If you are a vegetarian and you live in the Seattle area, here is a list of the places I recommend for my fellow herbivores:
Tanya’s Favorite Vegetarian Spots in Seattle!
1. Black Bottle Postern
919 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 223-5143
Category: Gastropubs
Bellevue Black Bottle = Winning!
The food here was fantastic – everything we tried was so delicious!! Highlights were the chola batura and the pear gorgonzola flat bread. The chole, eggplant and potatoes together were just delicious — there was lots of flavor and it was a nice change from the traditional chole I’m used to having. The baturas were puffed nicely and just the right size (for me). The pear gorgonzola flat bread was sweet and savory both! Black Bottle knows how to do flat breads, there’s no denying that!
The menu at the Bellevue location is phenomenal and actually quite different than the Seattle menu offering more exotic culinary creations – I loved everything I tried!
The atmosphere is sophisticated and urban with modern, high ceilings, fresh wood tables, and lots of windows. The Bellevue location is very spacious and open as opposed to Seattle and with a different crowd, a VERY *Bellevue* crowd – wink, wink.
It can get busy here on weekend nights so expect a wait. The host and servers were fantastic and very friendly and accommodated us at a nearby table with water as we waited.
Black Bottle knows how to work with flavors and knows how to do it well, which in my mind, separates this restaurant from other restaurants of its kind. BB is surprisingly very affordable at $10/pp for dinner. Can’t beat that!
I might have to become a regular here. I had such a lovely experience!
2. The Slip
80 Kirkland Ave
Kirkland, WA 98033
(425) 739-0033
Categories: American (Traditional), Burgers
As much hype as some other places get for their exceptional burgers, Slip is the most UNDERRATED burger joint, if you ask me.
Some of the burger combinations sound a little well, interesting, such as the peanut butter and jelly burger (on a patty be it meat or veg) yet the concoctions they’ve come up with work so surprisingly well.
My favorite order here is the original earth burger with cheddar which comes with tortilla chips. For a few bucks more you can sub the tortilla chips with French Fries which are incredibly tasty and guess what, guys? THEY ARE BAKED (not fried)!
Let me go on about the earth burger for a second: The earth burger is without a doubt the BEST veg burger I’ve ever had in my life. These burgers are an in-house recipe so this is not your garden or boca burger – these patties are made from whole grains and veggies. DELICIOUS!
Their indoor section of the restaurant is tiny and can only seat a party of 4 at most at a table. That’s sort of frustrating when you’re only able to enjoy patio seating 58 days of the year in Seattle. Service can be unpredictable where some of the servers have been amazing and some have been extremely rude but forget about all this — just come for the food and you’re golden!
On a nice sunny day, Slip is a must if you’re looking for some great patio time in the sun, mojitos in hand accompanied with the best veggie burger you’ll ever find! Just keep in mind it can get crowded!
P.S I snuck a peak at the quesadillas last night and think I’m going to have to try that soon.
3. Clay Pit
15418 Main St, # M 107
Mill Creek, WA 98012
(425) 337-9600
Categories: Indian, Pakistani
When I first started dating my husband, who’s Indian, I did not like Indian food at all. It wasn’t until he cooked me a homemade and authentic meal where I fell madly in love with … well, Indian cuisine. That being said, there are very few Indian restaurants we care to go to because we get the super yummy stuff at home. I hope this sets the tone for the Clay Pit review I’m about to give. In short….
CLAYPIT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND HANDS DOWN OUR FAVORITE INDIAN RESTAURANT IN THE AREA!!!
…and yes, that was all caps because I was yelling! It’s THAT good!
We’ve tried other hot spots around for Indian food and Clay Pit provides the best overall experience.
So, what’s good?
* For appy’s I recommend the vegetable samosas, pakoras and battata tikki.
* For dinner our favorites are the daal makhani, malai kofta, bhenghan bharta, and pindi chole.
* As for the desserts, I recommend every single option. We’ve tried each dessert on the menu and all are yummy!
In terms of meat dishes, my mom claims the scallop makhani is to die for and I’ve heard the butter chicken is fantastic as well!
