elswinger

I love the Clam Chowder at the Brooklyn! I've been to Waterfront once (on my 39th birthday) and I thought the food and service to be very good (though it probably helped that there were 12 of us and we spent close to $1000). I've wanted to go back, but I still haven't been to the Canlis, nor a couple dozen other high-end restaurants that I want to try first.

According to Nancy Leson in today’s Seattle Times, Gaspare's Ristorante Italiano on Lake City Way will soon reopen as Toto's Ristorante Italiano under new ownership. A new sushi restaurant opened in Wallingford (I will make a note to try it on payday) called Rain (in the space formerly known as Mariani's Italian). Sam's Steakhouse has a new name Eastlake Bar & Grill), with slightly less expensive menu.

As far as turnover, one of the coffee shop/diners I go to lets people stay as long as they want during their traditional slow times, but from 11am-2pm weekdays they ask that people take a table if they are having lunch (the place is across the street from the University of Washington.) This was true before they had wi-fi.

I will not use Wi-Fi at Starbucks or Tully's or any other place that charges a fee because there are too many places that offer free connections. I am much more likely to go to an independent coffee house or diner that offers free WiFi, and will spend money on food and drink while I'm there, if for no other reason, to ease my concience.

I just wish Saveur would publish a few more cookbooks along the lines of their Authentic America, French, and Italian cookbooks. Great pictures and recipes.

I think part of the problem with both Tutta Bella and La Viita e Bella (and my experience yesterday at Il Fornaio) is that they are taking the pies out of the oven too soon because of more customers.

I didn't make it to the new wood-fired pizza place on Capitol Hill yesterday, because I was full from two trips to Tully's (a 20 0z. drip coffee ala mode and banana nut bread for breakfast, and a 16 oz. Chocolate Shake as an after noon snack) and lunch at Il Fornaio at Pacific Place (a friend with an expense account treated. For a mall restaurant it seemed quite fancy and the food was good enough for me that I would make another trip (though there are about thirty other Italian restaurants and pizzerias in greater Seattle I have to try first. While we browsed the menu, my friend devoured the fresh crusty bread with tasty olive oil and Balsamic vinegar dip. Yum! I would go back for that alone. My only real quibble with the menu is I was surprised and disappointed that Il Fornaio doesn’t have anything resembling a Caesar Salad. That may seem pedestrian to many of you gourmets, but if it wasn’t for my love of Caesar I’d hardly get any greens at all. So instead my friend and I started with the Pizza Margherita as an appetizer. Though I would have like the crust a little crisper and it could have used a bit more Basil (or at least a more strategic placement) the pizza was very tasty. For our main dish (and I’m sorry I didn’t make note of the Italian name) we each had the special, Grilled Pork Chop with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus. The pork chop was tender and juicy and very tasty, though just a tad heavy with the cheese on top. The mashed potatoes had just the right amount parmesan and the asparagus was super skinny but had a nice bite. Since I didn’t pay I’m not 100% what the bill came to, but I am guessing, with my Coke and my friend’s two glasses of wine, that with tip it came to around $60. I haven’t mastered my camera nor how to embed photos in a posting, bt I did start an eGullet album called Seattle Eats.

I didn't make it to the new pizza place but did give Il Fornaio a try. Since I don't want to hijack this thread, I'll start a new one.

If it's open, I'll try it tomorrow and will bring my camera.

I am a sucker for the smell of vanilla! Vanilla scented perfume was very popular when I was a kid. The first girl I ever had a crush on used to wear it. She was 19. I was 6. She was my babysitter, so it would never work. :(

Misa, whatever you decide, let us know how it went.

If you want to look at pictures of "real NY pizza" check out this eGullet thread: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=35551 Tomorrow I am going to buy a digital camera and take pictures of the next pizza I eat!

I tip about between $3-6 for an order that's between $16-30.

Every time I've ordered from Mad Pizza, the crust in the middle was uncooked.

Living on Capitol Hill you have a near endless selection. I guess it depends on what they want to eat. I would recommend Noodle Studio for Thai, Aoki for sushi/Japanese (or Hana if you are looking for really cheap), Bimbo's or Galleria's for Mexican.

The soon to open Matt's Famous Chili Dogs next to the Neptune Theater on 45th & Brooklyn is now taking job apllications.

When I say "Greek-style" pizza I am usually refering to a thicker, softer, chewier crust, often a bit oily.

