6/9/2009

3/5 stars

This is a tough one. Outside of an airport, this likely would be a 1 or 2 rating. But in an airport, well… The food was ok. The prices were not obscene. Airport food really cannot have a better review than that.

I had few problems with service, but the place was winding down for the evening.

The local beer selection is quite poor compared to a real Anthony's. As is the local fish selection. I don't blame Anthony's so much as the airport administration, unions, and regulations.

Yelp tags: Seafood Fish & Chips

6/9/2009

4/5 stars

I was told the bikini coffee place was a required part of the Washington experience. Shockingly enough, the coffee was pretty good. I thought the girls would be too worried about burning themselves. And they are girls. Honestly, I'm not sure they're out of high school… Cute, but sooo young… But they do brighten a long drive.

Anyways, I wasn't going to post a review. It's good coffee, but not mind-blowing. Ok, surprisingly good. And not from a super-auto (as far as I could see, which isn't as far as you might expect), but actually made by baristas.

What caught my attention, however, is the "barista brouhaha" about these girls. The problem speaks volumes about geography. These girls are wearing as much, if not more, than beach-side waitresses. Sorry, folks, but you're showing your frozen side.

And have any of these complaining mayor types complained about movie posters showing gun-toting, head-bashing, über-violent "heroes"? No? Wow. I guess raining misery and hatred is a-ok, but bringing a little brightness and beauty to people is a horrible, horrible thing. I suppose construction workers are to be hidden behind curtains, women are to wear burkas, and anything is fair to prevent the kiddies from discovering that yes, there is beauty in this world, and that it can come from people.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea

6/9/2009

3/5 stars

Solid business service hotel. Along side the Columbia River, so at least that can keep you company. As the other reviewer says, the soap sticks, there's no bar/lounge, there's little within walking distance, etc. But if you need a place to sleep with a good enough iron and ironing board, along with a good enough breakfast, this is it. Seems pretty central for the area, too. PNNL is a quick drive, as is the interstate.

Yelp tags: Hotels

6/9/2009

4/5 stars

Oh yes. This is food. Pea vine and radish in a rosé vinaigrette. Asparagus flatbread. Both were right on target. The pea vines could have been a touch longer to make cutting easier, but that's so insanely picky… The flatbread was *BROWNED*, which is a rarity! Not burnt, but wonderfully crisp with a bit of the dark brown that comes from the right heat and time in their oven. The cuisine was definitely fusion with inspirations from all around the Mediterranean.

I believe we had their Red Roan and Pinot Gris, although I could be wrong. Both were very good. The red was a perfect meal wine. I only had a small taste of the white, but the white had a nice spice.

Yelp tags: Wineries Mediterranean

6/9/2009

4/5 stars

I only had one thing: a chocolate milkshake. Very few places make a good milkshake any more. Theirs was exactly what I wanted.

The decor is a bit cheesy, but no worse than I expect from someplace named Mel's. Definitely will try again should I find myself in Yakima.

Yelp tags: Diners

6/9/2009

4/5 stars

This was the first non-bikini coffee place I found on the way to Mt. Rainier. Stopped in to grab some coffee & send a few messages. The proprietress was super friendly, and the coffee was surprisingly good considering I came at a very off hour. They have a great area in back for kids' parties. If I lived in the area, I'd certainly try their food.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea

6/9/2009

4/5 stars

Salmon in season. Local brews. Need anything else? Seriously?

The salmon fish & chips were so good I completely forgot about the malt vinegar. I had a taste of the Copper River salmon. That is reason enough to eat here, if not to move to Washington.

They suffer from stupid bar regulations, but the view from the bar seating is just as good as anywhere else.

Yelp tags: Seafood

6/13/2009

5/5 stars

Caffè macchiato: the test for a coffee shop.

The flavor was excellent. Well-rounded (good pull) and not burnt (good roast) espresso. Even this quicky drink had a nice rosetta in the foam. The only possible "problem" might be more a variation. This felt like a wet macchiato / piccolo latte / whatever. However, the whole drink was so smooth that perhaps the espresso was creamy enough to blend with the foam.

