Grazie Ristorante Italiano - 23207 Bothell Everett Hwy, Bothell, WA 98021 - 5/5 stars

I had the delight of visiting this Italian Restaurant in Canyon Park just south of I-405 on the Bothell-Everett Highway back in September 2018.

To my pleasant surprise, Grazie Ristorante had caprese ($10), which is a traditional Italian dish comprised of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and vinegar. It was very fresh and tasty, I devoured it in minutes.

Afterwards, I had a spinach salad ($12). My salad had onions, cheese, oil, vinegar, and dried berries. The spinach was a vibrant green and was very fresh. It had just the right amount of salad dressing and just the right amount of crispness.

For dessert, I had tiramisu ($8). The waitress said it was homemade, of which I have no doubt. It was delicious and had perfect consistency.

The service and atmosphere in this restaurant is fabulous. It is very clean, and the art on the walls is classy. I felt like the owner of the restaurant really put a lot of effort into the ambiance. The Italian art was fitting yet not too in-your-face. I'm not sure how to put it into words, but even the tables and chairs felt elegant in some Italian way. The booths are very comfortable with nice soft back support, while the chairs are more stiff.

There was faint jazz music in the background when I was eating, which I found to be relaxing. I understand they have live jazz on the weekends.

I would come back here in a heartbeat.  Ciao!

http://www.grazierestaurant.com/

Thai Rhapsody - 15021 Main St I, Mill Creek, WA 98012 - 4/5 stars

For lunch, I ordered sweet and sour vegetables with chicken.  Included were pepper, onion, cucumber, tomato, celery, and pineapple.  Brown rice came on the side.  For dessert, I ordered fried banana with coconut ice cream for dessert.  The entree was $11.99, the side of rice was $1.50, and the dessert was $5.99.

Lunch was served hot and steaming.  Dessert was served cold (ice cream) and warm (fried banana).  The lunch entree was fresh, and the veggies had a good crunch to them.  Vegetables included squash, peppers, and onions.  There were also a few pineapple chunks thrown in.  The brown rice was cooked to a good soft consistency.  The chicken was cooked just right and had just enough of chewiness without being gamey.  The ice cream dessert was textured with tasty little coconut flakes, while the friend banana dessert was crispy thin on the outside and chewy soft on the inside.  It appeared as if the meal was fresh from scratch with the exception of the pineapple which seemed to be from a can but tasty nonetheless.  Everything tasted excellent with the exception of the tomatoes, which were a bit sour as if they were on the verge of spoiling.  Portions were generous, and while I ate the entire dessert, I only ate half the lunch; I took the rest home to go.  

Very clean and spacious, I was impressed with the restaurant interior.  There were many booths with windows to choose from.  I was immediately greeted when I entered the establishment and quickly seated.  I was not kept waiting to order or for the food, which came in 10 minutes (lunch) and 5 minutes (dessert) from the time of ordering.  Parking at the restaurant is not the best but as long as one does not mind walking, there is plenty of free parking within a few blocks.

http://thairhapsody.com/

Meowtropolitan Cafe - 1225 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103 Seattle - 4/5 stars

I got a strawberry Italian soda at the Meowtropolitan Cafe. It was $13 and included a 50 minute session with the cats.  The session was not private but rather had about 10 other people in the large room of close to a dozen cats.  The fee paid for any drink of my choosing, and any size up to 16 oz.  My pink strawberry beverage was topped with luscious whipped cream and adorned with a fun blue and yellow pinstriped straw.  It was very tasty and refreshing.  There were many coffees, teas, and other beverages to choose from. 

The food options at the cafe were pretty slim and not very appetizing to me (ordinary sandwiches and cookies with feline themes).  There were white-bread sandwiches and sugary macaroons with layers of colored frosting that I did not try.  Still, I daresay the majority of folks do not come to the cafe for the food--they come for the cats.

