Restaurants that I would love to see come to the Seattle area

[Doomgoggles]

Originally Posted by uwhuskies

Did anyone see that MSN rated Baja Fresh as one of the top 10 "unhealthiest" restaurants! But I would take their ratings with a grain of salt since they also listed McDonalds as one of the "top 10 healthiest". Only if you are eating plain lettuce is my retort.

If you just look at fat and sodium, it makes McDonald's look pretty good, but there's a lot more to it than that:

artificial flavours, preservatives, carcinogens, hormones, antibiotics, etc.

They're about the least natural place you can eat at.

For fast food burgers, I get the sirloin burgers at Jack in the Box. They may have WAY more fat and cholesterol than McDonalds, but at least they're all natural (if you get Swiss or cheddar instead of American cheese).

[BoulderGrad]

Originally Posted by Doomgoggles

If you just look at fat and sodium, it makes McDonald's look pretty good, but there's a lot more to it than that:

artificial flavours, preservatives, carcinogens, hormones, antibiotics, etc.

They're about the least natural place you can eat at.

For fast food burgers, I get the sirloin burgers at Jack in the Box. They may have WAY more fat and cholesterol than McDonalds, but at least they're all natural (if you get Swiss or cheddar instead of American cheese).

read Fast Food Nation. The "All Natural" stigma is complete BS.

[jessejb]

Men's Health says Jack in the Box is the trans-fattiest fast food chain. I saw the numbers and they arent pretty.

[Ruffhauser]

I think these "unhealthy fast-food ratings" sites/polls are just silly.

These stats matter if you are some jerk-o who eats at McDonalds/Wendy's/Burger King/Taco Bell 5 times a week.

Who does that and still lives?
I feel like saying,...."No shit, fast food is bad for you? I suppose you're going to tell me that water is wet, too?"

I eat healthy 90% of the time and once a month when I come "off the wagon" , as it were, I want something filthy good, not some pussified soy-burger with non-dairy cheese.

[mhays]

If the magazines do a good job it's a public service. It's an important topic and I doubt most people are well-informed.

Of course they probably don't do a good job.

PS, I've found the calorie information on menus VERY helpful. It's gotten me away from those "dark" mochas at Tully's and I'll reduce my quarterly trips to mcdonald's to half-yearly.

[CrazyAboutCities]

I think it is really funny that some people tends to criticize fast food restaurants because their food are not healthy while they yet realize that national chain or local restaurants also not very healthy for people too. Many people gained weights or became ill from eating local or national chain restaurants too. Do not forget that Starbucks or any local coffee place or chocolate place or even cupcakes place or whatever food/drink place you name it are not always good for people too. The point is people have the rights to decide what they want to eat or not. Of course every place should provide nutrition information on each food/drink on the menu and it is up to people to make the choice to eat healthy food or not. Most place provide that information but not all places do that.

[jessejb]

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

I think it is really funny that some people tends to criticize fast food restaurants because their food are not healthy while they yet realize that national chain or local restaurants also not very healthy for people too. Many people gained weights or became ill from eating local or national chain restaurants too. Do not forget that Starbucks or any local coffee place or chocolate place or even cupcakes place or whatever food/drink place you name it are not always good for people too. The point is people have the rights to decide what they want to eat or not. Of course every place should provide nutrition information on each food/drink on the menu and it is up to people to make the choice to eat healthy food or not. Most place provide that information but not all places do that.

I think that when we threw culture and tradition itself (including real food) in the trash in the 20th century in favor for foods that are BIGGER and available FASTER, we forgot how to properly appreciate food in the first place. Now people are used to eating crappy, low quality, fattening garbage. People just need to be more educated about what they eat (YES even if they have to become snobby about what they put in their stomachs) and put meals back in their rightful place as a great and essential part of the day. It's the only way. Maybe its un-American to put emphasis on appreciating food rather than rushing through it so people can go do whatever it is that suburbanites are always in such a rush to accomplish that they put life itself on the back burner... okay /rant

[uwhuskies]

Originally Posted by jessejb

I think that when we threw culture and tradition itself (including real food) in the trash in the 20th century in favor for foods that are BIGGER and available FASTER, we forgot how to properly appreciate food in the first place. Now people are used to eating crappy, low quality, fattening garbage. People just need to be more educated about what they eat (YES even if they have to become snobby about what they put in their stomachs) and put meals back in their rightful place as a great and essential part of the day. It's the only way. Maybe its un-American to put emphasis on appreciating food rather than rushing through it so people can go do whatever it is that suburbanites are always in such a rush to accomplish that they put life itself on the back burner... okay /rant

Jessejb, you have some good points here but Americans are just to wealthy to eat rabbit food all the time. How about those M's? ...and the sloppy hot dogs at Safeco

[CrazyAboutCities]

Originally Posted by jessejb

I think that when we threw culture and tradition itself (including real food) in the trash in the 20th century in favor for foods that are BIGGER and available FASTER, we forgot how to properly appreciate food in the first place. Now people are used to eating crappy, low quality, fattening garbage. People just need to be more educated about what they eat (YES even if they have to become snobby about what they put in their stomachs) and put meals back in their rightful place as a great and essential part of the day. It's the only way. Maybe its un-American to put emphasis on appreciating food rather than rushing through it so people can go do whatever it is that suburbanites are always in such a rush to accomplish that they put life itself on the back burner... okay /rant

That is very true.

