Seattle's Best Family-Friendly Dining 2008

Emphasizing seasonal produce, this cafe offers updated American classics to West Seattle.

Reviews:

• “Bad service, bad attitude”
• “I don’t get the hype”
• “One of the best in the West (of Seattle)”
• “What a rueben!!!”
• “Shamelessly Bad Pastrami”

Tips: Bakery tempts with homemade ice cream sandwiches, cookies and pastries.

Eats Market Cafe or email Eats Market Cafe

Kid-friendly Columbia City diner offers home-style comfort food all day and a comfortable, retro environment.

Reviews:

• “Ok place if you are in Columbia City, not a place to go out of your way for.”
• “Best for breakfast”
• “Great Breakfast”
• “What a great place!”
• “Comfort Food & THE BEST Sweet Potatoe Fries!”

Tips: Want mac and cheese for breakfast or French toast for lunch? The complete menu is served until 3pm—after that it’s dinnertime.

Geraldine’s Counter

Kitschy Italian restaurant churns out heaping plates of pasta that won’t break the bank.

Reviews:

• “Why would you ever want to eat here!?”
• “An enjoyable experience………….in spite of what I read here.”
• “Mediocre to Poor”
• “GREAT food but… SAW A MICCE HERE!”
• “Bring the kids.”

Tips: The kids’ menu includes smaller-portioned versions of spaghetti dishes, as well as macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese.

The Old Spaghetti Factory or email The Old Spaghetti Factory

Carnivores of the Northwest line up at this burger joint for family-run flame-broiled goodness.

Reviews:

• “Great garden burgers!”
• “Good burgers but they randomly close early.”
• “My conclusion: overrated”
• “Pretty Girls with poor attitudes make burgers….”
• “Great burgers for masochists”

Tips: Make sure to turn the ringer off or the staff will loudly enforce the “no cell phones” rule.

Red Mill Burgers—Phinney Ridge

More than thirty varieties of the signature dessert make up only a part of this chain restaurant’s gigantic international menu.

Reviews:

• “Great food and service and excellent cheesecake!”
• “Long waits, mediocre service, in a less prominent location the place would go under, here they have lines…”
• “Delicious Lemoncello Cake”
• “No Kid Menus!”
• “They don’t serve just cheesecake!”

The Cheesecake Factory

Sport memorabilia, a collection of high-def TVs and quality food combine at this family-friendly sports restaurant near Seattle Center.

Reviews:

• “Best Burgers.”
• “Fun sports bar”
• “Best value in Seattle”
• “best sports bar in seattle”
• “Great Service, Great Food make for a Great Time”

Tips: The TVs in each booth all carry full cable—change the channel using top buttons.

SPORT Restaurant and Bar

Pizza connoisseurs from Columbia City and beyond flock here for authentic Neapolitan-style pie in a comfy modern setting.

Reviews:

• “Bad service and bad food”
• “My favorite place to eat”
• “Some of the best pizza around!”
• “Winner of Most Overrated Pizza in Seattle!!”
• “I’m telling all my friends – DON’T GO THERE!!”

Tips: Street parking is usually available, but just in case, the Columbia City parking lot one block north on South Ferdinand is only $1.

Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria

West Seattle microbrewer with broad-age appeal and standard pub fare.

Reviews:

• “Best Burger in a Long Time!”
• “Great Food, Great Beer… what more can you want?”
• “Consistently great food and service”
• “Philly Cheap steak & crapcake sandwich”
• “Great service and food – fun for groups and visitors to West Seattle”

Tips: Live music, usually light folk or jazz, is offered most Saturday nights.

Elliott Bay Brewery & Pub

Escape the mall’s brand-name bustle with locally-owned comfort food.

Reviews:

• “Take your chances "
• “Worst Breakfast in Seattle!”
• “Wonderful pulled pork sandwich! "
• “Worst fries in Seattle”
• “Worst burger I’ve had in a long time”

Tips: The stroller-parking area and fully loaded toy box keep kids happy, while the comfy bar area is a welcome adults-only zone.

Atlas Foods

Serving lazy breakfasts to throngs of Ballard neighbors.

Reviews:

• “The Dish in Freemont Vrs Marcias in Tacoma”
• “What a hidden treasure with an upscale twist”
• “Absolutely the best down home breakfast in town”
• “mapagr is a self-pitying fool”
• “Mediocre food with horrible service”

Tips: The biscuits and gravy is a stick-to-the-ribs specialty, but sometimes runs out by mid-morning. Get there early to avoid disappointment.

