Ninety-Nine Bottles Of Beer (Times Eight)

Von's Grand City Cafe - Eclectic Pub Food (3 Stars)

http://www.vonsroasthouse.com

Von's RoastHouse & 1000 Spirits Martini-Manhattan Memorial, a.k.a. Von's Grand City Cafe (I have no clue why it has two different names depending on where you're looking), has more alcohol on their bar shelves than a state-run liquor store! During our visit, their sign outside said they were serving up over 760 different types of alcohol. Even for a non-drinker like me, that's impressive.

Another impressive tidbit about the cafe is the bar's tchotchke-laden ceiling and kitschy "spin the wheel for discounts" experience. A skateboard, bicycle, and even a Seattle Police car door are just three of what must be several hundred items hanging (we hope securely) from the ceiling. There are also two menus if you're sitting in the bar. The first is the Martini-Bar Starters menu that offers 24 items from Kushi Yaki Pork Potstickers and Wild Alaska Salmon and Chips, to the Bloody Mary Prawn Cocktail, Saucy Sliders, Ale Battered Chicken Fingers, and Cast Iron Ahi Tuna. The main lunch menu offers nearly 60 different items.

That said, when three big, burly, hungry guys sit down and peruse a menu, it's hardly shocking that appetizers (and ordering a dozen of them) soon becomes the primary topic of conversation. In our case, we ordered four plus burgers!

Our first appetizer was an order of RoastHouse Pork Eggrolls. It was this plate that set the tone for complete disagreement about all of the rest of the dishes. Mark and I thought the eggrolls were greasy and tasted frozen (despite the menu specifically saying they're made fresh daily), while Mike thought they were amazing and offered: "These things have NEVER heard of a freezer!" I will say that when the eggrolls were finished, there was a hearty pool of oil on the plate. Also, the "sweet and sour" dipping sauce tasted like it was from a bottle and was thick and gloppy.

The Fried Brie was an unusual find and we mostly agreed it was good. Despite the overdone hand-breaded Panko crust, the brie inside was delicious and gooey and spread easily over the Carr's water crackers. However, the oddity on the plate was the bottled strawberry sauce. It definitely tasted like something you'd put on a sundae, not something you'd serve to offer a sweet counterpoint to the savory cheese. And as if bottled strawberry sauce wasn't enough, they added a small bowl of roasted apple cranberry chutney. The chutney was a bone of contention at the table with half of us thinking the apple texture was too mushy and the other half thinking it was perfect. In all, strawberry sauce plus apple chutney is just too much sweet on a savory plate.

Of the appetizers, the Ale Battered Chicken Fingers were actually very good. Moist, tender, and with a slightly spicy coating, the chicken was the best appetizer of the lot. Even the ranch dressing was better than run-of-the-mill. The fingers were served in a basket along with Von's Roaster's House BBQ sauce, though Mike opted for a side of ranch instead. Unfortunately, they put the fingers and condiment bowl on top of chopped lettuce which wilts and sticks to the chicken fingers. Any time you need to scrape something off what you're eating, the enjoyment factor drops.

The last appetizer of our afternoon was the Chinese BBQ Pork. The biggest frustration with BBQ Pork "Chinese style" tends to be very dry pork. Unfortunately, this wasn't an exception. The "sweet marinated slice loin 'o pork" flavor was average, though it was served with a hearty side of Hot Chinese Mustard as well as a sesame seed-toppped Asian salad with cabbage. The salad offered a savory, crunchy texture in contrast to the pork, but the flavor overall just wasn't very noteworthy. The dressing on the salad tasted like an Asian inspired vinaigrette.

As if four appetizers weren't enough, all of us decided to order the Von's Classic Cheeseburger. The patty was pretty huge (third-pound?), bacon thick-cut and delicious (though my bacon was definitely burned), and the bun was slightly sweet and actually perfect. The usual lettuce, tomato, and cheese accompanied the burger. The odd thing about the burger was the Von's secret sauce. It combined maple syrup and savory components and was very hit and miss at our table. The large pile of fries on the plate were barely touched by any of us due to completely full stomachs, but the few fries we did manage to consume were well-seasoned and crispy.