My favorite part of the whole experience was admiring the cats.  Several cats came up to me purring and wanting pets.  Some cat were shy or napping.  Not every cat was social, but every cat was a joy to be around.  They were all so cute and fluffy and downright adorable.  One even let me get right up next to her for a photo.  This is definitely a great place to go when you need a pick-me-up or a stress reliever.  Had a bad day at work or just a bad week?  Take in some kitty therapy with your beverage of choice!

The parking near the cafe is very reasonable with plenty of nearby street and suburban spots a quick walk away.  The cats come from a local shelter and most are available for adoption.  I had such a fun time here that I would come back.  Treat this place as somewhere to get a snack but not a hearty meal.  Be prepared for cuddles from the kitties!

https://seattlemeowtropolitan.com/

Kosta's Mediterranean Cuisine - 8306 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo, WA 98275 - 4/5 stars

I came in for lunch and ordered the $10.95 lunch special of spinach calzone.  I know this was made fresh and not some microwave meal because I was able to request no olives in the calzone and my request was accommodated. Had the calzone been premade, excluding olives would have been near impossible.  The Greek salad on the side was very fresh and crisp.  I had vibrant greens (not bland iceberg lettuce) with orange, feta, pepper, and cucumbers.  The orange citrus paired well with the opposing feta cheese flavor.  As for the calzone itself, it was a very generous portion. I could not finish the entire delicacy and had to take half of it home.  The exterior was very flaky and doughy, cooked to perfection.  There were no burnt pieces or flour chunks left over.  The calzone interior was also very fresh and scrumptious.  Inside the calzone itself, baby spinach leaves danced perfectly with seared red onions in a sea of mozzarella cheese.  Some calzones are all cheese and bread, but this one had a decent amount of vegetables inside, which I liked.

 The service at Kosta's was top notch.  I was greeted by a friendly hostess and seated at a comfortable booth with a window.  All of Kosta's has a snazzy fancy feeling, so I'm sure any seat would have done, but I digress.  Service was surprisingly fast for a homemade calzone.  As an added bonus, I was thrilled at the hospitality.  When the check came, I realized I forgot my wallet at home (this was real, not some food reviewer test!).  I explained my situation to the hostess who waited patiently with me as I called a friend for help.  She even suggested I leave the restaurant and come back or simply pay another day.  Such trust and courtesy in a stressful situation was well appreciated. 

http://www.kostascuisine.com/

Girardi's Osteria - 504 5th Ave S, Edmonds, WA 98020 - 5/5 stars

 

I got lunch in downtown at downtown Edmonds at one of my all-time favorite Italian restaurants.  I ordered a $6 beet salad, $5 bruschetta, and $8 ravioli.  

The beet salad came with beets, onions, greens (spinach and arugula), feta, walnuts, carrots, and balsamic.  It was very tasty and fresh.  I liked how the vegetables were generous.  Some places have salads where it is 90% leaves and 10% veggies--not the case here.  I felt very healthy and satisfied as I got a plethora of veggies on my plate and on my palate.  The sauce was also very delicious while not being overpowering or drowning the veggies.  

For the bruschetta, that came with Italian bread, tomatoes, basil, shaved cheese, balsamic, and even a mini salad in the middle.  The tomatoes on the bread were overflowing and not skimpy.  The tomatoes were cut very thick and the salad in the middle was quite generous.  It wasn’t just plain iceberg lettuce but actually had peppers, carrots, onions, and mixed greens.  Again, everything was very fresh and made to order delicious.  

As for the pumpkin ravioli, that was delightful.  I was excited to see a pumpkin flavored food outside of the fall timeframe.  The pasta was cooked to perfection in a sea of cranberries, spinach, tomatoes, and feta.  When I bit into the ravioli, I felt the filling dance in my mouth.  It was very creamy yet dense at the same time.  Did I mention the buttery sauce that made my day?  This was very light yet still filling, which is a plus.     

