Seattle restaurant help??

[marlakay]

Need to find a great Italian restaurant for husbands birthday next week. I live few hours away so only know a few places. Any ideas?

[WolverineDG]

1. Romio's

Someone told me that there are several in the Seattle area, but I like the one in Silver Lake.

dg

[laconicsax]

2. Define a few hours away--which direction?

[marlakay]

19. sorry just got back online---leavenworth nt

[laconicsax]

24. In that case,

There's a place in downtown Issaquah called Nicolino that's really good. It would also be a bit closer than Seattle (assuming Blewett pass is in better shape than Stevens).

[XemaSab]

3. Must...resist...for.. ..good...of....humanity.. .temptation...too...strong

AUGH!

There's a great Olive Garden downtown. :D

:banghead:

[Ediacara]

4. Oh you bastard!

:-)

[MrCoffee]

5. you are weak.

i typed it in about a dozen times, but deleted it each time. you actually posted it. you are weak.

[XemaSab]

6. .

:cry:

[laconicsax]

7. Haha! Wrong!!1

There is no Olive Garden in downtown Seattle! Nearest is about 8 miles away in Northgate!

[Debi]

8. What's 8 miles when she's already driving 'a couple of hours'?

MMMMMM All you can eat breadsticks and salad!

[laconicsax]

10. Why do you think I asked which direction she'll be coming from?

A few hours East is Ellensburg--only 30 minutes away from an Olive Garden in Yakima.
A few hours North is Vancouver BC--there's an Olive Garden on the way in Bellingham
A few hours South is Portland--there are about 6 Olive Gardens within about 12 miles of Downtown.
A few hours West would involve a ferry, and there's an Olive Garden in Silverdale.

[MrCoffee]

12. you are quite the source for OG info...

:scared:

[laconicsax]

13. I've only seen one of the Olive Gardens I mentioned.

I play in an orchestra that performs across the street from the one in Yakima. As for the rest, Google Maps is an invaluable tool.

[Debi]

14. WooHoo

We should all go to Olive Garden tonight! :woohoo:

[philosophie_en_rose]

34. There's also Olive Garden in Burlington.

It's across the highway from Costco. :bounce:

[XemaSab]

11. Anything west of Monroe, north of Olympia, south of Everett, and east of the sound

counts as downtown. :P

[RobertSeattle]

15. The Northgate one closed several months ago unless they moved

Ergo, The are no Olive Gardens in the City of Seattle, for this I am proud!

:-)

http://locator.olivegarden.com/cwc/apps/w2gi.php?template=locator1&client=oliveg&domain=www.olivegarden.com&postalcode=Seattle,%20WA

[fortyfeetunder]

38. There's a brand new Olive Garden in Southcenter

8 miles in the opposite direction from downtown
(and a Cheesecake Factory)

[Aristus]

9. The Asteroid Cafe in Fremont. Its owners are very progressive and support

progressive Democrats with their donations. I understand the food is pretty good, too. B-)

[marlakay]

20. someone else mentioned asteroid too

and for all the olive gardens...should I stick my finger out or say you don't get out much???

if i wanted olive garden i would have stayed in the awful area i moved to when first married...that was the fav restaurant in town...

i am at a point in my life i would rather stay home than go to a chain unless with kids or grandkids.

and really who would drive 3 hours over snow filled pass for olive garden....really now!!!!!!!!!!!lol

[riverdeep]

22. FYI, Olive Garden is a running joke.

See this thread, and the thread referenced within it, for total Olive Garden/DU nirvana.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=6917437

[Sanity Claws]

23. It's a standard joke

When someone asked for a recommendation of an Italian restaurant in NYC, one kind reader suggested Olive Garden in Times Square. Others responded to the suggestion much the same way you just did. Good for you!!

[marlakay]

35. Thanks for telling me...

I don't post in the lounge but rarely and felt sort of bunt of joke, i get it...

[Kucinich4America]

41. I knew there was one in Fremont, but I couldn't remember the name.

Both Thom Hartmann and Mike Malloy have mentioned it on their radio shows, so it's gaining a little bit of national fame. Haven't made it up there yet myself though.

