Posts filed under: West Coast

San Diego

French in SoCal: Parc Bistro. In the Banker’s Hill area of the city….basically just east of the airport. Thought we should go in a French direction rather than Italian……..although this...

San Diego

Dinner for 20: Top of the Market. Back in SD for a meeting and this was the choice for the group. I always hesitate a bit in reviewing spots where...

San Diego

Animals anyone: The Lion’s Share. One of those places that would be off most people’s radar unless you are a local. I’ve walked by in the past without realizing exactly...

Woodinville WA

Former Biker Bar: Hollywood Tavern. Started out as a service station in 1922 then became a roadside tavern in the 1940s. Completely renovated a few years ago and has now...

Hood River OR

Top 10 tasting room: Mt Hood Winery. The wines are acceptable but the views……outrageous! Very large tasting room with vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows but the place to...

Parkdale OR

BBQ in Oregon? Apple Valley BBQ. Unexpected but solid BBQ so, if you are doing the Fruit Loop, keep it in mind. They advertise themselves as NW style BBQ but...

Portland

Dinner with amazing views: Departure. Go here if for no other reason but the views from this restaurant located on the 15th floor of the Nines Hotel in downtown Portland....

Hood River OR

Have some ice cream: Apple Valley Country Store. On the Fruit Loop and their claim to fame are their milkshakes. You know they will be good……Tillamook ice cream makes up...

Portland

Coffee and a pastry: Pearl Bakery. Very nice open space with typical offerings. Somewhat limited pastry choices but it is all very good…..give the pain aux raisin a try….delicious. Visit...

Hood River OR

Cider in Hood River: Fox Tail Cider. Looked interesting so we stopped by while doing the Fruit Loop. Nice cidery with a friendly staff. Try the tasting flight to get...

Portland

French in the Pearl: MÃ¥urice. This is a small place and an interesting dining experience….described as a pastry luncheonette. So, you should expect a mix of sweet and savory pastries...

Seattle

“BBQ” in Seattle: Brileys. Hard to find great BBQ in this town but finally visited this place after it was suggested to me by a friend some months ago. It...

San Francisco

Coffee fix: Blue Bottle Coffee. One of several locations in the Bay Area this one is in the Ferry Building. They have espresso down to an art but also offer, not only...

San Francisco

Frenetic Mexican: La Taqueria. You need to visit this place just to watch what goes on at lunch or dinner. The line is out the door and the seating is...

San Francisco

In the Ferry Building: Fog Hollow Farm. Need a quick fix…..pastry, soup, sandwich, coffee or farm to table fruits?…..then this is a good option. It’s basically a take away place...

San Francisco

At Hotel Griffon: Perry’s. One of 2 locations in the city, this one fronts the Embarcadero. The alfresco area on a nice day would be a show stopper. Just had...

San Francisco

Vietnamese in the Ferry Terminal: The Slanted Door. I tried this place a few years ago and don’t remember coming away impressed despite its renown. This visit was more to...

San Francisco

Drinks anyone? Wayfare Tavern. Stopped by for a drink and some light appetizers before dinner. This is a very popular spot for…….you didn’t guess it…..fried chicken! We’ll have to try...

Seattle

Return visit: Bar Cantinetta. Our prior visit was for a wine tasting menu and I wasn’t that impressed with the food but I thought we should give it another try……I...

Seattle

Meeting at SeaTac: The Conference Center at SEA. I gotta quit eating like this….at another meeting. Nice space for a smaller meeting and convenient via the Link Light Rail. Otherwise,...

Bellevue WA

Bakery near the convention center: The French Bakery. Had a meeting at the Bellevue Convention Center and needed a quick bite to eat before sitting in a room all day...

Seattle

Thai in Maple Leaf: Ban Hua Sai. Decided to give this place a try based on reviews indicating it was the best Thai in the area and we needed a quick...

Seattle

Late night cookies: Midnight Cookie Co. Have a craving for cookies in the middle of the night?……they deliver until 3 am! Just choose your delivery service…..Uber Eats, Grubhub, etc. Note...

Seattle

Interesting experience: Manolin. Had an opportunity to have early dinner and this seemed like a good place for the experience since they opened for happy hour early in the afternoon...

Seattle

Street party: Off the Rez. Invited by friends to a Saturday night block party……with a food truck. Their claim to fame is that it’s the only Native American food truck...