Overall, I really enjoyed Girardi's.  I feel like they have a fun menu of fresh Italian dishes that are the perfect portion and perfect price.  The tables and chairs were all in excellent condition, and I even got a wonderful seat right by the window.  I'd come back here in a heartbeat.

http://www.girardis-osteria.com/

Mukilteo's Speedway Cafe - 11707 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo, WA 98275 - 5/5 stars

I invited my friend to come with me to the Mukilteo cafe.  It was very clean and felt like being on a boat with all the fun nautical decorations.  I ordered the special of the day, which was the $11 veggie hash.  It came with two slices of toast of my choice.  While I chose rye, I also had the option of white, wheat, pumpernickel, and English muffin.  I was offered various flavors of jam ranging from strawberry to raspberry to blackberry to grape.  I sampled all of them and found the blackberry to be my favorite.  For the eggs, I was given a choice of how I'd like them, and I decided upon scrambled with cheese.  The main star of the show was the hash itself.  Veggies were mixed with hash browns.  Vegetables included onions, peppers, zucchini, squash, and cauliflower.  There was a good balance between the veggies and the potatoes.  The potatoes were a bit bland, but once mixed in with the rest of the dish and complimented with ketchup, their taste was much improved.  All the veggies were well-cooked, although some a bit too well-cooked.  There were a few pieces of charred vegetables, which is unfortunate, but the dish was tasty overall.  I ate half of this and took the rest home. 

The interior was nautical themed with lots of ship-related memorabilia.  I literally felt like I was in a boat when I sat in my comfortable booth.  Even the windows looking into the kitchen are circles like they are on boats - how fun!  In terms of cleanliness, the place was spotless.  The table and seats and waiting area were all clean.  There weren't any old spills or crumbs from prior parties.  The wait staff here really do a good job of cleaning up the tables.  Mukilteo Cafe is a fun place to eat, and I look forward to coming back again.

 http://mukilteospeedway.cafesinc.com/

The Kitty Catfe- 9695 Firdale Ave, Edmonds, WA 98020 - 4/5 stars

On a rainy day, what's a better thing to do than get some nice beverage and play with cats?  I don't have a clue!  I went to the Kitty Catfe and had a blast.  It was $5 entry fee without beverage or $7 entry fee with beverage.  I ordered an Italian soda in pumpkin flavor with whipped cream, which was very delicious.  I was surprised to see pumpkin being offered in August but was thrilled nonetheless.  The drink was not too sweet.  It was yummy but did taste a bit artificial.  I can’t say I’m surprised since I saw various flavor bottles that were used to make drinks.  While I was in the mood for a cool drink, they also had hot coffees, teas, and hot cocoas for me to try.  My drink was offered to me in a cup without any covering or straw.  It’s a good thing I didn’t spill on myself.

There were so many cats, about close to twenty, I'd say.  Ages ranged from kitten to fully grown feline.  It was fun to cuddle with the cats, play with the cats, pet the cats, and just enjoy the cats.  There were plenty of toys and wands available for customers to use.  I personally liked making the cats chase feathers around while we played a game of “catch the bird”.  The cats seemed to be enjoying themselves almost as much as the humans were enjoying themselves. There were lots of structures for the cats to climb and perch atom.  They seemed very well-loved as if the cats had used them quite a lot.  This cat cafe is not as clean or have the best odor compared to other cat cafes, but for the price and beverages, I think it is a steal of a deal.  I think if this place charged more, they could offer better beverages and make some interior updates.

 https://www.thekittycatfe.org/

Curries - 7318 Evergreen Way #101, Everett, WA 98204 - 5/5 stars

I went out to lunch with my Boeing coworkers at Curries Indian Restaurant on Evergreen Way in Everett and we all got the lunch buffet special for $12 each.

The buffet was self-service and included various types of curries, all of which were kept hot by the buffet setup.  I am not an expert on curries, but I will say they looked homemade and tasted great. The meat curries I sampled were the goat curry, the chicken curry, and the lamb curry.

I’m not sure what all spices there were but they were extremely flavorful without being spicy.
As for vegetable curries, I sampled the eggplant curry, the chickpea curry, the green bean curry, and the spinach curry. They were all very creamy and smooth with kicks of flavor. All of the curries had some sort of vegetables mixed in.

