Seattle: Where to Eat

There will be no Seattle: Where not to Eat post. I have yet to suffer even a mediocre food experience, never mind a bad one, in my favourite US city- and to underline just how significant that pronouncement is, you should know that I have eaten at McDonald's in Seattle. More. Than. Once.

That said, I'm not about to put McDonald's on a list of my favourite Seattle restaurants. There are limits to all things.

If you're the type of tourist- and I am- who likes to eat your way through a destination, Seattle is a great place to visit. There are many more fabulous places to eat than I can list here... I'm dying to try a whole list of new ones on my trip two weeks from now (and share them all with you, of course.)... but even if you only have the chance to visit one of these places while you're in the Emerald City, I can promise that you won't be disappointed. From fresh cheese to perfect pad thai and strong coffee, Seattle has it all.

When you're in Seattle, you can't go wrong sampling confections at...

Beecher's Handmade Cheese - 1600 Pike Place
Open at Pike Place Market since 2002, this shop has become a veritable mecca for cheese-lovers. You won't be able to miss it... in fact, don't be surprised if you find yourself with your nose pressed against the outer window, watching a vat of milk being turned into cheese curd. If you're hungry, Beecher's offers some sandwiches- all cheese, of course- and other cheesy baked goods. If you just can't resist taking something home for later, they have all the staples you need... cheese, crackers and even their own macaroni and cheese (it comes in several varieties, including my favourite, the spicy Mariachi Mac and Cheese.) Try all the samples that are available; there truly is a cheese for everyone here, and you want to find the right one for you. Sampled everything and still can't decide? I recommend the Marco Polo; Beecher's flagship cheese infused with Madagascar peppercorns.

Chipotle Mexican Grill - Three locations in Seattle
Technically, Chipotle serves fastfood. But the term fast really only refers to the time it takes for them to prepare it. This create-your-own Tex-Mex joint uses fresh ingredients like pinto beans, braised barbacoa beef and handmade guacamole to create to-die-for burritos and tacos. The set-up is a bit like Subway... you wander down the Ford-like food assembly line, choosing what will go into your meal. In an ideal world, we would all have time to go to real Tex-Mex restaurants or, better still, make our own burritos. But sometimes you're in a hurry, and just because you're pressed for time doesn't mean you should suffer with sub-par food. In that way, Chipotle combines the best of both worlds, offering wholesome food for people on the go. [But be aware: this is still a restaurant. The food may be wholesome, but it isn't low-calorie, and portions are enormous. I recommend skipping the rice if you want to be able to finish your food.]

Cold Stone Creamery - 624 North 34th Street
This "old fashioned" ice cream shop makes Dairy Queen look like a Mickey Mouse operation. Their concept of "mix-ins" (stuff you put on your ice cream, in other words) has been made fun of in many popular TV shows, but even if the corporate culture is a bit laughable, you have to give credit where credit it due: Cold Stone Creamery knows ice cream. If you want to spoil your dinner, this is the place to be. Take a friend for their birthday, and they will never forget it. The only problem I've ever seen anyone have here is when trying to decide what to have. I recommend the Cheesecake Fantasy or, for the young at heart, Cookie Doughn't You Want Some (an unholy but delectable combination of vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, cookie dough fudge and caramel.)

Mae Phim Thai Cuisine - 213 Pike Street

I stumbled upon this tiny Thai restaurant quite accidentally on my last visit to Seattle. It was late, dark out and I had a craving for noodles... but nowhere seemed to be open. And I mean nowhere, not just no places that serve noodles. Then I crossed the street and saw Mae Phim's glowing sign. The restaurant may not look like much from the outside, but what it lacks in atmosphere and size, it makes up in taste. Prices are very reasonable- pad thai runs at about six dollars- but definitely don't reflect the quality of the food. This restaurant makes pad thai exactly the way I like it; not ketchupy, just sweet, sour and delicious. Not one to miss out on anything, I sampled everyone's food. I can therefore say with certainty that the kao lao moo soup, coconut battered shrimp and pineapple chicken are all excellent. If I could have ordered seconds, I would have. Mae Phim is a must for anyone who likes Thai food.

Noodle Zone/Thai Go - Westlake Centre
My love of the combined Noodle Zone/Thai Go in Westlake Centre has nothing to do with the food being particularly good or the ambiance exciting. This place is nothing more than an outlet in a food court. Its next-door neighbour is MacDonald's. As far as food court food is concerned, you could do far worse than Noodle Zone/Thai Go; on the scale of relative healthfulness, they probably rate highly. The real reason I keep coming back here is that they serve a particular dish that appeals to me on every level: fettucini with peanut sauce, served with garlic toast. I love pasta, I love peanuts, I love garlic, I love carbohydrates... for me, this dish is it. And no one else on earth serves it. There are lots of other more authentic things on the menu that are probably better options if your tastebuds aren't exactly like mine. But if you have to- or choose to- eat food court cuisine, this is the place to go.

Pizzeria Pagliacci - Nine locations in Seattle

Recently, a surge of new "gourmet" pizza restaurants have opened in Seattle. While I love truffle oil and expensive cheese as much as anyone has any right to, there is something to be said for a simple pizza with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Pizzeria Pagliacci has been serving exactly that since 1979. This is a no-frills, cafeteria-style establishment that does a lot of delivery business. Pizza is sold by the slice, so your choices depend on when you arrive... but sometimes that's half the fun. Reading a menu, I would never choose a pizza with black olives. And yet, the AGOG Primo, with mushrooms, roasted garlic, kalamatas, goat cheese, fontina, mozzarella and tomatoes, is hands down my favourite Pagliacci creation; one that I discovered on a visit when pepperoni was my other option. Eating at Pizzeria Pagliacci is a great way to experience Seattle culture- after thirty years, the restaurant is a local establishment- and enjoy good food. You can't really ask for more than that.

More great Seattle restaurants still to come!