2 of every bagel, please

Having lived on the east coast, it is hard to find a decent bagel in Seattle. New Yorkers say that it's the water that makes their bagels so good. If that's the case, I wish someone would ship some over. The only reasonable facsimile in the area I found is Noah's. I know, I know; it's a chain. They seem to have started in California and have locations in CA, Oregon and here in Washington. I go to the one in Queen Anne since it is the closest.

Let's get this out of the way first. The bagels are OK but not great. I don't think it's from a lack of effort; maybe it IS the water. It's hard to describe but the best I can do is that they are just not chewy enough when toasted. They do have many different kinds and I usually go for the super onion or blueberry (heretic). When I feel adventurous I go for a "shmear" of tomato basil or strawberry (heretic squared). They have other items as well including breakfast sandwiches, bagel dogs and lunch items.

The decor is clean and reminds me almost of a corner shop in France. It is small meaning that it's hard to find a seat at times. Service is courteous and prompt with customers in line giving orders then picking up as they get filled. They do have a following as evidenced by the line in the mornings. The major gripe of going there for me is always parking. It can get BAD. I think I once circled for 20 minutes before giving up. If you feel lucky, you can park at the Safeway across the street. On Queen Anne and Boston. Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format. P.S.-let me know if you know a better place for bagels.

Food: 18
Decor: 16
Service: 20
Cost: Breakfast $6

http://www.noahs.com/index2.html
206-282-6744

Whole Foods at 2200

In my quest to review anything and everything in downtown Seattle, I am about to review a grocery store. I am not sure if I have ever seen a review of a grocery store before in Seattle or even if one has been attempted but here goes. Enjoy.

I am partial to Whole Foods in general and try to go there for veggies, and meats. I always get my eggs and milk there since a friend of mine told me how much hormone is in non-organic milk and eggs. Scary. I know that you can get organic foods at regular markets but it feels extra safe getting them at Whole Foods. I also appreciate that they try to encourage sustainable farming and their general environmental awareness. Their food always seems to be fresh and top quality. In those ways the Whole Foods at 2200 is no different than any other I have been to.

Where they are different is the size. Due to constrains of space in downtown the store is about 7/10th scale compared to most "full" Whole Foods markets I have been to. They tend to have most of the departments found at other stores. However, the selections and variety is a bit lower meaning that there are only 20 different olive oils to chose from instead of the usual 35. The areas that affect me the most are the high end deli, wine and produce. The prepared food section does not seem to be any smaller although they do not have a crepe station.

The store itself is very clean and well organized as all Whole Foods. They have good decor; kind of upscale farmer's market. I once read an interview with the CEO of Costco who said that he has a hard time not buying more than he intended every time he goes to a Whole Foods. I agree. There is something about the store that makes you buy more. The parking for the store is fantastic. The garage is new with large parking spaces, there is always room and you get 90 minutes free as long as you buy $15. The staff is nice and very knowledgeable. They are happy to answer questions and I can't even count how many free cheese samples they let me have. Even the parking attendant says "thank you" as you leave.

I only have a few gripes with them. It actually involves Whole Foods in general and not this store in particular. First, you do pay a premium to shop there. I usually figure I spend 15-20% more than if I had just gone to my local Safeway. This is partially offset by what I consider to be better quality foods (this may or may not be a reality). Also, considering what they stand for and try to do I don't mind paying the difference. Another bother is that they simply do not carry some common products because they do not meet Whole Foods standards. Therefore, although I have pretty much been able to buy a bottle of Coca-Cola in the most remote parts of the world, I cannot buy it at Whole Foods. Last, I usually find that the prepared foods look and smell great but taste just ordinary. These do not take away from my general high opinion of Whole Foods and this store in particular. On Denny and Westlake. Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format.

Merchandise: 27
Store/decor: 24
Service: 26
Cost: 15-20% over a generic grocery

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/westlake/index.html

CJ's in BT

My dearest is complaining that I am cranky and critical today. That's what happens when I don't get attention for a whole day, babe. To cheer her up and prove I'm no cynic, I am going to write a review of CJ's restaurant in Belltown. Those who do not live close by might not realize that it is actually a thriving business. This is because they only open for breakfast and lunch. They tried a couple of times serving dinner but didn't seem to have had much success. Go there in the morning especially on weekends, however, and you are guaranteed a wait before being seated.

This is a good, old fashioned diner; plain and simple. The food is tasty and hearty and there is plenty of it considering how little you are paying for it in Belltown. I like the barnyard omelet. What is it about crispy bacon and cheese in an egg blanket? Their hash browns are always creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The pancakes are as large as my head. I also like the fact that they didn't try to make the decor into some folksy imitation of what people imagine a diner to be. It is open, clean and simple; perfect for this sort of thing.

The service is surprisingly fast and friendly considering how crazy they get at times. If you go before 9am on weekdays you get a small price break on a few dishes. Going there often makes my tummy and heart all warm. See honey, I told you I had it in me. On 1st between Cedar and Vine. Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format.

