**** (4 stars)
Traditional Brazilian food, done well, in a nice place with table service and a full bar.
The emphasis is on meats of all kinds, and the VERY extensive menu does a good job of picturing everything. The prices seem high at first, but even the half portion is more than enough for two people. There is also a lunch menu.
Hard surfaces, so it can get noisy.
Boteco do Manolo
7653 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
***** (5 stars)
Great spot for Thai food! We loved everything we had, and the decor is great, with the interior imported from an old school house in Thailand.
The Panang Curry is the best I have had anywhere, with incredibly complex flavors and just the right spiciness (at level 3 of 5). We had it with shrimp, but it would be great vegetarian or with chicken, too.
Black Pepper Fried Rice was also excellent. It came with its own protein on the side (chicken in our case) but it also made a great base for the panang curry.
The Yum Neau grilled flat iron steak was a great Thai salad, with all the vegetables served in a tasting style so you could make your own combination. Perfect char on the tender steak.
Excellent service and great authentic ambiance. Highly recommended.
Sisi Kay Thai Eatery & Bar
1612 N 45th St
Seattle, WA 98103
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sisi-kay-thai-eatery-and-bar-seattle-5
***** (5 stars)
Wow! What an experience! Not inexpensive, but worth every cent. Two hours of astonishing cocktail mixology, and an amazing view as you sit on a glass floor and revolve your way around Seattle for two hours. Includes VIP access to the Space Needle and valet parking right in front.
Three of us visited, so we were able to try all three experiences, from a beautiful Rose Champagne (poured endlessly), a sublime whiskey tasting, and the best cocktail mixology we've ever experienced (and with us coming from Chicago, a real cocktail town, that's saying something).
Often the use of liquid nitrogen is more for show than purpose, but here it was put to wonderful use, creating ice cold cocktails, rich slushies, and, yes, a spectacular show.
The food was also very good, with top notch ingredients including Wagu beef, truffles, caviar, and raw oysters.
Despite all of that wow factor, it was the service that made it particularly special. Our servers were incredibly friendly, talented, gracious, and informative, and we truly felt welcome to this special experience. I could happily go here very day of our stay in Seattle. Truly memorable for even this jaded foodie!
The Loupe Lounge
400 Broad St
Seattle, WA 98109
*** (3 stars)
I guess I was hoping for more pop culture. There are the remnants of the music museum, and a good LGBT exhibit, and a small SciFi area, but little else.
For more pop culture visit Branson's World's Largest Toy Museum.
Museum of Pop Culture
325 5th Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
***** (5 stars)
Excellent pork Bánh mì sandwich! Note that only walk up window service is currently offered.
Artisan Cafe
2523 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
**** (4 stars)
This is a review of the food truck, which was parked near Pike Place Market at at 4th and Pine. Very good pork and chicken pastor tacos, served with lime and your choice of mild or spicy sauce. Three to an order, and one tortilla per taco, so more fork food that hand held.
Solamente Al Pastor
4435 A St SE
Auburn, WA 98002
**** (4 stars)
Really nice decor with a traditional Izakaya flair that reminds me of places in Tokyo. The happy hour deals are amazing.
Highlights were all of the sashimi, especially the hamachi; the yakisoba, which was perfectly sauteed and extremely flavorful; and the kalbi.
The gyoza was delightfully lightly fried and not greasy, which cannot be said for the tempura, which I wouldn't order again.
Wonderful service, and a great atmosphere.
Wann Japanese Izakaya
2020 2nd Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
***** (5 stars)
Nice crusty biscuits that stay together while you eat your breakfast sandwich. We upgraded ours to the MacGregor, which includes bacon, cheese, and onions. Honestly, just the biscuit alone would have been more than enough. Good coffee, too.
Honest Biscuits
1901 Western Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
**** (4 stars)
Good basic diner food. Not much on offer for lunch, but a good choice for breakfast. My well done breakfast potatoes were wonderfully crispy!
At The Diner
5072 Doctor Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
***** (5 stars)
This is a lovely spot for wine tasting, on an outdoor patio overlooking the surrounding valley. An excellent range of pinot noirs, and wonderful hospitality.
Archery Summit
18599 NE Archery Summit Rd
Dayton, OR 97114