While it was hard to decipher which vegetables were which through the thick sauces, I did detect traces of potato, pea, lentils, cauliflower, and broccoli. Some curries also had a milky consistency and flavor, which I assume means there was milk or cream mixed in.

There was also a fried dumpling of sorts with spices, potatoes, carrots, and peas inside. It had a nice crunch to it and felt like a healthy treat.

To complement the entrees, there was a big tub of jasmine rice to scoop out, as well as a heated container full of authentic Indian naan bread for dipping.

There was also a salad with generous portions of tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers. Most salads at restaurants are oceans of iceberg lettuce with a few vegetables, but not so here. This is a real salad at Curries.

For dessert, there was fresh fruit including cantaloupe, honeydew, and orange slices. There was also mango mousse that was the best fruit-based dessert I have ever eaten!

The restaurant was very nice and clean inside, and we often saw the owners walk around to tidy up or say hello.  Everything on the buffet line was clearly labeled, which was nice. There was also a sneeze-guard for extra hygiene. I really enjoyed this place and the food was top of the line.

http://curriesineverett.com/

Mongolian Grill - 11700 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo, WA 98275 - 5/5 stars

My friend took me to this restaurant, and I had a lot of fun.  It is a mix between fast food and fancy food.  You get a bowl and fill up on what type of veggies and noodles you want.  All of this is raw and uncooked when you are filling your bowl up.  Then you take that bowl to the counter where an attendant will ask what type of protein you'd like (beef, chicken, tofu, etc).  Then they cook everything up on a big Mongolian grill.  From there, you are asked what type of rice you'd like (white, brown, fried, etc) and what sauces you'd like.  I’ve never had the white or brown rice here but the fried rice is so tasty.  It even has little pieces of peas, egg, corn, and carrots mixed in.  I had a bunch of vegetables with fried rice, chicken, and plum sauce.  Other sauces available that I did not try included peanut sauce, Mongolian sauce, spicy sauce, coconut sauce, pineapple sauce, and curry sauce.  All of this was about $14, which is not bad at all.  The portions are huge, so you will have enough food for two or leftovers the next day. 

This is one of the healthier restaurants due to all the vegetables and the customization.  You can get all the broccoli, carrots, bean sprouts, cabbage, spinach, and more that you'd like.  Other options include celery, pineapple, string beans, kale, baby corn, and whatever else is the special of the day.  The food tasted amazing and I took some home in a to-go box.  The inside of the restaurant was clean and quaint with plenty of window seating available.  With the plethora of options available for customizing one’s meal, I feel I could eat here for a year straight and never eat the same meal twice!  I should note that the options I listed as available to me when I went there may not be the same available when you go.  I suspect the vegetables are seasonal and that the sauces may also rotate. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Restaurant/Mongolian-Grill-Mukilteo-264118377563392/

Bahama Breeze- 15700 Southcenter Pkwy, Tukwila, WA 98188 - 5/5 stars

Being in the southcenter area, I decided to grab dinner at one of my favorite spots that I haven't been to in a few years (it's a bit of a drive from where I live).  I ordered the $12 chicken quesadillas, which came with a side of sour cream and pico de gallo tomatoes.  The sour cream was creamy like a dream and the pico de gallo was crisp like summertime.  Inside the quesadillas were chicken, onions, pepper, cheese, and some sort of greens that I assume was spinach.  The entire meal was very fresh and felt homemade, not microwaved.  I liked how the chicken was not fried or breaded but left plain inside the tortillas.  The consistency of the entire quesadillas was perfect.  Some places make it so the quesadillas are so stiff it feels like one is eating cardboard, while some places make it so the quesadillas are so soft they fall apart when one tries to pick them up.  No so at Bahama breeze.  The quesadillas were hard enough to hold their shape but soft enough to feel the individual consistencies of the chicken, cheese, and vegetables all melting together in a delicious whirlwind.

