Category: Washington

There are many areas of Seattle that are being revived with bars, restaurants, and local shops. The Walrus and the Carpenter, located in the Ballard area of town, is one of those rejuvenations. When I walked up to the old brick building – which still has Marine Hardware painted on it – I questioned if I was in the right place.

Then I saw the bright sign for the restaurant. When I entered the building it was a long walk down a long hallway to get to the back of the building. This is where the restaurant is located.

The restaurant is not big inside but that creates an intimate atmosphere to me. There is a beautiful chandelier that caught my attention as soon as I walked in. It appeared to be drift wood configured to look like coral.

The kitchen is open so no matter where you sit you can see all the action.

As I would expect, they had an extensive menu filled with fresh oysters and fish. The oysters were the headliner, with varieties from Washington and British Columbia.

When you order here, you ordered for the table since every dish is meant to be shared. We started with the halibut ceviche, which was fantastic! We ended up ordering 3 of them for the table. It went quickly so I was not able to snap a picture. The fish itself was so light and tender. I have never had raw fish that melted in my mouth as nicely as this halibut did.

Kale is one of those superfoods that is full of vitamins that is a great accompaniment to a meal so that is why we decided to order the kale raab. The way they sautéed it and sprinkled bacon on top made it taste better than any regular leafy kale I have ever eaten.

Fried oysters were also a must try. They used large meaty oysters that were coated in a cornmeal batter. The cornmeal added an interesting flavor to the oyster without being overpowering. It was a perfect complement. For being fried oysters, the chef did a great job of not allowing them to become too greasy.

If you want a great meal, hop in an Uber and head to The Walrus and the Carpenter. Check out their menu at http://www.thewalrusbar.com/ because it changes daily.

Enjoy!

T

When visiting Seattle it’s natural to want fresh seafood. Everywhere you go it’s available. However, sometimes a person just needs a burger. That is why I was excited to find Red Mill Burgers. Judging by the line that was out the door, several other people were hungry for a burger too.

You need to be prepared for what you want to order when you get to the counter – they move fast. I went for the Verde Burger because it came with roasted peppers and their “mill sauce”. I also got a side of onion rings – I saw many other patrons ordering them and they looked good.

I was worried about finding a seat since the inside of the restaurant is small. Luckily by the time I got my burger a seat opened up.

The burger was cooked perfectly – extremely juicy and not over cooked. They used pepper jack cheese which paired nicely with the roasted peppers. It was the mill sauce that tied the whole burger together. It added a sweet taste to the slight heat from the peppers.

I am not forgetting about the onion rings – they were huge. They had a great crispy coating and the onion was sweet on the inside. After eating two I was almost full. They are definitely meant to be shared.

So if your taste buds are wanting something other than seafood check out Red Mill Burgers (except on Monday’s when they are closed): http://www.redmillburgers.com/

Enjoy!

T

If you want a fun and different sushi experience then stop by Blue C Sushi in Seattle. When I walked through the door the first thing I noticed was this conveyer belt going around the center of the restaurant which had all of these colorful plates. It was explained to me that the conveyer and the colors were modeled after the subway lines in Tokyo. Completely unique and clever!

I sat in a booth next to the belt so that I could watch all the action. Different colors plates would go by carrying different dishes like spicy tuna rolls, tempura rolls, edamame; you name it they had it on the belt. Each color corresponded to the price of the dish. If for some reason you didn’t see anything you wanted on the belt, you could order it from the regular menu.

It was so fun to watch for a dish I wanted to try and then grabbing it off the belt before it passed the table. It became like a game. I was able to have dinner and be entertained at the same time.

All their fish was fresh, which I would expect in Seattle. I also tried their sesame noodle dish that had great flavor. Their portions from the belt are the perfect size so that I was able to try a few things without getting too full.

If you are looking for a different experience I recommend Blue C Sushi. They have several locations around the Seattle area and a few locations in California. Check them out at: www.bluecsushi.com

Enjoy!

T

I have another great seafood restaurant that is a must try when visiting Seattle. The Fishermans Restaurant is right on the waterfront near the aquarium and The Crab Pot that I have written about before.

You can’t miss the restaurant because of the huge ferris wheel on the dock.

I recommend starting with an appetizer of  the Crab Dip. It is full of spinach, bay shrimp, crab, & cheese. It is warmed to a perfect temperature and served with tortilla chips. It is perfect for sharing with the table.

I knew I wanted fresh fish for dinner because why else would you be in Seattle. They had 6 different catches of the day and when I saw the Albacore Tuna on the list I knew I had to try it. But unfortunately is was pretty popular so they ended up being out. So next fish up! I went with the Salmon, that was mesquite grilled. It was served with roasted red potatoes and fresh broccoli. It was the perfect combination and everything was absolutely as fresh as could be.

The view from the table were beautiful as I got to watch the sun set over the water. If you are in the mood for fresh fish you have to check them out. www.thefishermansrestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

What is the first thing you see when you look at the Seattle skyline? The Space Needle naturally. It’s a popular place, so be prepared to wait in line.

Once your inside, you take an elevator all the way up to the observation deck. There is where you will get the best views of Seattle.

Be prepared – not only is it high but it is really windy.

What I didn’t know until I got there was they have a restaurant “Sky City Restaurant” that rotates around to allow you to see the city while you eat. If you are interested in that experience, make sure you make reservations.

To learn about the history of the Space Needle and check ticket prices visit their website at: www.spaceneedle.com

Enjoy!

T

After walking around the pier and Pike Place Market, I needed to stop for a quick snack and something to drink. That’s when I saw Pike Brewing Company. They make their own beer with names like Monk’s Uncle. And what goes great with beer? Homemade soft pretzels!

When I was done with the pretzels, something else caught my attention on the menu, it was their Framboise Float.  They take Linderman Framboise (a Belgium Lambic style fruit beer – basically raspberry beer that is sweet and tart at the same time) and they add chocolate ice cream. YUMMY!!!!!!

It was an adult float and it was awesome. I ended up going back for another later on during the trip.

You have to check them out. The restaurant gets crowded but there is always open seating at the bar. www.pikebrewing.com

Enjoy!

T

As I was exploring around Pikes Place, dodging flying fish, I stumbled upon a bizarre attraction – a giant wall of gum. It’s located on Post Alley, just under the market.

It’s pretty simple – a wall with tons and ton of gum. While you’re there feel free to add your’s to the collection.  It’s both gross and amazing and something you will not see everywhere.

Enjoy!

T