The Picaroon, a fine Renton blog, recently had a post about how important it is to support your favorite local restaurant. Recently, a number of Renton restaurants have disappeared. Touchdowns, Fin and Bone, Calico Chesecakes/Cafe Lure/Tapestry Saloon, and most recently Billy McHale's..You'd think there was a recession going on or something.
Some restaurants I may like a lot but don't really feel they could benefit from my cheerleading. For example, there's a fairly recently opened pizza place in Seattle at 50th and Genessee called Flying Squirrel. The food is awesome, but every time I've been there the place has been full, with people waiting in line. This place doesn't need my cheerleading, in fact it would be counterproductive to me personally to see the lines to get in get any longer. So stick to Domino's, folks.
In the Picaroon post, Miss P recommended people go to to A Terrible Beauty Irish pub on 2nd in downtown Renton, and indeed the food there is great and it's a fun place to go, but unlike the pizza place in Seattle, it's not always crowded. The people who own the place are nice and the place deserves business.
Along the same lines, Lakeside Bistro on Rainier Avenue, at the north end of the Renton airport, is another place with amazingly good food and it too is not always crowded. They've got a happy hour 3-6 PM seven days a week, live jazz on Tuesday evenings,a lunch menu, calamari spring rolls ( how cool is that?)and fresh seafood that doesn't get any fresher. The basil clams are absolutely awesome,and they cater to vegetarians.
Some places I'll go to and like. I'll go to Chang's Mongolian Grill and have a good meal, but feel no urge to root for the place.
But A Terrible Beauty and the Lakeside Bistro are two businesses that deserve to stay in business for a long, long time.
33 comments:
Freddy, is Vino gone too? Seems that they closed down for remodel and never reopened, unless they changed locations.
Allright, here's my top choices:
- DON'T stick to Domino's. Go to The Pizza Man. Everything's declicious, specially the thin crust pizza (try it AT the place at least once, and you'll see the cruncy difference!). The people are super nice too, and take great care in what they do. They also deliver for free! (www.pizzamansupreme.com)
- For italian, I've had few meals better than in Ciro's Bella Napoli, in downtown Renton, right next to the theater. (http://www.ciros-bellanapoli.com/)
- Sinbad's makes a great gyro. This one has been previously reviewed here. The owner is supoer friendly also.
- Sandy's Taqueria is another favorite of mine, also reviewed here before.
- Tony's Teriyaki and Pho, that little blue hole-in-the-wall, on 2nd and Logan Ave. Really tasty Teriyaki for real cheap. Friendly, fast service too. The Pho is a tad different than most, and very good! (haven't had anything else)
- Naan-N-Curry in downtown Renton probably needs no introduction. I dunno if it's lacking any customers, but I can't risk it ever going away!
- I'm gonna go ahead and throw in A Terrible Beauty again. Even though you guys mentioned, just because it's so awesome.
Sigh.. I could keep going all night...
mikeflynn,
Yeah, Vino is long gone. I always preferred Gene's in that location, another ridiculously great restaurant that I miss.
Yes, 'Gene's' is not there anymore, but thank God Gene is extremely talented in reinventing himself - Red House, Blossom, etc. Personally, I thought the 'help' in Vino were 'full' of themselves, if you know what I mean.
Can anyone give a comparison between 'Flying Squirrel' and Stellars' in Georgetown - pizza wise that is?
Barbara,
Stellar Pizza is very good, but it's hard to really call it any particular style. Flying Squirrel I'd have to call upscale east coast. The crust is kind of puffy at the edges and slightly charred at the bottom, but of the consistency that you can pick up and fold a slice, which is the "proper" way to eat an east coast pizza slice. They seem to use a little more sauce than cheese, so it's kind of messy. They use Salumi meats as toppings, and other local artisan purveyors, including molly Maid ice cream.
Currently it's my favorite Seattle area pizza place.
Thanks Freakazoid, being of Italian descent from the East coast myself, I really appreciate a good pizza, although it's hard to find the kind my Grandfather made in our Italian bakery we had in R.I.
I hear what you're saying, Barbara.
I'm a New Jersey boy myself, and a self admitted east coast pizza snob. I could eat good pizza every day and never grow tired of it, but fortunately for my waistline there's not a lot of good pizza around here.
There are way too may pretentious "gourmet" pizza places featuring things like wild harvested free range pigeon entrails and braised frisee greens atop an organic nine grain crust. Feh.
I think that Fin N Bone is an especially big loss for downtown Renton. I wonder if the Landing has taken away some business from the downtown places. Someone mentioned Sinbad's - is that still open? Looked kinda shuttered the last time I drove by.