[CrazyAboutCities]

Too bad we don't have "nice/luxury" McDonald's like the one in Auckland, New Zealand.

[uwhuskies]

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

Too bad we don't have "nice/luxury" McDonald's like the one in Auckland, New Zealand.

that is a nice mc donalds

btw, does any remember the "healthy" mexican fast food chain Macheesmo Mouse that was near the Seattle Center? I guess their concept was ahead of the time because they went out of business after a few years

I waiting for a brew pub that serves healthy beer and food (probably not going to happen anytime soon because I don't like the taste of light beer)

Back to restaurants...

How about another choice in Brazillian steak house such as Fogo De Chao (yeah, I know its a chain but the quality is very good). Ipanema is not as good a Fogo de Chao.

http://www.fogodechao.com/

[just4ivaylo]

The McDonald's places in Europe are a lot better maintained than in America. They're neat, and some of them even have waiters.

[spongeg]

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

I think it is really funny that some people tends to criticize fast food restaurants because their food are not healthy while they yet realize that national chain or local restaurants also not very healthy for people too. Many people gained weights or became ill from eating local or national chain restaurants too. Do not forget that Starbucks or any local coffee place or chocolate place or even cupcakes place or whatever food/drink place you name it are not always good for people too. The point is people have the rights to decide what they want to eat or not. Of course every place should provide nutrition information on each food/drink on the menu and it is up to people to make the choice to eat healthy food or not. Most place provide that information but not all places do that.

in Canada there is a show and they did this comparison of Fast food to menu food at places like Applebees or typical suburb chain

anyway they were asking people in the parking lot what they would be ordering and asked what they thought the calories fat etc was compared to a mcdonalds quarter pounder

so almost all of the menu food was worse - one of the appetizers was the equivalent of 3 quarter pounders! and one of the salads was worse than a quarter pounder

anyway yeah if you treat yourself once in a while but not everyday - i saw a book at the store the other day that compares menu items and says "eat this not this" such as the market sandwich at Arbys was worse than the Arbys beef n cheddar - its a cool book worth tracking down if you like to eat out

I always wondered why Carl's Jr is all over Portland and Vancouver (WA) and not in seattle - but i noticed they have one in marysville now - not tried it though

do they have Popeyes other than in Tacoma?

[b2]

There are two Popeye's in Renton. There's also Carl's Jr. in the Renton Highlands. Odd place for it if you ask me.

[uwhuskies]

Originally Posted by b2

There are two Popeye's in Renton. There's also Carl's Jr. in the Renton Highlands. Odd place for it if you ask me.

I know about the popeye's in downtown Renton, but where is the other one in Renton?

Spongeg, does Tim Horton's do well in your neck of the woods? Or, are they only so-so. What are some cool Canadien chains, eh? j/k

[jiggawhat?]

HAS ANYONE EVER HAD 5 GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES? THEY ARE GOING IN AT THE LANDING IN RENTON.

[spongeg]

Originally Posted by uwhuskies

I know about the popeye's in downtown Renton, but where is the other one in Renton?

Spongeg, does Tim Horton's do well in your neck of the woods? Or, are they only so-so. What are some cool Canadien chains, eh? j/k

tim hortons is always full - they are pretty popular - i avoid them myself - but most people love em cause they are really cheap and plentiful and open late - most are 24 hours

not as popular as they are in Ontario though

[Black Box]

^I've heard of them before, never been. I can't say what restaurant chain I'd like to see in Seattle. Outside of Dick's and Memos and some taco trucks, I don't do fast food much. I did go to the Del Taco in Federal Way once and if it were in Seattle, I'd probably go there everyone once in awhile. I'm not a total slow food purist. I guess I want to see more late night, fresh and fast Americana, ethnic places. More food carts! I'm working on doing that sort of thing myself in the next few years. Seattle is ripe for the great in-between sort of places that we currently lack. There's pent up demand for it. There are many great examples around town, but they're not places that stay open late into the night.

[en1044]

Originally Posted by jiggawhat?

HAS ANYONE EVER HAD 5 GUYS BURGERS AND FRIES? THEY ARE GOING IN AT THE LANDING IN RENTON.

youre lucky.

[uwhuskies]

Late nite options...

Other than the national chains like Dennys and Sharis.

13 Coins
Beth's Cafe (overrated)
Cafe Minnies (or whatever the restaurant on the corner is)
Charlies
Chinatown Asian (actually had a mid-week once at 3am at Honey Court)

Anyone else have special late night haunts?