In a restaurant well known for copious amounts of alcohol, Mike couldn't get through the meal without ordering a Lemon Martini. He mentioned several times that it was well-mixed, had a great lemon flavor without being too tart or acidic, and he certainly didn't stop with just one. It sounded like the martini was the best thing he had all meal.

In all, Von's is an eclectic, interesting establishment with average food and an above-average decor. After much wrangling with my fellow diners, the best we could agree to was a well-deserved 3 Star rating. Mike wanted it to be 3.5, Mark was voting 3, and I didn't see much hope with a 2.5. As such, the average was 3 Stars and that's the best Von's was able to do during our visit. Go in expecting average fare, above average eye candy, and an unparalleled list of alcohol and you won't be disappointed.

Dine Around Seattle = Affordable High-End Dining

Dine Around Seattle

http://www.dinearoundseattle.org

For those of you looking for extraordinary dining at affordable prices, March is your month!

This year, 28 of Seattle’s finest restaurants are participating in Dine around Seattle, including Dahlia Lounge, Barolo Ristorante, Chez Shea & Shea’s Lounge, Ponti Seafood, and Steelhead Diner (one of my personal favs). The offerings provide three-course meals for $30 and many lunches are only $15 (beverages, tax, and tip not included).

All of the menus are listed by clicking on each of the restaurants at the URL above. Specifics on times, addresses, telephone numbers, and which meals each restaurant serves (e.g. lunch and/or dinner) are also provided. The $30 options typically includes an appetizer, entree, and a dessert, so this really is a "you'll be sorry if you miss it" event! You can even book your reservation directly from the Dine around Seattle website. What could be easier?

If you’ve balked at trying some of these restaurants because of the price of their entrees, now’s the time to investigate some really delicious eats for a very limited time only.

Since When Is Mall Food Zagat Rated?

Mexico Cantina Y Cocina - Mexican Fare (3.5 Stars)

http://www.eatatmexico.com

If you’re in Pacific Place and want to grab a quick bite to eat before seeing a movie, your choices are sushi, burgers, Thai, American, or Mexican. Fortunately, Mexico Cantina Y Cocina serves up delicious food at a price that will leave you enough money for popcorn and a drink.

Ryan and I have eaten a late lunch or early dinner here on more than one occasion as it’s our fall-back restaurant when our favorite waitress isn’t working next door at Gordon Biersch. This time, Chris was able to join us. Because we mercilessly devoured the chips and salsa, we had to settle on ordering an appetizer and Flautas de Pollo looked perfect. Stuffed with shredded chicken, peppers, and cheese, then wrapped in a flour tortilla and deep-fried, you really can’t go wrong with the Flautas. It even came with a side of their house guacamole topped with Cotija cheese. The portion was just big enough for us to stop greedily eyeing the chips and salsa and wait patiently for the rest of our order.

Ryan confessed he wasn’t terribly hungry, so he wanted to order a soup and salad. (This happens rarely enough that Chris and I both had to tease him about it.) He started with Jane’s Mexican Wedding Soup, a classic, hearty, chicken and Mexican rice soup with a Southwest twist: green chilies, corn, and avocados. The chicken was plentiful and tender and the soup had big chunks of each ingredient. The bowl was actually a generous portion that could probably replace an entree (maybe with a few chips and salsa) if your appetite’s on the smaller end of the scale.

The salad Ryan decided would best accompany his Wedding Soup was the Mexican Chop Salad. Ironically, though in keeping with Ryan’s love of carbs, he said the best part about the salad was the slightly sweet jalapeno cornbread croutons. The salad is packed and included organic greens, avocado, sweet and smoky roasted red peppers, roasted corn, Cotija cheese, pico de gallo, and black beans. It was topped with a cumin vinaigrette that, unfortunately, was a bit heavy-handed with the cumin. Also, for two dollars more, you can include either grilled chicken or fajita beef added and make this a serious entree.

