Friday, November 30, 2007

Pita Express - 8th and Stewart, Seattle

ahh, the eternal quest for a Falafel. Truly one of the tastiest vegetarian lunches.

There was a great place in the old Bon parking garage on 3rd, but it closed a year ago. Then Falafel King opened up to much hype down on 1st by the market. I tried it, but I wasn't very satisfied.

Then, in the funky little spot next to Subway and the bagel shop, a new Pita restaurant opened last month. Nothing in this location ever seems to make it, but this place is the best thing to open here.

I tried the Falafel a week after it opened. I figured it was still new, and they may be working out the bugs. It was great. I tried it again today and it was still great! Consistency is so important.

Not much to say about the Falafel, its a standard Falafel, but the ingredients are fresh and the hot sauce is good. My favorite Falafel in Seattle.

Samba Room 1460 Larimer - Denver

My favorite restaurant in Denver.

Yes, I know that Chilean Sea Bass is endangered from over fishing off south america, but twice a year, I must have it and Samba Room does it right...

Samba Room is a Cuban themed restaurant. Its also very trendy and expensive. I wouldn't go here if it wasn't a client dinner, which means I get reimbursed for the expense.

We entered the restaurant around 7 pm on Wed Night. The place was packed. We were taken to a table within minutes.

Soon after seating, our waiter showed up and introduced himself, then he holds out two bottles of water and asks us if we would like some imported water. We both declined his offer. I ordered my favorite beer, TaHuey, from Puerto Rico. The waiter didn't seem to know what this is, even though I have had it here many times in the past. He went to the bar and discovered they no longer carried that beer. bummer, its the only place I have ever seen that beer.

I ordered, of course, Chilean Seabass “Enchilado” - Pan Seared, Roasted and Served with a Cilantro Shrimp Orzo and a Creole Latin Style Sauce. I have had this dish at least 3 other times, and each time its been spectacular. This time it was even better! The sauce was spicier that previous visits, it really brought out the best in the dish.

Carrie ordered a box dinner, some sort of special they were running during the film festival going on in the Larimer neighborhood. Her dish came with a salad, so I thought I will get a dinner salad so we can eat salad together.

The waiter approaches the table with something wrapped in a towel. He opens the towel and carefully sets a chilled fork down in front of me. The chilled fork is for my salad. Carrie did not get a chilled fork. My salad came a few minutes later, Carries did not. Apparently her salad is served with her dinner. Kinda odd, and when her dinner and salad came, she did not get a chilled fork! Frankly, thats a bit silly.

The whole service was silly. Who are they catering for, obviously very rich people who are better than anyone else. The poor waiter was trying soooo hard. I tipped him just under 20%... sucker!