Dish

Greasy comfort food and Midwest brews are the staples of this Ballard-meets-Minnesota kitchen.

Reviews:

• “It is all in what you like”
• “Unique Yummy Pizzas”
• “best thin crust midwest pizza in town!!”
• “Family Friendly?”
• “Cheese curds! What else is there?”

Tips: Daily specials include $3 drafts, $5 half carafes of wine, $1.50 Hamm’s cans, and a $3 food menu with tater tots and gravy boats.

Zayda Buddy’s Pizza or email Zayda Buddy’s Pizza

Healthy, fresh and expertly prepared Mexican standbys keep customers coming back to this Greenwood joint.

Reviews:

• “Amazing Burritos”
• “Healty but not tasty at all”
• “mexican food”
• “Amazing Mexican Food! Nothing better when you’re in the mood for high-quality!”
• “Get the fish or carne asada!”

Tips: Burritos are roughly the size of a Duraflame log, so share or plan on having lots of tasty leftovers.

Gordito’s Healthy Mexican Food

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

Family-friendly Mexican restaurant near Greenlake offers traditional favorites like burritos and enchiladas in a casual atmosphere.

Reviews:

• “Delicious, authentic food”
• “BEST Mexican food around”
• “donde esta el sabor?”
• “Delicious”
• “Solid Mexican food with no suprises”

Tips: Warm tortillas from the tortilla bar are free, come slathered in butter and are a perfect snack for hungry kids waiting for entrees.

Rosita’s Mexican Grill

This legendary drive-in is a 20-minute drive from downtown Seattle, but well-worth the time for true burger fans.

Reviews:

• “yum yum yum yum yum”
• “BEST BURGERS IN TOWN!!!”
• “Not impressed with Triple X Rootbeer”
• “Nice try, but no cigar”
• “Nice atmosphere for car buffs, humdrum hamburgers”

Tips: Saturday nights attract muscle-car fetishists who proudly park their vehicles where everyone can admire them.

XXX Rootbeer or email XXX Rootbeer

Ballard’s pizza hangout serves up a classic thin-crust slice with toppings from local vendors.

Reviews:

• “Friendly Pizza – Good Food”
• “Holy Kids Batman!”
• “Good Pizza, Kid Friendly, Reasonable Prices, and some Growing Pains”
• “Sloppy, old-looking slices and an insulting sausage sub”
• “Great Potential, Inconsistent Execution”

Tips: The laid-back atmosphere is perfect for families with kids, and one corner keeps teens confined with pinball machines and independent band posters.

Snoose Junction

A Seattle waterfront staple, especially when there’s celebrating to be done.

Reviews:

• “Great ambience”
• “Can’t beat the view”
• “Best Restaurant in Seattle!!!”
• “Wasn’t the Soundgarden frontman once a sous chef at ray’s?”
• “WE NEED EXECUTIVE CHEF CHARLES BACK!!!!!!!!”

Tips: A long wine list, strong on West Coast labels, offers many moderately priced selections.

Ray’s Boathouse Restaurant, Cafe & Catering or email Ray’s Boathouse Restaurant, Cafe & Catering

A family-friendly neighborhood cafe that offers both classic and progressive Greek fare in a communal setting.

Reviews:

• “Fantastic food”
• “best play area!”
• “Delicious Greek in a comfortable setting”
• “Pricey but kid-friendly indeed!”
• “Over-priced greek food with kids running everywhere!!!”

Tips: If the tart Greek wines don’t suit your palate, ask to see the domestic wine rack and select from a reasonably-priced selection of North American wines ($10 corkage fee applies).

Vios Cafe & Market Place

A mom-and-pop pizza place that’s generous with the toppings.

Reviews:

• “Delivery”
• “Romeo, quit reviewing yourself and start making a better pizza!”
• “Don’t waste your time and money”
• “If you want cold pizza. Surly and inattentive service and a generally bad time. This is your place. "
• “The best fettuccini I have ever tasted”

Tips: Feel like Greek tonight? Try their greek calzone—served alongside the traditional tzatziki.

Romio’s Pizza & Pasta-Eastlake

Popular U-District cafe lures the brunch crowd with seasonal ingredients and inventive combinations.

Reviews:

• “Another dissappointing Seattle trend”
• “Over-Hyped”
• “are you kidding me??”
• “SLU location – changes need to happen”
• “Great Breakfast Spot”

Tips: The portions are mammoth—share and pay the minimal split-plate charge or be prepared to take a doggy bag.

Portage Bay Cafe

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