Quinn's. by violet

Sometimes the variety of choices on Capitol Hill can be a bit overwhelming. Not only are there a stunning amount of choices so much of it is so good.

I recently discovered Quinn’s. The interior is full of dark rich wood and exposed brick. Much for the front wall is large windows which mean great people watching. With J.P.’s parents in town last week we decided it would be a good stop.

The menu with my Hot Lava beer

The sun finally came out last week in Seattle the place was bathed in beautiful evening light. The last time we were at Quinn’s our server was incredibly helpful and funny, this time was no different. Even with the hipster edge the staff was all friendly and welcoming.  In fact, Mrs. P even got a "first prize" ribbon for her pronunciation of asparagus. (I think it's a midwest thing...)

We didn’t get any pictures of the food because, well, we were too busy eating it (bad blogger). But the selections included, devils on horseback (or cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon), wild boar sloppy joe with crisp sage leaves and frites fontina fonduta. It was all delicious, way above your typical pub grub, even though the beer list formidable.

Decisions, decisions

The next time you find yourself wandering around Capitol Hill not sure where to eat, I suggest Quinn’s.

Violet in Jessica Simpson "Jessica" pump in ivory patent

Toulouse Twice

Twice during the past week, I have visited the newest addition to Lower Queen Anne, Toulouse Petit. I have to say it gets a resounding, meh.

What I didn’t like

- The service: My first experience was on a Friday night, the restaurant was busy but not packed. Supposedly we had reservations but we had to wait. Once we got seated our waiter was rude from the very beginning. During both of my visits it took an especially long time to bring the drinks we had ordered.

- The food: Two of the dishes the, the fried green tomatoes with crab and one of the shrimp appetizers, were drenched in mayo and didn’t have much flavor (I should note that it wasn’t even the app that we ordered).

What I liked

- The atmosphere: Much like its sister and neighbor Pesos lots of candle light, textured walls and deep U-shaped booths. The picture windows leading out to the street made for great people watching.

- The food: The French fries were amazing. My entre, a seasonal vegetarian special, gnocchi with mushrooms and truffle oil, was scrumptious. I could have licked the plate. And my companion’s order of the short ribs was amazing - rich and flavorful.

- The menu: It’s huge. If you can’t find something to like in the cook, then I’m not sure what to tell you.

- The drinks: One of their signature cocktails, the Katie Mae, was a favorite of mine. I love champagne cocktails so I’ll being coming back for another one of these.

So based off this list, I’m giving the place another shot. I’m hoping that with a little more time, some of the issues will get worked out, in particular between the servers and the bartender.

Violet in Paolo, green, peep-toe pumps

The Red Mill. by violet

Sometimes a girl just needs a cheeseburger. And the good news is that Seattle has plenty of places to find delicious options. One of my personal favorites is Red Mill.

The Red Mill - Phinney Ridge

And people agree with me, Red Mill has won Seattle’s best burgers 10 years in a row, been featured in GQ and on Man vs. Food – though not during the eating challenge portion of the show (that was Beth’s 12 egg omelet).

It’s difficult to talk (or write) about what makes a burger great mostly because different people look for different things. So you know where I’m coming from, here’s what I like to see and taste in a burger:

Red Mill deliciousness

Quality Meat: You know it when you taste it. Beef should have flavor and not be a cardboard hockey puck.

Fresh veggies: Crispy lettuce and juicy tomatoes can make a world of difference.

Bun: A quality bun can go a long way – if they are homemade on site that’s even better. One of the reasons I love In n Out is the bread.

Spreads and special sauces: While I love ketchup and mustard it’s always nice when a place puts its own stamp on things.

French fries: One of my favorite foods on Earth – deep fried potatoes. It can really make or break a burger experience, nothing worse than a good burger served with frozen, soggy fries.

The fries and onion rings at Red Mill

Location: While a fancy steakhouse can most certainly make an excellent burger, my favorites tend to come from places much less pretentious. It’s preferable if the place have the name “shack” or “hut” in the title. The less seating in a place, the better the burger, don’t ask me why - it just is.

Red Mill lives up to these lofty standards. There are two locations in Seattle, one in Phinney Ridge and one in Interbay. Both are tiny, both are order at the counter and keep an eagle eye out for an open table. And for some reason, we always seem to go to Red Mill after I’ve gone running, and burgers always taste delicious after a run.

And let me tell you, the only thing that got me through the last mile was the thought of this waiting for me at the end.

What’s your favorite burger place? A Five Guys just moved into the greater Seattle area that I’m dying to try. 

A happy and full gang

Violet in copper Seychelles wedges