Seattle Cheap Eats

[nightscotsman]

We've been talking quite a bit about the amazing deal that is the half-price bar menu at Brassa, so I thought I would start a thread on other good cheap eats in Seattle.

I'll start it off with what I think is the best-kept lunch secret on Capitol Hill: the two dining rooms run by the cooking school inside Seattle Central Community College. Lunch service is from 11:15 to 1:00 Tuesday through Thursday, with an all-you-can-eat buffet on Fridays. Prices range from $4.25 to $6.50 (including soup or salad) with dessert for $1.50. Here are a few items from the latest menu (they change every two weeks):

• Grilled chicken breast with sweet corn souffle and slow-roasted rosemary tomatoes
  Salmon cakes with pernod, mustard and dill mayonnaise
  Pork tenderloin with fresh peaches in riesling, potatoes au gratin and herb salad
  Pan-seared sea scallops with roasted fingerling potatoes and grilled zucchini in tarragon-chive sour cream sauce
  

I work within walking distance of the school, so if anyone wants to meet up for lunch sometime just drop me an e-mail

[thelastsupper]

Has anybody on this board talked about Paseo? On Fremont Ave. Just about the best sandwiches in the city-- Cuban pork . . . (Klink?)

Yum.

[MsRamsey]

Has anybody on this board talked about Paseo? On Fremont Ave. Just about the best sandwiches in the city-- Cuban pork . . . (Klink?)

Yum.

Are they cheap eats? Would you be able to post typical prices and give a more complete description of the sandwiches? Thanks -- I've never had them!

[Eric_Malson]

When I was working in Seattle a couple of years ago, I have to say I was shocked at how expensive restaurants were in general. It seemed ones only options (at least in easy reach, being carless in lower Queen Anne) were either meals that cost $40+ or fast food.

With the exception of a couple of unexciting Thai restaurants, the one exception I found (but it's a really good one) was Mediterranean Kitchen. Dinner is in the $15-20 range (for Seattle, that's CHEAP), and lunch a bit less. Their garlic-marinated grilled chicken wings are stupendous....I still have dreams about them!

[tighe]

...I'll start it off with what I think is the best-kept lunch secret on Capitol Hill: the two dining rooms run by the cooking school inside Seattle Central Community College....

I'm going to have to check this out since I work at the 'other' school on the Hill.

I'm not certain they're still doing it, but McCormick's Harborside has/had a killer $1.50 happy hour menu that you could easily make a meal out of.

Of coure, there's always bahn mi, but we don't need to go there....

[Schielke]

I have to add Agua Verde for pretty much everything they have to offer. A few favorites though-

Mangodilla (~$7.00 and feeds two people)

Any of their tacos (~$7.00)

Bitchin Margiritas ($4-$5 and use very good well liquor, sauza if I recall)

They also have some black bean cakes that I really like and could barely eat all of, leftovers anyone?

Ben

Edit: cant spell.

[thelastsupper]

Paseo Caribbean Restaurant

4225 Fremont Avenue N.

Seattle, WA 98103-7221

Phone: (206) 545-7440

Here is the citysearch link for what it's worth: Paseo Review

I haven't been since the begininng of summer but lunch sandwiches are around 7 bucks. The pork sandwich is the best by far in my opinion. On nice bread (Macrina I think): spicy, tender pork; a ton of grilled onions; cilantro and lettuce; mayo. Plus corn on the cob when it is in season. Definitely worth a drive across town.

[nightscotsman]

Of coure, there's always bahn mi, but we don't need to go there....

Well, we do need to go there, but maybe not in this thread .

[col klink]

Has anybody on this board talked about Paseo? On Fremont Ave. Just about the best sandwiches in the city-- Cuban pork . . . (Klink?)

Yum.

Yes! I love Paseo. Their new pork sandwich has roasted red jalepenos and of course, lots of garlic and onions. Next to Salumi, Paseo is my favorite place for a sandwich. But at $7 a sandwich, it's not quite the cheap eats as a place with a happy hour. However, it is a full meal and that price is definitely good. Often times I'll pick up a sandwich there and walk down the block to the Buckaroo for a drink.

A couple of weeks ago I started regularly visiting the Whalemaker, the bar in the North Lake Union Ivar's. All of their appetizers are half off and well bourbon is only $2.50 and I believe it might be Jim Beam. Just don't ask for Jim Beam, they'll charge you more. Everytime I go I get a half dozen oyster shooters for $3. They're fresh and served in a shotglass on a bed of their cocktail sauce. I usually put on a little lemon and forego the cocktail sauce. Not bad. Just don't order the "caesar salad," it's served on a small plate and really pathetic. I've orderd the deep-fried clam sandwich and it wasn't half bad, especially at $3 or $3.50.

[Fish]

Than Brothers Pho on Broadway is excellent, and I don't think you can beat the price: dinner for two, including yummy custard-filled choux pastries for dessert is around $10, including tip. Wonderful on a chilly day.

