gem67 "feed me.. =]"

Mercatos is the place to go for classy Italian in Olympia! They have the dark wood and dim lighting to set the mood. Their waitstaff give you ample time to study the menu before offering further explanations. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, their great-tasting food. I didn’t think I could get away with something not Olive Garden in Olympia but I did. Stop by for a well-rounded dining experience if you get the chance!

Nothing is better than a hot bowl of soup noodles on a rainy fall day in Seattle. Than Brothers not only provided a (spacious) safe haven from the gusting wind and rain, their pho warmed me from my fingers to my toes.

At Than Brothers, the menu is simple and straightforward; you can choose between the vegetarian, chicken, meatball, or beef pho (though there are plenty of beef arrangements to make you indecisive). Their broth is pretty good and I was impressed with their tender meat (the beef round steak and brisket).

The best part about it? The price: small is $4.25, regular $4.75. There’s two more sizes but I didn’t look beyond the regular. In any case, you’ll come away with a nice bowl of pho and a free custard-filled puff pastry for no more than six or so dollars. =)

Time to rate the food! Read about the crappy service here

The New Imperial Garden used to be a well-established, high-end Chinese seafood restaurant. Now? A large-scale dim sum joint where the staff seem untrained and the food, mediocre at best. I’ve come here twice now and there always seems to be a list of distasteful service and/or dishes: cold/lukewarm dishes, disgruntled staff, undertrained staff, etc.

Our main complaint this time was the seating. We were placed at a table adjacent to the door that leads to the outdoor garden. We asked to be seated elsewhere immediately but were told that nothing else was available. When, after half a dozen people had passed through the door, we mentioned how our table would probably not be ideal to seat other customers, the staff said that they would seat us somewhere else next time, disregarding the broader view that no customer should have to sit there and endure the cold blast of winter air. On top of that, the door wasn’t even unlocked. Every time someone wanted to re-enter the restaurant, we had to push the door open for them. Not only were we not getting the appropriate service, WE had to serve other customers… Where is the sense in that?

Don’t come here expecting good service. As for the food, there are some decent dishes but most of which I could critique a thing or two on..too bland, too savory, poor presentation, etc.

I’m such the brat. I think Maekawa is decent by Seattle’s standards but since I’ve been to izakayas in Japan, I give it a three-star. Our waitstaff was friendly but not as attentive as I would’ve liked. As for the food, some dishes are tastier than others but most were not quite on par with Japan’s standards, or just standards of a great dish. That being said, I’d still go back to try out their other items since there’s so much to choose from. Plus it’ll be a fun hang-out with large groups of people (and open till 2am on weekends).

Unlike Xuster before me, I had more hot dishes than sushi while dining at Shiro’s. In fact, the closest I came to sushi was the spicy tuna roll, which numbed my tongue (in a good way) whenever I popped one in my mouth. I also had their “poke”, which was tuna chunks topped with green onions and marinated in ponzu (citrus dressing)—this one was unique because I am used to soy sauce and garlic flavored poke . Both were excellent tuna dishes.

Perhaps the reason why I didn’t order sashimi was my delight at seeing dishes that I’d find in restaurants in Japan: kimpira (burdock roots), agedashi tofu (deep-fried tofu in a broth), and mozuku (vinegared seaweed). I wouldn’t say that they’re spectacular, because they’re simply considered home cuisine in Japan, but it felt good to be eating “comfort foods” at Shiro’s.

All in all, I had a good experience from the moment the sushi chefs welcomed us in to the moment the servers arigatou-ed us out. It may be slightly pricey but worth it for the service and quality and authenticity of food.

Next time I’m getting sashimi… =p

I’m more of a tea-drinker than anything else (read: coffee) so I was pretty excited when I discovered KOOTS in Lincoln Square. The whole place has a calming effect due to its wood decor and the installation of a tatami mat space, which nearly transports me to the japanese tea ceremony that I study. I like the non-franchise feel, unlike its neighboring cafes, and the fact that they use organic ingredients is a plus.

If you’re new to matcha (thick, frothy, and almost-always bitter green tea), try the matcha soft serve. It’s one of the best I’ve ever tasted. Their hot beverages can be inconsistent in flavor.

There’s only two bakeries I go to in the states because I get spoiled by them in Taiwan (and am therefore picky); L’Artisan French Bakery is one of them. The shop is clean and bright and the presentation of the cakes, pastries, and breads makes you want to try them all! I have tried most cakes and a lot of pastries and everything really is great. I also like to go for lunch sometimes because they serve sandwiches and quiche; add a drink and dessert and you have one fulfilling meal for less than $10!

The owners and servers are always friendly.

On the warmer days you can sit outside and enjoy the breeze and surrounding greenery.

If you’re ever in the area go try a cake or pastry! I bet it’ll be good. The Everett Costco is also nearby for your shopping pleasure.