Chowvel:Traveling to Eat

Review
The expectation for a restaurant with $$$$ and raves reviews, you come to expect a lot. You expect such a meal to change your life. The food is great, but not out of this world. If you’re a fan of fine dining and an atmosphere that is not tightly packed, then this place is a perfect choice for that. If you are looking for a meal that will make you rave about it for days and weeks, then this place may not be the place for that. Don’t set your expectations so high, which some of us do when we read and hear about a restaurant and how incredible it is, because you may set yourself up for disappointment. The service is top notch, you have waiters in full suits serving your meal, which is a nice touch, but not a must. They are attentive to your table and will make you feel at home. Not a place to frequent, but for some who enjoy a somewhat private and isolated good meal, this would be a place to go if you have some cash to spare.

Review
Pike Place Market is a landmark in Seattle definitely worth chowveling to. The market is located right next to the beach and has a plethora of food choices and snacks along with boutique stores you usually don’t find anywhere else. If you are a fan of Starbucks, the OG store is located at Pike’s, this is where the empire began and it’s a zoo there, but don’t bring your laptop, there’s no room, but you can still people watch just like people do at regular Starbucks. The seafood is fresh and is known for colorful personalities selling the goods, with fish flying through the air. PETA had some issues with the throwing, but what’s the big deal, they’re already caught and dead, who cares if they get thrown to be cut up for dinner. Even with the lame boycotters, Pike Place is still a place anyone can enjoy and appreciate.

Review
Vietnamese are known for their Pho and Spring Rolls. There are so many other great types of cuisines in the Vietnamese cultural menu to choose from. The broken rice dishes are good and other soup dishes are always a good choice and Green Leaf is one restaurant that does these other dishes right. If you are tired of the typical Vietnamese dishes, go to Green Leaf to try something else. It’s a bit on the outskirts of downtown Seattle, but worth a slight detour. Try the Hu Tieu soup, it’s rice noodles mixed with a plethora of seafood proteins.

Review
Nice little italian joint in downtown. The food tastes homemade and the cooks are constantly churning out dish after dish for a hungry crowd. Keep an eye out since it’s difficult to spot, but it’s next to the Golden Gopher bar. The hours are a bit weird, but it’s usually open later in the week. The specials are always interesting and the set menu items are a safe bet. The service is a bit slow since the homemade touches are being injected into the food. If you’re willing to wait a bit for you food and shift through the confusion from time to time, it’s worth the try.

Review
This cool little burger spot has a interesting burger selection for all sorts of tastes, but the Umami Burger would be a choice for everyone to enjoy. The place has a hipster feel to it, but in a non-hipster location. It’s BYOB and there’s a liquor store down the street if you need some drinks. The fried sides come out with a unique tasting ketchup, either you love it or you’ll think it is just okay. I’ve had better ketchup, but regular Heinz ketchup would have tasted just as good. The location is easily seen from the street and it is a good spot to meet up with friends and try a new burger joint. If you are in town, the burger is pretty good, but for 9 bucks a burger, it may be a bit pricey if you want to get full as well.