Than Brothers Restaurant Deli

- S

[LaurieA-B]

Of coure, there's always bahn mi, but we don't need to go there....

Well, we do need to go there, but maybe not in this thread .

Right, because we've discussed banh mi on just about every other thread on this board already.

[tsquare]

Lunch at the Mexican Grocery - north end of the Market, next to the original Starbucks - $3.83 tax included - buys you one tamale (pork, chicken or beef), rice, beans, chips and salsa (green and red.) Comes in a paper boat, but no place to sit in the store (or the boat.) Other stuff available as well.

PS - we have the Market back - the crowds are gone.

[nightscotsman]

Just thought I would post next week's menus for the Seattle Central cooking school. These menus are good from 10/15 - 10/24, Tuesday through Thursday. Friday is all-you-can-eat buffet day.

For the "Square One Bistro" (prices include soup or salad):

Parmesan Zucchini Cakes with Fresh Tomato and Olive Sauce Hummus and warm pita - $4.95

Grilled Duck Breast withHuckleberry Compote, Wild Rice Pilaf and Fall Greens - $5.75

Sake Marinated Mahi Mahi with Prawn Dumplings and Scallion Consommé - $5.95

Fresh Fettuccine with Sweet Corn, Pancetta, Tomatoes and Tarragon - $5.50

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich - $5.25

For the "World Dining Room":

Appetizer

Cana de Açucar com Camarao

Flambé shrimp on sugarcane spears with pineapple salsa prepared tableside - $2.50

Soup and Salad

Sopa Azteca

Tortilla Soup - $1.50

Ensalada de Jicama

Baby greens with jicama, oranges radishes and cucumbers served with an ancho lime vinaigrette - $1.50

Entrées

includes choice of soup or salad

Ensalada de Jamaican Jerk Pollo

Spicy grilled chicken breast served on a bed of baby greens with a sour orange vinaigrette - $4.95

Pato en Tacos

Duck tacos with charred habanero salsa and a black bean cake with crisp plantains - $6.95

Chilahuates

Banana leaf wrapped tamales with masa, black beans and vegetables served with tomatillo salsa and vegan green rice - $5.25

Sandwich Cubano

Grilled sour orange roast pork, ham and cheese sandwich with yucca and plantain chips - $5.45

Tamal de Salmón Adobado

Chili grilled salmon in cornhusks served with jalapeño corn flan - $6.45

[Schielke]

What are the hours this is available?

Ben

[nightscotsman]

What are the hours this is available?

Lunch only, 11:00 - 1:00. I know, it sure would be nice if they served dinner, too.

[Schielke]

Nutsack! Looks like I'll never make it.

Ben

[thelastsupper]

I'll recommend the new Capitol Hill Internet Cafe and Eatery too. It is on Broadway in the place where Buffalo Exchang used to be. Really good (and large) sandwiches for around 5-6 bucks. Both the East Coast and the Roasted Turkey are excellent.

[Blue Heron]

nightscotsman, thanks for posting the menu from the Seattle Central CC. I never knew they served such good food there, and I even used to live just 1 1/2 blocks away! I'll stop up there for lunch soon when I visit my tenants who now live in my old place. I can see it's going to be hard to decide what to order though, everything sounds so good.

I've mentioned this in an earlier thread, but South Seattle CC also has an excellent culinary program, with similar gourmet lunches served M-F during the school year, as well an an excellent pastry shop (cheap), and florist shop. I used to go regularly with a neighbor of mine, but haven't been the past year since she passed away.

[nightscotsman]

I'm actually considering enrolling in the South Seattle CC pastry program. I'm currently on the waiting list for the semester starting in January, but there are a couple other schools I want to visit before deciding. I spent the day there a couple months ago observing and talking to the students and instructors. They have a very impressive program with a strong grounding in classical techniques. I also toured the pastry program at Seattle Central, but they seem to be much more focused on artisinal breads.

A few tips on dining at the two community colleges:

The service at South Seattle tends to be glacially slow, so plan plenty of time.

The pastry program being very strong at South Seattle, do order dessert and do not leave without visiting the pastry shop. Dessert tends to be dissapointing at Seattle Central in my experience, but you can pick up some good bread (real cheap) at their pastry counter.

IMO the savory menus are much more interesting and modern at Seattle Central, where I think the culinary program is stronger and more focused on cooking for fine dining restaurants.

[Blue Heron]

I'm actually considering enrolling in the South Seattle CC pastry program. I'm currently on the waiting list for the semester starting in January, but there are a couple other schools I want to visit before deciding.

Nightscotsman, what about your current job? Are you thinking of a career change?

My favorite thing to get at SSCC pastry shop are their Napoleons. Also their Napoleon Cakes, which I order special order to make sure they have them, which they will slice for you expertly upon request ahead of time. French pastries, cookies, chocolates, cakes (sacher torte, carrot cake, fruit tartes, honey almond tarte thingy, etc)... I've never had a bad experience there with their pastries (although their breads are just so). Their hours are 11am-4pm (best stuff goes between 11am-1pm depending when class finishes), at 6000- 16th Ave. SW. Seattle, 206-764-5828. For special orders to their pastry lab, the phone # is 206-764-5818. They also do holiday theme cakes.