Seattle

Georgetown vibe: Ciudad. Not sure how to describe this place…..Spanish……Middle Eastern…..or? They describe themselves as “flavors from the East, vibes from the West” and I think they are spot on...

Chelan WA

Bakery option: Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery. Nice option for a coffee and pastries besides the ubiquitous Starbucks…..which is essentially next door to this strip mall location. The croissants were quite...

Chelan WA

BBQ in Chelan, Really? BBQ in the Vineyard. Highlight of this trip to Chelan. It just reopened the week we were there……note as of the date of this posting it...

Seattle

On my list: Flintcreek Cattle Co. This is the sister restaurant to Rockcreek and, as expected, it’s the turf version although they do have a vegetarian and seafood option on...

United States

The Eating Places: James Beard Award Winners 2018. Best new restaurant: JuneBaby, Seattle. Outstanding restaurant: Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham. Rising star chef of the year: Camille Cogswell, Zahav, Philly. Outstanding pastry...

Seattle

An old favorite: Boat Street Kitchen (Cafe). It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been to this little jewel but my first experience was when it was in the...

San Diego

Captive audience: Urban Crave. Located at the Alaska gates in terminal 1 of the San Diego airport this is an option…especially if your flight is delayed an hour…..due to the...

San Diego

A pleasant surprise: Puesto. One of several locations of this small chain; this location was across the street from the Grand Hyatt and therefore very convenient for a quick lunch....

San Diego

Dinner for 30: Salvatore’s. Always hard to evaluate a restaurant when it is a large party experience with a limited, a fixed menu. I think that may be the case...

San Diego

Eclectic: Juniper & Ivy. The space is very modern and the crowd is on the younger side. It’s high ceiling and a bit loud but the experience was very good....

Seattle

Italian near UW: Mamma Melina. I’ve been here several times……including when it was located in the U District but it’s been a while since my last visit. The special part...

Paso Robles CA

Coffee anyone? Kreuzberg Coffee Company. Nice small shop….you guessed it….on 13th Street. Space is rustic but comfortable. Give the Mexican Mocha a try…. Visit website  ...

Paso Robles CA

Northern Italian: Buona Tavola. A choice not in the13th Street restaurant core but worth worth a few blocks walk. The space is relatively small and intimate with a small area...

Paso Robles CA

Lunch option not on 13th Street: Niner Wine Estates. Decided to take a day off from riding and noticed this place as I was driving others to the ride start...

Paso Robles CA

Breakfast to start a new day: Cowgirl Cafe. One of many dining options in the downtown area near 13th Street. Specializes in breakfast with a western theme…..with portion sizes to...

Paso Robles CA

Looking for a place to eat: Thomas Hill Organics. We thought we had our dining experience all picked out…..but it wasn’t quite what we thought it was, so we started...

Paso Robles CA

Another breakfast: Vic’s Cafe. It has been around since 1942 and we needed fueling for our ride so this seemed like a good choice. Classic options of eggs, scrambles, omelets...

Paso Robles CA

Wines on tap: The Hatch. Located in the downtown 13th Street area of the city which has multiple options to choose from, this option looked interesting: offering wines, whiskeys…….extensive offerings….and...

Santa Barbara CA

Hyatt Centric: Marbella. Quick bite before we were off to our next bike ride up the coast. The space is nice and the views, basically located on the beach, are...

Santa Barbara CA

Finally found one open: Los Agaves. One of 3 locations in the area…..and the first one we tried was closed for renovations. But never give up….the location in Da La Vina...

Santa Barbara CA

Since 1958: Farmer Boy. Diner like space with a breakfast made to be had before a long bike ride. They serve large portions…and lunch as well. The Santa Barbara Local...

Santa Barbara CA

Carbo loading, again: Via Maestra 42. Located nearby the hotel and known for regional Italian fare so off we went. It’s located in a strip mall….but most everything seems that...

Seattle

Another coffee option: Gretchen’s Place. It’s been a while since I have been here and apparently it has new ownership……I knew the original owner who passed away a few years...

Seattle

The Truck: El Camión. There are several locations and we have visited the one located in a parking lot near Home Depot in north Seattle and we now have one...

Seattle

Vegan ice cream: Frankie & Jo’s. One of three locations, this one is on lower Capitol Hill. The shop is small and lines form at times so you may have...

