Westseattle "Funblog" F.'s Profile

Sitting here while writing this, completely immersed in the situation. Not upset, not overjoyed. Just content. That place you go when you're working on your second great beer of the day, which is currently the Coffee Stout poured from the nitro tap. Smooth.

Just finished up a hearty plate of the biscuits and chorizo gravy with the optional two poached eggs added. About $10.00 for a gut stuffing gravy-laden feast. Tough on the waistline, but so good for the soul.

There's a table off our right flank, about 3 o'clock. They're huddled around, gossiping, leering. Nevermind them. Kids.

We've been tended to nicely since we arrived. Never a moment where we didn't have exactly what we needed. There was no interruption between beers; the transition was seamlessly executed both in timeliness and style.

Currently, they've got some great hoppy beers on tap - Hop Harvest and One Hop - and both are sure to please lovers of the cone. Did you know that marijuana and hops are cousins? They are! We should totally legalize the renegade cousin.

We were totally excited to check this place out as we'd read the whole story about the property renovation - the theater, the hotel, the restaurant - and appreciate what McMenamin folks do in terms of developing older properties and making something old new again. Very hip.

With the muscle relaxers starting to exit our system, and the freshly inhaled herbal supplement on our breath, we parked our car in the public parking area about half a block south, grabbed the mobile blogging unit and headed up the street. We were so spiritually disoriented that we walked by the entrance about three times before we realized how to enter. Not their fault - it's pretty obvious once you step back.

Walk inside. Totally packed. No signs telling you what to do. Where are the signs? What the hell are we supposed to do here besides not bring in minors.

Walk toward the back and see sort of sporadic seating arrangements like they crammed in tables wherever they'd fit. Look into the big room and see five huge billiards tables, all empty, and occupying the majority of the floor space.

"May I sit at a billiards table?" I asked.
"You can't eat there," said one of the wait staff, hurriedly.
"Where can I sit?" I reply.
"Wherever you can find a spot" she said as she flew by on her way to the kitchen to pick up an order.

Wherever I can find a spot indeed! It may have been paranoia, but we became incredibly uncomfortable and fled the building. Walked around to find an alternative, but no alternatives exist in historic downtown Centralia.

In terms of funblogging facilities, this place was completely insufficient. We're not small-breed types. We need room to stretch out and set up our equipment.

Had a spastic colon attack while traveling around Washington scouting potential locations for new funblogs and saw a billboard for Super 8 so pulled over so we could hunker down, take some medications and get over that darn irritating intestinal cramping.

Pulled into the parking lot, got a spot pretty close to the front which is good because we're pretty fat and get winded easily.

Anyhoo, went inside and was greeted by the amazingly friendly person-on-duty who gave us the AAA discount even though we totally didn't have AAA.

"I'll let you slide this time" she said.
"Oh. Thank you" we replied

The clerk was uncommonly helpful and courteous, and cheerfully adorned with Pagan symbolism such as the pentagram and wood toad leg. The rooms are larger and better insulated than their Motel 6 counterpart where you can hear the person two doors down making their morning deposit while the person in the room next to you snores like a snoring person.

The beds are comfortable enough, and they at least give you three pillows (they'll bring you more if you ask for them - we requested three additional pillows and had them brought up to the room). Our only concern was how the mattress was turned almost completely perpendicular to the box springs when we woke up.

If you're a smoker (we are), then you'll love this place. The large windows open wide and you can turn on the fan to help circulate or push around the smoke filled air. Plenty of ash trays but no matches! You can't get a free pack of matches in Oregon any more.

Convenience was also a big factor. As the previous reviewer stated there are ample opportunities for shopping and dining, as well as a dollar store nearby in case you forgot to bring essential toiletries.

The breakfast was swell. Have a waffle, some juice, and some coffee. It's not the Ritz, but then again you're only paying about $70 a night to stay there!

We were starving after a long day of funblogging, so we took a puff and headed over to the Roxbury Lanes and Casino. There's a Chinese food restaurant in there.

The old school lunch counter remains, but instead of tuna melts and omelets, they're cooking up General Tso's chicken and unbelievable chicken wings.

Let's elaborate on the wings.

There aren't Your Mom's wings. These are huge, plump and almost (small) turkey-like severed appendages fried up so perfect you forget you're eating wings because there's so much meat and you don't have to work through all that sinewy stuff you find in those people's chicken wings.

We started off with the salt & pepper wings, and by salt think course ground and by pepper we mean diced jalapenos. Incredible. They're like those potato chips where you "can't eat just one" except they're far superior and they come on a large platter nearly overflowing with fried salty wingness.

We order "Cheineken" (or, "Tsing Tao") beer. The waitress brings back our beverages then proceeds to assume some kind of predator courtship posture with our friend. Sure made us feel awkward, but we're used to it mostly.

She said she was a roller derby girl. On the banked track. "Four foot drop from the rail", she said.

While enjoying our wings and other entrees (also delicious, can't remember the names) and beer, the waitress returned assuming an alpha posture. She assumed control of the conversation.

"Another beer?" she asks.
"Yes. It's like you know us!" we said, in unison.
"I knew you would", she confirmed.

As we neared the end of the mammoth pile of salt & pepper wings, we were approached by the waitress again who informed us that she "put away two plates of wings [at some point in time]". We sat there in awe of this magnificent woman and thought back to the time of the Vikings when women of her caliber were critical to the survival of the village.

