Food near the stadium

[d.hawksworth]

Hello All,

Well there's going to be four of us traveling down to Seattle for the Celtic - Man U game next Tuesday night. And we really need some info fast, how about something not to far away from the stadium. Reasonable ( Canadian Peso ) in affect, we would really appreciate some feedback. And if it helps, it would be a early dinner!!!!

Thanks

David Hawksworth

Edited July 17, 2003 by d.hawksworth (log)

[Schielke]

If you are talking about Walking distance, it might be a stretch. If you can get to Belltown (not a huge walk), you should be ok. Notable Belltown spots:

Le Pichet (French Bistro Style)

Shiro's or Saito's Sushi (Either one is great)

Mistral (the peso wont go far there, but it is great)

Brassarie Margaux (I have yet to go, but the other folks here love it)

And if you can make it over to Harvest Vine (short drive from downtown), you won't regret it.

Hope you have a good trip!

Ben

[chuck]

I didn't know what the hell you were talking about there for a bit. Got it now.

So you'll be at the stadium right next to the International District. Short walking distance (maybe 1/4 mile) to some great asian places. Please excuse us for not having the amazing abundance of Vancouver, but there are some good spots. Shanghai Garden has always been popular (shaved green barley noodles, shanghai dumplings), Sea Garden Restaurant (great noodle dishes, and great everything else), Ho-ho Seafood (seafood), any of the barbeque places (Kau-kau is my favorite), and a few Japanese restaurants to the north of Jackson street just a few blocks east of the stadium.

All of these are cheap compared to non-asian alternatives, and easily more satisfying. For four, maybe $60 total without drinks. Canadian that's what, $450? Oh, sorry about that.

And then afterward, head north up 1st for hip, dive-y bars. Don't stay in Pioneer Square. If you pass the Pike Place Market you've gone too far...

[d.hawksworth]

[Le Pichet (French Bistro Style)]

I've heard this is very good, any other reports?

[mamster]

Yes, it's very good. I've never had a good dessert there, though--have cheese. If you go, definitely get the rillons de porc.

[tighe]

Hey, I just scored some of the nosebleed seats that were released this week, so it looks like I'm going to the game. I'm psyched.

David, Le Pichet is very good and I'm sure you'd be happy there, but in my opinion at least, it is kind of borderline in terms of being a walkable distance from the stadium. This could be because I'm fat and out of shape however.

Two places that are very close to the stadium that I like very much are:

Cafe Paloma, a small Turkish place that serves primarily mezze, of very high quality.

Il Terrazo Carmine, one of the best Italian restaurants in town, to me at least.

Of the two, Cafe Paloma would be less expensive. If the US$ continues on its current trajectory, it may be close to par by the time you get here.

Hope you enjoy the game....

Edit to add: at the risk of angering some, I would have to urge you not to go to any of the places in the International District. Given the quality of Chinese food available in Vancouver, none of the places are going to measure up.

Edited July 17, 2003 by tighe (log)

[girl chow]

I agree, Le Pichet might be more of a walk than most people can handle, although not bad if you exercise on a regular basis.

You should have no troubles finding delicious, affordable food in

the International District.

Here's what I did when I went to a Mariner's game last week (it was my first Mariner's/baseball game ever):

I picked up a few banh mi sandwiches ($2.75, tofu vegetarian and bbq pork) at Saigon Deli (northeast side of 12th and Jackson), walked across the street to Malay Satay Hut (the strip mall north of Saigon Deli) and picked up two orders of roti canai ($6) and then walked to Kau Kau on South King Street (656 S. King Street) and bought a pound of the best barbecued pork in the universe (about $6). We also bought peanuts from a guy on the street ($2) and had a feast for several people (we shared) for under $20. Of course, we spent $80 on liquor (they lost to Baltimore, so we had to drown our sorrow), but $20 wasn't bad for food for about 4 people.