Seattle

Neapolitan style pizza: Veraci. One of several locations in Seattle…..including a mobile unit usually seen at the Ballard Market….with branches in Spokane and Bend OR. Their claim to fame is...

Seattle

Beer with a twist: No Anchor. Focus is on beer…and variations on that theme. It’s a relatively small bar in the Belltown area that has developed a big reputation, not...

La Conner WA

Looking for a bite after the tulip fields: The Oyster and Thistle. Located a bit off the beaten path on the Sound, there are a number of options in the...

Seattle

Extraordinary dining experience: Harvest Beat. As you know, I’m basically a carnivore but when given the opportunity to experience truly great food, I’ll give it a try. Such is the...

Kona HI

Worth the Kona Crawl: Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill. Can be a real bear to get there….the Kona traffic can be bad….looks like they are doing a lot of road work...

Kohala Coast HI

A view that can’t be beat: CanoeHouse. It should all be about al fresco dining at this restaurant….right on the water and facing west so the sunsets are spectacular. A...

Waimea HI

Highly recommended by the people working next door: Waimea Coffee Co. About to be back on the road and needed a quick cup. The recommendation didn’t disappoint. Probably the best...

Kamuela HI

Nice for a quick low cal breakfast: Juice 101. Located in the Mauna Lani resort area this place was recommended by a friend. They have an extensive menu focused on...

Honokaa, Big Island HI

Must stop on my list: Tex Drive In. Home of the best malasadas (Portuguese donuts) in Hawaii, in my opinion. The location is just off the main highway to Hilo...

Kawaihae, Big Island HI

Need poke, need fish? Da Fish House. The place to get fresh fish to grill for dinner…and poke for lunch or whenever. Great selection and very knowledgeable staff when it...

Puako, Big Island HI

Ever what you need: Puako General Store If you are staying in the Kohala area of the Big Island, check this place out for provisions and treats. It’s about a...

Kawaihae, Big Island HI

Repeat visit: Seafood Bar & Grill. Funky little place on the Kohala Coast that we visited a few years ago. It’s upstairs…..and if there isn’t parking on the street level...

Waikoloa , Big Island HI

May be in a hotel but worth a visit: Kamuela Provision Company. Beautiful views from this oceanside hotel restaurant with food to match the views.  The space is open and surrounded...

Issaquah WA

Looking for late lunch: Stan’s BBQ. Hard to find good BBQ in Seattle but thought we’d give this place a try. Located in the old town area, the owner hails...

Seattle

Had an eye on: San Fermo. I noticed this small restaurant when visiting the Ballard Sunday Market and was intrigued by the facade….apparently one of the oldest homes in Seattle…from...

Seattle

A different dinner for 30: Lark. Unique experience at this well known establishment on Capitol Hill. What was unique?…..our choices, although pre determined, were drawn from the current menu…..so, this...

Roslyn WA

A bit of après ski: Roslyn Mexican Grill. Just down I-90 from the snow park and it seemed like a good option after cross country skiing. For those who remember...

Seattle

An homage to all things meat: The Shambles. Maple Leaf butchery and restaurant specializing in house made sausage, meats and charcuterie. The food is about small plates…..think small to medium/large plates….with...

Seattle

Nice spot near Seattle Center on lower Queen Anne for a drink: Solo Bar & Eatery. Eclectic space that feels a bit like having a drink in someone’s living room....

Seattle

Would be even better for dinner and a beer in the summer: White Swan Public House. Located in South Lake Union the views, even in winter, are exceptional…..Lake Union, the...

Seattle

Whiskey anyone? Copperworks. Holiday season party at this downtown distillery of single malt whiskey. Nice tasting room with a bar that is over a hundred years old. Tours of the...

Seattle

More coffee: Caffè Fiore. One of four locations, this one is located in Old Ballard. It’s nice for a quick cup before or after visiting the Ballard Sunday Market……or anytime...

Blaine WA

If you need a stop for sustenance: Bob’s Burgers and Brews. Part of a chain found throughout Washington this one is about 5 miles south of the border. Basic burgers,...

Seattle

Quick bite after a movie: Great State Burger. One of 6 locations in Seattle for this burger outlet. The spin here is local farm to table burgers with cows who...

