I have lived in Seattle since 1970, and these are restaurants I recommend.

Bamboo Garden across from Seattle Center offers incredible vegan meals...

Bamboo Garden, located across the street from the Opera House at Seattle Center, in lower Queen Anne...this wonderful restaurant is located one block north of Mercer Street, on Roy St. It has a nice humble environment, with a red and gold theme, and a nice altar to Kwan Yin. They serve only vegan (vegetarian without any dairy or eggs) foods, yet they offer delicious faux almond "chicken," they serve wonderful noodles and vegetables, great corn chowder, and an array of tasty treats. But my favorite is their lunch special "Combo B," it offers an array of foods in one meal. Their dishes range from approximately $7 for lunch to $10-$20 for dinner. I have been going to this fabulous and unique restaurant for 20 years now.

For high quality Mexican food, Pesos Kitchen ((206) 283-9353), on lower Queen Anne hill, is affordable and full of exotic and healthy Mexican food choices. Their breakfasts are fabulous, as well as their lunches and dinners. They also have a bar and it is a live spot in the evenings. This restaurant is close to downtown and the Seattle Center.

A quality Thai restaurant in town is Tup Tim Thai ((206) 281-8833), in lower Queen Anne, north of downtown. They offer fresh ingredients and traditional dishes. Both of these restaurants are run by families from Thailand.

The Mecca Cafe ((206) 285-9728) in lower Queen Anne, has a cult following. It is sort of a greasy spoon joint, the waitresses have *attitude*, but you can get classic meals there, such as turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy, or large breakfasts, etc...and it has a bar attached to it which makes it popular with locals as well.

WARNING! SPACE NEEDLE FOOD SUCKS!!!! If you are a hungry visitor in Seattle, don't be fooled by the Space Needle's lure as a place to eat. Everyone I have ever known in Seattle admits the food at the Space Needle is just atrocious. You would do better to eat downstairs in the Food Circus, and to just go look from the top if you want to go up the Space Needle. The Food Circus is in Seattle Center's "Center House" and is primarily filled with crappy food, but I do highly recommend Steamer's Cajun Salmon Sandwich and Caesar Salad combo on the west side of the Food Court.

Another good vegetarian restaurant in town is the Sunlight Cafe ((206) 522-9060) in the University District on Roosevelt Way NE. I have been eating there for almost 30 years. My favorite is the veggie burger special with a salad. This small but delicious restaurant can get crowded with lines waiting to be seated around dinner, so I suggest you don't go right during the dinner rush...but for lunch or breakfast or a little later dinner, it is fabulous.

Julia's Restaurant ((206) 633-1175) in Wallingford, to the west of the University District, is another health food restaurant with exceptional food. I have been eating there for 20 years. They have a wide range of large salads and veggie entrees, they also serve meat nowadays, just so you know. And they have a bakery attached to the restaurant if you want to take some treats home. Their food is reasonably priced, but this place can be very crowded at times.

Ivar's Salmon House on Lake Union

Ivar's Salmon House, below the University Bridge, in the University District on the north end of Portage Bay, is another unique Seattle restaurant with excellent food. Their Sunday brunches are perfect for Mother's Day, birthdays, or visitors in town. Their nightly meals include salmon cooked in open fire pits, and the ambiance in the restaurant is like that of a museum of Native American artifacts. The dining room faces the water of Portage Bay and boats can dock outside the restaurant and walk into the restaurant from their boats. There is also an outside fish and chips bar, with exceptional fish and chowder. You can eat food from the outside bar inside a small room with picnic tables or you can go outside and eat over the water on a barge on Portage Bay. Ducks and seagulls abound when you eat out there. This has been a Seattle favorite for decades.

One of my favorite restaurants in the U District is Costas ((206) 633-2751). They have greek food, and serve fabulous spinach turnovers, a wonderful rice lemon soup, they have great breakfasts, etc. They also have rich baked goods. I have been enjoying their fare for well over 20 years.

