Post Punk Kitchen Forum

So my birthday is tomorrow and my dad is driving down to take me to dinner. Only I haven't the faintest idea where to go. I'm burnt out on Thai and I'm unsure if he's into Indian. I'd prefer not to go to a fully vegan place just for his sake, and he absolutely hates driving in Seattle and isn't interested in taking the metro, so preferably easy parking (and, because I hate to, somewhere we don't have to pay to park). I'm pretty much limited to northern neighborhoods- U district, Ballard, Greenwood, Queen Anne, Fremont, Green Lake areas.
If I can convince him to let me, I'm totally down to drive to Capitol Hill.

Give me a place to go. I can't make a decision!

Turnpike Pizza?

El Chupacabra?

Ohh both those are good ideas. I've never been to El Chupacabra, and Turnpike is always a safe bet.

Verdict: El Chupacabra is pretty good, service is terrible, and it's really loud. But the food was nom-worthy. Good birthday dinner.

Yeah, that's kind of their schtick.

Glad you had a good bday dinner, though.

I'm going to Chaco Canyon (West Seattle) tonight for the first time. Any recommendations on what is good there?

I almost always get the same damn thing:

artichoke melt and a cup of red lentil soup.

Ha! I actually got the artichoke melt (with salad). It was really good. I definitely want to go back and try other things.

(I mean Egyptian lentil soup, I think.)

I just wanted to update people on this. I found out recently that the mushroom masala is not vegan. So very sad. And I was pretty irritated that the waiter who informed me that it contained dairy is the same guy who had previously assured me it was vegan. They also recently changed their lentil dish that comes with the vegetarian dinner for two and it contains dairy now. They can make it without dairy, but you have to ask.

On a positive note, I recently went to the Alibi Room down by Pike's market and they have a vegan pizza on the menu. It has pesto, chickpeas, red onion, kalamata olives, balsamic dressing and a side of white bean hummus. It was so good I've been craving it ever since. It was happy hour when I went and that pizza (the size of a large dinner plate) was $6.50! I've been craving it ever since.

We went to St. Dames tonight and it was really good! I got the soup of the day, a broccoli cauliflower lentil quinoa something something and the candied yam risotto with a huge side of kale. The fam got the portabello cheesesteak with cheese. We even splurged on dessert -- bread pudding and chocolate cheesecake, super yums. Omni approved! I like the feel of the place too.

Just had the gluten free french toast from Chaco canyon (west). Oh good god.

chaco canyon's french toast is soo good. gah!
i use to have brunch there all the time.

Went to Veggie Grill with a buddy yesterday. Got the buffalo bomber and thoroughly enjoyed it. The side? (I got the slaw) was totally uninspiring. Granted, my friend warned me beforehand that their two 'included' sides are blah. (Bland chili is your other choice.)

Gardein is pretty lovely, imo. I hadn't tried it until vegfest this past weekend. I should probably scour the ingredients before I get too excited. Seems like they'd have to use some questionable stuff to get that texture...

I miss Chaco Canyon!! I remember being scared to go there for the 1st time thinking it was too hippy dippy, but they have awesome foods. I still miss their banh mi.

I had VG's chili the other day. I didn't think it was very good, but it wasn't bland at all. It was HOT.

I still haven't been to VG, but I tried a red lentil vegetable soup at vegfest that was good. And the carrot cake was pretty good. I'm pretty stoked that they're opening a downtown location to add to my weekday lunch repertoire (even if it's just one more place where I can get a cookie.)

Good to know. So it could be either bland, HOT, or not very good. Or some combination :P

Their carrot cake (at vegfest) was nice. I just never get excited about carrot cake...

I could get excited about carrot cake if it was the only vegan cake option in the greater downtown area... so far as I know, I can't leave my desk and find cake within walking distance right now. This makes carrot cake, which is generally not high on my cake list, at least mildly exciting.

I'll deliver cake for $100 ;)

They are?! That is the best/worst news I've heard today. I just changed jobs; I was in SLU and now I'm downtown. I was sad to lose a good fast food option, but relieved to be a little farther from vegan junk food temptation. Any word on where it's going to be or when it's opening?

No idea. I just picked up one of their menus at vegfest and it lists locations on the back. There are a few places in the "coming soon" section and downtown is one of them (the rest are out of state.)

I didn't see Gordito's in Greenwood on here anywhere. It's most definitely Omni, but easy to make most orders vegan. It's large portion, good Mexican food. I loooove it more than anything. They do whole black beans (not refried), no animal products in the rice or beans (don't know about the flour tortillas, though). They grill meats right out in the open kitchen, so if that puts you off you'd best not go there. The veg options (in lieu of meat) are tofu and spinach and fajita veg. But make sure when you order to say "no dairy" (in addition to no cheese or sour cream), as they will cook up your tofu and whatever in butter if you don't. The restaurant is really a whole in the wall, and you'll wonder if the ceiling is going to come down on you, but the food is great, and really quite nutritious.

Did I say I love this place? If you don't like it, that's ok, but please be kind in your response so you don't squish my feelings!