Our love of deep-fried foods is hardly a secret, so it was no surprise when Chris ordered the Chicken Chimichanga complete with shredded chicken and jack cheese served piping hot in a deep-fried flour tortilla. It was accompanied by scoops of sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo as well as refried beans and rice. The chimichanga was slightly overcooked (you can see in the photo that the end was crunched in and crumbling), but the inside was piping hot and very cheesy. The condiments were nearly the most flavorful thing on that dish because the beans and rice were boring and bland.

In keeping with the “healthy choice” theme Ryan had started and Chris completely ignored, I found myself searching the menu and continually coming back to the Ensalada a la Evelyne. The generously portioned salad comes piled high with fire-grilled chicken stacked on organic greens, roasted artichoke hearts, tomatoes, and avocado. It also had pepita-crusted (yes, that’s right: pumpkin seed crust) provolone cheese that was absolutely delicious. There’s nothing better than grilled cheese, except maybe tender and juicy grilled chicken. The big chunks of tomatoes worked well with the large pieces of chicken and provolone. The salad usually comes with a tequila-lime dressing, but I was glad I ordered it on the side as it was a bit overpowering.

It’s about as rare for us to order two desserts as it is for Ryan to order a salad. However, sugar deliciously compels and we were left with a unbreakable tiebreaker: crunchy or creamy. Given there were three of us at the table, we figured two desserts couldn’t be more appropriate!

We began the sugar rush by ordering the Chocolate Mousse. The Patron XO and Kahlua chocolate mousse was thick, rich, and creamy, and topped with a blackberry and strawberry, along with a generous dollop of whipped cream. The dense mousse clung to our spoons as we hungrily licked our lips. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from the mousse but it was surprisingly good. It definitely tasted homemade and the serving glass was large enough for all three of us to have several bites each.

We ended our late lunch with arguably the most well-known and beloved of Mexican sweets (at least by an American audience): the Churro. The carnival favorite of slightly sweet "donut" dough is deep-fried, then immediately sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar which stick to the hot oil. The order of four churros was plenty, but unfortunately they weren’t as good as the mousse. The churro dough had an unidentifiable accent flavor (we three finally agreed it was “citrus”, but even that was vague at best) that was unexpected and unwelcome. We felt the star flavors should be the cinnamon and sugar, but instead found it competing with the secret ingredient.

Overall, you can expect a meal at Mexico Cantina Y Cocina to be better than average and a solid choice regardless of the real reason you were in Pacific Place. The service has always been at least good and sometimes excellent, though we haven’t tried dining during primetime hours or holidays.

Wasabi Wannabe

Wasabi Bistro - Japanese Fusion, Sushi (2.5 Stars)

http://www.wasabibistro.net

It's interesting to me how most cuisines have a freebie food to help whet your appetite: chips and salsa, bread and butter, edamame, breadsticks, pita and garlic vinaigrette, etc. Depending on how delicious each of those are, it's almost easy to fill up before the appetizers even arrive. During this visit, it was apparent we should have done just that.

I like Edamame; most of the time. I've yet to figure out why the preparation is so hit-and-miss at restaurants offering this hands-on finger food. The beans have a tendency to either be mushy or completely underdone and I often have a pod split without notice and launch a bean across the table. That trend of mediocre edamame continued at Wasabi Bistro as the undercooked beans were so heavily salted, what's usually a completely empty bowl for just me at, say, Miyabi Sushi, was less than half eaten by the two of us. I can appreciate flaked salt, but a finely ground salt would have served them better and wouldn't have dominated the subtly sweet beans.

One thing Dan and I both agreed on wanting to try was the Spicy King Crab Soup. At $10 per small bowl, we definitely expected to be wowed. However, we found the broth completely lacked any real crab flavor and the "leg" wasn't cracked so extricating the two tiny bites of crab meat was nigh impossible. The slice of lemon riding the crab leg raft tricked me into believing there would be brightness with a citrus note to the soup. Instead, it was apparently just there for decoration as no amount of citrus could cut through the highly salted, raw onion flavor of the soup. There was also no notable "spicy" to the soup at all. Definitely two strikes in a row for Wasabi Bistro.