Tonight we had an awesome experience in the way of exceptional service. I was having an intense craving for channa bhature (garbanzo dish with fried puffed bread – see photo) so we called Clay Pit to see if this was something on their menu. They told us no then put us on hold and a few seconds later said the kitchen would be happy to make this dish for us if we planned to come in tonight. And that my friends, is what you call above and beyond the call of duty!
I heart Clay Pit. It’s super clean, the food is the best Indian food around and their staff is fantastic. A must try for quality, tasty Indian food!
4. Cafe Flora
2901 E Madison St
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 325-9100
Categories: Vegetarian, Vegan
Can I please give a few more stars? PLEASE!? PLEASE!?
It’s been years if not a decade since I’ve been to Café Flora. I bookmarked this place for brunch after reading such rave reviews. Well, the brunch here has definitely lived up to all the hype. Perhaps even exceeded it in my opinion.
Still a super cute and charming spot, what impressed me most was the amount of options presented for brunch. In fact EVERYTHING sounded amazing. The menu had so much to offer and whether you are in a sweet or savory kind of mood, Cafe Flora has come up with a fabulous brunch menu which has you covered for all moods.
At our table we had the spring provincial mushroom scramble, spicy rancho colorado scramble (with tofu), and the mushroom tart. My hubby had the colorado scramble and he licked his plate clean. I quite enjoyed the mushroom scramble and tried our friend’s mushroom tart which was delicious with the pesto.
At the end of our meal we polished off an order of cream scones with strawberries which were TO DIE FOR.
What happy tummies we had.
I’m in love with this brunch menu and feel in my perfect element here as a vegetarian. I think I’ve found my weekend brunch spot and can’t wait to get back there and try the brie and roasted apple sandwich, too!
DEEEELICIOUS FUN BRUNCH SPOT!
5. Red Mill Burgers
312 N 67th St
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 783-6362
Category: Burgers
In Love.
A group of us made an important date to come check out Red Mill Burgers after hearing such rave reviews.
As I approached Red Mill, I saw a line overflowing out the door and then noticed a text from a friend which read, “seating is going to be tricky.” Yikes!! I quickly hurried and parked illegally then found my friend and she was right — seating was going to be tricky. There were some awesome picnic tables outside of Red Mill but since it was a little bit nippy out that idea was not going to work, though cute. I think it’s cute you can eat your burgers and fries at a picnic table right in front. We peeked through the windows for an empty table and as soon as we saw one clear, we jumped at the opportunity to snag it. Shortly after sitting down the rest of our friends joined and everyone ordered their food. It was a cozy little table which would normally seat 4 people. There were 8 of us. FUN!
Though there is a dedicated veggie burger section (so rad) on the menu board, I opted for the Deluxe Red Mill burger substituting the patty with a veggie patty. When our food came out and I took one bite, I was in burger mill heaven! Red Mill managed to successfully make this veggie burger taste as yummy as a normal burger (never an easy task) and I was one happy, happy girl. This is no fast food burger – it’s a heavier, heartier burger, though not too large, and their special sauce really made it yummy. The onion rings I ordered were large and battered just perfectly!
There’s no secret, this place is VERY popular with all the glowing reviews and a line stretching out the door in front, but I tell you my friends, RMB is absolutely deserving of such praise. I’ve never found a burger quite as tasty as Slip’s “Earth” burger (in Kirkland) but am happy to announce, Red Mill burgers just became an official contender.
Red Mill is so worth the hype!
6. Frida’s Mexican Restaurant
3226 132nd St SE
Mill Creek, WA 98012
(425) 357-8606
Category: Mexican
What a gem of a place :)
As Dorothy said to Toto, “I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more. Similarly, I had a feeling we were not at Azteca any more.
Frida’s is an authentic Mexican restaurant which knows how to cook with heart and soul. Each dish is it’s own masterpiece of flavors, containing ingredients very well-thought out.
Here are a few tips from our experience:
*CHIPS: Tortilla chips are served with a few pieces of bread along and verde salsa, tomato salsa for chips and a cream cheese spread for the bread. The chips have some kick (spice) so be prepared.
*APPETIZER: The Avocado Flautas are tasty and make for a nice sharing appetizer!
*THE VEGGIE MEAL: The Vegetarian Chipotle Enchilada had tons of flavor with a definite kick as well.