[CreekDog]

16. Seattle restaurant help should be paid at least the WA minimum wage

which is the highest state in the nation at $8.06.

[SOteric]

17. Two favourites of a Seattle Italian American...

Il Terrazzo Carmine, 411 First Avenue South and Mamma Melina's Ristorante at 4759 Roosevelt Way.

My highest recommendation goes to Mamma Melina's, run by an actual Italian immigrant and the neighbourhood is filled with other cool things to do to make it a special evening.

[marlakay]

21. thanks i have been to mamas a fun place

just wanting to try something new

[LisaM]

18. I highly recommend Marcello's, on Roosevelt and 71st

I like it better than Mamma Melinas, though the atmosphere of each is a bit different. MM's sometimes has opera singers and that's fun, but I find their menu to be more limited, particularly for vegetarian and non-seafood choices. Marcello's is also run by an Italian immigrant and he's got his whole family there, too - mother, father, and brother. Usually the specials are the best bet.

Not that I'm really knocking Mamma Melinas, it's okay (and it's actually pretty close to Marcello's), I just find their menu a bit more limited.

[GOPisEvil]

25. OT - you live in Leavenworth?

What a cool little town. My SO lives not too terribly far from there.

Enjoy your night in Seattle.

[Lou Syffire]

30. isn't that the "german" town out there in the hinterlands?

if so, Monroe's not so far away.

[GOPisEvil]

33. Yes it is.

[marlakay]

36. Monroe is like 2 hrs

and if I go there I might as well do errands in Seattle...I miss Whole Foods and always shop there when in town.

[The empressof all]

26. The BEST Italian/NY restaurant in the area is in......

of all places! Monroe.

Nana Carmella's is in a residential neighborhood. So when you call for reservations get the address so you can map quest it. It can be a little tricky to find.

The owner chef is a transplant from Staten Island. This is NY Italian cooking at it's best! Great sauces, large portions and tasty deserts. This is a great place to come with a group and try a lot of different entrees and appetizers. The house wine is great and reasonably priced.

This is a hidden little gem of a place....Off the beaten track but always Packed by those in the know.....

Just don't tell anyone else about it ...OK!

[Lou Syffire]

27. Yeah, but that's a bazillion miles from Seattle, through the Stevens Pass

.

[The empressof all]

29. Monroe is 25 miles NE of Seattle

It's a suburb. If you want great authentic NY Italian outside of my own kitchen it's the closest you can get in the Seattle area.

Trust me on this one.

It's worth the drive.

[Lou Syffire]

I actually own property in Sultan

so I know Monroe pretty good. I am going to check that out all right.

[The empressof all]

32. Let me know after you try it

Try to sit at the Chef's counter. Jim the owner will give you goodies. They also make a great pizza if you aren't looking for a huge meal.

I'll be curious to know how you loved it. :hi:

[marlakay]

37. Its on the way from where I live in leavenworth

i will check it out, thanks...didn't know about it. They have a great Thai place in Monroe too.

[The empressof all]

40. There's an Indian joint there that I heard is good

I haven't tried it yet. What's the name of the Thai place. I'm over in that area quite a bit so I'd love to try it.

Let me know how you like Nana Carmella's. Their Tira Misu is terrific and don't be afraid to ask for things off the menu. They make a great Saltinboca. The portions are huge. If you go before you head back to Levenworth bring a cooler. You'll have leftovers.

[marlakay]

43. Ben Jarong or something like that

and its great Thai food we stop there all the time on the way home from Seattle.

[RobertSeattle]

42. Might want to order that Naviation GPS device... :-)

[Lou Syffire]

28. try this place-in the University District

I like http://www.piatti.com/loca10.html">Piatti. So does Bill gates, I'm told.

[The empressof all]

31. If you are looking for Romantic try Cafe Juanita in Kirkland

It's spendy but has wonderful Northern Italian. I think they were one of the top 50 resturants in the US in Bon Apetite last year.

You won't get red sauce here. But if you're looking for delicate sauces and a great risotto you won't be disappointed.

[fortyfeetunder]

39. In downtown Renton - Armando's

Armando's Cafe Italiano
919 S 3rd St, (downtown) Renton, WA

Close to the I-405 and about 10 minutes from I-5