Well I guess the cat's really out of the bag. Salumi's featured on the front page of yesterday's New York Times "Dining Out" section in a story on buying food online.

So order your mole from Armandino -
Salumi Artisan Cured Meats, Seattle

Good thing most people around here don't read the NYTimes.

Will have to check it out. Pink Door is also great, haven't been there in a while (saw someone else's post). If you like tea, there's a tea place called the Perennial Tea Room across from the Pink Door that sells some good loose leaf tea.

Hit Troiani (2nd or 3rd and Madison) if you want a good Italian restaurant with a cool martini bar. Have only had appetizers while guzzling down martinis, but it gets rave reviews from people I work with. Was not excited about 10 Mercer (over in Queen Ann), but could be that it was just a bad server and I was eating by myself.

The one I keep foregetting to post on is Sazerac. It's in the Hotel Monaco. I really like their French Toast Foster (Pain Perdu or something close - I don't speak French) but you better have a sweet tooth if you order it. Catfish at Sazerac is also great. After that, I haven't been super impressed with the menu - "Eggs in Hell" are good, grits have saved several hang-overs from the afore-mentioned bars.

QOH -
Matts at the Market
Palace Kitchen
Dahlia Lounge (maybe Etta's too)
Brooklyn Oyster House
All tried and true favorites.
Want to try something new, too...

Tried CROW recently, very good, albeit noisy.

You should try and catch a show at the Triple Door. Same food as the upstairs Wild Ginger.

Check out Tom Douglas' new Greek place, across the street from Dahlia Lounge.

have heard mixed reviews on the new Douglas place but I am a big fan and can't imagine that I would not like

It's called Lola - ate there last month. Really enjoyed my meal...$15 corkage.

Another vote for Lola.
Two dinners and I've enjoyed them both.
Kebabs and Tagines.
Yumm.

Just got back from dinner at 21 Central Steak House in Bellevue.

Steaks were delicious, desserts were sublime ... and the 2001 Quilceda Creek, at only $125/bottle, was one of the best deals of the week.

Eating at Ovio Bistro in West Seattle tonight - one of my fav local joints that no one knows about (yet)

I like Lola's, but if I'm going to cross the street from Dahlia, I'm going to Assiaggo.

Mattach, I agree once again.
OVIO is a nice spot, and may stay undiscovered just by virtue of being in W. Seattle.

Being Italian and spoiled with that cuisine my entire life, I think I'm probably extra critical of Italian Restaurants. Queen, I've eaten at Assaggio quite a few times over the years. My experience is that they have been slipping considerably. My last experience there (about 10 months ago) was the worst restaurant experience I've had. It was so bad, I'm sure it was an abberation and not entirely reflective of the status of their operation. Nevertheless, I think it will be quite some time before I return. It is too bad, because I think Mauro (owner) is a nice guy and I wish him well.

We had dinner in Kirkland last night. Our oldest daughter, our son-in-law, and our three granddaughters live here. We appreciate the suggestions on Seatle especially since we are looking at spending more time here.

Thanks

Pete and Barbara

Lorenzo - I hope you discussed your experience with Mauro. He would want to know. We had dinner there a few months ago and everything was very good.

Matt's in the Market.
What a great place.

Kaspar's in lower Queen Anne is another favorite of mine - their lamb shank is outstanding.

Had dinner at Canlis last night. Never fails. Outstanding and a gorgeous starry, starry autumn night.

Ahhh, Canlis. good sigh...

I wrote up our experience at Canlis in detail last year, followed by a short summary:

Overall very good experience, but subject to the pretentiousness of many expensive restaurants. The view is beautiful.

You know the type of place- long-winded explanations of each dish with the mention of exotic ingredients that turn out good food, but rarely anything exceptional.