More reviews

by Emma, the Girl Who is Done With Her Thesis.

Piatti's - UVillage
Because Piatti's in in UVillage, clean-cut, and somewhat devoid of any real neighborhood-pasta-place-type personality - despite the cozy decor - you might think the pricey Italian food it serves isn't worth the trouble. If the "cozy and classic" do-it-yourselfers over at Apartment Therapy ever designed an upscale Italian restaurant, I imagine it would look something like Piatti. Although I was there several weeks ago with my parents and don’t remember the exact color scheme, I do remember that it while the ceiling soared and the space was large, it felt warm, with enormous buckets of flowers reaching toward the ceiling. Although the gnocchi on the menu came with meat, I wanted gnocchi, so I asked for some with the tomato-cream sauce. They were light and compulsively eatable, as gnocchi should be. The mixed salad was also excellent, and the bread was just ok - but as I'd recently had braces put in, it was soft, and I was grateful for that. Our waiter was a mite too chatty and mixed a couple things up, but that's a miserly complaint. Recommended.

Noah's Bagels - QFC, UVillage

Noah's offers a selection of paninis, but I always feel that ordering one would be a waste at one of the few good bagel places in Seattle. I am not a bagel conossieur, nor can I spell connosiuer, but Noah's are flavorful, chewy on the inside, and not too big. If nothing else, they're much better than your average supermarket "bagel." So instead of being adventurous and trying the more expensive paninis ($6-$8), I stick with a toasted bagel, cream cheese, tomato and red onion. There are many varieties of bagels and schmears to choose from. All the bagels are delicious, especially the somewhat non traditional cracked-peppercorn and potato. I found the sundried tomato schmear too sweet, and prefer the more classic oniony and garlicky options. Also, Noah's Bagels is pareve and glatt kosher, which means I can take my grandmother there.

Barnes and Noble Cafe - UVillage

I have mixed feelings about this place. I wrote much of my thesis here, amidst other studying students. But my dad gave me a gift card, which he'd gotten from someone else, so I ate much of my food and drink for free. The drinks are standard Starbucks fare - in fact, the cafe serves Starbucks coffee and frappuccinos. The food is definitely mediocre. The asiago pretzel is yummy; the spinach-and-feta-stuffed pretzel is a failed experiment; and the expensive sandwiches are small and nothing to write home about.

Pallino's Pastaria - UVillage
The two entrees I've had here have been disappointing. I had a sandwich that was limp and lacking in flavor and made a mockery of what the Italian sandwich is supposed to taste like. I also had mac-and-cheese, which was just fine, I suppose, although nowhere near as good as Beecher's fabulous mac-and-cheese (available at Pasta + Co stores and at Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Pike Place Market).

Michou - Pike Place Market
Really delicious Italian salads, sandwiches and other antipasto-type dishes, so many that nearly everyone who orders stares in front of the glass case for several minutes, annoying the servers as they contemplate their options. No space for eating in.

Le Painier - Pike Place Market
This "very French bakery" is a good choice for baguettes, brioches, amazing almondines (almond croissants) and other French-type breads. They also do some of Seattle's best coffee, the store smells good and there's a nice, crowded feel.