Food: 20
Decor: 17
Service: 20
Cost: Breakfast $12

No web site
206-728-1648

1 hotel and condo

My significant other is busy today and I am bored. It's either this or drink and I'm trying to cut down. Hotel 1 peaked my interest when it was announced. There was some wait as it took them time to develop the project and many changes have been announced to the original plan. Furthermore, it seems that they will halt construction over the holidays due to traffic rules although I have not heard the same excuse from other downtown developers.

I commend the development of an environmentally conscious hotel brand although I get the feeling that it's just a new scheme developers have embraced to sell their ware. Don't get me wrong, I'm as capitalist as they get but I wonder how much this hotel will advance the cause of environmental responsibility. In any case, the new hotel and condo will be in an enviable location close to shopping, restaurants and Pike's Market. People have expressed concern about the shadiness of the Pine/Pike-2nd/3rd area. I am of the opinion that it will quickly become "the" neighborhood downtown with the construction of this project, 1521 and the Four Seasons. My concern is more about their view. It is fine now but there can be significant development on both the west and south adjacent blocks.

I was impressed with the trim and finish of all the units. There are high end touches, fixtures and appliances all around. As you may be aware, the lower private residences composed of mostly smaller units now have been converted to more city-suites starting around $450k. City-suites are the only rooms the hotel has to rent as there are no exclusive hotel rooms. This is both a plus and a minus. It might help with income if you plan on renting out your unit regularly. However, you have to give the hotel a certain number of nights for free to use for their "promotions" and the hotel always gets their cut (i.e. management fees) first. Potential buyers fear that the income from renting out their units will not cover their cost even under the best circumstances and I think they are right. The home owner dues are just north of a dollar per sq ft and everyone has to pay including city-suite owners. You should know that you cannot personalize the city-suites in any way. That means no pictures, photos; not even a towel or a pillow. You do not get parking with a city-suite and cannot buy one.

The residence condos are above the city-suites starting at over a million for a 1300sq ft unit. You do get parking under the building with guest parking in the adjacent parking structure that the developer is also refurbishing. You do not get a free membership at the main gym however and must pay for this separately. Overall, buying an actual condo in this building might be OK. I expected more for the high HOD they charge and you can definitely get more sq ft per dollar at most other condos in the area. I would stay away from the city-suites like the plague. Of course, city-suites are the most popular. Go figure. Maybe it is people trying to get in cheap at a top tier condo hoping the rental will cover their cost. Maybe I'm a monkey and this blog is a figment of your imagination. You decide. I actually like the look of the building overall and think it is a good fusion of the modern and traditional. It's certainly better than screwing on a modern glass structure on top of a plain brown building. I'm getting cranky; maybe I need that drink after all. Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format.

Location: 26
Building/unit quality: 28
Amenities: 27
Cost: +$450k city-suites, +$1 million condos

http://www.1residences.com/

Update: Hotel 1 is in redesign due to most buyers of city-suites backing out before putting down a deposit. They will have traditional hotel rooms instead. Maybe people do listen to sound advice.

Update 2: Hotel 1 has been shelved due to the market. It is currently represented by a literal hole in the ground.

Four Seasons Seattle

This is my review of the preeminent condo being developed in Seattle. It has a great view, combines the service excellence of the Four Seasons brand and is being developed by some of the most prominent figures in Seattle. It is rumored that even Bill Gates has bought a unit. Starting to feel nervous, I better be on my game!

Let me start with the showroom. The presentation center was built before the recent trend of over-the-top extravagant showrooms therefore felt a bit small. I mention this because while I saw some representations of the finishes as well as a kitchen, it was hard to picture the whole condo unit like I could at Escala or Hotel 1. The prices are sky high (of course) with units starting at about $2 million. I was a little worried at the base level of finish included in this price range; example, granite counter tops are an upgrade. Many of the smaller, lower priced homes (still over 1300sq ft) do not have water views. There is an owners lounge facing the water but it's a small condolence when your unit faces the street. The windows facing south are not full windows but slits near the ceiling due to the proximity of the building next door. I also was concerned about the floor plan of some of the units with unusual placements of rooms and hallways. I wish that Seattle condo developers would seriously consider making any unit larger than 2000sq ft at least 3 bedrooms.

The look of the building itself puzzles me. The earlier mock ups showed an all glass structure but this was changed to brown siding on the lower levels where the hotel rooms are, possibly due to cost. The location is not prime since I consider it slightly too south. Home owner dues are high around $1.25 per sq ft and considering that most units are large and there are property taxes to worry about...well, you get the picture. The parking is a little unusual as well. They are 2 spaces deep meaning that you have to park back to back. As the sales person stated, "you can let the valet do it."

Everything considered, it is still hard to argue that this will not be the signature address of the city. If you can spare the cash then I highly recommend it. However, I felt the developers leveraged that prestige into being somewhat cheap. I have no doubt that the building and units will turn out well but I couldn't help feeling nickle-and-dimed. That is precisely the opposite of how I usually feel about the Four Seasons brand which is what I find most bothersome (Four Seasons Paris is the best hotel in the world in my opinion). Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format.

