adanzig

Naturally, we had dinner there three nights ago! Delicious, of course, even though we'd intended to eat at Via Tribunali only to learn that they're closed until later this week for the holidays.

Alas, I can't seem to find any information, Opentable.com aside, re: what restaurants are serving dinner tonight (Jan 1). Any suggestions?

Thanks so much, everyone. I'd actually come across Quince via my initial round of research and it looked perfect...alas, no service on XMas eve. Great suggestions otherwise, however -- plenty of focused research for me to do now. Thank you!

Making a semi-quick four day trip from the Pacific NW down to SF + wine country and will find myself (with traveling companion) in San Francisco on Christmas Eve. Surprisingly, it looks like many places are actually open...though I'm in need of recommendations specifically for Pacific Heights and don't know enough about the city to make my search even remotely efficient. Price isn't too much of an object -- would welcome any and all suggestions. Thanks!

Visited Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula last weekend. Had a few completely unremarkable meals and a few worth noting. We had a great lunch at Snow City Cafe in Anchorage. After eating my weight in king crab legs and halibut over the previous couple of days on the Peninsula, I was thrilled at the promise of eating fresh vegetables at long last...which begs the question of why I ordered a tuna melt and tomato soup. The sandwich was served open face and was done perfectly, with a thick slab of sharp cheddar atop well-seasoned tuna salad. The tomato soup was extremely flavorful, especially for a dish that had to have been made with canned tomatoes considering its April. My dining companion had a ciabatta roll stuffed generously with roast beef and blue cheese that he dipped into au jus, accompanied by the soup of the day, a corn chowder with bacon. Service was attentive for the most part. One server seemed to be working the majority of the floor but that was fine with us -- we were enjoying our leisurely meal and would definitely return the next time we have occasion to travel to Anchorage. We also enjoyed late night happy hour dinner at Simon & Seafort's that same day. It felt a little chain-y (like McCormick & Schmicks here in the Pac NW) but their bar menu appetizers were half-off starting at 9pm, the portions were generous and the view not to be beat. Service was fabulous -- when my boyfriend was told that they were out of oysters, the last two were delivered on the house. We actually went back to the same restaurant for a quick pre-airport snack the next day (after calling, of course, to see if their oyster delivery had come in) and the staff remembered us. They were so remorseful about denying my boyfriend his full plate of oysters the night before that they delivered an entire order to him on the house! On the Kenai Peninsula, the one meal that surprised us was breakfast at the Smoke Shack in Seward. We got the last of the six tables as soon as we walked in and promptly ordered a breakfast burrito and corned beef hash. The coffee could have been stronger (then again, we're from Portland, OR) but both dishes were surprisingly good. We'll admit that our expectations were fairly low as we were dining in a converted train car in a parking lot, but considering it was literally the only place serving breakfast on Sunday morning in April, we had no complaints! Other meals and quick stops: - Ray's in Seward (crab legs and view: good, cioppino not) - Bowman's Bear Creek Lodge & Cafe in Hope (beef burgundy and shrimp tempura at a place run by two tremendously nice folks) - Middle Way Cafe in Anchorage (great coffee and free wi-fi; great place to continue trip planning while waiting for REI to open!) - Glacier Brewhouse in Anchorage (more good crab legs but an heavily overdressed salad) All in all, a really enjoyable trip filled with breathtaking scenery and some surprisingly good eats. Thanks, Alaska, for a great visit!

Traveling to Vancouver this weekend (from Portland) to watch my beloved Red Wings take on the Canucks and am in search of a Sunday brunch venue where my traveling companion will be able to partake in March Madness (a.k.a. watch hoops on t.v. while we dine). We were planning on Aurora until I learned that a) they don't serve Sunday brunch any longer and b) our dining experience must include a television. I'd actually like a meal that's somewhat inventive (or at the very least has a benedict offering on the menu) but understand that given the circumstances, beggars can't be choosers. Could anything possibly fit the bill? We're staying at the Marriott but will have a car. Thanks!

They're bottomless when one chooses to reply "yes" in response to the repeated offerings for "another." Pricing, sadly, does not reflect a bottomless scenario.

Well, we didn't quite make it out for cocktails or snacks apres hockey game (due to the unfortunately high consumption of both genres *at* the game), however we did have two remarkable meals during our stay. The first was brunch at Glowbal on Saturday. I had a dungeness crab, mascarpone and asparagus omelette that, with the addition of a little bit of salt, was divine and the (apparent) bottomless mimosas were outstanding. Sadly, due to the aforementioned, I can't recall what my traveling companion enjoyed. The service was fabulous and, frankly, rather unexpectedly friendly and charming given the rather slick interior. We then went on to have a great dinner at Cru on Saturday night. Again, service was very gracious and the food was excellent. All in all, a wonderful weekend...capped off by no wait at the border! Can't wait to return.

Thanks, everyone, for such speedy suggestions! I'm thinking Bin 941 for small plates before dinner followed by a cocktail or three at Chambar after the game. Sadly, my traveling companion reminded me that we have an early a.m. departure the next morning so toasting apres game to the Wings victory will have to be kept short and sweet. Many thanks!

A pal and I will be making the drive from Portland to your fair city this weekend to see my beloved Red Wings skate to victory (and if that isn't an invitation to receive precisely *zero* recommendations in response to this post, I don't know what is!) Since we'd much prefer to eat late than before the game, I'm seeking some suggestions. Options don't necessarily have to be within walking distance from the hockey arena...much more concerned with great food and fabulous cocktails at a warm, semi-intimate location that won't be shutting down too early on a Sunday night. We don't really have a cuisine preference....traditional Pacific NW or ethnic alike would be welcome suggestions and price isn't really a concern. Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

I live in Eugene and will be happy to offer some recommendations if you can be a bit specific about what you're looking for, what cuisines you prefer, etc. Enjoy your visit!