They were busily painting, so I'm not going to judge the comfort or decor. Was a great place for a chat over coffee even in turmoil.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea

6/13/2009

4/5 stars

Comfy place to sit and enjoy coffee. I was only traveling though, so I couldn't linger long, but I kept a business card to remind me. If I'm through this Auburn again, I'll relax here.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea Internet Cafes Music Venues

6/15/2009

5/5 stars

Really flavorful food with a local emphasis. The tuna melt was amazing, and I hate mayonnaise. The sliders are plenty for a meal, and the spices in the sauce are fantastic. The big oven fries were so-so, but I suspect that's by comparison with the main dish.

The atmosphere was nice and relaxed for lunch, but I expect you could show up in nice evening attire and not feel out of place at all. The exposed brick walls, always a bonus, were covered with art from a gallery next door. The servers were spot on, and they definitely have a stake in the place. (Ask about what covered the walls previously…)

I'll be back, but I doubt if I'll need to modify the review beyond heaping more praise on a place that tries to support local producers. And the Monday evening brunch sounds like fun.

Yelp tags: American (New) American (Traditional)

6/17/2009

4/5 stars

Good coffee brewed by folks who were really friendly to someone whose brain had melted in the heat. They were nice enough not to note that the Harar could be really good iced; cooling brings out many of the floral and berry flavors… Nice place to sit for a short while, and some nifty art on the walls. Pretty laid-back, and the wireless network connection was fine for us.

There is more parking around back, btw. Rather important point we discovered purely by accident. You go around the store next to them.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea Bagels

6/17/2009

4/5 stars

A very comfortable feeling coffee shop in a strip mall, this place is worth a look.

The coffee is roasted locally. The house was a tad thin for my tastes, but I like chewing on mine, so I'm a bit out of the ordinary. Great flavor and not at all stale. The white & black cookie was excellent. The cookie itself was a thin cake that reserved the sweetness for the frosting. Just as these should be, very satisfying without making your teeth ache.

Musicians were setting up as we were leaving. Wish we could have stayed and relaxed, but we had a storm between us and our destination. The coffee and cookie helped.

And I forgot to mention that they display and sell local artists' work. Extra bonus.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea

6/17/2009

2/5 stars

Well, the staff was very friendly and apologetic.

Apologetic? You see, we called on the way down to see if their network connection was functional. My wife had stayed here recently, and it wasn't. The response: "Yes, of course!" The reality? When we arrived, there was a large sign saying the network was down. First (and continuing) apology. The Panera bread store attached to the parking lot definitely saw some extra business.

Then we were assigned a room. The room hadn't been cleaned. At all. Second apology. The next room was fine.

We were only there for two nights, so we ran out of opportunities to collect apologies pretty quickly.

The bare minimums and breakfast are functional, hence the two stars.

Yelp tags: Hotels

4/17/2010

5/5 stars

Her cupcakes keep getting better and better. She manages the sweetness, texture, and flavor masterfully. And somehow she is incredibly consistent. I've never had a just-good cupcake; they all have been fantastic.

I still drool over the memories of the lemon cupcakes. The s'mores are fantastic. Wedding cake… ooohhhh…

Just try to come here or her place at the farmer's market *early*. She sells out almost every day.

6/19/2009

0/5 stars

Oh no, cupcakes.

In the same building as my local coffee shop. "Danger, Will Robinson!"

And unfortunately the cupcakes are *good*. There are the typical ones (red velvet!), then some funkier ones. I'm eating a lemon cake now, and it's clever. Rather than frosting, there's a lemon curd-filled indentation. And there's a sugar cookie (I think) crust on the very bottom. Just right amount of lemon and sweetness.

Yelp tags: Desserts

6/30/2009

3/5 stars

For a fast food stop while stocking a new apartment, this isn't bad at all. A little pricey for the produce quality, but it's still much better for you than the typical "augh, gotta stop and grab a bite" place. And free wi-fi, which is handy for checking prices…

Yelp tags: Fast Food Sandwiches

9/12/2009

5/5 stars

Ok, now that I've been living here a bit longer… They are *not* pricey. They're actually pretty cheap for the quality of sandwiches. The coffee is, of course, great. The people are even better.

Be prepared for a long line around lunch, but they handle the line very efficiently. You can pick up a menu by the register for an even bigger head start.

If you're on campus around the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) building, get your coffee fix or tasty vittles here.

7/1/2009

0/5 stars

Good coffee on campus and good sandwiches as well. Pricey, but the quality is that much more than others. And they are just far enough away to count as a little mind-clearing walk from my office.

Yelp tags: Coffee & Tea Sandwiches