Location: 26

Building/unit quality: 26

Amenities: 29

Cost: +$2 million

http://www.seattleprivateresidences.com/

Stinking fish

There is a restaurant in town that is so over-hyped yet so mediocre that I am forced to think they either; a) pay off reviewers or b) are part of the mafia. The restaurant in question is Flying Fish.

Did I miss something? Was this a decent eatery at some point? I will admit the fish is fresh and prepared in a delightfully adequate way. However, their portions are small, they are over priced and every time I eat there I feel ripped off. I keep going back thinking maybe it was just that night or that I might not have "gotten it." At this point, I feel I have gotten all there is and it is not much.

What is left of their view will soon be blocked by the Alex condos. To top it of, the wait staff is arrogant and sloooooooooooooooooow. Please take this advice: DO NOT GO TO FLYING FISH! On 1st and Bell if you don't believe me. Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format.

Food: 17
Decor: 22
Service: 10
Cost: Dinner $80

http://flyingfishrestaurant.com/

206-728-8595

Update: Flying Fish has moved to the Denny Triangle by the new Amazon offices. The rest of the review stands.

Put that steak in my heart

This has got to be my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Well, that changes week to week so let's just say that El Gaucho has the best steak in the city. What's not to like? The meat is grade AAA and aged perfectly. They actually make medium-rare medium-rare. You even get a show when you order certain dishes as the servers prepare it in front of you.

Decor is steak-house perfect with low lighting (which helps hide the amount of saturated fat you are about to put into your body) and live piano music. The service is top notch. The only bother is that the waiters want you to order "enough." One of the few formal, dress up restaurants in the area. I highly recommend the flaming swords or the porterhouse and the Caesar. Make sure you order plenty of sides (my favorite is the linguine) but save room for the free fruits and cheese. On 1st near Wall. Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format.

Food: 27

Decor: 26

Service: 26

Cost: Dinner $120

http://elgaucho.com/elgaucho/_seattle/home.htm

206-728-1337

Pizza Belltown

I enjoy finding "local joints." You know, places that locals go to hang out. It might not be anything special but the food is good and mostly cheap. Belltown Pizza is one of those places. I find myself going there 3-4 times a month.

Who doesn't like pizza, right? The food has gotten better in the past couple of years which I mainly attribute to them making the pizza crust thinner. I love Lombardi's in NYC and think Pizza Hut is an abomination. I love Chicago deep dish when done right but there is no reason for regular pizza crust to be thicker than a piece of paper. The decor is basically pub-like but gets the job done. However, the service can get VERY slow when they are busy and they open late and stop food service early. On 1st and Wall. Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format.

Food: 20
Decor: 14
Service: 15
Cost: Dinner $20

http://www.belltownpizza.net/

206-441-2653

Props to Cosmo

I want to show my support for the owners of the Cosmopolitan who are trying to stop the construction of a behemoth office building around them. If the Mayor is really serious about making downtown more urban and residential, I suggest he pay attention. It always seems ludicrous to me how many breaks businesses get when the majority of taxes that pay for government and public servants' salaries come from individuals. The sad thing is that most likely nothing will be done. One more reason to throw all the bums out! Show support by going to the link below to sign the petition.

http://cosmoseattle.blogspot.com/2007/11/letter-to-mayor-nickels.html

Late night eats in the retail core

I often go out late when I can't stand the hunger. I have been to many (if not all) of the restaurants downtown and one of my favorites has been Red Fin at Hotel Max. I sometimes go for dinner but their happy hour can't be beat. From 4-6pm then again from 10pm-1am they have one of the best food values in Seattle. Sure, you can get it cheaper but not likely better.

My personal favorite is the Togarashi Fries which are fries seasoned with spicy Japanese seasoning but you can't go wrong with any of the rolls or the burger. Of note, they stop serving some sushi dishes at 11pm. I highly recommend you check them out. On Stewart between 6th and 7th. Here are the scores; I follow the Zagat format.

Food: 22

Decor: 22
Service:21

Cost: Dinner $40, Happy hour $20

http://www.redfinsushi.com/

206-441-4340

My view of the condos in downtown Seattle

I sometimes post on a real-estate blog run by a local realtor. I enjoy reading her blog but I have to say I often disagree with her about her assessment of downtown condos. As a person who has been living in downtown for a while as well as having lived before in Manhattan and other major cities, this is how I would score the buildings around me. I absolutely do not agree that having a hotel as part of a condo automatically makes it better. Condo-hotels get run down faster and can lose value quickly.

Bentley- Ultra high end
Four Seasons

Mercedes S Class- Luxury condo
1521, Madison Tower

Mercedes E Class- Mid luxury condo
One Pacific Tower, Escala, Olive 8

Mercedes C Class- Entry level luxury condo
2200, 5th and Madison, Cristalla

Toyota Avalon- Upscale commuter
Concord, Cosmo, Mosler Lofts, Parc, Ellington, Avenue One, Gallery, The Vine, Pomeroy

Toyota Camry- You can pimp it but it's still a Camry
Lumen, Trio, Any 5+2