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Lovage tastes like concentrated celery, so I would suggest celery or celery leaves if you must use something else.

When I was in Portland in August, I thought it was weird that none of the street food places were open at night. After a really early dinner at Apizza Scholls one night, we went out around 10 and the carts were all closed up, on a Friday night. I would think that would be prime-time, especially since we were right near the Pearl District.

Still my favorite place for sushi. Starting in September, Mashiko will begin serving only sustainably harvested/raised seafood. A bold move, the first place in Seattle to do so and another good reason to support them. Make sure you try the black cod liver, blows away monkfish, IMO.

There have been some very favorable reviews of the food at Canlis recently. The kitchen has been shaken up. For what it is worth... ← 'Tis true. I had dinner at Canlis a couple weeks ago and it was spectacular. Totally different than the staid menu that kept me away for 10 years. Service is still the same. Key is to ask the server to directl you toward the dishes that are in the new chef's style rather than Canlis standbys, which are still scattered throughout. ← And for a completely different viewpoint, WTF? ← Perfectly captures the perspective of Canlis regulars on the changes Franey has made. They don't want progress of any kind, they want to be able to always go and get the steak and lobster tail, which I find boring. That, and I don't think his winter menu was as strong, but it was his first out of the gate, what would anyone expect?

There have been some very favorable reviews of the food at Canlis recently. The kitchen has been shaken up. For what it is worth... ← 'Tis true. I had dinner at Canlis a couple weeks ago and it was spectacular. Totally different than the staid menu that kept me away for 10 years. Service is still the same. Key is to ask the server to directl you toward the dishes that are in the new chef's style rather than Canlis standbys, which are still scattered throughout.

Caffe Ladro at 1st and Union? ← I like the drip coffee at Ladro a lot, but IMO, the espresso kind of sucks. One block south (1st & University) is Stella Cafe, which serves the best espresso I've ever had (please note that the breadth and depth of my espresso experience pales in comparison to many who take it more seriously). Not sure how late they stay open.

My best recent meal was at Olivar on Capital Hill. Not just great food, but its hard to beat the room for warmth and intimacy.

Good Looking out! Ill note that - we were gonna go pick up our large order of stuff to take home on Monday before we fly home. Does anyone know of a good bakery/chocolate shop in the downtown area? ← Belle Epicurean in the Fairmont is a fantastic bakery. Chocolate Box on Pine St carries a variety of local and not so local chocolates.

She was working at Starbucks until getting cut in the last round of layoffs. http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/ally...ets_sliced.html

She was working at Starbucks until getting cut in the last round of layoffs. http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/ally...ets_sliced.html

I keep meaning to do a full write-up, but haven't carved out the time. Short answer is that I'm a bit conflicted. While some of the food was excellent, there are limitations imposed by the 'family-style' format. Bottom line is that my level of enjoyment had more to do with the experience as a whole than specifically what was on the plate. I also came away feeling that the value ($80 pp) was boderline for the food, but good with wine ($30 pp). People who prefer food in the Italian idiom (good ingredients, simple prep) and like the communal table thing will get the most mileage from the Corson Building.

Ferro's in the Market carries prime ribeyes and strips. I've bought them twice, the first was one of the best steaks I've ever eaten and the second was quite disapointing, so YMMV.

Noise level?

Just use dinner rolls...

They called me back, I'm in for July 5.

yes! ← Phone message says they're not taking reservations yet, though the wesite does...I left a message, just in case. ← I did get a reservation on Friday. I called first and they said to email the reservation request. I emailed reservations@thecorsonbuilding.com ← Mailbox overwhelmed or bad email address?

yes! ← Phone message says they're not taking reservations yet, though the wesite does...I left a message, just in case.

I go to O'Asian regularly and don't recall ever spending anywhere near $40/pp. Nevertheless, it's certainly more expensive than other dim sum places, but in addition to the most consistent quality around (IMO), you get free parking and usually no wait.

Is it new, or have they maybe just repainted the building so it stands out more? I drive by there once or twice a week, and I don't remember noticing the place until the last month or so. I haven't tried it, but I'm thinking about it. As you say, it does look interesting! ← I think somebody different has taken over. It used to just be a club with a taco truck out front, now it looks much nicer, with new signage, etc. There's one extremely positive review of in on Yelp.

Have you tried El Gallo d'Oro on E. Marginal? It looks interesting....

Was this the Ross space on the corner? ← ← That's where the entrance is, but the store is going to cover the entire basement of the builiding, so it will be a full-sized grocery.

Just saw an update that the new Kress grocery store on 3rd between Pike & Union is scheduled to open in June.

All of the above. You're not going to get many bargains shopping at the Market, but the prices are generally fair. To add to the tsquare's list, I like The Souk, for Middle Eastern and Indian ingredients, including less expensive spices (but not as good as World Spice). There are a couple small groceries in the Market as well, but definitely more expensive than one of the larger chains. You actually won't be all that far from the new Whole Foods (2210 Westlake) and Metropolitan Market (100 Mercer). In either case, you could walk to the store and then bus or cab back with your groceries. A new full-sized grocery store is supposed to open at 3rd & Pike this year, just a couple blocks for the Market, but the planned opening date seems to keep slipping.

Seattle has a serious dearth of good Eastern Med/Middle Eastern restaurants in general. There have been a handful of good ones over the years, but they never make it in the long term. What I would really like to see is someone open a higher end place.

O'Asian has free and easy parking in the garage underneath. My friends and I have enjoyed our dim sum visits here, though not quite to the Yank Sing level! ← where is O'Asian please? ← Behold the power of Google: web site, map