At least the Maguro (raw tuna on a finger of sushi rice with a tiny amount of wasabi) looked great. The amount of tuna and the texture of the rice was great. Unfortunately, the tuna had a slight fishy scent to me, so I forced Dan to smell. He said he couldn't really smell anything odd, so we went ahead and ate it. Apparently, all of the soup's missing spice ended up here as there was so much wasabi hidden under the tuna that I barely choked it down. As tears came to my eyes, I looked at Dan and said, "Okay, your turn!" He reluctantly attempted one of the ruby red fingers and said it was good, which of course shocked me. In trying a second piece for myself, the wasabi level was back to normal though I could still taste a bit of fishiness. Of the four pieces we ordered, the one in the picture was left orphaned.

The most ubiquitous roll at any sushi establishment in the US must be the California Roll. At most places, you can expect imitation crab meat, mayo, avocado, cucumber, and sometimes tobiko (flying fish roe). At Wasabi Bistro, you can expect real crab meat given the roll's price is much higher than at many other restaurants. In its favor, the avocado was plentiful and the crab salad inside was just right: slightly sweet and very creamy. The roll was plated on top of spicy mayo and garnished with a sweet brown (teriyaki?) sauce. It was a relatively average roll though beautifully presented in its caterpillar-esque goodness.

The Volcano Roll (pictured in front) featured a center of spicy tuna and asparagus, and was topped with a mouthwatering seven ingredients: ahi tuna and avocado, spicy mayo, tobiko, toasted macadamia nuts, and unagi and sriracha sauces. Despite the hefty price tag for this roll ($14), the textures were incredible. The sauces added depth and a creamy heat, the tuna and avocado added richness, and the macadamias offered a nutty warmth as well as some crunch and pop with the tobiko. This was definitely the best roll we ordered and I'd say it was actually worth the price. Plus, I do have a fondness for macadamias, especially in sushi rolls as I feel they offer something savory and unexpected.

The hidden roll just behind the Volcano was the 2nd Avenue Roll. Ironically, it's akin to being the love child of the first two rolls we had. It had cucumber, avocado, spicy mayo, and tobiko like the California Roll, but also spicy tuna and shrimp tempura. The roll didn't do much for either of us as somehow it was lacking even the average flavor of the California Roll. The shrimp tempura was hardly noticeable because the tempura was soggy so the crunch was completely missing. The rice was good and the spicy mayo and tobiko were par for the course.

The worst roll of the evening was definitely the Wasabi Roll. Apparently we have a thing for the California Roll because this one also offered crab, mayo, avocado, tobiko, and cucumber, but did included a spicy wasabi aioli and was wrapped with seared albacore. Dan said he felt the roll had too large a piece of albacore and he was stuck chewing far longer than he wanted to, resulting in an aftertaste that was too fishy for even two mayos to adequately cover. The chewing issue was exacerbated by the fact that this was a six-piece roll, not an eight-piece roll like the others. Unfortunately, this means a much larger bite per piece.

Over the past few years, I've eaten at Wasabi Bistro several times and usually came away thinking it was great sushi and a good price. However, when a mediocre dinner for two sans dessert and alcohol (because we didn't have any of either) ended up three figures after tip, it's time to rethink another visit. Wasabi Bistro unfortunately earned its 2.5 Stars this visit and is no longer a sushi restaurant I'm willing to recommend.

Yeah, It's Lost Its Mojo

Agua Verde Cafe - Mexican Fare (2.5 Stars)
http://www.aguaverde.com

Given Dan and I both enjoy Mexican food, and he'd heard great things about this restaurant in the U-District, we were excited to try a place new to both of us. Once we arrived, the long line out the front door lead us to believe it was worth the wait. Well, at least the view was stellar.