One of my family's favorite Thai restaurants is Thai Tom's ((206) 548-9548) in the University District. This hole in the wall quickly got a local reputation and is packed around lunch and dinner hours. They have incredible veggie and tofu dishes in peanut sauce.

For Fish and Chips in Seattle, two places are Seattle favorites. Spud's located at Green Lake ((206) 524-0565) and also Alki Beach ((206) 938-0606) are local hangouts, and Ivar's, though completely commercialized at this point, still puts out a delicious chowder, and their fish is also exceptional compared to most commercial fish and chips. They have restaurants all over the area but the nicest ones are at Lake Union, outside the Salmon House, and at the waterfront, at Pier 54... I have been eating at Ivar's and Spud's since the 1970's.

Heading towards the U District on Eastlake Ave, you can stop in at Daly's Drive In ((206) 322-1918) for really good berry shakes, salmon burgers, and onion rings, while looking out over Lake Union.

The Wayward Cafe in the University District is billed as some hip anarchist vegan restaurant but I have heard only horrific reviews of their food. It has only been around for a few years at best, and honestly, seems to be more about its political affinities than good food.

Another place with superior fish and seafood is Emmett Watson's ((206) 622-7721) in the Pike Place Market. This small restaurant is kind of hidden away in the north end of the Market, in the Soames-Dunn building. It has an outside eating area in the summer. These people know how to make seafood, their oysters are superior, their fish is fresh and gourmet...their ceviche is amazing.

Sabra ((206) 441-4544) is a small walk-through restaurant in the Pike Place Market has been offering high quality tabouli salad, and pita bread sandwiches with falafels, avocado, eggplant, tahini sauce, and more. I have been eating at this storefront for the last 27 years. I knew the original owner, Yakov, he was from Israel, and he used to give me his falafel sandwiches as a tip when I was a street performer outside his shop in the 1970's.

Also at the Pike Place Market, I like the Three Girls Bakery ((206) 622-1045)...they have a window where you can buy all kinds of breads and baked goods, and hearty soups, but you can also go inside their sliding glass doors and eat at the counter...this place has been a local favorite for decades. Another place at the Market that has good food, and a nice view to boot, is Soundview Cafe ((206) 623-5700). I used to play music there in the 1970's when it was the "Soup and Salad Collective." This place has windows looking out over the Puget Sound, and has a buffet style, you pick your own salads, and pick soups or sandwiches, etc. Their soups are nice on a cold rainy winter day and it is fun to look out over the rainy Sound...

A popular family dinner destination by the waterfront is the Spaghetti Factory ((206) 441-7724). It has interesting tables and a rich ambiance, kids like it, a train runs out back of the restaurant, and it has very affordable prices...it is a nice place to go after a trip to the maritime museum or the aquarium.

Seattle's Favorite Pizza hands down is Pagliacci Pizza, with outlets all over the city and delivery as well. They offer quality pizzas with a wide range of toppings. If calling for delivery, ask about their "Frequent Pie-er" specials...I have been eating Pagliacci Pizza for two decades.

Seattle's Hamburger Joint of choice is Dick's Drive-In. They have been around for the 30 years I have been in Seattle, and are open late, with cheap shakes, handmade fries and basic burgers, and you will find the Dick's locations, in all parts of town, to be crowded most of the time. They also have ice cream floats and cones, which makes them a summer crowd pleaser as well. Local comedy often refers to Dick's...Much as Bob's Big Boy and In-And-Out Burger have dominated Los Angeles history, Dick's fills that niche in Seattle. Dick's also has a very commendable and generous college scholarship program for its workers. Coming in at a close second to Dick's is Seattle's Kidd Valley Burgers...

Musicians, locals, and late nighters all know about Beth's Cafe on Aurora Ave. Beth's got a reputation for offering HUGE omelettes at 3 and 4 AM, when most musicians finally are off work, with equipment packed up, and are beginning to get hungry. Almost every band I have been in in Seattle has eaten here once or twice when really hungry and poor...This is a classic greasy spoon restaurant, run down, but a local favorite, none the less.

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