Nick "reevuin ur noms" H.'s Profile

I came here after the elite event at the Waterfront Grill with my superfly ladies of Intiman and had a fantastic time.  Stepping inside this hidden-away gem made me feel like I was transported to a little bistro in Europe.  

The food here is a delicious adventure.  There are many different things to try and the plates are very small, so I recommend going wild and ordering everything that piques your interest--and maybe even a few things that don't.  For instance, I'm glad I tried the calamares en su tinta (stuffed squid in its ink), which had some interesting flavors, but wasn't my favorite.

What I really enjoyed were the cocktails.  They have some excellent concoctions, all made with a fine attention to detail.  My favorite was the Nido Rojo (roll your 'R' when you say it), which is made with Hendricks gin (my favorite), Cointreau, Patxaran (wtf is that?) and Peychaud's bitters.  It was a little fruity, but not too sweet and the flavors complemented each other beautifully.  I also recommend la Abeja (rum, thyme honey and lemon) and the Maria Christina sidecar (brandy, Cointreau, licor 43 and lemon).

The service was very friendly and really contributed to our enjoyment of this fabulous dining and drinking experience.  I look forward to returning for another culinary adventure.

Kathleen M. and I came to the Pour House after a long hike on a sunny summer afternoon for a well-deserved burger and beers.  They have a nice outdoor patio, but after spending 5+ hours in the sun we decided to relax indoors and enjoy the AC.

Maybe it was a combination of the heat and exhaustion, but there were so many delicious-sounding items on the menu that we ended up ordering a smorgasbord and splitting it all: chicken tenders, french fries, jalapeno poppers, a salad and their blue cheese & bacon burger.  The burger was fantastic--they use a delicious toasted bun, lots of fresh toppings and plenty of yummy blue cheese.  The poppers and chicken were run-of-the-mill, but they were hot and tasty nonetheless.  What really impressed me was their fantastic beer selection.  It looked like they have about 20 different beers on tap--most of them microbrews.

The Pour House looks like a popular hangout for locals.  They've got a pool table and some outdoor-themed video games (bass fishing, buck hunting, etc) in case you prefer simulated outdoors to the real thing.  One down side is that the jukebox charges an exorbitant $1 per song!  I will definitely come back here next time I'm hiking near North Bend.

My friend Kathleen and I recently went for a hike through Discovery Park and decided to come to Mulleady's afterward to stuff our faces.  Sincere props to our friend Becky who recommended them, because they make one of the best burgers I have ever tasted.

I need to give a special shout out to our friendly server Sunnie, whose disposition was... well... sunny.  She never seemed to be too far away when we needed another drink, she had some helpful ordering advice for us and was able to accommodate Kathleen's special request (she prefers her bacon burnt to a crisp).

What makes their burgers so divine?  A perfectly prepared patty (not too greasy, not too dry), caramelized onions, a topping called tomato jam (like ketchup but sweeter), and for a few dollars more bacon or your choice of cheeses (including my favorite, gorgonzola).  All this served on a toasted "artisan" bun with your choice of sides.  I had the french fries, which were crispy and golden.  Kathleen had a side salad of fresh seasonal greens with walnuts, chevre and a vinaigrette--a not uncommon combination, but perfectly executed and delicious.  I highly recommend this as a healthier alternative to the fries.

The exterior looks a little plain, but the interior is very classy with fine woodwork and high ceilings.  An upstairs seating area rings the restaurant and there's a small patio area too.  The bar is gorgeous and I saw many of my favorite liquors are available.  I didn't try any cocktails, but given the quality of food and service I imagine they pour an excellent drink.  They've got a great jukebox too--we heard all kinds of music, from Jurassic 5 to Led Zeppelin.

The biggest drawback is the parking situation.  The bar is in a residential area with limited street parking.  Kathleen and I found a spot a little over a block away though, and the extra five minutes and short walk was worth it.  So stay calm and don't sweat it, because you're in for a treat.

Where do you go if you've been stuck in a traffic jam on I-5 outside Kalama for half an hour and are starving?  Pulling off the freeway and taking a quick trip down the town's main drag didn't reveal too many options, so I pulled in to the Burger Bar's parking lot.  They've got a number of burger, chicken and seafood offerings, although they're all fried and none looked fresh or homemade.  My burger was tasty but unremarkable.  The fries were crispy but lukewarm.  The atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired too.  It's fairly clean but is decorated with way too much pro-war "support our troops" propaganda.  They do have some tables outside, which is a plus.  Overall I'd recommend staying on the freeway until you get to the next town where there are more and better restaurant choices.