I was amazed at the speed with which my order arrived.  It was like I told the waitress what I wanted and--poof!--there is was in front of me.  The ambiance of bahama breeze is very fun.  There are palm trees and Jamaican style paintings that give it a very tropical feeling.  The coloring in the restaurant is very fun with bright oranges, greens, yellows, and blues.  It's funny to say, but I almost felt like I was on vacation in the Bahamas when I was eating here.  The large establishment was also crowded, which means I am not the only on who enjoys Bahama Breeze!

https://www.bahamabreeze.com/locations/wa/tukwila/seattle-tukwila/ 

Simply Thai - 235 Strander Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98188 - 5/5 stars

In the southcenter area, Simply Thai is one of my favorite Thai restaurants.  While I am usually an adventurous person, every time I go there I order the same thing--phad thai.  While I order with chicken, there is a plain vegetable option, as well as a tofu option for $12.  For those that want beef or salmon, that is priced slightly higher at $14.  The rice noodles are always cooked to the perfect consistency with just enough sauce and not too salty.  It comes with assorted vegetables mixed in (brocolli, carrots, cucumber, bean sprouts, etc).  The vegetables are cooked to a state that is crunchy but not too stiff or too soft.  As someone who enjoys vegetable and being healthy, I often as for extra vegetables.  The noodles are pliable and absorb all the spices and sauce of the pad thai, which I absolutely love.  I should note that phad thai comes with peanut pieces, so those with allergies should notify their server. 

The portions are very large and I've never eaten the whole thing; I eat half and take the rest home.  If I could eat the whole meal in one sitting, I would.  That's how good it tastes.  But considering the need for leftovers, I think the price is extremely reasonable.  For less than the cost of dinner somewhere else, I get both dinner and an extra lunch for my work the next day.  The atmosphere of this restaurant is very fancy and relaxing.  There are many comfortable (leather?) seat booths for customers to sit in, as well as various flowers around.  Service is not rapid but it is fairly quick.  The wait staff are all friendly and smiled at me.  They repeatedly asked if I was enjoying my food and if there was anything they could get for me.  I really liked that and felt like a valued customer.  This is a great place to enjoy with a friend.

https://www.simplythaiseattle.com/

Calabria - 3922 148th St SE #111, Bothell, WA 98012 - 5/5 stars

I ate dinner here with a gentleman caller and was not disappointed.  For appetizer, we got complimentary bread with caprese appetizer ($11).  The caprese comprised of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, oil, and vinegar.  The tomatoes tasted like they were slices just moments ago.  The basil was equally fresh and hand-picked.  As for the oil and vinegar, those were extremely flavorful and did not taste diluted or watered down.  My friend ordered a house salad ($4) that had spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and other greens with vinaigrette dressing.  For entrees, I got bow-tie pasta with salmon ($21) in vodka sauce.  It came with capers, onions, and olives (I declined the olives and was obliged).  For my pasta, I asked for extra vegetables to be mixed in.  We were charged $10 for artichokes, carrots, and zucchini to be mixed in to my pasta.  The pasta was cooked well but could have used a few extra minutes in the pot since it was a little stiff.  The salmon was cooked thoroughly and melted in my mouth.  The vodka sauce was perfect and creamy.  The vegetables were tasty but, like the pasta, could have also used some extra cooking time.  My friend ordered fettuccine Alfredo with chicken ($19).  His dish was quite delicious and rich / creamy with the sauce. 

We were both given more than enough food to finish and took half of the meal home in a to-go box.  The wait staff was very friendly and nice.  The waiter kept refilling our waters and offering us pepper / cheese.  The tables and seats appeared very fancy, comfortable, clean, and new.  When it was time for a to-go box, the waiter graciously labeled our leftovers so we wouldn't confuse each dish.  I really like this place and think it's one of the few Italian restaurants that is authentic with food like when I grew up with. 

http://calabriamillcreek.com/

Than Brothers - 500 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett WA - 5/5 stars

