Ok, People: Where's it at?

I'm in Bellevue for training all week (maybe longer with the weather looking grim), and I want to take full advantage of the culinary cornucopia that is the Seattle metro area.

I know a few dives from a couple years of commuting up here for work, but not enough to fill the whole week. Where would you send your mothers for a memorable meal?

I'll try just about anything that doesn't consist primarily of guts (I'll save that for when the economy gets REALLY bad). If you want to introduce me to a favorite in person, send a PM (company's a good thing).

Thanks!

I am hardly a gourmet. In fact my favorite food is anything served buffet style . That being said, on Wednesday 3 Pigs BBQ has an all you can eat beef ribs starting in the late afternoon. You will not find better BBQ anywhere in Seattle. Its around $20 and worth every penny. I prefer to get the sauce on the side. That way I get far less on me. You get all the sides you want as well. I like the Texas Toast, corn and beans. Yumm.

Definitely no expert as most of my favorite meals have happened around a camp fire, but here are a few I remember liking.

Pike Place Market. Potstickers from the little hole in the wall place at PPM. Lots of good walk-around-and eat things like pear Torts from Le Panier french bakery, Ciopinno from City Fish Seafood.

McCormick and Schmicks downtown Seattle.

I love Sushi, Bellevue and Seattle

Are you looking for Dives? or are you looking for something unusual but mebby a little more $$$? These are the LATTER:

Southern--Kingfish Cafe (Capital Hill)
Chinese -- Din Tai Fung (Shockingly in the Bellevue/Lincoln Center Mall)
Tiawanese -- Facing East (in a crappy strip mall, but amazing)
Sorta-Creole -- Toulouse Petit (Queen Anne, probably my favorite Seattle restaurant)
Itialian -- Cafe Lago (University District/Montlake)

After visiting one of Gutz's buffeterias, you might be ready for some lighter fare. Vietnamese noodle soup, Pho (fuh), can cure the common cold and stop a pandemic at the border. Than Bros and Pho Cyclo have a number of restaurants in the Seattle area. Prices are reasonable and portions are generous. Chicken noodle soup, pho ga, loaded with basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos, and lime tastes great ... and its less filling, too.

Thanks, Dudes! I'll be checking into at least a couple of these. IR asked an important question. I am interested in knowing about nice spots, but it seems a shame to sit at a nice place by my lonesome, so I'm likely to go that route only once or twice. Of course, nice places with nice bars, where a loner feels less out of place, are another matter!

Dives are probably my sweet spot on this trip. All you can eat ribs sounds pretty good, so if the weather allows, I may see you there, GutZ. I'll just look for the guy doing the BBQ ribs Tebow at the back.

Also, as much as I love pub grub, I'm especially interested in international flavors. For some reason, I don't get a lot of that in Elma. Olympia has a couple of gems, but for the most part, the area between Tacoma and Portland is a culinary wasteland.

IR: You mentioned McCormick and Schmick's; is the Seattle location a clear cut above the Bellevue location? If not, I'll hit Bellevue. Some fish that has not been fried is sounding really good.

All depends on your budget. Right there in Bellevue you have Daniels Broiler, El Gaucho and I've heard good things about the Pearl. Also heard good things about Din Tai Fung. Seattle has The Metropolitan grill or grab some Jambalaya at New Orleans in Pioneer square and then there's China Town. The Wild Ginger is super popular.

If you're a serious carnivore, check this place out. Brazilian steak house with 17 different meats roasted on spits, all you can eat. F'n awesome.

Ethnic fare. eh? How about bangers & mash with a Boddington's. If you're lucky, the telly will have some rugby on.
http://www.georgeanddragonpub.com/index.php

In Bellevue, you must go to Chantanee, sister restaurant to the best Thai restaurant on the face of this Earth, Pen Thai!

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=chantanee

Get the Crispy Garlic Chicken, Phad Thai, Sizzling beef...or they'll do your favorite Thai dish really well.

Ask for the happy...well, no dont.

Did an expansion project at the Coke Bellevue plant a few years ago.
Not "Best Grub" but for a beer or two after work we would stop by The Goose.
Bar food, sports theme....where everybody knows your name.
http://www.goosepub.com/eat.htm

Thanks again, everyone. I tried to hit a couple suggested spots today, but both were closed due to the weather. As I write this, I'm sitting at Wild Ginger, sipping a Manhattan and trying to warm up. The bartender just delivered some delicious-looking potstickers and a seven-flavor beef rice bowl that smells none too bad. Hopefully, some of the recommended joints will be open tomorrow and Friday....