I've lived in the neighborhood for years and never been to Sushi Maki--it's a pretty small place and is easy to miss.  After reading other reviews I decided it was worth a try and stopped in this evening for dinner.  I ordered two rolls to go and they were enormous.  The other reviewers are right: at Sushi Maki they use a ton of rice.  It's too much in my opinion.  As a diabetic I need to watch the carbs, and white rice is loaded with them.  I ended up picking off about half the rice and throwing it away!  Other than that the sushi was fresh, tender and delicious.  I also appreciated that they use cardboard containers instead of styrofoam.  Sushi Maki is not my favorite, but if you're in the neighborhood and crave sushi this is your best bet.

Also note that the menu images other Yelpers have uploaded are a little out of date.  The prices are a bit higher, so if you order over the phone expect to pay a couple bucks more.  I'd stop by and grab a menu sometime--they have a rack of them inside to the right of the door.

This Gap sure is fancy looking, and they seem to carry the full selection you can find online, but in my experience the men's sales rack is a big disappointment.  I came in recently and did manage to find a nice oxford in my size for $12, but they didn't have anything else I was looking for.

The prices they charge are outrageous, considering the clothes are made for a pittance in a variety of low-wage countries in Southeast Asia.  Hell, they don't even sew tags on their garments anymore--they print the washing instructions on the fabric.  Just try reading that shiz after you've washed your shirt a couple dozen times.  And $55 for a pair of jeans?  Please.  It's the Gap, not Armani.

Wait for a sale before coming here, otherwise you're getting jacked.  Or check their clearance section online, where there is a much better selection available.

I like Tacos Guaymas, but I feel like the quality and consistency at this location is sub-par.  I came in on Saturday for a quick lunch and ordered their chili verde burrito, one of my favorites.  It's filled with rice, beans, guacamole, pork and topped with cheese and tomatillo sauce.  It was all pretty good except that the pork tasted dry and flavorless.  Other times I've been here it was much better.  I'll give them a try again someday, but I'm going to Rancho Bravo first.

I come for shoes.  Nordie's delivers.

I swear this place has the best men's shoe department in the city.  I've been sportin' some sexy fluevogs--but man those things are uncomfortable and like to fall apart (especially with my daily walking commute).

I popped in to Nordstrom on my way home after work and was immediately greeted by a salesperson.  I pointed at my decrepit shoes and said I wanted something similar, but comfortable.  The salesperson showed me some different styles, asked me a few questions and brought out a bunch of stock.  After thirty minutes of trying on different shoes I found a pair I liked and for about as much as I'd planned to spend too.

Nordstrom is a bit pricey, but I find I usually get a quality shoe that holds up much longer than cheap (and not-so-cheap) shoes I buy elsewhere.  Plus they have great service.  Keep your eyes peeled for a sale, brave the crowds and you can get some good deals.

I came to King's Hardware with a friend one recent sunny evening to participate in the Dine Out For Life program.  And what a fine evening it was, lounging out back on their patio with tasty drinks and juicy burgers!  I had two different IPA's and my friend enjoyed her G&T's, although I think she got some serious drink envy when we saw our neighbors' bloody mary and maragarita.

My friend ordered the "after school special," their notorious peanut butter and bacon burger.  When she found out the peanut butter is creamy and not crunchy our super-cool server offered to bring out some crushed peanuts for her to add!  Unfortunately they turned out to be cashews and arrived after her burger... but +1 star for effort!  I got to sample her burger and it was tasty.  I'm not sure it's for me, but if you love peanut butter, you are required to order it.

I felt like a break from my beloved blue cheese & bacon burger, so I gorged myself on their yummy Tijuana burger (bacon + cheddar + guacamole).  The fries weren't super-hot, but they tasted fresh and crispy.  They're the home-style variety that has skin on them--kind of like Dick's but without all the soggy.  The sweet potato fries are popular here too, but I'm not a fan.  

King's has a good bar, a great selection of beer on tap and they cook up an excellent burger.  It's definitely my go-to burger place in glorious Ballard.  On a sunny day I recommend showing up early (before 6) and grabbing a coveted table in the sun.

Tropical the island breeze. All of nature wild and free. This is where I long to be. La Isla Bonita!

Finally I have been to La Isla.  I came down here on a recent sunny afternoon with a couple of awesome ladies to experience their happy hour.  Unfortunately a lot of people had the same idea we did and the patio area was jam packed, so we sat inside.

I let my BFF and veteran La Islan Kathleen M do all the ordering because she knows her way around their menu.  We had a variety of empanadas and they were all delicious.  Spicy meat or melty cheese in a puff pastry?  Yes please!  The garlic prawns were fantastic and I loved trying the various sauces that came with each dish.  The Josefina margarita was an excellent twist on the classic (it comes with a splash of rum) and their mojitos are top-notch.  Plus, great drink specials and half-off appetizers during happy hour?  And a second happy hour after 10pm?  It's a good thing I don't live in Ballard or I'd be staking this place out every afternoon and evening.

Our server was super-friendly and made a point to ask us if we wanted to order anything before happy hour ended.  This is one of my new favorite haunts in glorious Ballard.