Agua Verde splits its seating into indoor and outdoor, though the outdoor portion is tiny and you're awkwardly seated in a odd traffic zone (I was seated behind a skinny wall) so you're constantly getting interrupted by people milling about in the grass below you and forgotten by the wait staff since they can't see you. Fortunately, we were seated facing the water and it was sunny and warm despite the cool breeze. However, being outdoors, even on a perfect evening, isn't necessarily a plus when the courtyard nearby has a "band" providing its amateur entertainment. As such, it's very hit or miss, so I'd recommended not dining here if you're trying to have a romantic meal.

While we investigated the menu, our organic chips and hand-made salsas arrived. I definitely have a thing for salsa and we were happy to see three different varieties offered. The Salsa Mexicana had tomatoes, onions, chilies, and cilantro, and was the weakest flavored of the three. The darker green "Salsa Verde" was smokey and had more bite than the Rojo, though the lighter green salsa (the waitress didn't know the name) was our favorite with its sweeter, warmer flavors of cilantro and chilies.

For his entree, Dan decided on the Tacos de la Casa. Agua Verde actually offers 10 different fillings for their house tacos including the traditional beef with peppers and onions, chile-rubbed chicken with cranberry slaw, and shredded pork, along with vegetarian options of portabellas or yams, and even five different seafood options including grilled catfish, smoked salmon, sauteed shrimp, grilled mahi mahi, or coconut beer tempura cod. Each of the entrees is served in three soft corn tortillas along with sides of pureed black beans and their "green rice". The taco filling includes red and green cabbage and most are topped by an avocado cream sauce. Despite looking tasty, the rice was bland, the beans were an odd soupy texture (pureed really doesn't work well for a side), and the mahi mahi could have easily been any other meat as the flavor was very mild.

Once I saw the Burrito de Mole, my love for the rich, complex, nutty, chocolately brew took over. I did order mine without the chipotle-flavored tortilla which is why there's a "side salad" along with a cup of the mole and the filling in a separate bowl. Overall, the filling texture was great: chunky, well-cooked beans, the organic free-ranged chicken was tender and juicy, and the rice was fine. The lettuce, sour cream, and "pico de gallo" topping was pretty standard fare. The problem, however, was the mole. It tasted like bottled BBQ sauce and was too sweet (even for my sweet tooth). I'm glad the extra mole was put on the side because it certainly would have detracted from the filling otherwise.

Despite their drive to use "organic, sustainable, and eco-friendly food," and Agua Verde's pride in their recycling and composting efforts, the overall experience left us feeling bored with the food, but grateful for the view.

"Diner...Evolved"

Steelhead Diner - Eclectic Pacific Northwest (4.5 Stars)
http://www.steelheaddiner.com

Had I known ahead of time that a sunny Saturday in Seattle would lead to the Pacific Place IMAX theater being sold out for hours on end, and had I known about Steelhead Diner before dinner that day, I would have suggested eating at *least* two meals there: one before, then after, a movie at Pacific Place. Fortunately, Christopher knew all about it and I was eager to try out his recommendation.

After briefly perusing the "diner" menu posted to the right of the restaurant's entrance, I was excited about how many of the dishes sounded so good! We entered through two large doors and were quickly greeted by the hostess who informed us they were fully booked for the evening unless we wanted to sit at the kitchen bar or the central bar. We chose central bar which was a slender, 20-feet (or longer) table of shared "bar" seating that ran the length of the restaurant. From one side it offers a great view of the chefs in the kitchen while the other side offers beautiful views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic mountains. (By contrast, the kitchen bar actually runs the length of the kitchen and you sit less than two feet away from the chefs preparing your meal.)

In seeing there were so many dishes we both wanted to try, we ended up ordering and sharing four. We decided on options from the savory starters, soups and salads, and vegetables and legumes portions of the menu, though they also have sections for sandwiches, field and stream, and sweet nothings (the dessert offerings).

