Restaurant Review #5 (pizza!)

Please don’t ever ask me to choose just one of my favorite pizza joints; I have so many! I had to share my #5 pick betweeen four places. Under this topic it might make sense to answer a nutrition question I just received: “is gluten bad or good?” There is a lot of confusion right now about "gluten free" because so many people are choosing this lifestyle, but is it necessary and is it healthful? We are a gluten free household due to my husband’s sensitivity to it, so I definitely understand that some people have conditions that cannot tolerate gluten (Celiac, Chron’s, UC) or have sensitivities, allergies, or just feel better without consuming this wheat protein. Personally, I eat gluten (pizza dough!). I have no problem with it and I don’t like to label it as “bad” or “good”. On the other side, I don’t miss gluten (wheat or flour products) if I don’t have it! We got rid of our toaster and personally, I don’t enjoy products that mimic foods that have gluten in them ie. gluten-free bagels, bread, or baked goods. We instead choose starches like quinoa, oats, corn, rice, and potato and are very happy when cooking at home. All that being said, you know I love pizza - gluten and all - so here is my list of all-time favorites in Seattle.

5. Pagliacci Pizza Queen Anne or University District
550 Queen Anne Avenue North
Seattle
(206) 726-1717

4529 University Way Northeast
Seattle

What can I say? I go here ALL the time. I order a slice (of whatever looks funky that day – sometimes they have very original recipes), and a small ceasar with light dressing. They have happy hour in the afternoon where you can get a soda for free if you get a slice and salad and the best part is that they are open until 11 pm so you can stop by on your way out or on your way home and get in line with the rest of the city. Also, I would really like to mention that the service is excellent here. Each person that works is very kind and helpful in my experience. I got a free slice in the U District once because the line server recognized me as the sister of famous Seattle air-guitarist, Garth Donald of Airpocalypse. It doesn’t get much better than that!

5 1/2. Via Tribunali (Queen Anne or Capitol Hill)
317 West Galer
Seattle, WA 98119

E Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98122



Makes me feel like I’m in Rome! This is the most authentic Italian pizza around in my opinion. I LOVE the space in Queen Anne; be sure to sit upstairs because it’s kind of like an old house and very cozy. You will be sitting in close capacity to other diners, but the food is excellent. It might be a bit on the expensive side, but worth it if you’re in the need for excellent pizza and I did just notice that they have a late night happy hour which I need to check out. The Capitol Hill location has a huge table in the back that is very fun for a big party.



5 3/4. A-Pizza Mart
5026 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 517-4000

This establishment was responsible for at least 5 of my undergrad “freshman 15” (before I committed my life to natural health and responsible adult-hood). However, we still go on occasion. 2 recent incidences: The first was Halloween night of this year. We were the only ones not dressed up and just needed a quick slice. It’s been re-done since I was at the University of Washington; for the better! They have a nice big bar, great service, and play fantastic music. I would say it’s less of a college bar and more of a 30 something hangout for hipsters and people who love pizza. The second was post-Thai Toms dinner and we ended up staying for hours partially because they were playing 2001 Dr. Dre and partly because the bartender had a T-shirt that had side-by-side pictures of John Wayne and ‘Lil Wayne.

Runners Up: Extreme Pizza (Issaquah), Belltown pizza (1st Ave), Snooze Junction

Seattle Restaurants #1-4

So, I want to preface my 20 reviews with a description of what they represent: NOT necessarily the best restaurants in Seattle. There are many, many excellent places to eat and I cannot capture every genre here – I have had amazing Ethiopian food in Rainer Valley, been treated to dinner at Canlis, and enjoyed many places that are now gone. I haven’t been to all restaurants in Seattle, so I cannot judge them all against each other. However, I have a few favorites that I go to again and again and would recommend any one of you become a regular customer. My criteria are fairly simple and span every category no matter the type of food or price:

1. Service must be excellent
2. Food must have consistent quality and originality

Good service is sometimes hard to come by, but can be found at any restaurant at any given time. It takes management that supports, encourages, and expects their employees to give good service and it also takes a server with personality, who can multi-task, and who cares about their job and your experience. I have had some of my best service experiences in unexpected places and I don’t believe that any one genre of restaurant can guarantee you will have exceptional service over another. One more thing…a good server is only as good as their customer. If you heckle them, are demanding or rude, condescending or not willing to be open minded about an experience, menu, or ambiance then you may not deserve good service and will have a hard time finding it. In order to get good service, you need to be a good customer: forgiving, friendly, and polite. If you combine these traits with an excellent server, you will be guaranteed a good time, develop relationships in the community, and have a “place” you go to again and again.

There are many restaurants with good food and I believe that when you are dining out, you can tell by the presentation and the quality whether the establishment values the food they are serving you. I have had nothing but excellent experiences with quality ingredients and presentation at all of the places I plan to recommend.