I'm sorry, I like Pagliacci more than any other place that delivers. The crust is thin and crisp (especially when I get it by the slice on the Ave). I think they use good sauce and cheese compared to just about any other place that delivers, my only knock against them is I'm not crazy about there sausage (too fancy). Pretty much every other Seattle pizza place that I liked better when I moved here in 1990 (Rocket, Abruzzi's, and Testa Rosa) closed long ago. I am not crazy about "greek" styled pizza like Romio's or Olympia because their crust is to greasy and chewey and there is something wierd about their cheese. I heard Madame K's in Ballard was supposed to be the best, but it was literally the worst pizza I've had in Seattle (canned mushrooms!) Hot Mama's is a decent place to get a slice, but a "destination." I've had pizza delivered from Jet City, Mad Pizza, Bene, Zeke's, and Atlantic Street and I didn't like any of them as much as I like Pagliacci (but I'd love to find a better place than Pagliacci's that delivers). Jet City is the only one I dub terrible. I've also eaten at Northlake Pizza, Pudge Brothers, Bill's Off Broadway, Piecora's, Pizza Brava, Wild Tiger, Delfino's, Varlamos, and Pizza Time. There are pro's & cons for all of them, but I don't like any of them better than Pagliacci. Personally, I've had much better pizza at Pazzo's, Tutta Bella, Palamino, even The Garage, but none of them deliver. I like a thin crisp crust, a well seasoned red sauce, 100% real mozzerella, and great toppings. There are still a few places I still need to try (La Vita E'Bella, Cafe Lago, Via Tribulani, etc.), but delivery I still prefer Pagliacci, and right now I'd say Pazzo's is the best walk in place. I'm hoping Deborah takes a picture of a pizza that compels me to order from somewhere besides Pagliacci.

I'm glad you and I agree on NY Pizza. I couldn't believe anyone would prefer this over Pagliacci's, which I think gets an unfair rap on this and other boards. Keep the pictures comin (I'll have to buy a digital camera one of these days).

I hadn't noticed your post until I wrote the same thing on the NY pizza thread. I was hoping they'd be open for lunch since I have Veteran's Day off. Either way I will have to give this place a try as soon as payday comes aroun (next week). So far they do not seem to have a web page.

In the Seattle Times today: Caffé Vita owner sinks teeth into pizza biz First he brought us coffee worth drinking. Now Caffé Vita's Michael McConnell is set to bring us pizza worth eating. Via Tribunali (913 E. Pike St., Seattle; 206-322-9234), a Neapolitan-style pizzeria and bar, is expected to make its Capitol Hill debut later this week. A sneak(y) peek proved that this slender room with its exposed brick walls, sleek bar and dark wood booths already has the physical allure of a hip Italian hangout. Creating Via Tribunali a block from his flagship café and roasting plant was a selfish endeavor, McConnell insists. "I didn't do this to make money. I've traveled to Naples a lot and wanted to bring back something for me from a place that I love." To that end he imported materials and manpower to build a "very authentic, very traditional" Neapolitan wood-fired pizza oven. A couple of Italian pizzaiola have been imported too, along with the ingredients needed to build those authentic-tasting pies meant to star on a limited menu. That menu will also list a handful of antipasto, salad and pastas complemented by a mostly Italian wine list. With the assistance of Seattle restaurateur (and not-so-silent business partner) Peter Lamb and celebrated salumi-maker Armandino Batali (whose cured meats will flavor the menu), McConnell's latest enterprise has success written all over it. Via Tribunali will be open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Lunch and nightly service are in the offing.

I can't think of the name of it but there is a Japanese store on the Ave (south of the UW Bookstore) that has all kinds of China cheap! You might also check Uwajimaya in the ID.

I'll have to seek out the Wasabi chips. I wish Tim's web page was more up to date and listed all their discontinued or "Limited Edition" chips. I seem to remember a NY Hot Dog flavored chip. I good alternative to Tim's is Kettle Chips, especially the Mesquite Salsa chip.

At the very least, Portland has this: http://www.d-dish.com/

I wrote Nancy Leson at the Seattle Times suggesting she write a column about the lack of delivery options in Seattle, or, if I'm mistaken, let me know what other options besides Chinese food or pizza there are. When I visit friends in San Francisco, Portland, or Vancouver, BC, I can get sushi, tacos, ribs, burgers, steaks, etc. delivered, and it seems like Seattle should have more than what I am aware of. Let me know if you know of any other places that deliver. Even if they don't deliver in my neighborhood (Wedgewood), let me know because I hope to move into a more food friendly neighborhood.