For a thread on bahn mi sandwiches, go here: yummy sandwiches

For a thread on Malay Satay Hut, go here:

Malay Satay Hut thread 1

or here for a thread on their sister restaurant in Redmond:

Malay Satay Hut thread 2

For a thread on Kau Kau, go here:

Kau Kau pork rules

Now that I think about it, walking to 12th and Jackson, down to King and then over to Royal Brougham to Safeco Field, probably is about the same distance from the new stadium to Le Pichet Given the choice, I'd probably opt for Le Pichet, especially the charcuterie plate, which I think was $10 on my last trip there. But if you're looking for great, really affordable cuisine, you can't beat the ID for selection and quality.

[girl chow]

Edit to add: at the risk of angering some, I would have to urge you not to go to any of the places in the International District.  Given the quality of Chinese food available in Vancouver, none of the places are going to measure up.

Because my experience with Vancouver food is pretty much limited to nothing but a liquid meal of beer, beer, beer when I was an underaged drunk, er, student at WWU in Bellingham, I can't say much about the food in Vancouver.

But I do know that the ID has some pretty bitchin' and pretty affordable food.

If occurs to me that we've all given wildly different recommendations to d.hawksworth...perhaps if you gave us more of an idea of what kind of diner/eater you are, we could find something that more matches your style of eating.

As you can see, we all vary quite a bit on what we like to chow down on

So what would you like your dinner to be like? A walking tour of the ID? A sit down with a good and affordable wine list? Standing up eating a sloppy Q sandwich?

[tighe]

Edit to add: at the risk of angering some, I would have to urge you not to go to any of the places in the International District.  Given the quality of Chinese food available in Vancouver, none of the places are going to measure up.

...But I do know that the ID has some pretty bitchin' and pretty affordable food...

I was probably overly broad in my comment. A more careful statement would be that, in my opinion, none of the 'sit-down' type Chinese restaurants in the ID can compare with whats available in Vancouver. Bahn mi and the like can be very good, especially for the price...

[girl chow]

Tighe, hope you didn't think I was being snotty, cuz I wasn't tryin' to be (uh, it comes naturally, I guess?)!

I think ultimately it would be helpful to know what the preferences are of our Vancouver visitors so we can give some better guided recommendations. It takes a certain special egulleter to dig on bahn mi, roti canai and Kau Kau bbq pork. And maybe they like crappy Chinese

[d.hawksworth]

I like fresh food !!

hot if it's supposed to be hot

cold if required

seasoned properly

and always fresh

Edited July 17, 2003 by d.hawksworth (log)

[tsquare]

I've heard the sausage cart outside the stadium is worth a stop.

Stadium area is a wasteland - the International District is probably the best bet, close by. Tighe's suggestions make sense as well.

We haven't had any reports on Luigi's Grotto, Cafe Bengodi, or Luigi's most recent place (?) that I can recall. These are all just north of the Pioneer Square area. I last ate at the Grotto (before it was called that) over 6 years ago. It was very good. There are also a couple of new places - at the base of Smith Tower - tavern type place that looked fresh, and a small plates overly creative place on First, next to the map store, that got a pretty good review for it's efforts. Anyone know these two and what they are called? Unfortunately, don't think Cassis's sibling is open yet.

Edited July 20, 2003 by tsquare (log)

[Fish]

David, Le Pichet is very good and I'm sure you'd be happy there, but in my opinion at least, it is kind of borderline in terms of being a walkable distance from the stadium.  This could be because I'm fat and out of shape however.

Le Pichet is in the free ride zone. Hop on a bus heading towards the stadium, and hop off again in Pioneer Square. From there, it's a short walk to the stadium. Hope you have fun at the game.

- S

P.S. David, we really wanted to eat at your place over the weekend, but we ran out of nights and stomach space.

[tsquare]

Ah, but the free rides end at 7 pm. (Still, off peak hours for the bus are $1.25 or so.)