemonade out of bruised lemons. They’ve got darts, pool and a shiny new shuffleboard table. On Trivia Tuesdays, turn your useless pop culture knowledge into cash and drinking-related prizes. If you get hungry, well, they can’t help you there. But they don’t care if you bring in your own grub from nearby taco, pizza or chicken and jojo vendors. You’ll have a lot of fun without dropping a lot of cash (unless, of course, you get so drunk that you drop your cash). Seems like a clever business model to me.


1501 E Olive Way 98122
206-709-8079

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

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

NFT Radar: Red Light

Seattle thrift stores are completely picked over. You have a better chance of getting struck by lightening than of finding a vintage gem at the Goodwill. Thankfully there’s the Red Light. The sizes tend to run a little small and ladies who still have all their ribs might have to root around a little. But it’s usually worth the effort. The prices are surprisingly reasonable as long as you stick to true vintage. Stay away from the “vintage inspired” rip-off racks of new clothes. The Capitol Hill location is superior to the U.D. in terms of selection. It’s also fun to peruse their massive costume room whether or not you have a reason to dress up. Take a minute to peek at the accessory cases containing fun wallets and purses, funky sunglasses and jewelry and seriously badass belt buckles. Whether you’re attending a theme party or just like the old timey look, Red Light should be your first stop on your shopping excursion. But try to get your Halloween shopping done early or sharpen your elbows because the last week of October at either Red Light location is a douchy free-for-all.


312 Broadway E 98102
206-329-2200
www.redlightvintage.com

X-posted from Not For Tourists.

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

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