I've been out of the area for awhile, and here I read that Billy McHale's in Renton is closed? Gues I'll have to make my own bacon-wrapped prawns....
Talked to my bro today and he says rumour has it that Armondo's may be heading toward a close-down? I do love their wood-fired pizzas and hope they're still aroud when I'm back in the area in the summer of 2010.
Everyone should try Flying Pie Pizzeria in the Highlands area of Renton. It is very good. http://www.flyingpiepizzeria.com/
I was surprised to read nothing about the Melrose Grill. This place is amazing! The food easily rivals, if not surpasses, that of the far more expensive steak joints in Seattle(The Met, Jak's, El Goucho, etc.). Everything is made from scratch, the staff is wonderful and non-pretentious, and their wine list is incredible! Seriously people, if you haven't been there, go. I've heard you may even catch a Seahawk or two dining there from time to time ...
I never heard anything good about Fin and Bone. My husband went there for lunch, and the kitchen was very slow--over an hour for lunch. Working people can't do that. We have always thought Armando's is highly over-rated--very ordinary food. Got a pizza there once, and the crust was raw in the middle. Had a terrible meal at Bella Napoli. Where is Sinbad's? Angleo's pizza on Cemetary is the best--thin crust I like. In the Landing, my favorite is Vino--very cute and European. Nice wines, excellent food. Omar Kayam is also excellent middle eastern. The baklavah is the BEST. He makes it himself using pistacios and sugar (more athentic Lebanese), and it is not too sweet.
Sorry to hear that Seattleguy. Never had a bad pizza at Armondo's myself.
On a 'lunch' note, if you're in Renton and want a sub sandwich, well forget about Subway, forget about Quizno's. Go to Sub Shop #8 on Logan Road at the intersection with Airport Way. Don't let any experience at another Sub Shop franchise taint this one. They're a bit difficult to get out of unless you're heading north on Logan, and they are a bit more expensive, but they are well worth it! They've been there for nearly 30 years, and in all that time I've never had a bad sandwich. Usually I get a 'Full Boat' or a 'Big Bob', take it to the folks, and cut it into 2 inch pieces to share.
Lovemesomesteak,
The Melrose wasn't mentioned in this post, but I'd previously reviewed it and declared it the best restaurant in Renton. But to me there's a difference between a great restaurant and a restaurant you just want to root for. The Melrose is absolutely awesome, fabulous food!, but a place you just want to root for is more like a place that's good and undiscovered, a place that doesn't get anywhere near the kind of business they deserve, and the last I checked, the Melrose was doing well, and deservedly so.
Seattleguy,
You and I think alike. I just didn't get Fin and Bone. The food was okay, there wasn't enough of it, and it was too expensive, and Angelo's is really, really good pizza.
I know I'm being a pest, but have to give a cheer for the Liberty Cafe on 3rd near Main for some good coffee!
Liberty Cafe is great. The coffee's good, the art on the walls is always interesting, it's a comfortable hang out space, and the owner's a fun guy to chat with.
Liberty Cafe I'm rooting for.
So has anyone stopped into Go Deli on Williams street yet? Sounds good.
I'm a Renton native and I've eaten and worked at almost all the restaurants in downtown Renton.
Fin N Bone: the people were nice including the owners but it's just way too expensive. it's just unsustainable. The rent's probably out of control because the building is huge.
Melrose: I'm friends with most of the people who work here and I love the food, definitely keep supporting the place.
Bella Napoli: I worked here for about a month. I love the food, it's probably the best Italian in Renton. Lunch is usually pretty dead but it's a lot cheaper to eat here during lunch, so definitely think about that.
Liberty Cafe: my favorite hang-out. Mike's a genius!
Armondo's: I love the seafood fettuccine ($10 at lunch). I'd feel bad if they closed. Armondo is a co-owner of Melrose and he owns a lot of real commercial real estate all over downtown Renton so I'm not too worried about him.
Whistle Stop: worked here for almost a year, awesome happy hour.
Vino: great selection of wines but I've never had their food.
Lakeside Bistro: I took my family here for lunch. I loved the food and the decor is very romantic. I think it would be a great date spot.
Terrible Beauty: I used to work with the two owners at the Whistle Stop. I've never had their food but service was great when I went there for a beer. The owners are very talented people, check them out.