The first dish we started with wasn't ordered: various Homemade Bread with Chilled Herb Oil Butter. I didn't really have high expectations of good "bread and butter" given they're as ubiquitous as chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. However, the bread was actually amazing and I simply couldn't get enough of the butter. The two breads they served were a cheddar sourdough and a light rye.

The cheddar bread was loaded with herbs and plenty of cheese and was soft on the inside with a slightly chewy crust. The rye bread had an even more chewy crust with firmer innards and lots of rye seeds throughout. Both were fresh and whet our appetites for more, especially when coupled with the large triangle "pat" of butter topped with herbs and olive oil. Not only could you dip your bread in the oil, but the double dose of oil and butter was absolutely perfect and definitely unexpected.

The first ordered item that arrived was the Jumbo Lump Dungeness Crab Cake. Typically, crab cakes are a disappointment for me as they either have far too much mayonnaise or breadcrumbs. Steelhead's crab cake was a definite exception as it could barely contain the huge pieces of crab meat held together by scallions and Sauce Louis (think spicy chili mayonnaise) and topped with crispy parsley. It is the most expensive appetizer on their menu (a full dollar more than the Caviar Pie), but was easily large enough for the two of us to share. The Sauce Louis is quite spicy and very flavorful, though it managed to enhance and not mask the sweet richness of the Dungeness crab. In all, just perfect.

From the soup and salad menu, we ordered the La Ribolita. This hearty, chunky, vegetarian Italian soup was chalk full of white beans, black beans, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and spinach, and was circled by fresh and chewy torn garlic bread and fruity olive oil. The vegetables were cooked perfectly as they still had great texture and could be tasted separately. This large bowl was about the same price as the crab cake and more than enough to serve two. This soup would be an excellent choice for vegetarians or anyone who wants a hearty, filling entree replacement that won't weigh you down.

The Jumbo Asparagus with Marcona Almonds and Crispy Capers was next. I had never heard of "jumbo asparagus" before and firmly held the belief that asparagus too thick was woody and chewy and bad. These couldn't have proven that theory more wrong. The thick, chunky, diagonal cuts of asparagus were a perfect match to the large Marcona almonds and held up well against the salty, fried pops of crispy capers. Even after trying each dish on the table, both Christopher and I kept coming back to the asparagus as our favorite dish on the table. Christopher even mentioned: "I just want more of that taste in my mouth!"

Our final choice for dinner was something we hoped would be decadent (and we chose it instead of a dessert): the Baked Macaroni (think macaroni and cheese). Grana Padano and Sharp Cheddar Cheese marry beautifully in a traditional bechamel sauce. The pasta is then baked to caramelize the top and served in a ramekin just large enough to feed two if you're sampling more than one dish.

While the sauce was rich, I felt the flavor was a bit too singular. The Grana Padano offered too much bite and left me thinking "This is Parmesan macaroni". I wish the dish would have been rounded out with Fontina, Jack, or even Gruyere for more depth and less sharpness. Even something like fresh cracked black pepper would have helped. This is the only reason the review is 4.5 Stars instead of 5 Stars. (It's tough for me to award 5 Stars when I happen to like my own recipe for Mac 'n Cheese a lot more than the restaurant's.)

With nearly 50 constantly rotated menu items, Steelhead Diner is certainly a "must recommend" restaurant for me. In fact, I haven't stopped talking about it and have already recommended it to at least 10 friends.

Flaky, Fried, Tasty Corn Dough? Yes, Please!

Huarachitos Mexican Taqueria - Mexican (4 Stars)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/huarachitos-mexican-taqueria-seattle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93204832@N00/3346971528/ (Interior)

I had read several times that the recently opened Huarachitos was the place to go for authentic Mexican fare in Seattle. Having received high praise on Yelp and Urban Spoon, and given Steve and my recent whining about lackluster "Mexican" food, we decided to give it a try.

The restaurant is quite small, but has a lovely open kitchen where all the food is prepared in plain sight. The owner, Anna, greeted us warmly and later confided that they had opened five months ago and she and her husband, the chef, had plans of adding alcoholic beverage service later this summer along with a nice deck outside. (She also has a thing for well-made margaritas and loves tequila, so expect to see them offered soon.)

