Mexican, Pizza and a Jewish Deli in Seattle?

Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, right?
 
I have a friend who recently moved to Seattle (I think she's near Green Lake) and she's mainly lamenting the fact that she can't find a Jewish Deli, but would also like a good Mexican restaurant and a pizza place.  I'm not sure what type of pizza she'd prefer (she's from Atlanta originally), but anything would be of help!

http://pastramisandwich.com/

I think I just heard Wanderingjew crying somewhere off in the distance!!

Tell her to FORGET pizza.  Even the favorite 'za joints of the locals are C-minus at best.
Piecora's, Bill's, Northlake ... IMO all C-minus, but the best port in the "pizza-void" storm.
 
The only Jewish deli I can recall is long gone.  Gilbert's Deli, on Main in Bellevue makes a decent effort on the bagel front ... good food ... very slow service.
 
La Cocina del Puerco on Main Street in Bellevue and their cousin on the Hillclimb near Pike are viable Mexican ... quite rustic.

 
My thoughts:
http://wheregreggeats.com/wa.htm
http://www.wheregreggeats.com/pikes.htm
 
My must do whenever I'm in town is Pho Bac on Rainer and Jackson, etc.
 
 

billyboy


I think I just heard Wanderingjew crying somewhere off in the distance!!

Actually not exactly all true...
 
From past experience I would bet ratio wise there are probably more non touristy authentic Jewish Deli's outside of the NYC metro area, case in point would be my favorable experience at Jack's Deli in Cleveland OH a couple of years back.
 
Unfortunately I have to concurr with Wheregreggeats sentiment about pizza in Seattle. It's true I haven't lived there in a decade and a half, however according to friends who still live out there, the pizza situation hasn't changed at all.
 
Mexican on the other hand was good and plentiful when I was out there due to many Mexican migrant workers who came to the Pac NW for work, however if you're expecting to find fiery New Mexican cuisine you'll be dissapointed, milder Cal-Mex style seemed more prevelant.
 
Although I hate to give recommendations for places I haven't been to over the last few years, when I was living out there. Mama's Mexican Kitchen
http://www.mamas.com/
was my favorite

Our Famous Hot Reuben
Choice of Corned Beef, Pastrami, Corned Beef and Pastrami Combo, or Fresh Roasted Turkey on double-baked crisp rye bread, with hot sauerkraut, imported Swiss cheese and Russian dressing.

Goldbergs' Famous Delicatessen Menu
When a guy named Goldberg has a choice of Pastrami or Corned beef on their Reuben , How could I be wrong...............

I'll second wheregregeats, in the 3+ years I lived there, I couldn't find a single good pizza place. I found Jet City Pizza passable, but nothing to write home about. I made the mistake of ordering their wings once. Absolute blasphemy. They were just cooked through, rubbery skin, with a dry powder "sauce" on them.
 
For Mexican, I recommend La Hacienda in downtown Renton, right at the foot of Lake Washington. Probably a 10-15 minute drive from Green Lake if it's not rush hour. It was my go-to place for lunch at least once a week, and happy hour/dinner every Friday without fail. Oh, and the brunch buffet on the weekends were awesome. 
I don't recall eating at any Mexican place inside the city proper other than the Azteca chain, which is ok. Circo Circo in Kirkland is pretty good also.

Drive to Portland for Apizza Scholls

 
I went to Goldberg's once.  If the pastrami and corned beef were home made, I don't remember it to be.  I'd classify it as "viable" ... but it has been quite a while.
 
Now, that does bring to mind Market House Corned Beef ... if you are willing to make your own.

LINK
When I first moved there, it was an old guy, making his own in garbage cans out back ... he'd wrap your brisket in butcher paper and send you on your way.  It might have been the best I ever had.
I recall, that recently, the place was taken over by new owners, yupp-ified a bit (cryovac over butcher paper now) ... and I don't recall bells and whistles last time I took some home.  Certainly worth a try though.

TJ Jackson


Drive to Portland for Apizza Scholls

I think there are viable delis in Portland too ... I think I heard that, but have no direct experience.  Worth checking out if you go down south.  MrChips ???

USA Today recently mentioned a Seattle place called Serious Pie, although I can't claim any first-hand knowledge of it.  Are any of the ex-Seattleans familiar with it?
 
Brad

wheregreggeats.com


 
I went to Goldberg's once.  If the pastrami and corned beef were home made, I don't remember it to be.  I'd classify it as "viable" ... but it has been quite a while.

Now, that does bring to mind Market House Corned Beef ... if you are willing to make your own.

LINK
When I first moved there, it was an old guy, making his own in garbage cans out back ... he'd wrap your brisket in butcher paper and send you on your way.  It might have been the best I ever had.
I recall, that recently, the place was taken over by new owners, yupp-ified a bit (cryovac over butcher paper now) ... and I don't recall bells and whistles last time I took some home.  Certainly worth a try though.

This looks like a fun place, I'll check it out in the Spring with a loaf of Jewish Rye under my arm, and a jar of mustard in my pocket..................

BillyB
 
Make sure it's a brown spicy mustard and not yellow mustard.

Wishing your friend good luck on the Mexican food.  I remember ordering a chili relleno plate somewhere in the Seattle vicinity.  I also remember being served an omelet with a few strips of chiles, rice and beans. 
 
