#1285 - Palomino, Bellevue WA - 11/15/2010

#1284 #S778 - Perche No, Seattle, WA - 11/14/2010

Update: Perche No is closing Dec 18, 2019

This is a very interesting place.  They moved from a cramped little space on Queen Anne to a somewhat ostentatious, two-story, new building behind Kidd Valley in Wallingford (replacing a beautiful old brick home, BTW).  It is an Italian restaurant run by a Chinese couple, David and Lily Kong.  David is the chef, while Lily makes her way around and chats with the guests.  She talked about missing the opera performers coming into the old location on their breaks, and how they had a limo that would take customers to the Highlands just to see the view.

Unlike the old location, the new Percho no ("Why not?") has a dedicated bar area -- with a two-story high ceiling and chandelier made of wine glasses.  The cocktails are pedestrian, but they have a large selection of wine (there was a wine tasting wrapping up upstairs when I visited), and better than average Italian food.

1319 N 49th St, Seattle, WA 98103 - (206) 547-0222
Est. Aug 2006 - Closed Dec 18, 2019 - Building constructed 2006
perchenopastaandvino.com - culinary fool -  surly gourmand - seattle foodster - yelp

#1283 #S777 - Pan Africa Market, Seattle, WA - 11/12/2010

Update: Pan Africa Market closed April 14, 2012; plan to re-open across the street.

The drinks here are not particularly interesting, but it's well worth it if you are hungry. Our meals were both very good and we coveted those of our neighbors at the bar.  There are better cocktail options, but it's on my short list for favorite places to eat downtown.

1521 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 652-2461
panafricamarket.com - seattle times - seattle pi - the stranger - yelp

#1282 #S776 - Easy Joe's, Seattle, WA - 11/10/2010

Update: Easy Joe's closed in October 2011, and is said to be reopening in the future at 1st and Cherry in Pioneer Square.

This place just opened nine days ago and doesn't yet have a cocktail menu. They do have pretty decent diner/comfort food (I had the Sloppy Joe).

2359 10th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98122 - (206) 325-1233
easyjoes.com - chs - the stranger - yelp

#1281 #S775 - Dilettante Martini Bar, Seattle, WA - 11/9/2010

Update: Dilettante closed Jan 2017.



A fine place for women who feel like they deserve a splurge and that there is no such thing as a too-sweet cocktail.



538 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 329-6463
Est. 2008 - Closed Jan 2017
Web site: dilettante.com
Reviews:  the stranger - chs -  yelp

#1280 #S774 - Poppy, Seattle, WA - 11/9/2010

I had no idea what Poppy was before I popped in, other than a bar to add to this list where I could probably get some decent food.  Well now Poppy  is  one of my top 5 or so places to eat in Seattle. 

While the tapas boom is great for tasting several dishes in a single visit, it can start to get very costly fast if you're hungry.  At Poppy, long-time Herb Garden chef Jerry Traunfeld borrows the "Thali" (large platter) concept from India, and serves 7 to 10 pretty excellent different bites at a time.

The cocktails are good too.  I had a tasty Papi Delicious (tequila, curacao, red bell pepper, jalapenos, lime and mint) and a Six Twenty Two (rye, Amarao Nonino, rhurbarb, and Angostura bitters).  The decor is a little open and cold for a bar, but the food and drinks will definitely keep this high on my list of dinner choices.


622 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 324-1108
poppyseattle.com - seattle pi - seattletimes - seattletimes 2 - the stranger - seattle weekly - yelp

#1279 #S773 - The Counter, Seattle, WA - 11/7/2010

Update: The Counter closed in March 2012.

There is a bar (counter?) at The Counter, and there's liquor, but it's pretty minimal after the beer.  But of course people go there for the food porn monster burgers, not a fine cocktail.

4609 14th Avenue, NW, Seattle, WA 98107 - (206) 706-0311
thecounterburger.com (sound/flash) - seattle times - urbanspoon photos - the stranger - myballard - yelp