*THE NON-VEGGIE MEAL: My mom ordered the Coconut Prawns and she raved and raved about her meal. We noticed quite a few tables had the prawns so apparently they’re a big hit here.
*DESSERTS: The selection of desserts which they showcased to each table looked decadent but we were way too full. Next time!
*FOOD PRESENTATION: 5 stars!! 5 stars!! (My photos don’t do justice)
*DECOR: The space was darling with an elegant yet trendy dining area. The paintings of Frida Kahlo are pretty cool, too!
*SERVICE: Excellent! We went with the recommendations of our server who was very helpful.
So what if it’s in a stripmall — this is definitely a neighborhood gem.
7. Whole Foods Market
888 116th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 462-1400
Categories: Grocery, Health Markets
A fancy shmancy grocery store full of eco-friendly Yuppies buying overpriced food? You betcha! Though I’m far from being a yuppie, I somehow keep making my way back here… with a lot of other people!
No matter how much Safeway makes sense, Whole Foods makes us feel good from the second we walk in, to the moment we stuff our reusable bags full of quinoa, tofu, whole wheat this, gluten-free that, and into our cars.
The Bellevue location has a fantastic salad bar, though I believe some of the Seattle stores have a larger one but who’s complaining. I’m just happy there is a grocery store out there who still believes in salad bars.
The hot bar is always yummy and I’m a total sucker for their chicken fried style tofu just as long as I close my eyes during check-out and ignore the fact I just paid $15 for battered soybean and some salad. Yep, just ignore.
Service is great, store presentation is unbeatable and the parking lot is nice and handy. Whenever I make my way to Whole Foods, I walk out feeling refreshed and ultra healthy as if I just completed a yoga class.. not browsed the aisles for carob.
Oh well, it works.
Namaste.
8. Din Tai Fung
700 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 698-1095
Categories: Taiwanese, Chinese
Din Tai Fung has Damn Terrific Food!
I first heard about this new Bellevue restaurant from a friend who was visiting Seattle. She told me she had been to Din Tai Fung every night she was in town as she wasn’t feeling well but the food was so good, it was the only thing she wanted. Curious by her rave review, I thought I’d give it a shot. 3 trips later and I am a total believer. I absolutely love the food here which says a lot since I usually prefer other cuisines over the Chinese/Taiwanese restaurants in the area.
Din Tai Fung is known for their dumplings, particularly their soup dumplings but being a vegetarian I have only tried the vegetable dumplings (no soup). The veg dumplings are okay, no socks being knocked off personally, but I really enjoy several of the other items on the menu. My absolute favorite and most recent discovery is the Vegetable Shanghai Rice Cakes. They are a thicker almost gummy noodle in a sauce which has more flavor than their Vegetable Fried Noodles, formerly my favorite till this new recent find. For those who like spicier food, the sesame noodles are fantastic as is the hot and sour soup! For dessert, the sweeter dumplings are surprisingly yummy though they run out of the most popular choices very quickly.
Wanna hear the kicker here? It’s CHEAP!! $11 per person for the last group dinner I had here. Um yeah, in BELLEVUE that’s pretty amazing!
I have thoroughly enjoyed Din Tai Fung in my recent visits and have found the food and service to be great. Make sure to allow for some time to get your table, or try going at an off-peak time. I’ll continue to come back to Din Tai Fung again and again as even with the crazy crowds and long lines, the food is worth it!
A born again believer in Chinese/Taiwanese cuisine around here…
9. Garlic Crush
102 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 455-2235
Categories: Greek, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
So here’s the deal plain and simple – garlic crush rules the universe in case you didn’t know! Garlic crush is the perfect stop for consistently fresh and flavorful Mediterranean food.
IMPORTANT TIP: No matter what you order, make sure to add a side of garlic paste (worth the mints you’ll need later) and fresh baklava. Those two are a must! The flaky baklava are actually flown in from Michigan, which is where you will find some of the BEST Arabic & Middle Eastern food in the US.
In addition to those two must-haves here’s what I advise:
* The lentil soup is to die for. TO DIE FOR!! It’s the perfect marriage of lentil + lemon + garlic.
* The Falafel Plate is my favorite and served with a fluffy rice pilaf. Just a tip, add the aforementioned garlic paste to both the falafel and rice and it’s pure bliss.
