My husband and I really like going to Pomegranate Bistro in Redmond. It's a little hard to find, but it's kitty-corner from Whole Foods, in a little industrial park. It's stylish but not stuffy,... More

My husband and I really like going to Pomegranate Bistro in Redmond. It's a little hard to find, but it's kitty-corner from Whole Foods, in a little industrial park. It's stylish but not stuffy, and the food is delicious. The menu changes seasonally, and the cocktails are great. It tends to be a bit crowded on weekend nights, but they're happy to bring you a drink while you wait for a table. It's my favorite restaurant (near) Sammamish. It's about time we got a decent restaurant out here!
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Pomegranate is my family's favorite Eastside Restaurant for any occasion--we've been their at least a dozen times since they opened. Whether it's a special celebration, a mom's night out (they'll... More

Pomegranate is my family's favorite Eastside Restaurant for any occasion--we've been their at least a dozen times since they opened. Whether it's a special celebration, a mom's night out (they'll divide up the check...even when you are sharing a dish) or just grabbing a bite, Pomegranate is sure to please. Lisa Dupar, famous for her catering, and her husband, Jonathan Zimmer, opened this family bistro in the industrial office park off of 202 just across from E. Lake Sammamish Parkway the Spring of 2005. Bright green and pomegranate colored walls and tablecloths compliment the rich dark wood chairs. While the restaurant is open and lively, it's also cozy and warm. You may have to wait a bit, so it may be prudent to call ahead and put your name on the list. You can dress up or wear a t-shirt and flip flops. Either way you'll feel right at home at this bustling, casually stylish restaurant. There are a few toys for the kiddos at the hostess station to keep the young ones occupied while they wait. You can always gaze through a huge window looking into the Lisa Dupar Catering kitchen to see what's cooking. My favorite is when they are concocting chocolaty treats. Everything is good on the menu. It was as if the creators tasted, tasted and tested, tested and added a bit of genius to the menu. The menu changes seasonally and is sure to please. You can choose from their affordable firebread menu (firebread is a flat bread---like a cross between pizza crust and focaccia) which has pizza like selections along with sandwiches, their small plates ($6-$11) or their large plates ($13-$28). Flavors from the Northwest to the Southeast are mingled throughout the offerings. Don't like those peppers in that salad? Have an allergy to dairy and eggs? They will happily accommodate you. The kid's meals come on a hard plastic TV tray. My kids--normally very picky eaters--devour their handmade fried chicken with mashed potatoes, veggies, gummy bears and raisins and the sweet treat. At $6.50 plus the cost of a beverage, it's not a cheap, but I know my kids are getting a wholesome dinner that they'll actually eat. Then there is dessert. The retro recreations are my favorites. While menus change, I've had homemade berry pop tarts and a chocolate soup with a side of homemade nutter butters to die for. Then there is brunch. Oh, brunch! Why go to IHOP when you can have anything from and egg and hempler bacon firebread sandwich to lemon candied ginger oatcakes or, my favorite, carolina shrimp and stone ground grits with scrambled eggs and toast. The flavor was just incredible. In the summer, get the bowl of fresh berries for just $3.00. It's huge and comes in a slightly sweet sauce. The wine list and cocktail menu is extensive. Pomegranate was recently awarded the WA Wine Award of Distinction at the WA Wine Restaurant Awards 2006 (according to their website). The cocktails are delicious...try the Pomerita or their Watermelon Mojito. No time for a meal? Pick up a coffee (Victor's) and a treat at their express counter. Pomegranate is a customizable experience for whatever you want. We are certainly lucky to have such a treat on the Eastside.
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What a hidden treasure right outside of downtown Redmond. I brought my husband there on a whim about a year ago. We had a terrific firebread appetizer, wonderful pork chops and the dessert. Oh,... More

What a hidden treasure right outside of downtown Redmond. I brought my husband there on a whim about a year ago. We had a terrific firebread appetizer, wonderful pork chops and the dessert. Oh, the dessert was fabulous. It was a huge slice of rich chocolate cake. We had to stop ourselves from eating the whole thing (although we were sharing) because we didn't want to embarrass ourselves. There is an open kitchen and you can see Lisa Dupar's restaurant staff as well as her catering staff working away. This is tucked into an office park in the vicinity of Fred Meyer. It's pricey but it's definitely worth a visit every now and then.
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From the outside, it looks like part of a boring old business park. But, once you step inside, you are first greeted with the espresso bar and bakery case. YUM! Then, the neighborhood bistro's... More

From the outside, it looks like part of a boring old business park. But, once you step inside, you are first greeted with the espresso bar and bakery case. YUM! Then, the neighborhood bistro's interior is warm and friendly. The food ranges from small plates, to sandwiches and pizzas (they call it "firebread"), to more substantial entrees. My partner and I each had a sandwich, which was delicious and came with pickled onions and fancy potato chips (which included other root vegetables). The mac n' cheese we ordered was okay, but not great. Next time, we're going to save room for dessert--which sounded delicious. Definitely check it out--it's a bit hard to find--but it's worth it.
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