I ate here for lunch with a friend from work.  I enjoyed a pho soup of chicken with extra veggies (I requested the extra veggies) for $10.  The broth was phenomenal and had chicken with bean sprouts, carrots, broccoli, and noodles.  The chicken was plain without and frying or breading. Without the flavorful broth, the chicken would have tasted rather bland.  However, the spices in the soup absorbed into the chicken and gave it a kick of flavor.  The carrots and broccoli were cooked soft but with a little bit of hardness to bite into.  The sprouts were raw and crunchy.  The noodles were very thick and dense.  They were cooked down well enough that they didn’t involve much chewing but not so much that they broke apart in the bowl.  I ordered a size small, which was very large by my estimation.  My sinuses were really opening and I had to blow my nose frequently due to the warming effects of the soup. 

My favorite thing about this place is that every customer gets a free cream puff with their order.  These homemade Vietnamese delicacies are so good that I ordered extra when I was done.  Extra cream puffs were only $0.55, what a steal!  They are so light and airy and feel like I am eating a cloud from heaven when I bite into them.  Smaller than the size of my palm, they don’t make me feel like I’m overindulging.  As for the restaurant itself, it was clean and comfortable inside the restaurant.  The chairs and tables were a bit old, but they were clean and comfortable.  There is a fun fish tank that I enjoyed looking into from time to time.  The menu is short and to the point.  The service is fast and courteous.  I should note that near the register, there is a statue of the Buddha or some similar eastern religious figure in gold.  I’m not much for religious decorations in restaurants but I suppose that’s part of the Vietnamese culture.

http://www.thanbrothers.com/

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers - 1305 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett, WA - 4/5 stars

Red Robin is a fun place I like to go to.  This time, I went during the week at lunchtime with a coworker friend.  I used a buy-one-get-one-free coupon.  Both my friend and I ordered chicken burgers (~$12).  The burgers come with bottomless fries, which means you can keep asking the server for more without being charged.  I like to get the garlic fries, which are a few dollars extra (it's worth it!).  My dipping sauce of choice is honey mustard.  On my burger, I opted for lettuce, tomato, and pickles.  The bread was fluffy and heavenly, which I enjoyed.  The lettuce, tomato, and pickles were all fresh and didn't taste defrosted, which I pick up on at some other burger places.  The chicken itself was very thick and meaty.  Combine this with the thick bread and toppings and I could barely fit the sandwich in my mouth!  I’m not sure what sauce the chicken was cooked in, but there was a yummy sauce that ran down my hand and wrist as I ate the burger. 

I usually go to the location near the Lynnwood mall, but I must say that Red Robin is franchised quite well.  No matter what Red Robin I go to, it all feels the same to me.  The tables and chairs looked like they’ve seen better days, but they were clean nonetheless.  There was a faint odor in the establishment that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.  Smelled almost like body odor or little kids or a combination of the two.  I highly recommend people join the rewards program.  It is free and sends customers various coupons.  I've gotten discounts on more than one occasion, and I've even gotten coupons for free burgers, shakes, appetizers, and more.  Grab a friend and head to Red Robin today!

https://www.redrobin.com/

Blu's Burgers - 9999 Harbour Pl #100, Mukilteo, WA 98275 - 4/5 stars

I dined in at Blu’s Burgers for dinner.  I ordered the classic burger for $6 and a side salad for $4.  The classic burger is ¼ lb of beef on a bun with lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, and mayonnaise.  When I looked inside the burger, I first thought I was missing pieces.  However, I shortly realized that the tomato was UNDER the meat patty, which I don’t see often.  All the burgers here are grass-fed, which is a huge plus for me.  I personally think grass-fed beef tastes better, is healthier, and is more humane.  The burger itself was very tasty.  The bun tasted moist and warm like it was heated up and not just taken out of a bag.  Whether it was the sauce or meat juices, I do not know, but I had a delicious liquid running down my hand and wrist the entire time I devoured my burger.

