@Tryingtofindabalance I was teasing ;). I haven’t been to this place yet, but I’ve heard terrific things about it...and I want to go! https://biera.ca/
@Tryingtofindabalance It's not cheap, that's for sure. Are you going to be in Seattle, or the Eastside? Our area has gone mega upscale, so expect to pay Manhattan and San Francisco/Palo Alto prices, if you want anything other than chain restaurants.
@Northwest I am in Seattle every couple months... it’s expensive... everything costs twice as much there than most places... tbh I don’t get what’s great about the area... but then again that’s just me...
@Tryingtofindabalance The mountains, ocean, lakes, outdoors, islands, skiing, SCUBA diving, wide open spaces, quality of life, among other things. It's getting to be more crowded. I'm a native Californian, but have called the Seattle area home, since school.
The tech industry, and a massive influx of Chinese money, has more than quadrupled real estate prices, in a short period of time, and with it, what restaurants charge. One thing that's still reasonably affordable, though about 500% more expensive than it used to be, is fish & chips in West Seattle, or any of the islands. Pike Place market, used to be a good place to shop for organic, inexpensive produce, and fish. It costs there more than 3X what you would pay at Whole Foods, for the same stuff. Another tourist trap, but everyone wants a picture with a background of the Cascades/Rainier, and the ferries.
SW-User
There’s an Italian place I love and great coffee shops all over the place I pop into during my time off or when I’m at work on my lunch break.
@Tryingtofindabalance The next available reservation, is probably around April. I usually reserve at least 6 months ahead of time. Try Il Nido, in West Seattle, it has not been open long, but you need to make a reservation, probably a couple of months ahead of time.
@SW-User 😄 I just made that one up....There really isn't a lot around here where I live though, a few fast food places and some little "mom and pop" type places ( of which some are pretty good) but nothing that most people would know or be familiar with. We have to travel 30-50 miles for that.
SW-User
@indyjoe sounds nice and peaceful I love places like that...except for the lard kettles 😄
@bijouxbroussard My last visit was in September, the weather sucked and the menu is now purely tourist trap. Back in the day, the food was great, and of course, the drinks are always great :-) I was showing one of the kids my favorite hangouts, he's thinking about staying the city post grad school.
My preference now, is to cross the bridge, and take the second exit down to Marin :-) Little Italy is one colossal tourist trap now as well. One can go no wrong with Chinatown... Never been to Chez Panisse, could not afford it when I was a student, and it now takes a lot of planning, to be able to get a reservation.