Cafe Lure: Joe was my boss for a while. I was heartbroken when his restaurant closed. Although I agree with one of the Yelp comments, it seems like the place is always closed and I feel like he didn't really "market" his restaurant. I didn't even know his restaurant was open until I walked in a few months after they opened for business and I'm pretty up to speed with the goings on in Renton. Joe's a very talented guy, he'll come back roaring.
I work at one of the restaurants at the Landing now but I still support the mom n' pop stores
Lets root for Daphnes, its finally here. And pretty good. At the landing.
Also, Opa Beppo is a nice place, near Coulon park, open late, to get a bite to eat.
Oh my - what a great dialogue - and such a healthy love of local food. Go Deli,is a great new sandwich place and I love hearing a shout out for my man Mike at Liberty Cafe.
Haven't been to the Lakeside Bistro, Freddy, but thanks for putting it on my radar.
Mostly, thanks for the shout out to the cause of eating locally-
I was sick for about a month and am just getting back a bit of my "groove". I will continue to try to support or local eatery peeps.
We just went to Chapinlandia, the newish Guatemalan restaurant on 2nd in downtown the other week. It was fabulous and very affordable. Please do go and visit them. It is a family run joint and I'd hate to see them go away. Delicious food and quite different from the ubiqutous Mexican food.
Go Deli is awesome - they're not quite as cheap as the Vietnamese deli near Viet Wah - but their bread is amazingly fresh and quite different and they use pate in leu of that clarified butter stuff. They hide the traditional Vietnamese sandwiches - but if you know the name, just ask.
I'm going back to try their "western" sandwiches.
....
I rooting for that tasty chinese place near Harbor Freight tools.
Any idea what happened to Sub Shop#8? Drove by the other day (12/31) and it looked like a car went through the front of the building. I noticed on their website they say closed for construction, and will reopen in April. This Sub Shop has been there over 25+ years! I used to go there in high school and when I worked for the city during the summer! I think it's the same owners as well.
We love the Whistle Stop. It is great for families, they have games for the kiddos. Great sandwiches and great beer selection.
What? The Sub Shop got driven into AGAIN? I do hope they open in April.... and put some big rocks in the way.
I am currently looking to reopen Touchdowns...I would love to have input for what people desire. Us? We love good food and lots of it! A great place for watching the game a cold beer and off the hook menu options. Thanks for your time, I am going to continue to watch your blog for more reviews! Not only helpful for business but for personal reasons....
From what I read on the West Hill gogglegroup, it look like this is the last month for Skyway's Gabby-Q.
If you want some of tthe great BBQ, best get there in the next couple weeks. You may want to cal ahead... (206) 772-6110
Oh yeah.. it looks like Sub Shop #8 is being rebuilt again and should be open sometime in April.
Gabby's has the best ribs, maybe in the whole Seattle area, and awesome brisket too. I'll miss them.
PABLA! What a treat to have wonderful vegetarian options like this right here! I work in Seattle and drive past all the 'big name' Indian places- and come home to Pabla. I know most of their business is take out and the restaurant lacks atmosphere but I pray it never leaves us. Brilliant food and really nice people.
If you are talking about "Vino" at The Landing, yes, it's still open and swinging hard. Seems it's a draw with the wine crowd.
I don't think The Landing is taking away business from Mom and Pop restaurants in Renton. There's just not that many eating places at the Landing to do that yet. There's Red Robin, of course and The Rock Pizza which is OK and a few smaller places but I think what especially downtown Renton is lacking is marketing, advertising and a bit of curbside appeal wouldn't hurt either. Cafe Lure was a victim of this although like another writer said, it never even looked open.
I'm a couple years new to Renton and my overall feeling with limited information of course, is that Renton feels very "broken up".
I basically stay out of the highlands and am probably missing some good eating places and other than Angelo's, Vincents and the Gourmet Wok I'm not sure where to go.
Other than Geraldines Counter on Rainier and a one time disappointing (read,flavorless)visit to Changs Mongolian I'm not familiar with anything else in that area either.
I've eaten at a few places downtown Renton like Cedar River Barb-Bque and mainly do take out with them. Love me a nice cup-cake at Common Grounds too.
Thanks for the Terrible Beauty suggestion, I've gone past it and wondered but from the outside I wasn't sure if it was mainly a bar and was put off with some of the characters hanging around the area.
Thanks for the suggestion of Stellar Pizza, I'm also from the East coast, Italian and am a food snob and since living around the West coast tend to yawn at "gourmet pizza" and so -called authentic Italian and again mostly disappointed. I'm hard to please I suppose and often we just go to what we know as long as it isn't pretending to be something it's not.
My main interests are Thai, Lebanese and Italian - so if you come across the good stuff, let me know!
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