My salad was a steal of a deal.  It came in a very large mixing bowl.  The leaves were mixed green and purple.  This was not a bland iceberg lettuce salad.  The green was vibrant and fresh.  Mixed in were a generous amount of tomatoes and cucumbers.  Some restaurants just have one or two veggies on a salad.  Not so with Blu’s Burgers.  At Blu’s, I kept getting surprised by tomatoes and cucumbers that were embedded deep into the salad bowl.  Given my choice of salad dressing, I chose Italian and was not disappointed.  The Italian dressing went very well with the rest of the salad.  I also felt healthy eating my salad.

The atmosphere in Blu’s is very laid back.  Several of the tables and chairs are a silver metallic.  There is not much cushion on the chairs, but it is not uncomfortable.  There is eclectic artwork in the restaurant, which includes a life-size version of the indomitable snowman, as well as kids’ coloring sheets.

https://www.bluburgersandbrew.com/

China Garden - 800 164th St SE, Mill Creek, WA 98012 - 4/5 stars

I stopped by China Garden with my friend when it was snowing.  They were only of the few restaurants that was still open, and I am glad they were!  I ordered chicken with vegetables for $10.  The cup of brown rice was $3 extra (the entrée itself did not come with rice).  The chicken and vegetables came on a family-style plate with a large spoon.  This was supposed to be a dish to share, but I kept it all for myself!  The chicken was plain and un-breaded / un-fried.  It was very flavorful and cooked in some sort of clear sauce that I could not identify.  The chicken was not so tender as to fall part in my mouth but it was also not so rough that it took a long time chewing.  It was cooked to the perfect consistency. 

For the vegetables, there were water chestnuts, carrots, celery, bok choy, mushrooms, squash, onion, and bean sprouts.  The water chestnuts were cut thin and very crunchy, as is to be expected.  The carrots were thick slices with crinkled edges.  They also had a good crunch to them.  The celery were one inch by one inch squares that I personally found to be a tad bland.  The bok choy were two to three inch chunks of both the root and the leaf.  The mushrooms were whole and not to my liking.  I am not a big mushroom person and was not aware they’d be in my dish.  If I knew, I would have requested they be omitted from the meal.  Nevertheless, I simply ate around the mushrooms.   The squash was sliced into small circles and also had the crinkled edges.  The onions were thin slices that melted in my mouth and were very delicious.  The bean sprouts were plain and more of a garnish. 

Mixing everything together along with the brown rice resulted in a nice meal.  I would have preferred there be more vegetables and less meat, but that is just me.  As for the atmosphere, everything looked very clean and new.  The chairs had cushion and were very comfortable.  I also enjoyed the complimentary hot Chinese tea in traditional little teacups.

http://www.chinagardencuisine.com/

The Rusty Pelican - 15704 Mill Creek Blvd, Bothell, WA 98012 - 5/5 stars

I ate here for breakfast.  I ordered the Farmer’s Market omelet ($12).  It came with pancakes (I chose banana pecan for $4 extra) and fresh fruit (included).  The omelet itself had green peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, and spinach in it.  It was topped with Swiss cheese and avocado.  I don’t know how many eggs were put into this omelet, but it was bigger than my face!  I was unable to eat the whole thing and brought some home for leftovers.  All of the vegetables inside were cooked to perfect—not raw or burnt at all.  The quantity, consistency, and distribution of the vegetables was also spectacular.  The omelet didn’t have just a handful of veggies or the veggies segmented into chunks.  Rather, all the veggies were thoroughly cooked into the omelet.  The egg part was very light and fluffy, almost like a cloud.  The avocado was actual avocado slices on top and not guacamole cream.

The fresh fruit comprised of grapes, cantaloupe, orange, and honeydew.  The fruit was very generous in large pieces.  Flavor-wise, it did not taste the most ripe.  However, it wasn’t rotten or terribly ill tasting.  It just could have been better if it was more in season.  As for the pancakes, there would have been no charge if I chose plain, but I opted for the banana pecan.  These pancakes are a dream with bananas and pecans cooked into the batter.  Mind you, these are not just plain pancakes with bananas and pecans sprinkled on top.  This is the real deal!  Along with my pancakes came syrup, butter, whipped cream, and powdered sugar.  The syrup tasted like it was the fake syrup and not the real stuff.  I can’t confirm this, but I buy real syrup for myself at home and the viscosity is different.  If this is the case, I can understand since real maple syrup is very expensive.