[LaurieA-B]

Today I lunched at Seattle Central in the One World dining room. I had the Ensalada de Pollo, with tortilla soup. In retrospect I don't know why I chose that entree, as it is not the most interesting; I couldn't make up my mind, so chose almost at random. It was, however, delicious. The chicken was not spicy but juicy and flavorful. The salad, with an acceptable fruity dressing, included chunks of avocado and orange, topped with crispy tortilla strips. I enjoyed the soup very much. Spicy, loaded with bits of avocado and onion, with nuggets of melted cheese and tortilla strips. It was much better than the insipid tortilla soup served by the average Mexican restaurant.

Desserts, which cost $1.50, were a chocolate torte with raspberry sauce or rice pudding with caramel sauce. A dome of light, lemony rice pudding was served atop a generous drizzle of slightly grainy caramel. Very nice flavor combination.

My three-course meal, with tax, cost $7.02. Portions were substantial.

After reading so much about cooking school experiences, it was very interesting to dine here and imagine what was going on behind the scenes. Service was attentive but not polished. The room was sunny and pleasant, less than half full when I arrived at 12:30.

nightscotsman, we'll meet up another day, I'm sure. I will be glad to lunch at SCCC again.

[nightscotsman]

New menus for Seattle Central! These are for October 29, 30 and 31st for lunch 11:00-1:00 only.

Square One Dining Room

North African & Central Mediterranean Menu

Salad

Moroccan Orange, Cos & Watercress Salad with citrus cinnamon vinaigrette - 1.50

Entrees

Includes choice of soup or salad

Spanakopitta

Spinach and feta pie with Greek vegetable salad - 5.50

Tajine d' Agneau

Savory lamb & olive stew served with spicy harissa sauce - 6.25

Sumk Shwi

Grilled salmon with green olive salsa and chickpea pancakes - 6.50

Kalamari

Flash fried calamari with orange blossom fruit salad - 5.75

One World Dining Room

French Cuisine menu

Appetizers

Soupe a l’Oignons Gratinee - $1.95

French onion soup with golden brown gruyere topping

Soupe de Jour - $1.75

Please ask server for today’s selection.

Salad Paysanne, Vinaigrette ala Moutard - $1.95

Duck confit, mesclun salad, and apples with mustard vinaigrette

Entrees

Includes your choice of soup or tossed salad.

Salade d’Escalope de Saumon Chaude - $5.50

Seared salmon served over fresh greens with a vinaigrette dressing.

Canard Confit, Haricot Vert et Poire Pocher au Vin - $6.25

Duck confit with French green beans and wine poached pear.

Filet de Poulet Sautee, a l’Estragon - $5.95

Sautéed supreme of chicken served with tarragon sauce.

Daube de Boeuf Grille a la Provencal - $6.50

Grilled top sirloin steak served with Provencal sauce.

Escalope de Porc aux Pommes et Carvi - $6.25

Sautéed pork tenderloin with apples and caraway

Saute Fin D’agneau au Basilic - $6.50

Lamb sirloin with pesto sauce

Legume D’ automne - $5.25

Wine-steamed vegetables and tomato gratin.

Mille-feuille de Fruite de Mer - $7.50

Seafood Napoleon: shrimp, monkfish and scallops between layers of flakey pastry.

Poissons aux Olives et Herbes de Provence - $6.95

Papillote of sea bass and squid with olives and herbes de provence

[col klink]

That looks like some pretty decent food, I think I could get used to student-subsidized meals.

[col klink]

I just had another sandwich from Paseo and as usual I had the Midnight Cuban which is slow roasted pork with red jalepenos on a toasted, crunchy bun with their homemade mayo, garlic and romaine lettuce. Damn! They make a good sandwich.

My roomate had the grilled chicken. All of the sandwiches are $6.25 and come with the accompanyments except for the red jalepenos, they're only on the Cuban. He said the chicken was good, but not as good as the Cuban or the grilled pork tenderloin sandwich. There's also a prawn sandwich which I haven't tried before, I just can't say no to the jalepenos.

If y'all haven't been here yet, make it your mission.

[tsquare]

This has been a cheap lunch week for me - Zaina (?across from the Bon) falafel sandwich $4.99 +tax, big and gooey, two-fer tuesday pizza from Andiamo, the little cafe adjacent to the Sheraton, $3.50 inclusive, too much cheese, but were those fresh shitakes on top with the fresh tomato rounds and onion slivers?, and a new downtown bahn mi - Saigon Cafe, on Olive between 5th and 6th, $3.50 + tax for bbq pork (not much evidence of this, possibly packaged) made with a good roll, pate, onions, jalapano, mayo, and other vegetables. (Not to imply that mayo is a vegetable.)