* If you like spicier food, order the falafel sandwich w/spicy sauce
* The Spanakopita never disappoints.
* Chicken kebab or shawarma sandwiches are a huge hit amongst friends.
Garlic crush is a casual hot spot but whether it’s bringing our out-of-town guests for dinner who want to try the best falafel around, getting take out on a cold rainy day, or me having an informal work lunch, garlic crush is my go-to place without a doubt. Although we live 17 miles away from GC, we have been known to drive there on a lazy Sunday just for their food.
I hear many people trying to compare garlic crush to Mediterranean Kitchen across the street. Yeah, just don’t. You’re comparing apples to oranges! Mediterranean Kitchen is a sit-down, finer dining spot, really nice for first dates. I absolutely love MK’s food and can’t wait to go back there soon and write a smashing review. Garlic crush on the other hand, is that place where that first date has now become your boyfriend/girlfriend and you simply want amazing food in a casual environment here on out. That’s the difference, my friends.
In case you didn’t notice, I’m the biggest GC fan :)
10. Crush
2319 E Madison St
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 302-7874
Category: American (New)
With much anticipation, a group of us Crush-virgins made a date to venture out to this highly acclaimed restaurant. The restaurant was a house-converted-restaurant and the décor inside was ultra-modern and really fabulous. We were seated (though not together – sad) and perused the Seattle April Restaurant Week’s prefix menu of 3 courses for $28.
I had…(drum roll please):
*First Course: the asparagus with balsamic reduction minus prosciutto – super delish
*Second Course: the potato gnocchi with greens, fiddleheads, mushrooms and apples on top – quite bland and had a combination of ingredients I felt were not friends
*Third Course: the peanut butter brownie and ice cream – quite tasty and not overly sweet at all — just the way I like it.
All in all, I found myself crushin’ on the marinated asparagus spears the most. Yeah, I’m shocked too! The server was fun and friendly with a dry sense of humor and very attentive. We loved him!
Crush having been on my Seattle Restaurant bucketlist for awhile now, my expectations might have been a little high so I was expecting to love Crush more, but I’d definitely come back to see if something more substantial could out run that asparagus. My gut feel is that a 2nd trip could potentially turn my 3 stars into a 5-star update because I can see (with a few changes) how I might have one serious Crush on this place.
P.S. A super romantic spot :)
11. Serious Pie
401 Westlake Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 436-0500
Category: Pizza
Tired of standing in a line which flows around the corner, down the block, over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go.. just for serious pie? Well, wait no more my friends, Tom Douglas has solved all our problems.
Serious Pie has another location, a secret location so don’t go telling too many people or else this nice little unknown pizza scene will soon have the same overflowing crowd just like it’s other digs.
The Westlake spot features the same amazing food the original Serious Pie offers in a comparable yet still unique setting. The loft feel with shared rustic tables are always enjoyable and the lighting is dim and fitting. The chatter of SoLa patrons surrounds and the tasty pies which were served were in my opinion just as scrumptious as ever.
Let it be known the San Marzano tomato with buffalo mozzarella will always have my heart and the cannoli’s just about put me over the edge. DELISH!
THANK YOU, Mr. Tom Douglas, for gracing us with this 2nd Serious Pie home – it was very much needed for those like myself who are obsessed with your pizza and can now get into one of your pie establishments with ease.
12. Poppy
622 Broadway E
Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 324-1108
Category: American (New)
Poppy’s thali-style food and experience is absolutely brilliant in a city where this idea makes so much sense.
So, what’s a thali? A thali is a meal consisting of several small dishes served in individual bowls on a large plate which is common in Indian cuisine. This way of serving food is great since you’re able to try quite a few different dishes served in more modest portions.
For drinks I went with the non-alcoholic Passion fruit and Lavender cooler and found it charmingly satisfying. The hubby tried the papi delicious, a drink full of spicy ingredients, and a few others raved about the saffron drink as well.
We ordered our food and were warned about the 30 minute wait until our dinner arrived so the server recommended we order a few small bites to hold us over. We declined and I am still kicking myself for not trying the eggplant fries which I’m now reading are a must-try! 30 minutes later and absolutely starving, our pretty food arrived. I am still wondering why it took so long which goes against one of the main principles of the thali style meal — cooking selected dishes in large quantities.