While looking over the menu, we noticed a few typos. Neither of us would have said anything, but Anna actually pointed it out (along with a mildly embarrassed laugh). She then proceeded to blame her husband and his menu layout program for the errors. It's always the chef's fault, isn't it? She then offered to bring us chips and salsa.

For Guacamole and Chips, Huarachitos really delivers. The verde salsa is quite spicy and has a really tasty green chilies flavor. Steve found it too spicy but did love the sweet and smoky rojo salsa with tomatoes and chipotle peppers. Freshly fried and topped with salt and black pepper, the chips were good enough to eat by themselves! Combined with the chunky, fresh, cotija-topped guacamole, you could easily get carried away and stuff yourself well before any entree arrived.

In response to "What's the best item on your menu?", Anna had mentioned several meat dishes. When asked specifically about a vegetarian dish, she pointed to Huaraches Estilo DF: a handmade, thick, flaky corn tortilla topped with beans, lettuce, cheese, onions, and "mixed vegetables". Steve thought maybe the vegetables were prepared from a frozen mixed veggies bag because it had broccoli and "Who's ever heard of broccoli in Mexican food?" That said, the tortilla was incredibly delicious, the toppings were plentiful and well-cooked, and Steve was quite happy with his choice.

I decided to go for the Gorditas. Both these and the Estillo DF use the same dough base for the tortilla, but the Gorditas are small rounds that are fried then split and stuffed with cotija cheese, shredded chicken, onions, cilantro, and tons of shredded lettuce. Steve commented "That actually looks really healthy" once he saw all the greenery pouring out of the tortillas. These are probably the most delicious "Mexican" item I've ever had. I was dead set on taking one of them home, but after the first few bites it was a lost cause.

Two things of note. First, with both of our entrees (and from what I can see, the rest of the entrees on the menu), there are no ubiquitous "beans and rice" sides on every plate. If you have a voracious appetite, you can always order bean and rice sides for $2 each. Second, they are not yet serving desserts. Anna did mention they intend to start serving flan in a few weeks and possibly a tres leches cake starting this summer. Though, in all honesty, you probably wouldn't have room for dessert anyway.

Overall, I was impressed and will definitely be returning (especially once flan is on the menu).

Ooooh, So Wild!

Wild Ginger - Pan-Asian Fare (4.5 Stars)
http://www.wildginger.net

The Triple Door (http://www.thetripledoor.com) is my absolute favorite live music venue. As Wild Ginger shares the kitchen and menu, it's no surprise that the food is incredible regardless of the show you decide to see. And, because I wanted to impress my chef sister, it was exactly where we had to dine during her recent visit to Seattle.

Debi has a thing for Potstickers and Wild Ginger's are amazing: large, plump, golden crispy on one side, and the serving of six are definitely not enough for two if you love potstickers. The soy-black vinegar dipping sauce is a perfect compliment to the traditional chicken filling.

The Chicken Satay took some explaining from Ryan, our extremely cute waiter. The chicken meat is minced, combined with with coconut milk, lemongrass, and other spices, then reformed into a skewered tube of meat. I know, I know, and I wish I had a better description, but trust me, it's fantastic. All my sister could get out was, "Yumm, yumm, yumm!" The satay is served with a delicious peanut sauce, a small cube of sticky rice, and an incredible, "I could eat an entire plate of this stuff" cucumber salad.

For our entrees, we both selected the Seven Flavor Beef. Ginger, chilies, garlic, hoisin, lemongrass, peanuts, and basil frolick around tender, juicy, thinly sliced flank steak. I actually don't eat steak unless it's this dish and I've been ordering it every single time I see a show at The Triple Door or eat upstairs at Wild Ginger. Yes, it's that good!