Seattle

Another coffee shop in Seattle: Ballard Coffee Works. Part of Seattle Coffee Works this is the Ballard location which is one of 4 in Seattle. The space is lively and...

Seattle

In Ballard for the Farmers Market and needed breakfast: Porkchop & Co. Just stumbled on this place after a bit of research and it sounded interesting so it was time...

Seattle

Bikes and beer in Ballard: Peddler Brewing Co. Going away party for one of our staff…returning home to Texas. Small craft beer spot on Leary. The owners are devoted cyclist...

Seattle

Asian fusion: Wild Ginger. We were downtown for an event and stopped in to once again experience this well known and respected spot for Asian food. Not only known for...

Seattle

Like a little slice of Paris in the Pike Place Market area: Le Pichet. The menu is very typical of a small French bistro and the food is all very...

Seattle

Vietnamese fast food: Sizzle & Crunch. Right off the Ave in the UW District this recently opened restaurant serves Vietnamese food much like Chipotle serves Mexican food……order the dish then add...

Seattle

Doughnuts anyone? Top Pot. This is a Seattle institution for doughnuts. They started as a single storefront downtown and now there are multiple opportunities throughout the metro area. The doughnuts are...

Sultan WA

Well known spot for baked goods: Sultan Bakery. A small place that is best known for its breakfasts and bakery. This visit was in the late afternoon so we went...

Leavenworth WA

Get your fruit here: Smallwood’s Harvest. Very near Silvara Winery tasting room and it’s worth a stop just to look at all the specialty foods offered. It’s also a great...

Leavenworth WA

Another wine tasting opportunity: Silvara. The wines are good…..and in some cases, quite good….but the venue is what is hard to beat. The fruit is mostly from the Columbia Valley...

Leavenworth WA

Trip over the pass on a beautiful day: Andrea’s Keller. Recent brief visit for a “Bavarian” experience before……wine tasting. This is one of our go to places for Southern German...

Woodinville WA

Wine is food: Guardian Cellars. In Woodinville Wine Country on an errand and thought I should pick up a bit more wine. This is one of our go to places....

Woodinville WA

More wine as food: Gorman Winery. Another great option in Woodinville Wine Country in the Hollywood School area. Chris is all about music and the tasting room walls are festooned...

Seattle

One of my favorite espresso shops: Vivace Alley 24. Doing some shopping at REI and decided to have a quick mocha caramel latte. Their claim to fame is that they...

Seattle

If you’re in South Seattle and you need a food fix: Super Six. Part of the Marination group of restaurants this one is in Columbia City and serves brunch, lunch...

Seattle

Third location of this Vietnamese restaurant: Ba Bar. Have been wanting to try this location since it was announced in January that it would be opening this summer and finally...

Seattle

New spot for ramen in the U District: Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. Great choice on a night with a bit of fall chill in the air. The space is small so...

Seattle

Haven’t been here in a few years: Steelhead Diner. Had a relative in town for business who wanted seafood and this seemed like a good choice……close to her hotel and...

Anacortes WA

A short drive from the ferry terminal: Adrift. Forgotten we had been here a number of years ago…it hasn’t changed much although they have changed the main dining room to...

Deer Harbor WA

A new place in an old space: Island Pie. Just down the street from where we were staying and it came highly recommended so we decided to give it a...

Mt Constitution WA

Ok it’s not a restaurant but if you hike, cycle or drive up this is a place to look for: Sugar on Top. Espresso and Lopez Island Creamery ice cream...

Eastsound WA

A lunch stop while exploring the island: Madrona Bar & Grill. Not our first choice but on a busy day it fit the bill. Typical bar and food but with...

Eastsound WA

On to Orcas Island: Brown Bear Bakery. Can’t miss…right on Main Street….because of that, it’s very popular and can be busy in the summer. They offer very large examples of...

Everett WA

Quick stop for lunch on our way north to Bellingham for a family event: Pho Mai. In a strip mall and a classic Vietnamese restaurant……all about the food and not...

Seattle

Have noticed this place while in South Lake Union: Cinque Terre. Modern space serving foods from the region and on the streetcar line on Westlake which makes it convenient if...

Ashford WA

Go to place near the Nisqually entrance to Mt Rainier: Copper Creek. Late lunch after hiking up to Panorama Point. We’ve tried the food at Paradise and found it to...