#2685 #S1302 - Mama Stortini's, Seattle - 1/3/2015

Mama Stortini's, Northgate Mall, Seattle

The first Mama Stortini's was opened in University Place in 1993 by Joe Stortini. Joe was born in Tacoma after his parents, Giuseppe Stortini and Giuseppina Piazza, immigrated from Port Sant'Elpidio, Italy in 1914. Joe excelled in baseball and football in high school and at the University of Puget Sound, eventually being named to both the UPS and Tacoma Athletic Commission's Halls of Fame.

Joe got a Masters in Education and worked as a high school teacher at Mount Tahoma High before leaving to enter politics. He became a state senator and held several other roles in Pierce County politics. No doubt his greatest challenge in life, brought upon himself, came in August of 1991, when a woman with whom he was having an affair killed herself with an overdose of drugs. Stortini, who was serving as Pierce County Executive at the time, was with her at the time and called 911. The incident apparently happened after Stortini informed the woman, who had divorced her husband, that he wanted to repair his relationship with his wife.

Mama Stortini's, Seattle

The incident marred a life and careers which already made Stortini one of the most recognizable personalities in the South Sound, feted for his many contributions to local charities. I assume the incident led to his departure from politics, and eventually into the restaurant business. Joe expanded to a restaurant in Puyallup before selling the business in 1999. He would later return to the business with Joeseppi’s Italian Ristorante on Pearl Street in North Tacoma, which he runs to this day, well into his 80s.

Meanwhile, the corporation that acquired Mama Stortini's expanded to Northgate Mall in Seattle. It no longer has the personal touch that Joe provides, but it does feature a stolid menu of Italian-centric American and Americanized comfort foods, some nice wines, and some sugary cocktails that one doubts would meet the approval of old Giuseppina Piazza.

Joe Stortini, found of Mama Stortini's
while serving as state senator in 1973

Joe Stortini, circa 2013

401 NE Northgate Way #1103, Seattle, WA 98125 - (206) 365-5567                              
Est. Nov 25, 2014 - Building constructed: 1950
Previous bars in this location: Twigs Bistro and Martini Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill
Web site: mamastortinis.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor - eater 

#2684 #S1301 - Nana's Family Mexican Kitchen, Seattle - 1/1/2015

Update: Nana's Family Mexican Kitchen and Cantina closed in September 2017.

The food at Nana's struck me as fairly pedestrian American Mexican fare, but there's no way you'll miss the visuals. The 90-year-old, two-floor Queen Anne hill bungalow is covered in a detonation of raucous colors -- as if your eccentric aunt had the bingo night of a lifetime and decided to spend her winnings taking a U-Haul down to the Nogales public market. The people are nice, and the drinks are pretty much what you'd expect.

Nana's Family Mexican Kitchen and Cantina, Seattle, WA

1825 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 - (206) 922-3340                             
Est. Aug 6, 2014 - Building constructed: 1925
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook
Reviews: respectmyregion - yelp - tripadvisor - zagat - theeatguide - queenanneview  - queenanneview 

#2683 #S1300 - Red King Crab Seafood, Seattle - 1/1/2015

Red King Crab Seafood Restaurant, Seattle, WA

Update: Red King Crab Seafood closed in June of 2015.

Owner Kwang Yoon serves some nice sushi and various Asian and seafood plates in this old Belltown Austin Bell building location in what seems like a halfway point between casual and white tablecloth fancy. The cocktails here are not as much of an attraction, but you can find a nice wine.

Red King Crab Seafood Restaurant, Seattle, WA

2328 1st Ave, Seattle, Washington - (206) 441-7511
Est. Dec 5, 2014 - Closed June 28, 2015 - Building constructed: 1908
Previous bars in this location: Taberna del Alabardero, Cascadia
Web site: redkingcrabseattle.wix.com/redkingcrab
Reviews: eater - yelp - tripadvisor - urbanspoon

#2682 - Brick 29 Bistro, Nampa, ID - 12/30/2014

Brick29, Nampa, Idaho

The description of "comfort food elevated" and promise to satisfy foodies and less adventurous eaters was just the ticket for our extended family dinner, and Brick 29 delivered in spades. The upscale but affordable food from James Beard award winning chef Dustan Bristol was delicious and the cocktails did not disappoint. This was served in a pleasant old Masonic Hall, with early 20th century touches. (Since this visit they have moved to the upper floor of the building.)

320 11th Avenue South, Nampa, ID 83651 - (208) 468-0029
Est. 2007
Web site: brick29.com - facebook
Articles ranked: idahostatesman - idahopress - boiseweekly - yelp - tripadvisor 

#2681 - Broadway Bar, Boise, ID - 12/27/2014

This is a nice, old (50 years or so?), divey, neighborhood bar.

1712 South Broadway Avenue, Boise, ID 83706 - (208) 342-9951
Est. ? - Building constructed: 1925
Web site: facebook 
Reviews: yelp - boiseweekly  

#2680 - Applebees, Boise, ID - 12/27/2014

Yeah, well, it does have a bar and I was hungry.

On a subsequent visit to my old neighborhood in Boise, Facebook popped up with a message that it found three "highly rated restaurants" that it thought I would like. The three were Denny's, Applebees, and Copper Kitchen.

Perhaps there should be some solace in the fact that the social media goliath sitting on top of the world's richest trove of personal data -- including many hundreds of restaurants I have checked into and commented upon -- does not have the first clue what I like. But in any case, here I was in December 2014; and the food is just fine here, and as long as you stick to beer and the basics, so are the drinks. And though I can't rely on Mr. Zuckerberg and company for much help, we still manage to find a bar now and then that more profoundly catches our fancy.


2810 Elder Street, Boise, ID - (208) 344-5630
Web site: applebees.com - facebook 
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor - boiseweekly 

#2679 - Juniper, Boise, ID - 12/26/2014

Juniper on 8th, Boise, ID

This is just a swell place all around -- nice setting, great food, very good cocktails, and funny and efficient server Bri (and I am totally unbiased by the fact that she responded to my Krampus Christmas sweater with "I think you might be awesome").


211 North 8th Street, Boise, ID 83702 -  (208) 342-1142                              
Est. June 28, 2014
Web site: juniperon8th.com - facebook
Reviews: idahopreferred - yelp - tripadvisor