The atmosphere at this establishment is very fresh, new, and modern.  I like the beach-themed decorating very much so.  The seats have nice cushions on them and are very comfortable.  Be sure to get here early because there is always a long time to get a table.



http://rustypelicancafe.com/

Queen Mary Tea Room - 2912 NE 55th St, Seattle, WA 98105 - 4/5 stars

I had a ladies tea party at the Queen Mary Tea room one weekend afternoon.  I am a huge fan of tea parties, so this was a must for me.  This is not the first time I’ve been to Queen Mary’s Tea Room.  I ordered my usual garden salad with salmon added ($16).  My tea of choice was an organic peach flavored white tea ($6).  One of my friends ordered the high tea, which looked phenomenal.  I typically shy away from the high tea because it is very pricey ($50) and has a lot of bread, which upsets my stomach. 

My salad was fresh green and purple leaves with finely cooked salmon on top.  Mixed in were tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and sunflower seeds.  My salad came with a nice whole wheat flour roll and butter.  The salad dressing of my choice was Italian, which I requested on the side.  The salad is very large and filling.  This is by no means a side salad—this is a meal.  The amount of vegetables and salmon also continue to exceed my expectations.  This is not just a bag of mixed greens with a pieces of salmon and veggies scattered about.  This is a hearty salad.  My tea came in a tea pot with a hourglass.  This was so I knew when my tea was done steeping and ready to drink for optimal flavor.  Upon request, I also got a little pot of honey to mix into my tea.  The tea pot easily fills four cups of tea and the servers come around to refill for free, which is nice.

All in all, this is a very fun place to be.  I recommend getting reservations since it can be very crowded.  My only complaint is that the seating is extremely uncomfortable.  The chairs and booths have very long seats, which mean that average sized women cannot sit back comfortably with their knees bent—they either have to lean / slouch or bring a pillow to bridge the gap.  Also, on the day I visited, there were still holiday decorations from Christmas that were at my head level.  Due to this, I was unable to have my head at a comfortable position since I kept hitting them when leaning back into my seat.

https://queenmarytea.com/

The Silver Spoon - 3828 196th St SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036 - 4/5 stars

I got lunch here with a friend one weekend afternoon.  The Silver Spoon is a very fun place to be.  The painting inside is very bright and festive.  I also enjoy the large fish tank.  There is a baby grand piano near a sign that says “live music”.  There was no live music playing when I ate there but it’d be worth calling up to find out when the pianist will be playing.  The tables are very clean, as is the silverware.  The seating is extremely comfortable with cushions excellent for back support.

For my meal, I got chicken pad thai with extra vegetables ($14).  Whenever I get pad thai anywhere, I always ask for extra vegetables to ensure I am not just stuck with meat and noodles—this has happened before!  The noodles were the perfect consistency for devouring.  The chicken was cooked to a delightful level where it was quite tender in my mouth.  The vegetables of broccoli, carrot, squash, onion, and bok choy were all stir-fried to a soft state.  I liked how many of the vegetables had crinkle-cut around the edges.  I have seen this at many Asian restaurants and think it must be some special vegetable slicing tool that creates this fun effect.  I am a huge fan of broccoli, and the broccoli here did not disappoint.  It was very scrumptious and had a good bite to it while still being soft.  To my dismay, there were also mushrooms mixed in, which I ate around.  Had I known there would have been mushrooms in the dish, I would have requested they be left out. The peanut sauce was fully absorbed by the entirety of the dish so the flavor impact was not hindered in any way.  On the raw side, there was peanut pieces, cabbage, and bean sprouts.  I personally like to mix everything together so each bite is a combination of textures.

http://thaifoodforyou.com/