Beautifully displayed in adorable dishes and tasting absolutely phenomenal, my favorite thali items were the perfectly cooked risotto, the stuffed artichoke, turnips, and the cauliflower truffle soup. The naan which accompanied our food was fantastic though I would have been even better if it had been refreshed.
For dessert we had the hot date cake with banana ice cream and butterscotch. I also tried the pistachio cardamom crème brulee which was another absurdly wonderful dessert.
Yelpers are right – it’s on the expensive side so not a place I’ll go often but would definitely recommend it for a special occasion.
This restaurant is a foodie’s delight and the culinary journey was a nice change. Poppy knows how to create brilliant northwest fare with eastern touches full of exotic, infused flavors.
13. Palomino Restaurant Rotisseria Bar
1420 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 623-1300
Category: American (New)
I am a creature of habit, therefore I have only tried 2 items on the menu at the Palomino walk-up café located just next to the Palomino Restaurant. I realize there will come a day where I’ll have to try items other than my habitual two, but having been a long time customer, I admit I have not ventured out and explored the rest of the menu just yet. If you’re in the mood for something quick or to go, but still want rich, flavorful, delicious food of the full restaurant look no more, the Palomino Café will become a very good friend of yours. Now to introduce the two items:
* Capellini Alfredo (comes with Chicken which I substitute for added julienne vegetables)
* Chop Chop Salad (without meat)
The Capellini is amazing! The pasta dish is very rich in flavor and the pasta is cooked perfectly. This particular dish is my routine comfort food item on days where I simply want to indulge. I almost always have leftovers as the richness of this dish fills you up so quickly! The chop chop salad is very fresh and one of their signature favorites in both their restaurant and café. With so many wonderful and hearty ingredients the vegetarian variation which I order will fill you up not noticing the missing meat. That’s what I love – everything is easily vegetarianizable if you prefer ir that way. Both items come with a complimentary slice of their herb, oil and garlic bread which be warned, you’ll regret not ordering an extra slice as it’s out of this world! I could eat the bread alone and be one happy customer!
The service is quick, the staff is very friendly and the only reason my rating is 4 stars instead of 5 is because lunch will cost you no less than $9 here. Due to this, the café is more of an occasional occurrence on days where I feel like treating myself to super tasty, delicious food which I know will be great every time!
14. Wild Ginger
11020 NE 6th St
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 495-8889
Category: Asian Fusion
Great service, yummy food, nice ambiance and atmosphere perfect for group dinners, special occasions and dates. Oh, I almost forgot — I LIVE for places which allow you to make online reservations like Wild Ginger!
Wild Ginger is located in the high-end and hip Bravern building in downtown Bellevue. Of course being the weirdo I am, I have to customize and create a dish not found on the menu and they tolerate this… with a SMILE! My usual is the szechuan-style eggplant with fried tofu. Hubby always gets the Kung Pao Tofu and loves the combination of peanuts with large red chilies in a sea of strong appetizing flavors. This place goes above and beyond in the world of vegetarianism having a separate menu for our kind and the Seattle location offers an even larger separate menu! It’s a nice place, amazing servers, offering tasty quality food. Yes, we love it here!
WildG – one request, please bring back your to-die-for mangoes and sticky rice more often like before. I’m not buying the seasonal thing when you used to have it available year-round! It’s seriously the best I’ve EVER had!:) Thanks.
15. Trader Joe’s
112 W Galer St
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 378-5536
Category: Grocery
When Joe decided to trade, the Queen Anne location is exactly what he had in mind. Or so I’d like to think…This is by far my favorite Trader Joe’s in the Seattle area and here’s why:
* This is your neighborhood grocery store. No, like literally an in-a-neighborhood grocery store. Other TJ’s tend to be located in more commercialized areas but for what Trader Joe’s sells, this one seems the very appropriately located.
* Layout is efficient with the freezer section being against the wall which means the frozen goodness is at eyelevel, rather than being hunchbacked over in frozen cases having no idea people are waiting for you to move.
* The store is small, quaint, and charming.
* I feel like hanging out with the cashiers who work here – down to earth people you enjoy chatting with.
So what if the parking lot is small – big deal! If you can’t find parking on first try just count to 10 and someone will pull out of a stall and your problem is solved. People move in and out of there constantly.