And speaking of "that good", the Szechuan Green Beans and Curried Broccoli are the perfect sides. Our green beans were a tad bit less cooked than we'd want, but the curried broccoli should really be its own vegetarian entree. The garlic is sweet and the broccoli is cooked well (still plenty of meaty texture remaining).

If you're looking for consistently excellent Pan-Asian food, look no farther than just across the street from our symphony hall. Wild Ginger is sure to impress.

GB2 - Revenge Of The Crappy Waitress

Gordon Biersch - American, Eclectic, Beer-Centric Fare (4 Stars) http://www.gordonbiersch.com

For some reason, each time Ryan, Nicole, and I decide to see a movie, we end up eating at GB. Unfortunately, neither of our favorite waitresses were working, so we got stuck with the worst waitress ever! (And not just because her make-up was heavy, dull, and gloomy.) She took forever to check on us, never bothered to see if our meals were what we ordered, and didn't even bother to say "Thanks!" when we paid the check. Despite horrible service, the food was quite good as usual.

Nicole resorted to her new favorite: Wedge Salad. This time there was no water in the bottom of the bowl, the bleu cheese was chunkier (which she didn't like), and the bacon wasn't quite as fresh (but there was more of it). Yet, somehow, she said it was still great and she would continue ordering it.

Ryan, for some unknown reason, decided to order the Old Fashioned Chop Salad. It actually looks great and comes with everything from chickpeas to chicken, pepperoni to and olive lemon vinaigrette. The portion was generous and Ryan ate every bite. "This is really good" should be proof enough you, too, should order it.

I enjoyed the fish so much during our last visit, I decided to try the Blackened Fish Wrap. The fish itself was actually quite good (moist and meaty), but was a bit lost inside the wrap with all the veggies and the "blackened" dressing. The overall flavor was really the dressing, but the hearty wrap was still worth eating. However, the coleslaw was dry and was seriously missing the dressing everyone has come to expect of "coleslaw".

It's a bit tough to keep up the 4 Star rating given such sad service, but the food itself was still on par with our last visit and everyone was still quite happy with their choices.

Zeena, Warrior Princess?

Zeena's - American Diner Fare (2.5 Stars)

With a name like Zeena’s, you’d expect leather outfits complete with sorcerer staves and axes, macho men in scantily clad war vestments (yes, please!), and ladies with bigger muscles than should be allowed in the natural world. Oddly enough, given the restaurant’s location is just off Capitol Hill, I’m sure you could find all of those things given the right parade. Maybe even in the same float if you’re really lucky.

As for breakfast, all three of us (Chris, Ryan, and I) enjoy, well, love…breakfast. And brunch. But honestly, it really boils down to the bacon. We love bacon! Which usually means that regardless of whether we order eggs, sausage, biscuits, or pancakes, a side of bacon is never far behind.

Fortunately, Zeena’s had a special: Banana Bread French Toast which made Chris’ day. Well, until he tried it. The half order was three slices (not sure who could complete a six-slice full order as the slices are big), but the bread doesn’t have nuts so it’s like a fluffy, cheaper version of the bread classic most everyone knows and loves. Of course, Chris ordered a side of bacon.

Ryan decided he absolutely had to eat Pancakes, Eggs, and Bacon, so he ordered two large pancakes and I gave him one of my blueberry pancakes in hopes it would tide him over. Along with his two scrambled eggs and large side of bacon, Ryan polished off his pancakes and decided the “average and mediocre” fare was filling, but thankfully inexpensive.

I had visions of grandeur when I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak because Geraldine’s is so amazing. However, the crust was too thick, the beef a bit chewy, and the runny sausage gravy used oddly jiggly sausage. I would not recommend this to anyone.

I would say the Bluebery Pancake I ate was pretty good, large and relatively fluffy, and there were a ton of "fresh" blueberries. I had expected some kind of canned pie filling compote on top instead of what were probably frozen but still held lots of blueberry flavor.

Overall, Zeena’s is probably best if you’re hungover as the fare’s greatly average and there are far tastier choices for about the same price range. And the coffee is see-through. Yeah, I don't get it either.