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salumi
Category:
Restaurants
309 3rd s
Seattle, Washington 98104
(206) 621-8772
Like many geniuses, Armandino Batali constructs a set of formal limits and interrogates the space within. Here, Batali operated in a closet-sized curing room in a small space in Pioneer Square (he...
Like many geniuses, Armandino Batali constructs a set of formal limits and interrogates the space within. Here, Batali operated in a closet-sized curing room in a small space in Pioneer Square (he has since expanded his curing space), is open for only minimal hours, and crafts the best cured meats you’re likely to find anywhere within a day’s drive of Seattle. For lunch, they’ll pile these divinities onto sandwiches, if you’d like (and you will), or offer a very limited (but only by number, by day) menu of other fantastic traditional Italian dishes. Even though you probably can’t get a seat for dinner there this year, and even though the line during their scant lunch hours usually stretches well outside the door, I’m still not sure that Salumi is as well-known locally as in the mid-level epicurean press. If you’re not aware of their backstory, visit their website.
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Park Pub
Category:
Bars
6114 Phinney Ave N
Seattle, Washington 98103
(206) 789-8187
There are many reasons you might adopt this as your local. I did, for a good long while, until I moved out of walking-home distance. Their beer is well chosen, their tap selection cycles...
There are many reasons you might adopt this as your local. I did, for a good long while, until I moved out of walking-home distance. Their beer is well chosen, their tap selection cycles regularly, and they take care of the machinery what gets you your beer. Although I usually stick with one of their IPAs, they were extraordinarily early-adopters of Manny’s Pale (Georgetown Brewing) and had a supply of Olympia-stubbies that lasted longer than any other pub I’m aware of. They serve Vita coffee (but not espresso) and have one of those fairly ubiquitous Jagermeister cooling/dispensing machines. Although my impression is that beer dominates, they have a solid selection of middle-to-midupper shelf spirits.
A good game of pool can be had. Two pool tables are well cared for and re-felted more often than you will usually see. The house-cues are generally of good quality and replaced when necessary. The pool-playing regulars are fairly skilled, but come well shy of elasmobranchial.
The food is more than adequate—pizzas well dressed with a cracker-y crust; burgers and chicken sandwiches much better than average; a Caesar large enough for two; fish-n-chips tender, flaky, and crispy; and more ambitious (generally successful) items. The fries are seasoned with a blend that disorients me but certainly enjoyed by most.
In sum, a great place to do most anything legal. On the downside, the Park is on the east side of the street, with a wall of windows to the west. As everyone with large western windows can understand, the pub heats up in a hurry on Seattle what-passes-for-summer days. Also, though I smoke and it doesn’t bother me, the Park can get quite smoky at times, despite efforts to improve ventilation.
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Interestingly, the first time I sipped here, I liked neither the coffee nor the room. And then I moved closer. It must have been a bad day for the barista, because Lighthouse is now one of my...
Interestingly, the first time I sipped here, I liked neither the coffee nor the room. And then I moved closer. It must have been a bad day for the barista, because Lighthouse is now one of my five-favorite roasters and the shots they pull are dynamite. Even better, Lighthouse might be the best espresso-value in the city. Anyplace where the baristas call out the usual orders of everyone in a line fifteen persons deep is a place I’m happy to be for two reasons. First—they know your order and this implies all kinds of great things. Second—they call out your order while you are eight customers back of the register. This reveals the amazing efficiency with which the baristas plow through what would otherwise be very deterring lines. Yes. This is Good.
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I really don’t know how healthy the food is. It is, after all, Mexican food, and quite a bit of cheese is involved. More questionably, the portions are large enough that eating a dish in its...
I really don’t know how healthy the food is. It is, after all, Mexican food, and quite a bit of cheese is involved. More questionably, the portions are large enough that eating a dish in its entirety might well blow your stomach apart. Finally, and especially in light of the portion size, the prices are so low as to suggest something sinister.
With that said, I know the ingredients are mighty fresh—because everything is cooked (had you the patience to not take chips and deliciously warmed salsa to a table) in front of your eyes. Colorful and fraying donkey figurines mark your table so that the food can be delivered posthaste. The one obstacle is, of course, its popularity. The soon-to-open Queen Anne location might alleviate some of the wait, as I can easily imaging people making the drive from queen anne, magnolia, or parts further south. If not, the lines often stretch out the door.
You can, of course, call ahead and take your food home. This is an option which apparently allows you to skirt the formed line and negotiate a purchase promptly, though I’m not sure how I feel about it. In doing so, however, you lose the precious juices. The food is juicy. Good-juicy. And I haven’t been able to avoid losing a pool of juices escaping the Styrofoam container. That’s a shame, because the juice belongs in the food. This is where it remains if you stick it out. Or go earlier in the day. But, go.
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Incredible pastries and other sugary treats. The best (and best-looking) quiche I’ve ever had. Good coffee and very good chai. The local media has found favor with Besalu, and, as a result, the...
Incredible pastries and other sugary treats. The best (and best-looking) quiche I’ve ever had. Good coffee and very good chai. The local media has found favor with Besalu, and, as a result, the café has been fairly crowded. I have the feeling that this stretch of 24th avenue NW is about to become Fremontized, so go sooner rather than later (with regard to an annual perspective) and later rather than sooner (with regard to a daily perspective).
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