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I realize this is a bold statement, but this may be the best pizza in Seattle. Tutta Bella prides itself on genuine Neapolitan style pizza, and they never disappoint. Their menu has something to...
I realize this is a bold statement, but this may be the best pizza in Seattle. Tutta Bella prides itself on genuine Neapolitan style pizza, and they never disappoint. Their menu has something to please all tastes, including quite a few vegetarian choices.
All of their ingredients are super fresh, too.
The reason I am not giving them the "perfect" rating is because it seems everyone else knows about them too. The place is always crowded, service is slow, and the acoustics are awful. I can't resist the pizza, but I order it to go.
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You will be able to find the landscaping standards anywhere you go, but sometimes you want something more. The best combo of plant variety and really personalized, knowledgeable service can be had...
You will be able to find the landscaping standards anywhere you go, but sometimes you want something more. The best combo of plant variety and really personalized, knowledgeable service can be had in this neighborhood nursery. If you want to talk plants (and who wouldn't?), Minter's is the place to shop.
The people here are always helpful, never seem to want to rush you through a purchase, and genuinely interested in your landscaping and gardening dilemmas. They have a variety of references behind the counter, so if they don't know an answer, they will look it up for you.
Minter's particularly excels at roses, and their selection is fantastic. Rose gardening in the PNW can be tricky, but they have chosen varieties that are resistant to black spot and I have done very well with roses under their instruction.
They offer free classes in spring and early summer. I found the pruning class very helpful, but there are also container classes which should be fantastic, judging by the display containers featured in the nursery and greenhouse.
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The Panama Hotel is hidden in Seattle's International District on Main Street. The building houses the only remaining Japanese bathhouse (Sento) left intact in the US. They offer tours of the old...
The Panama Hotel is hidden in Seattle's International District on Main Street. The building houses the only remaining Japanese bathhouse (Sento) left intact in the US. They offer tours of the old bathhouse, which occupies the lower floor. Above this space sits the beautifully appointed teahouse. If you love tea, this is a great place to experience flavors and caffeine from all over the world. If coffee's your thing, they have an espresso bar that boasts a 'green tea latte.'
Along the walls of the upper and lower spaces are several historic photographs that show what the area looked like around the time of WWII. The teahouse feels steeped in local history and is a must for coffeehouse fans who want a new place to sit and chat with friends.
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Pabla's inauspicious location belies its high quality menu. Tucked away in Renton's Fred Meyer mall, it offers an amazing array of vegetarian dishes. The service is polite and professional, but a...
Pabla's inauspicious location belies its high quality menu. Tucked away in Renton's Fred Meyer mall, it offers an amazing array of vegetarian dishes. The service is polite and professional, but a bit quiet for my tastes. Anyone open to a vegetarian meal must try their smoky eggplant dish with some garlic naan.
Pabla offers a daily all-you-can-eat buffet for the hungriest out there. You can get away with stuffing yourself to the gills for just $10 including tip. They have another location in Issaquah, so if for some strange reason you find yourself on the Eastside, you can treat yourself to Pabla's Indian Cuisine there as well.
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Mary Louis gave us a successful and trouble free first-time homebuying experience in this crazy-hot market of Seattle. She is the agent advice columnists are always telling you to find, the one who...
Mary Louis gave us a successful and trouble free first-time homebuying experience in this crazy-hot market of Seattle. She is the agent advice columnists are always telling you to find, the one who knows what you will need better than you do yourself. Two years after buying our home, we still feel we chose the right agent, and that she helped us choose the right home.
A former public defender, Mary is a great negotiator and knows her stuff when it comes to the weird little things that happen as a deal is solidifying. We have recommended her to friends who have also had a wonderful experience with her.
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I've seen good, bad, and mediocre contractors. Lau is one of the best. We were so pleased with their work replacing our roof, that we hired them two years later to replace our siding.
Mr. Lau is...
I've seen good, bad, and mediocre contractors. Lau is one of the best. We were so pleased with their work replacing our roof, that we hired them two years later to replace our siding.
Mr. Lau is affordable, reliable, and his crew is meticulous about cleaning up after themselves. They do fast, good quality work, use good materials, and finish the job on time.
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This restaurant and bar combines the look and feel of a British pub with the food of a place several times more posh. There is something in this neighborhood eatery for everyone, but my personal...
This restaurant and bar combines the look and feel of a British pub with the food of a place several times more posh. There is something in this neighborhood eatery for everyone, but my personal recommendation is the fish tacos with kiwi salsa. Just thinking about them makes my mouth water.
Many of the menu items seem Cajun-inspired, and the beer and wine selection is excellent. The staff is knowledgeable and charmingly unobtrusive.
This is a small place with the amazing abilty to deliver a relative lot of variety. Television sets are constantly on and usually tuned to sports events, sometimes there is a live band, but you can still find a table appropriate for intimate conversation. Pretty good people-watching can be had here as well. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual.
Parking in Columbia City can be daunting if you don't know about the free lot hidden on Edmonds Street east of Rainier Ave.. Even this fills up fast, but pay parking is relatively cheap compared to downtown.
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Perfectly situated on Alki in West Seattle, Salty's is a large, classic surf-and-turf restaurant that seems to be catering to out-of-towners' expectations of Northwestern cuisine. The place is...
Perfectly situated on Alki in West Seattle, Salty's is a large, classic surf-and-turf restaurant that seems to be catering to out-of-towners' expectations of Northwestern cuisine. The place is beautiful, and the view from most points in the dining room is spectacular. The staff is friendly and polite, and the food is prepared beautifully.
Salty's has many of the right ingredients...and yet. The menu lacks variety, and the food is decidedly bland for all its beauty. The notable exception to this is the dessert menu, which has choices both varied and flavorful. The dining room is very noisy, with a continuous clatter of silverware from a centrally located bussing station ruining any chance of a peaceful dining experience.
Seattle has so many good seafood restaurants in this price range, and Salty's just isn't quite there. This is definitely not the place for a first date, but perhaps just right for entertaining your finicky Midwestern relatives.
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Kubota Garden is Seattle's best kept secret and a great treasure. An amazing 20+ acre city park, this is a free japanese-american garden that you will want to visit again and again. The park has...
Kubota Garden is Seattle's best kept secret and a great treasure. An amazing 20+ acre city park, this is a free japanese-american garden that you will want to visit again and again. The park has just undergone a tremendous renovation, and it is even more beautiful than before. It is always surprisingly uncrowded, even when the parking lot is full.
The garden foundation holds a semi-annual plant sale where you can buy donated japanese garden plants and such items as stone lanterns and basins at rock-bottom prices. The volunteers who staff the sale are very knowledgeable. Past sale proceeds have funded the lovely gate at the entrance to the garden, as well as the information station, and improved restrooms.
Come early, though the sale ends at noon, many people are waiting for the gates to open by 8am. Rare and desirable plants go fast.
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This is the perfect place to sample fresh handmade Chinese noodle dishes in the International district. The restaurant is small and the service is friendly and personal. I recommend this restaurant...
This is the perfect place to sample fresh handmade Chinese noodle dishes in the International district. The restaurant is small and the service is friendly and personal. I recommend this restaurant for anytime, but I especially like it for days when I am craving comfort food. All the patrons seem to become regulars.
On any given night, you will see people cutting and stuffing won tons in a corner of the dining room, which I find fascinating to watch.
This is not run-of-the-mill Americanized Chinese food. Every menu item is excellent, but there are a few outstanding ones that deserve special mention. You have to try the green onion pancake as an appetizer, and the chicken soup is awesome. For vegetarians, the hot and spicy tofu and spinach noodles are a must.
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