Eat like a Viking at Roxbury Lanes and Casino. Uff da!

We're not going to reinvent the wheel here. You want to know about Super Deli Mart? Check out this Funblog piece written back in May:

http://www.westseattle...

You can't go wrong at this place.
Food. Beer. Wine. Cigars. Cheesy British. Seattle's Finest.

Wow, there sure are a ton of great reviews about Mission!

We're too lazy to look through all of them but at first glance it appears that no one has mentioned the killer mezzanine area above the upstairs dining area.

We've had the good fortune to attend several events in "the mezz", which is akin to a VIP room with a dedicated bar, big comfortable couches, tables, chairs, and a big screen TV on which you can watch 1980's era "big hair and big boob" flicks. There's a long curtain that can be drawn to provide visual privacy so you can get as comfortable as you want (as long as you're wearing shoes, shirt, and some kind of pant-like dressing). There are no pillows, however.

No, Mission is not an adult movie restaurant so don't get any crazy ideas. That's not what we're saying.

The food is fresh and delicious. The service courteous and prompt. The atmosphere inviting.

Mission is owned by real West Seattleites, not dirty mainlanders looking to profit from our peninsular abundance and prosperity. These people have pride on the West Side, and they keep it real yo.

Boy, I'll tell you what....that there The Cask is not only a welcome addition to the neighborhood it's a downright great place to relax with some friends and pull back a few beers.

I was there a couple Fridays ago with the Mayor of West Seattle and Troy Nelson from KEXP and it was a swell experience, not only because I walked in on a tasting session but because the place has a nice mellow vibe. Best of all? The Cask provides refuge from that savage and brutal sunshine that plagues West Seattle for several weeks between June and September.

As Kendall J. wrote, the beer selection is thoughtful and is more Old World than new. It's akin to the massive selection at Highland Park's SeaMart except you can drink without leaving the building (you're actually required to stay in the building - this isn't Las Vegas, kids).

The owners are pleasant folk, unafraid to strike up - and hold - a conversation. It's this kind of personable interaction that can make or break a new business. There's no sign of breakage.

No review of The Cask would be complete without mentioning the raw artistry that is the bar itself.

This 20(ish) foot long slab of nature's cathedral hearkens to the bygone era when woodsmen crowded tiny bars with their hulking, soiled figures lurched over wooden steins filled with strong drink. Ancient tree rings hold stories from before the days before settlers arrived; the rugged bark providing protection from fire but not the woodsman's axe. Now smooth and polished, you're welcome to rest your glass on her glossy mantle.

Come check out The Cask and be prepare to leave the New World behind.

Pho White Center is conveniently located in the heart of White Center, where back-in angle parking is a King County requirement.

This pho joint is the best one I've tried in my relatively brief (one year) pho eating career. I am particularly fond of the veggie pho, although I've been known to consume a large bowl of combo pho (various and sundry meat items). I probably should try different things, but I can't get past the magical sensation associated with consuming this delightful concoction.

My favorite part is making the pho almost unbearably spicy with the provided pepper flakes and sauces, as it has a kind of medicinal or shaman-like quality and seems to purge evil spirits from my system, especially after a hard night of funblogging.

I love Tully's coffee, and this store is the reason. I just became of fan of Tully's on Facebook and I totally friended Tom Tully O'Keefe as well.

The girls at this store are amazing; friendly and competent, responsive and preemptive. Nothing better than walking in the door an already having your cup of drip coffee sitting there ready to go. Familiarity, you're so good to me.

Free wi-fi is another big draw here, as well as the comfy chairs and nice clean bathroom (almost as inviting as the one in Thriftway...omfg, flower arrangement in a men's bathroom? Incredible.).

Best bar staff in the Endolyne area. Went here on Cinco de Mayo and had a blast that included several shots of Patron and several shots of cheap tequila with tabasco. Don't ask. I don't know why either.

There was a mariachi on Cinco de Mayo, which made the atmosphere appear infinitely more festive than it was, because I was able to out-sing him in terms of volume and I used Spanglish flavoring words to get the Gringos going.

Here are some particulars:

1. Restaurant is below ground. Watch your head when you go in if you are taller than 5'10".

2. Sit in the bar area if you're sans kids. Seems like stuff moves quicker in there than in the main dining area.

3. Avoid the seating area in the northwest corner, right inside the window under the sidewalk especially in summer unless you enjoy looking up people's shorts and skirts.

4. Try to get into the seating area in the northwest corner, right inside the window under the sidewalk especially in summer as you will be able to look up people's shorts and skirts. A wonderful way to spend an afternoon indeed.

5. Try the Carne Asada entree`. This is a good dish they do rather well, IMO.

6. Try the Camarones a'la Diabla. Anything that has to do with the Devil must be good and this is no exception. Nice and spicy!

7. Avoid bringing your teenage daughter(s) as the owner's son will find reasons to hang around your table and make inappropriate jokes about Latinos that you've heard before on multiple occasions, including the "what do you call 5 Mexicans in a hot tub?" gem.

Bottom line is this place is a great little neighborhood Mexican food joint with a moderately priced menu and patio seating in the summer months. A great place for the Joe's dinner rush fail over.