The Queen Anne location just makes me HAPPY every time I go there:)
All in all, I’m the biggest Trader Joe’s fan at any location trying some of the tastiest ethnic foods which make you feel more worldly than you probably are, their organic options for a price which puts Wholefoods to shame, and their focus on healthy living which I can always appreciate. They are not going to hit the mark on everything but for most of their products, I could not praise Joe and his trading self enough.
Forever yours TJ,
Tanya
P.S Check out the Ice Cream Bon Bons – they are worth a Trader Joe’s trip alone!
16. Olive You
89 Kirkland Ave
Kirkland, WA 98033
(425) 250-1555
Categories: Turkish, Mediterranean, Beer, Wine & Spirits
**Brunch Review**
On a sunny day, I came here for Brunch for the first time. Finally, I was able to see the decor in daylight and this place is still cute! I noticed the painted ceiling, the white chair covers and nice atmosphere a little bit more.
The brunch menu had a variety of gyros, omelets, scrambles and more. I ordered the veggie scramble and the meal was alright. The hash browns were oily and the white toast which came by default (wheat would have been great) looked unappetizing. The scramble itself was better than the potatoes or toast but I would have liked a little bit more flavor since I was at Olive You. The coffee was great and the service was awesome per the usual.
I think most of us were a bit meh on brunch here so I realized I prefer the dinners at Olive You for sure.
17. Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill
535 Bellevue Sq
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 467-5911
Category: Tex-Mex
I cannot begin to tell you just how many times I have walked by Z’Tejas and kept on walking. I figured it was yet another mediocre tex mex restaurant and boy was I WRONG. Oh, SO WRONG!
A few of us wanted some late night grub last night and found ourselves in front of Z’Tejas so we decided to give it a shot. The first thing I noticed as I started reviewing the menu was the dedicated vegetarian section. My review could literally stop right here. I’ll keep going. A few minutes later a personalized pan of piping-hot cornbread and whipped butter arrived at our table which I really liked compared to the typical fried chips & salsa you usually get at a place like this. The cornbread was delicious and just how I like it – with real corn throughout!
I ended up opting for the Achiote Chopped Salad from my points-winning veg section, which came out on a plate in neatly organized sections including lettuce, black beans, cotijo cheese, roasted corn, tomatoes, avocado, roasted pumpkin seeds with a pink ranch vinaigrette served on the side. I was then left to my own devices to mix this baby together.
Two words: SALAD HEAVEN. I was in love. Instantly in love. It sounds like such a simple salad for me to be making love claims but it was either the added pumpkin seeds, or maybe it was the cheese, or their tasty unique dressing… or the corn. I don’t really know but the whole thing worked very well together. My husband ordered the vegetarian enchiladas minus the cheese and substituted the creamy mole for red sauce, and the server pointed out she’d make it the vegan version. He loved it.
Here’s where I’m most impressed – Z’Tejas not only has great food but a nice and healthy menu which at times is hard to find when dining out. There were gluten-free options, the wonderful vegetarian section, the vegan suggestion, all made me appreciate their approach to healthy dining.
Oh what an IDIOT I’ve been for ignoring this place..
18. Honjin Yaletown Sushi Restaurant
138 Davie St
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2V4
Canada
(604) 688-8808
Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
For a vegetarian, this place has some great options and simply rocks! Our friends who are dedicated customers here, took us to Honjin last night for the first time and I woke up this morning craving the avocado roll with a soy wrapper. The final touch of sesame seeds completed this fresh ensemble perfectly. Sometimes I find veggie sushi tough to like but Honjin has figured it out, without adding too much of a pickled flavor, keeping all ingredients very real. In addition to the veggie sushi I tried, the veggie tempura was terrific as were the spring rolls.
Honjin has a wonderful ambiance and is the perfect place to go on a weekend night with friends.
Now if only I could quit thinking about that avocado roll. My interest in sushi restaurants has awakened after a long time, after going to Honjin!