Thanks, all, for your thoughts. You've allayed my fears that its not acceptable to linger in one spot for hours on end...certainly not in the U.S. but this is Paris, after all. :) Appreciate the guidance!

I'd greatly appreciate recommendations for a bar/restaurant where I can linger with a very old, very good friend for a very long time whilst consuming a few (or more!) good glasses of wine. Looking for something fairly dark, fairly romantic but decidedly un-seedy. What comes to mind?

Thanks, all, for the many recommendations (if there are more out there, I'll gladly take 'em). I'll post upon my return!

"Best meals" during our last visit universally included a cheese course. I know this sounds fairly pedestrian (and probably doesn't help you much) but my love of cheese runs deep. Very deep. We like unfussy yet sophisticated food. I hesitate to say we enjoy "modern" cuisine because it sounds so cliche, but I suppose that's where our preferences lie. We live in Seattle so we've grown accustomed to menus that feature very fresh, seasonal ingredients used in dishes that are often Asian-influenced. That said, we're not headed to Paris hoping to recreate a meal that we could have here at home...but perhaps this will help you narrow down the field. On our last visit, we quite enjoyed our meal at Spoon, actually. In terms of menu options, I would be thrilled if it were possible for me (of the special needs) to actually *have* options. What I fear I will find at Michelin-starred establishments are very few selections that don't include foie gras here or veal shank there...particularly given the time of year. Frankly, I'd be thrilled to be presented with a menu that had more than just one meat-free option (again, fish is fine). We're prepared to spend $500 US.

My husband and I will be taking a semi-spur-of-the-moment trip to Paris between Christmas and New Years Eve. Our most recent visit was just over a year ago and now that my stash of Valrohna is all but gone, its time for a return trip! This time around, we want to have one "blow-out" meal. Husband says it should be at a Michelin-rated establishment. Fortunately for our animal friends -- but unfortunately for me in a city like Paris -- I eat fish and dairy but no other animal products. Is it possible to truly enjoy one's dining experience at a "four star" establishment if the large majority of the menu is off-limits? Are any restaurants (of Michelin caliber) more amenable to diners with "special needs"? I would be grateful for opinions/recommendations. And, of course, if there's an existing thread on this topic that I missed, please do let me know. I hate to retread ground that may have recently been covered. Thanks!

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. We ended up at Maximilien...and what a gem! How have I lived here for almost nine years and never once been there for a single meal? Crabcake Benedict was divine....best hollendaise I've had in recent memory. And the view this morning could not be beat.

Family is leaving town on Sunday and our last meal will likely be brunch. There's been a request to visit the market on Sunday, so I'm attempting to identify a suitable dining option that's within walking distance. So far, I've come up with Cafe Campagne (where I'm always under-impressed) and Etta's (which would probably be a mob scene). Other suggestions? P.S. On another note, we're headed to Tutta Bella today for lunch -- yippeee!

The original owner of New York Pizza Place did indeed sell the place not too long ago...to a guy who promises not to change a thing, from the kitchy decor to the bucket o' Red Vines at the counter to the pizza recipes used by the previous owner. If you like the place, that's good news. :)

New York Pizza Place on 5th in the Maple Leaf neighborhood is decent...I think its better than just about everything else in Seattle but that's really not saying a whole lot, in my opinion. Sadly, you won't find true NY-style pizza here although its still quite fun making the rounds in a valiant attempt!

Thanks for the speedy recommendations. As always, eG's didn't let me down! I have Tango on hold and, although the Capitol Club's Blue Room was already booked, I'm still considering it anyway (couple of tables pushed up to the large banquette in the back). I'm going to look into 1200 Bistro as well. Thanks, all!

I'm coordinating a smallish gathering on Saturday 11/6 and am looking for a venue on Capitol Hill (yes, it must be on Capitol Hill) for a group of between 15-20 folks to meet for dinner and drinks. Hoping for a private room. Also hoping to find a place that will work with us to develop a fixed-price-esque menu so that everyone has two or three appetizers/entrees/desserts from which to choose but the payment process at the end of the night is as simple as possible. Need to accomodate a wide range of dining preferences including vegetarian. I've been in touch with the Capitol Club. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

<<we're either going to go to the sitting room or meskel. adanzig - i tried to convince my boyfriend that we should go to Laibela again, but he wanted to go back to meskel. i think we'll do meskel one more time and then i'll be able to convince him to re-try Laibela. he's definitely not as moved by the scientific thrill as i am. >> Please report back regardless of which spot you choose. I'm curious to hear if your Meskel experience is as non-thrilling as mine. And, I've never been to the Sitting Room but am always looking for another veg-safe place to add to my list. Enjoy!!

I rescind my recommendation of Agua Verde on account of the fact that they close at 9pm. What about Palace Kitchen? They serve their full menu until 1pm, seven nights a week. As a veg, I don't ever remember having difficulty ordering there. Their menu also lists the ever-popular Laura Chenel goat cheese fondue, a ricotta cheese dumpling dish, potato-chevre ravioli (yum!), gazpacho and a couple of nice salads sans meat. And a lovely cheese plate.

I dined at Galerias last week and was hugely unimpressed....and I've actually been known to willingly dine upon Taco Bell (on occasion). It was really, really not good. Not sure what 'hood you're coming from but what about Agua Verde on Portage Bay (think its on Boat Street)? Weather today is beautiful and their sweet potato tacos (with sides of black beans, corn n' cactus salad and whipped spicy mashed potatoes) makes this "real" vegetarian very, very happy approximately one every four to five weeks. Their margs aren't half bad, either.