Seattle Restaurant Tips by Jefie

9 Million in Unmarked Bills: Loved this gastropub in Fremont!

After walking around the Fremont district for a while, we spotted this pub and thought we absolutely had to check out a place called "9 Million in Unmarked Bills"! As it turns out, this gastropub is just as cool as its name - our waiter was super nice, the music was good, and the menu offered some very interesting choices. Sylvain decided to go with the wasabi grilled cheese and tomato bisque, and I decided to order the white truffle mac n' cheese - both were delicious! The drinks menu also offers several specialty cocktails, beers, and wine by the glass - and all the bottles are on display under a big neon sign that reads "Prescriptions" :o) Also, if it happens to be a rainy day and you feel like staying inside for a while, you can ask the staff for one of the many board games they have, or just have fun with the trivia cards that are available at each table. Definitely a good place to stop by when you're in the Fremont area!

Address: 3507 Fremont Place North

Comparison: about average

Directions: At the heart of the Fremont district

Phone: 206-632-0880

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Website: http://9m-unmarked.com

Bacco Bistro & Cafe: Good breakfast spot near Pike Place Market

This little restaurant was located about halfway between our hotel and Pike Place Market, which made it a good option for breakfast. We sat in what I believe is the bistro part of the restaurant, at a table facing 1st Avenue. Our waitress was nice and made us feel very welcome, which added to the cozy atmosphere of the place. Since Bacco specializes in breakfast (breakfast is served from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm), it took us a while to decide what to order since there were plenty of choices on the menu. In the end, I decided to try the traditional eggs Benedict, while Sylvain went for the corned beef hash. Both were really good, as was the coffee. The restaurant was busy but not overcrowded, and it ended up being a good starting point to explore the Pike Place Market area.

Address: 86 Pine Street

Comparison: about average

Directions: Located near Pike Place Market

Phone: 206-443-5443

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Breakfast

Andaluca: Delicious breakfast in downtown Seattle

Andaluca is the restaurant located at the Mayflower Park Hotel and since it seemed to have pretty good reviews both for breakfast and dinner, we decided to give it a try one morning. Since at night the restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, Andaluca offers a warm atmosphere in terracotta tones. The breakfast menu offered some really interesting options, and Sylvain decided to go for the rosemary chicken sausage hash while I ordered the banana pancakes. My pancakes came with strawberries, orange zest butter and maple syrup - it was delicious! Sylvain was also very happy with his breakfast. It was perhaps a bit more expensive than other breakfast places, but given how good the food was, I thought it was worth it.

On a side note, although we didn't have time to go back in the evening, we did look up the menu and saw that Andaluca offers a wide variety of Pintxos (similar to tapas) at reasonable prices. Given how good breakfast was, I'd definitely be tempted to give it a try if I ever make it back to Seattle.

Address: 417 Olive Way

Comparison: about average

Directions: Downtown Seattle, near Westlake Center

Phone: 206-382-6999

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Breakfast

Website: http://www.andaluca.com

Marcela's Creole Cookery: A great find in the Pioneer Square area

We stumbled upon Marcela's Creole Cookery as we were walking around the Pioneer Square area and immediately thought that this colourful restaurant specializing in southern cuisine was exactly what we needed on yet another rainy day in Seattle. Our waiter was very friendly and proud to explain that Marcela's serves typical New Orleans and cajun dishes. I ordered their red beans & rice dish, while Sylvain went for the daily special of fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Both were absolutely delicious! Even though we were full to the brim, our waiter somehow convinced us to share a pecan pie for dessert and it was the best I've ever had. When you combine the good food, good service and warm atmosphere of the place, eating at Marcela's Creole Cookery turned out to be our best dining experience in Seattle!

Note that the restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Address: 106 James Street

Comparison: about average

Directions: Located near Pioneer Square

Phone: 206-233-0042

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: American

Website: http://www.marcelascreolecookery.com

Virginia Inn: Another historic restaurant in Seattle

Virginia Inn is located at the edge of the Belltown area, a short walk away from Pike Place Market. It opened in 1903 as a beer parlor and quickly became a popular watering hole for sailors and waterfront workers. Although it had to be converted into a cardroom during the prohibition, Virginia Inn quickly went back to its roots and today it offers an interesting cocktail and wine list and a great selection of beers on tap, including many local ones (I'd recommend the Nine Pound Porter). Not everything is as it used to be, however, and Virginia Inn now attracts a much more "refined" clientele than it used to. The menu has changed accordingly, and the restaurant now offers home-grown products and local specialties with a heavy dose of European influence. We were there for happy hour (4:00 to 6:00 pm) and got to sample some of the chef's creations at half price - the onion tart, three-way hummus and strawberry baked brie were all excellent. The restaurant also continuously runs art exhibitions, which reflects Belltown area's new artsy community.

Address: 1937 1st Avenue

Comparison: about average

Directions: In the Belltown area

Other Contact: virginiainnseattle@gmail.com

Phone: 206-728-1937

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Website: http://virginiainnseattle.com

The Athenian Inn: One of Pike Place Market's historic establishments

This restaurant is apparently famous for being showcased in "Sleepless in Seattle", but I haven't seen that movie so that's not the reason why we stopped for lunch at The Athenian Inn; I was rather interested in eating at one of Pike Place Market's most historic establishements. Dating back to 1909, The Athenian Inn is almost as old as the market itself. It started out as a bakery, which was converted into a tavern when it obtained its liquor license in 1933, one of the first places in Seattle to sell alcohol after the prohibition. It now operates as a restaurant, offering a nice selection of seafood dishes, salads, burgers and sandwiches. We stopped by for lunch on a Saturday and the place was packed, but it didn't take too long before we were taken to a booth at the back of the restaurant. On a clear day we could have enjoyed a wonderful view of Elliott Bay but it was too foggy to see much of anything on that day. We did, however, very much enjoy the atmosphere of the place and my big, juicy burger definitely hit a spot. Service was fast and friendly, and the price was right, which makes it a good option for a no-frills but fun lunch experience at Pike Place Market!

Address: 1517 Pike Place

Comparison: about average

Directions: Located in Pike Place Market's Main Arcade.

Other Contact: athenian@qwestoffice.net

Phone: 206-624-7166

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.athenianinn.com