20 Places
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Matthew’s 4-star review: The Hillcrest Bakery in downtown Bothell is one of the best bakeries in Washington State, and definitely in Western Washington. Run by the Kaske family since 1965, this bakery epitomizes the classic neighborhood bakery, with made-fresh items every day, including some of the best donuts and baked goods you will ever eat. The apple fritters are to die for. The bear claws are the most delicious breakfast pastry I've ever eaten in my life. The cinnamon rolls are huge--nearly seven inches in diameter, and not even worthy to be compared to Cinnabon. The maple bars are over-the-top delicious. The Marzipan cakes were heaven. The blueberry muffins--awesome. Homemade breads, tarts, pastries, cakes and other treats make it a winner if you can afford it. Prices are significantly higher than grocery store bakeries, but the extra cost is worth it if you are trying to impress family or friends. But because money is tight now and I can get a dozen good-quality donuts at Safeway for $6.00, I don't come here any more because the prices are just too high. Like I said, it's more of a once-in-a-great-while treat, rather than a daily or weekly thing. Price is everything! At this point in my life, I cannot justify $25 for a dozen donuts. Sorry, no offense. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: Schwan's consumer brands makes Red Baron Pizza. Red Baron Pizza is as good or better than pizzaria pizza. The Red Baron Pan Pizza for $5 is a bargain. The inconvenience of going to the store to pick them up is easily overlooked due to the extreme deliciousness. Any flavor, any size, any variety will do just fine, and for a fraction of delivery pizza. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: Still the best bakery in Seattle, and Washington state IMHO. I can't say a word, I have to type something, but my photos do all the talking. I will add, though, that even the espresso is top notch. The maple bars are beyond ultra deliciousness and the last bakery that I know of that makes flavored marzipan cakes. Sometimes, they offer great deals for bargain shoppers on day old combination boxes, and they are--well, fabulous is an understatement. Nothing is bad here, it's all good. In fact, this shop is right below the gates of heaven. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: Another top-of-the line specialty food store with more of the best pasta you'll find in the Seattle area. Located in the Pike Place Market, these guys really know their stuff. I especially love the Myers lemon olive oil and the -- you guessed it -- pappardelle pasta, which I used to make a Fresh Salmon pappardelle with a heavy cream sauce and the aforementioned Myers lemon olive oil. Top notch, a class act all the way and top recommendation from this chef without reservation. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: It's a hat trick! Three top-notch specialty stores in the Pike Place Market that you won't find in many places, if at all besides here. You can literally watch them make cheese and you graze on their own ultra-delicious mac and cheese bowl. I bought the Parmesan cheese and Romano cheese triangles for my specialty, which is fettuccine or any pasta dish, and believe me, it is worth it (about $20 a pound). Some cheeses like Romano and Parmesan take six months to cure, but their flavor is incomparable when it comes to making world-class pasta dishes. Top recommendation. Be sure to have your out-of-town friends and family go here during the spring, summer and fall for an unforgettable visit and culinary experience. You really need to try that mac and cheese. Seriously. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: The freshest seafood you can get in lieu of being on the Cornelia, Time Bandit, the Wizard or the Cornelia Marie. The salmon was non-pareil, the best what was available, and it made my Salmon pappardelle pasta out of this world delicious. No hesitation when buying any of the seafood here, just bring your debit card or wad of cash, and don't you dare ask how much it costs because it doesn't really matter. There is no substitute for quality, especially for this chef. The lobster tails are next on my list. Anything seafood, the Pure Food Fish Market is it. Be sure to bring your out-of-town family and friends here for the epitome of the classic Pike Place Market and Seattle experience. It's the kind of thing that dreams (and movies) are made of. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: Another quality specialty store in which the trip of itself is just as much fun as the acquisition of fine products. I love their Montana Morning tea blend, and their licorice tea--you could literally spend hours here and still not see all the excellent items they sell. I will definitely pay more for quality, being a chef, and hate to skimp when it comes to quality and compromise is sometimes a dirty word. At Market Spice, this is the perfect place to take your out-of-towners to see an historic part of Seattle and unsurpassed visit during summer daylight hours, the memories of which can last a lifetime. I still go here for the tea, though! And the other things, too. My guest from Tennessee was overwhelmed by this place and the Pike Place Market in general. It's good to know that top quality has not gone out of style. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: This is one great pasta place, and one of the best you're going to find in the Seattle area. I absolutely LOVE their tortellini, and I've been buying products here since 1985. Believe it or not. Very nice, very chic and I have no problems taking my guests or associates here. So what if the prices are a bit higher. I'm a chef, and I demand perfection in every aspect of food, and Pasta & Co. can definitely be a time-saver if you want to impress your culinary guests for that special dinner or occasion. Top recommendation. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: Another perfect local getaway that's great for kids and the whole family. You have to drive through a rally course to get to the beach--and that in itself is fun, provided you don't get some slow poke who actually obeys the 15 MPH speed limit. Fantastic, picturesque picnic area above the beach, the highlight of which is the overpass that lofts above the passing train for a unique thrill. Not for acrophobics, mind you, as the stairs are see-through, but the climb of itself is thrilling. The first time I visited here was in 1966, but that's as far back as I can remember. Parking space is limited on really nice days, so get here early. You will probably find a good share of professional photographers set up here at sunset, for obvious reasons. Seriously. On a good evening you could take pictures that might just end up on a calendar. They also have a "mid-span" picnic area away from the beach with a nice grassy patch, plus miles of backwoods trails that is reminiscent of Olympic National Park, and probably the best place in the area for in-city hiking. Don't take my word for it, though, look at the pictures. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: How could you not want to go here? Golden Gardens is a vacation away from home, yet oh so close. Beautiful, breathtaking views in the summer, and somewhat of a New England feel in the Fall and Winter. I love going here. You can take a stroll along the beach (all two miles of it), use the picnic area, the common area near the pier, or just sit in your car and watch the ships go by. The rest, you'll just have to see for yourself. Tip: between June and August, you may have to use the upper parking lot and walk down, but I would definitely not leave my car there overnight. That's when a different crowd sometimes wanders down. It's really okay, though, as long as common sense prevails. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: Awesome food, awesome service. Because the Nordstrom Café is a department of the Nordstrom store and not a stand-alone restaurant--and also because Nordstrom is still a multi-million dollar, thriving business--they can afford to hire a proper staff, unlike some places where there is only one cook and maybe one server. Here there are many cooks and at least four servers on duty, plus at least one cashier, and when it's busy two cashiers. You go to the counter and order what you want, pay there, and the server brings it out to you. Or you can go the traditional route and pick a table and order that way. The French Dip is the best one I've had. They use a fresh-baked baguette with actual roasted beef and home-made au jus, plus white cheddar--indescribably delicious. For another $3.50 they will pile extra beef on, and for $15 it is worth every penny. A good selection of fresh baked cookies, pastries and other refreshments at the counter make this one of the premier Cafés around. The apple and goat cheese salad with champagne dressing for $9 is a bargain, and the best deal in the city can be found here: Roasted Salmon Angel Hair pasta in a light cream sauce for under $12.00 that the bigger restaurants cannot touch! Top recommendation. It's a great place to relax between shopping rounds within the store. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: This is the only place I get Thai. The Pahd Thai is absolutely delicious, any way you order (mild, medium, hot), and the cream cheese crab appetizers with the plum sauce are indescribably delicious. The Siamese iced coffee is absolutely unique (okay, I know, unique doesn't need a preceding modifier), and cheaper than Starbucks and most coffee houses. The Pahd Sew (sp?) is also delicious and definitely not light on the broccoli. Just about anything you order here is going to be very tasty, nutritious and not your run-of-the-mill dinner cuisine. If you order to go, you can stare at the fishies while you wait. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: Absolutely fantastic, well balanced Mexican food enough for four peeps per order. The large burrito is bigger than a small baby. Split it into four. I like it with the Carne Azada (Fajita) meat. Loaded with beans, rice, meat, sour cream and guacalmole, what a bargain. Add a side of rice and beans and you could easily split this into four meals. Fantastic, authentic taste. I always add cold salsa after heating up, either what I have at home or their homemade version. Absoutely recommended. Tied with Taqueria down the street for the same value, menu and taste. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: It's just ah....soooo cute ah....! Another one of those dollhouse-type coffee shops that small on interior space but big on taste and customer service. I've been going here for over 15 years now, and I can always count on my coffee drinks to be made right. Most everybody here knows everybody else by name. They have a quaint selection of baked goods like peanut butter cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate chip cookies and those cookies with the pink frosting. Robertino's is also one of the few places in the city where you can get freshly-made gelatto in ten flavors. You can also buy Lavazza brand coffee by the vacu-pack or the tin can, which make excellent gifts. Robertino's is one of my favorite places to visit on a rainy day and just enjoy the simpleness of good conversation with the barista or the banality of watching the cars go by on 80th Street. It's places like Robertino's that give us life's little treats. It may not sound like much, but these little treats make life worth living. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: The Snohomish bakery has really got it together, and they know their business. I've bought fresh-baked bread, rolls, and the cookies! Man, those cookies are the best, especially the oatmeal raisin and snickerdoodles. The peanut butter cookie was a little dry but definitely not short on peanut butter. They had far more delicious treats than I could sample on my last visit. Snohomish Bakery makes "par excellence" coffee and espresso drinks. The old location (across from the Oxford) will be missed, being a tad on the small size, but nice and cozy. I don't get out to Snohomish much any more, but when I do the Snohomish Bakery is my first stop. My review is for the old Snohomish Bakery at the old location on 1st Street. I don't know how it is now, though, so this dates my review. I just don't get up to Snohomish any more because of the long drive and the cost. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: A great lil espresso stand that tailors your coffee drink to your desires without the attitude. The white chocolate caramel iced mocha isn't short on calories but it's big on taste. I like supporting the small coffee stands more than Starbuck's. Excellent service and wonderful smiles. You can drive up either on the north or south sides for convenience. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: As far as I'm concerned, this is the best restaurant in the city. These guys are professionals, and they know how to cook steak. There is nothing bad on the menu, everything is a winner. The waiters truly respect you as a customer, and it is a real treat to visit here. El Gaucho is a class act all the way, and it's good to know that when I really want to make a very lasting and outstanding impression, I won't hesitate to take any of my guests or business partners here. How many ways can I say that I love El Gaucho? Millions. The only thing that comes close is Rover's and possibly Canlis, the latter of which is definitely overpriced compared to what you get at El Gaucho. It really marks Seattle as having a world-class restaurant we can be proud of. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: What a fantastic trip I had! $83 for a 50-minute flight around the sound, it was so amazing! The only bad part about my trip (eeek!) was I forgot my Dramamine tablets, so for most of the trip I felt poorly. I managed to get quite a few pictures. When I was about 15, it cost $19 for the trip (that was back in 1976). Even today, the cost isn't out of reach for most folks. Those aircraft are super reliable, but a bit bumpy, but they do the job nicely. Definitely recommended for your visiting friends and family. They can accommodate groups up to 12 in one of the larger DeHavilland Beavers. They said it was a 20-minute flight but it turned out to be much longer, since our pilot was in a good mood that day. It was fun. I wish I had a better camera, though, but at the time that was all I had. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: This barbershop is the best for guys (and gals too). For one, they are open on Monday, as a lot of other places are closed. For another, you won't have to race people to the door like that place on Aurora. $12 gets you the basic cut, and $15 gets a cut with a shampoo. So the only issue is parking, but that is solved easily since there is a parking lot just to the north on 30th NE. Very friendly service and never much of a wait, if any. Best recommendation. -
Matthew’s 5-star review: This is probably the best Mexican restaurant in Seattle. The refried beans, rice and enchiladas reach what I call the "ultra delicious factor," and for about $15 per person you can get a delicious and totally satisfying meal. They give you free chips and salsa before your meal. It's nice to see these small restaurants that have survived the economic downturn still doing well, and for the times that I do go out to eat, Jalisco's is definitely on the list. Great service and everyone is so friendly, you hardly see that any more. I would get the combo platter, besides the enchiladas. I know, it's Mexican food, and they can make hundreds of items with the same six ingredients, but any way Jalisco's does it, I'm game! The last time I was here I got the enchilada combo platter with extra rice and beans, chips and salsa for about $15, and I had enough leftovers for another dinner the next day. It's really good to see at least one of the better restaurants not closed down for good.
