Seattle's Best Budget Date Spot 2008

Ten varieties of tacos, inventive side dishes and Portage Bay views compensate for the frenzied atmosphere of this wildly popular cafe.

Reviews:

• “Lunch!”
• “Great casual waterfront spot with fabulous food and service”
• “Excellent seafood enchiladas”
• “Great menu and food”
• “Not nearly as good as it used to be”

Tips: Rent kayaks on the lower floor Monday-Saturday, 10am to dusk; Sunday, 10am-6pm.

Agua Verde

New York-style pizza with urban ambience and punk-rock attitude.

Reviews:

• “BEST PIZZA, Fast Service”
• “Our Favorite!”
• “This pizza is great”
• “Horrible, cold pizza”
• “Great Pizza, Crappy Delivery”

Tips: Stop in for an early bite and go catch a show next door at Chop Suey—one of the cities most popular live music venues.

Piecora’s Pizzeria
email Piecora’s Pizzeria

Quirky decor and games make one of Eastlake’s oldest establishments an enduring favorite.

Reviews:

• “No Free Pool Any More!!!”
• “Beer joint – that’s it”
• “First time there, felt right at home…”

Tips: Go elsewhere for food: this is a potato chips and peanut sort of place.

Eastlake Zoo Tavern

Loud but comfortable Georgetown spot serving enormous pizzas and retro-cool eye-candy.

Reviews:

• “Great pizza and calzones, service is ok”
• “The 1 1/2 pizza/hr joint”
• “You couldn’t ask for worse service”
• “Desserts! Chocolate, Tiramisu, Spumoni”
• “Perfect name”

Tips: The restaurant stays family friendly until 9pm, at which time the place usually starts attracting an older, beer-guzzling crowd.

Stellar Pizza , Ale & Cocktails
email Stellar Pizza , Ale & Cocktails

The city’s haven for representational landscape and portrait work.

Reviews:

• “Frye, Oh Frye-What a wonderful place”
• “Very strange exhibit”
• “A Hidden Tresure”
• “Grand Legacy”
• “Great Art, and it’s FREE!”

Tips: Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are the least crowded.

Frye Art Museum

Forget Willy Wonka—delicious smells emanate from this organic, free-trade chocolate factory in the heart of Fremont.

Reviews:

• “Amazing chocolate experience!”

Tips: Got a group? Give the factory a call to book a custom private tour.

Theo Chocolate

Pho and cream puffs reign supreme at this affordable Aurora Vietnamese chain.

Reviews:

• “Hard not to love this place!”
• “Creams Puffs Are a Plus”
• “One of the Best Pho in town”
• “Average Pho”
• “Red Lights = Don’t go”

Tips: Be wary of the size names: small is more than enough for a good-sized meal, while extra-large could feed a small army.

Than Brothers Restaurant

Old-school vid’s, hot dogs and beer.

Reviews:

• “Something to DO!”
• “Pink Icee’s”
• “Charming Dive”
• “Great place for a first date”
• “great place to meet locals”

Tips: Bad opening act at the Crocodile? The neighboring Shorty’s is the perfect spot to waste a few minutes on video games and pinball.

Shorty’s Coney Island

Seattle’s coolest bargain theater never disappoints.

Reviews:

• “Crest is the best (except)”
• “The Best”
• “I’m a CRESTIE!”
• “Crest = great, Alderwood 12 = heavenly”
• “Good, but not off the hinges”

Tips: Popular films usually draw a crowd their first weekend at the theater; come early or be prepared to wait in line.

Crest Cinema Center

This nugget-sized museum gives visitors a peak at Seattle’s golden history.

Tips: If your interest is piqued and the on-site bookstore doesn’t have what you need, Elliott Bay Books down the street will.

Klondike Gold Rush National Park

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