I will start with a couple of my all-time favorites in Seattle for date night:

1. Boat Street Café (French)
3131 Western Avenue # 301
Seattle
206.632.4602
The first time we went to Boat Street (hidden at the base of Queen Anne), it was a late summer night and the lanterns, colorful umbrellas, sparkling garden lights, and black-and-white prints of golden labs on the wall immediately caught our attention. We went on to have an amazing dinner with the cutest server in the world – I don’t know her name, but she is a petite Japanese American woman with a huge smile. That experience was 5 years ago now and when we were there a few months ago, she was still there. Please start with a cheese plate, drink sparkling rosé, and you MUST get dessert (bread pudding if it’s offered). This is an excellent place for a special night out. Most of the people there are couples and the only thing that could distract you from its magical ambiance is if you are sat at a table next to loud talkers because the ceiling is high and the tables are close together so it may not be the most intimate experience you’ve ever had in a restaurant. However, I tell people to go there all the time – Go there! You will love it.



2.Chez shay (French)
94 Pike St # 34
Seattle
206.467.9990
Hidden above the Pike Place Market, this French Vietnamese restaurant is where we went the night we got engaged. It is excellent for a special dinner out, but we also stop by and sit at the bar often if we’re not in the mood to be dressed up. You can sample their delicious cocktails or their extensive wine menu and grab some bar food “Shay style”: a little fancier than you’re used to. The owners have been there helping serve food and fill water and are an elegant and kind presence that really exemplifies the experience you will have here. We love this restaurant because it combines fine dining and food with a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. I would choose it over the Met or Goucho any day….

3.Macrina Bakery Brunch
2408 1st Avenue
Seattle
206.448.4032
If I’m having brunch, there’s really only one place in Seattle that I truly love. (If it’s not a weekend, I will go to the 5 Spot in Queen Anne – get the oatmeal!). When I talk about Macrina, the only one I am recommending is the one on First Ave in Belltown. They serve brunch on the weekends and it is in your best interest to get there the second they open the dining room at 9 am because within 20 minutes, there will be an hour wait. There is usually a huge crowd in the entrance trying to buy fresh-baked goods and get a latte, but there will be a list hanging on a clipboard to your left – grab it and put your name down and you will be SO happy as you are having an omelet with fresh herbs, bread baked that morning and salad (I don’t know why more people don’t serve green salad with breakfast – it is so refreshing!). But, if you are feeling like splurging like I always do, you really need to get to get the Waffle with Bing cherries, Amaretto whipped cream and toasted almonds. It’s totally worth it in every way. Now that I’m thinking about it, I MUST go to brunch here one last time before I leave Seattle….

4. Seraphina/Ciccetti (Italian)
2043 Eastlake Ave E
Seattle WA, 98102
206.859.4155

121 E Boston St
Seattle WA, 98102
206.323.0807
I have to group these two together not because they are very similar, but because they are right next to each other and both excellent. I have been going to Seraphina for years and I love how it encompasses any experience you are in the mood for: a big 20 person birthday party in the garden, a romantic dinner for two with live music in the dining room, or sitting at the bar for a martini or two, jammed next to a stranger you end up talking to for an hour. The plates are fairly small so you can enjoy courses and lots of delicious wine. Ciccetti is newer and very fun for a date (sit upstairs in a corner by a window), or for a big group because they have long tables you can push together upstairs and a long bar table downstairs. The service is always excellent and accommodating, the menu is fresh with lots of interesting small plates, and the atmosphere is open and beautiful. You should definitely hit it up for Happy Hour (Tues-Sat 5-6:30 pm) for $5 house cocktails or glass of prosecco. If you need a suggestion, just ask your server what they recommend – that’s what we always do.

I have big news for you: I'm relocating from Seattle to Chicago in August!

The reason, besides being ready for adventure, is that I got placed in a dietetic internship at the Edward Hines Jr. VA in Hines, IL. It’s about 13 miles west of downtown Chicago.

Once you have achieved a bachelors or masters of science in nutrition, you are eligible to apply to an incredibly competitive process where you apply to internship programs across the country. Most are about 9 months to a year, and most you pay anywhere from $2000 to $40000 to attend. The internship process includes an online format where you enter every volunteer, work, leadership, and academic experience you've ever had. Further, you upload your resume, 3 letters of recommendation, and a 1,000 word essay that you have the option of altering for each place you apply to. Because of the competitive nature of the process, most directors recommend a student apply to 5-10 internships.

Once you submit your applications, you interview (mostly over the phone!), and then you wait for "match day". On Match Day, you open your computer and, thanks to some insane computer algorithm, your highest choice ranking will match with whichever school ranked you highest on their list. Surprise! I'm going to Chicago.

The reason we all go through this is because in order to be a certified "Registered Dietitian" or RD, you must first complete a degree, then an internship, then a test. After my internship next year, I will take this test and then I'll be a real pro.

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE Seattle and will be sad to leave it. I’ve lived in the city for ten years and been very active in the community. One of my passions includes frequenting the many independent restaurants all over the city. I have my favorites and I thought before I would go, I would challenge myself to an “Ultimate Top 20 Seattle Restaurant Review”. These top 20 of mine will range from the hole-in-the-wall café to my favorite pizza, date night pick to birthday splurge.

Please join me over the next couple weeks while I lay out the restaurants I frequent so you can enjoy them even after I’m gone off to discover the gastric delights Chicago has to offer.