 

 
Despite what the locals say, I never found Seattle to have much in the way of superb food.
 
There was a buzz about the celebrity chefs, opening trendy places ... but in my opinion "trendy" doesn't hold a candle to "tried and true" of which there were few.
 
Seattle has lots of places with exquisite views of the water ... this is where I formulated one of Gregg's rules:  "In most cases, it is far better to go look at the water, then go find someplace decent to eat."  You seldom see locals at the foo foo view places ... IMO.
 

To me, after only one visit of course, Seattle = fresh seafood, especially oysters
 
Good luck with the other stuff

acer2x


BillyB

Make sure it's a brown spicy mustard and not yellow mustard.

Acer, yellow mustard is for dogs

Bill, wasn't there an authentic Philly cheese steak place in Portland?
 
BTW,  I wan't to visit Bill Voss and he told me there is a limit on the number of Italians allowed in Portland.  Let me know when there is an opening.

Seeing as how my previous thread on this topic got bogged down with trollish comments, it's been suggested that I start a new one to get some real suggestions.
 
If you missed it the first time, I have a friend who recently moved to Seattle from Atlanta.  I don't know specifically where she was eating in Atlanta, but there's a few types of places she's having a hard time finding in Seattle.  Specifically Mexican, pizza and a Jewish deli, but at this point I'll take anything that Seattle isn't as well known for (seafood and Asian food).  The authenticity of the place isn't that important, as long as it's good food.  Yes, "good" is subjective, but I would hope that any regular poster on Roadfood has a better-developed palate than the average person.

Steak - Metropolitan Grill
Cajun - Burk's Cafe
Pasta, meat, etc - Cafe Juanita (Kirkland)
 

I second plb
Not roadfood but a great steak at the Metropolitan Grill

 
MIke's Chili in Ballard ... a cross between Cincy and I'm not sure where else.
 
Peco's Pit, south of the "dome" ... very valid beef BBQ sandwiches.
 
 
 
 

The I love New York Deli in Pike's market
Met grill for steaks after the Seahawks game
Salumi, deli style cured meat sandwiches, get there early...Italian
The skillet, food truck in Seattle
 
Seattle isn't known for Great Pizza, when you go to Pikes market they are not tossing pizza's they are tossing Salmon............The people who visit Seattle and do trip reports will give a Pacific Northwest restaurant review of their trip. I would find someone who has lived in Seattle to get up to date info on Pizza and Mexican...............My favorite Mexican food 200 miles east of Seattle is a Mexican Food truck, Go figure.....BillyB..............P.S. It's hard to find  a good cup of coffee in Seattle, sometimes you have to walk 15 to 20 feet to find one. 
 
Paseo Caribbean Restaurant would be a fun place for lunch

Urban Spoon (take that for what it is) offers up La Carta de Oaxaca at 5431 Ballard Ave NW with an 88% approval rating.
Seattle, WA 98107
And Agua Verde 1303 NE Boat St  Seattle, WA 98105 with an 87% approval rating.
 
Just a Google search offers up:
 
Rosita's Mexican Restaurant in Green Lake - 8210 Woodlawn Ave. NE
Paseo Carribbean Restaurant 4225 Fremont Ave. North
Nana's Soup House 225 N. 36th St.
Mykonos Greek Grill 310 NE 72nd St.
Bariga Llena 7815 Aurora Ave. N
Turnpike Pizza in Green Lake 6900 East Green Lake Lake Way N
And a Katz's lover discovered Roxy's Diner 462 N. 36th St. in Seattle
I also see Buffalo Deli 2123 1st Ave. Seattle
 
No idea if any of these are good, but that's pretty  much the fun of exploring a new town.
 
 

Abe, you should steer your friend to the food section at TheStranger.com.  I don't read it deeply because I don't get to visit so often and I don't like to make myself sad, but it seems like they do a fair amount of 'where to get tasty and cheap' type reporting.  Lindy West is their hilarious movie columnist but I seem to remember something about food she wrote too that made me jealous I wasn't there.  Also, I sob a little when I think about how long it will be before I get back to the Crumpet Shop.

A friend of mine ate at the I Love New York Deli while visiting Seattle recently. She said the food was great-a good find. And its located on Pike St., which is a must visit area.
I Love New York Deli
93 Pike St.
www.ilovenewyorkdeli.net

Pretty good pie for the west coast. I've been to the one in Seward Park a few times.
http://www.flyingsquirrelpizza.com/Index/Home.html
 
And for authentic Neapolitan pizza
http://www.tuttabellapizza.com/
I've been to the one in Columbia City. Great pizza but pricey.
 
ab

wheregreggeats.com


 
MIke's Chili 

Oh, yeah. I'd forgotten about Mike's Chili Parlor.

Tuttabella Pizza looks as if it can hold its own. From what I can see on the web site they seem to be doing the right thing to bring you authentic Neapolitan pizza. So, I can't see how Seattle can be deprived. BTW, their pizza prices are just about in line with what you would pay in Naples, Italy.

Frieda's in Mill Creek is hands down some of the best authenic Mexican I've had north of the border.
 
http://www.urbanspoon.com...-Restaurant-Mill-Creek