19. Barrio Mexican Kitchen & Bar – CLOSED
10650 NE 4th St
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 502-5021
Category: Mexican
This was my second visit to Barrio in Bellevue. I can appreciate restaurants like Barrio where you take fresh ingredients, a little creativity and fancy up more traditional dishes well. This is what Barrio has achieved with Mexican food. The introductory chips and guac were fantastic! For dinner, I ordered the roasted beets tacos along with the wild mushroom relleno and shared both dishes between myself and my husband. The roasted beets tacos were very spicy and I am still not sure what the ingredient was which added such intensity, but I could not finish my first taco. I was also looking forward to tasting the pumpkin seeds but never did. That is not necessarily the fault of Barrio but the fact I could only get a few bites in. The mushroom relleno on the other hand was superb and I’d definitely order that again and again. The melted cheese over a red bell pepper stuffed with mashed potatoes sitting in a creme sauce was such a wonderful combination!
As for the ambience, no doubt about it Barrio is one of the Bellevue hot spots with a fairly swanky scene, though parking is a bit challenging. The wall of candles hand lit each night is a conversation piece in itself. Our server was friendly considering we had a larger party and the cocktail menu looked amazingly creative (jalapeno margarita!). As long as you ignore the snooty Saturday night hostess and get a good recommendation on what to order, you should have a decent experience.
20. Jhanjay Vegetarian Thai Cuisine
1718 N 45th St
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 632-1484
Categories: Thai, Vegetarian
I found Jhanjay, a smaller and more intimate establishment, very good as an all-vegetarian Thai restaurant. What I liked the most was that you didn’t have to worry about ingredients sneaking into your food, containing seafood products such as fish or oyster sauce like I usually find in Phad Thai dishes. I found the Phad Thai here incredibly tasty. The soup served right as you’re seated with mixed vegetables was also very good, especially since I went to Jhanjay on a cold winter day.
The draw back was, since I was meeting a friend after a very long time and we were talking quite a bit, I was asked if I had liked the phad thai repeatedly even though I continued to say yes, I was just catching up with a friend. There was just a little too much attention by the server on me and my delicious phad thai. Even getting it boxed and loving it later, I still don’t believe our server was convinced I liked it :)
Definitely a must if you’re looking for a great Thai all vegetarian restaurant in a super cute location, wallingford but of course.
21. Portage Bay Cafe & Catering
391 Terry Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 462-6400
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
I have been delighted by the Portage Bay weekend brunches 20+ times, mostly in the South Lake Union location more recently but also the U-District location for years. Here’s what I LOVE:
* The menu has options for every preference (super veg-friendly) including my husband who is practically a vegan.
* The coffee… don’t get me started on the yummy coffee which you can have while you’re waiting for your table.
* The service is great and the servers are super friendly allowing me to customize my order just how I want.
* The quality of the food is always stellar, organic and delicious!
* The space itself is modern with great artwork and a nice urban feel.
This is clearly one of the best weekend brunch spots you’ll find in all of Seattle. There is a reason the place is constantly packed on weekends as Seattle Brunchers migrate to this brunch mecca.
So why the 4 stars and not 5?
I made a reservation for 6 of us at 12:30 today and when arriving promptly at 12:30 we checked in and were told the table would be ready shortly. At 12:45 the manager informed us that at 12:40 he had to give our table away since a table cannot be held for longer than 10 minutes. I was confused by that comment so I asked what he meant since we were there at 12:30. He pulled out his phone, pointed to the time and told me in a very irritated voice that he too keeps track of time and to just sit tight, a table would be ready shortly… then stormed off. WT holy F and did he think I was making that up? We never once questioned when our table would be ready prior to that, despite having a reservation and still having to wait, and thought he was unnecessarily rude. There was obviously a communication breakdown between him and the host managing the books in the front and we were seated 5 minutes later and the rest of the brunch was fantastic per the usual.
Done with the rant and I refuse to hold it against them, today was just a little disappointing but I love this place and will continue to come here. I will say, if you are a vegan, try the Migas substituting the tofu scramble instead of eggs – super fantastic!
22. What the Pho!
10680 NE 8th St
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 462-5600
Category: Vietnamese
The pho is good here. If you are in the mood for a healthy meal, What the Pho is a great option. The #27 (Veggie pho with tofu) is always a repeat when I come here. What the Pho is a reliable Pho restaurant when I’ve (sadly) found other Pho restaurants do not serve Vegetarian Pho (broth and all).
It mean, WHAT THE …. ??
A few points down since the Bothell location is even better.
