olympia cuisine: from scrumptious to noxious

2011-09-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

Lil Cooperstown ^3/4

2947 SE 73rd Ave, Hillsboro, OR

Date of visit: 9/18/11

What we had: Kobe sliders, Chicken Alfredo, California Salad, Turkey Melt, Brownie dessert

One Kobe burger patty is quartered to make up the sliders, creating awkward triangular patties between a round bun.
The alfredo lacked flavor and iceberg comprised most of the salad, though the proportions were generous. The grilled chicken on the salad was sliced, but the slices were large and no knife was provided, just forks. The turkey melt was different at this location; a bun was used instead of grilled bread slices. The brownie was drenched in chocolate syrup. Service was good, beverages refilled promptly.

2011-09-18T20:48:00.000-07:00

Sage's Brunchhouse ^^^

903 Rogers St NW, Olympia

Date of visit: 9/18/11

What we had: Vegetarian Samosa, Blueberry Pancakes, Hot Chocolate, Coffee

I used to live in this neighborhood and frequented this restaurant regularly. They are known for really tasty, creative breakfast offerings and after my recent move out of Washington, I wanted to have one last meal here today. Summary of brekky today in one word: Disappointment. There were around five tables occupied, including ours, at 8:30 am. We waited quite a long time to get menus, and the wait for the food was extraordinarily long. I've been there on previous occasions when they've been packed with hordes waiting for a table and the wait for food wasn't nearly as long. The hot chocolate was mediocre. The veg samosas were very over-salted. I felt like I needed to empty a well just to rehydrate after a few bites. Service was adequate, not friendly, and definitely didn't make me feel like a return visit the next time I'm in the area. Hopefully it was just an off-day, and not a sign of changes for the worst.

Narai Asian Cuisine ^^^¾

2010-03-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

320 4th Ave E, Olympia

Date of visit: 3/14/10

What we had: Tom Yum Noodle Soup w/ Seafood Combo, Yellow Curry w/ Chicken, Narai Noodle Soup w/ Chicken, Crispy Spring Rolls, Fresh Spring Rolls

I'll start with the Tom Yum Soup. Flavor. Flavor. Flavor. Complex, rich, flavors and aromas. You can tell this soup was made with love. Not just your run-of-the-mill love either. We're talking a hot and steamy affair that you can want to sink your teeth into and savor for hours. My guilty secret: I took home the leftover broth and added brown rice for lunch today. Oh my...

The star of the yellow curry is the rich, coconut milk that adds a sweetness to complement the bold curry flavors. Good choice for someone who likes curry, but isn't ready to try the bold Pumpkin Carrot Curry yet. Tip: The sauce is on the generous side, so you may want to order a side of rice to-go for your leftovers.

The only soup without coconut milk, the Narai Noodle Soup is similar to Vietnamese Pho, but more subtle. Be sure to add basil, cilantro, and ask for the garlic chili sauce to add more depth in flavor.

Not the best spring rolls in town, but good for the price. The peanut sauce is good, but the sweet chili sauce is a bit too cloying.

Overall, this is my new favorite for Thai in Oly.

El Sarape ¾

2009-01-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

5409 Capitol Blvd SW, Tumwater

Date of visit: 1/22/09

What we had: Tamale/enchilada combo, enchiladas verde, taco salad, wings, quesadilla, kids nachos

I don't even know where to start.

A chicken taco salad was ordered, but ground beef was served. The two enchiladas combo was ordered, but only one arrived on the plate. The quesadilla ended up being 1/2 instead of a whole one. The kids nachos consisted of tortilla chips with a sprinkling of cheese melted over it.

Service was on par with the food. The restaurant wasn't even 1/2 full and it took 20 minutes before someone came to take our order. The chips and salsa weren't refilled and there were only 3 sets of silverware available for our party of 6. The kids wanted dessert (they were still hungry after those crappy nachos) and when a menu was requested, the waiter sped through the offerings. We decided to go elsewhere for dessert.

When paying for the meal, the cashier asked how the food was and we mentioned the discrepancies on the bill (being charged for 2 enchiladas when only one came) and unsatisfaction with the meal. She nodded and ran the transaction without a word.

Three Doors Down ^^^^

2009-01-07T12:34:00.000-08:00

1429 SE 37th Ave, Portland

Date of visit: 1/4/2009

What we had: Tortiglione With Vodka Sauce And House Made Sausage, Bucatini with meatballs, cocktails

Great location, just off Hawthorne- lots of interesting storefronts nearby. Perfect restaurant for a special occasion. Attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable waitstaff. You will need to hunt for street parking though.

The requisite bread was served with a white bean spread that was pretty tasty and a nice change from your usual butter or infused oils.

I was enjoying my whiskey sour with their house made blood orange sour mix so much that I didn't inquire as to how my gf liked her tequila-with-something drink.

The flavors in the tortiglione were intense and well-layered. This is their signature dish and doesn't disappoint. If you can't handle a little heat though, you'll want to pass on this one.

The bucatini is only offered on Sundays so I thought I'd give it a try. Thicker than spaghetti and hollow, it's like a long macaroni. The sauce was very good. Tomato-based, but not too acidic or sweet, fresh basil. Two giant, delicious meatballs. This is the dish you wish your grandma made on Sundays.

Dingo's ^^½

2009-01-07T12:21:00.000-08:00

4612 SE Hawthorne, Portland

Date of visit: 1/1/2009

What we had: Lime chicken burrito, Grilled sashimi-grade ahi burrito, Arnold Palmer.

olyfoodiesidekick enjoyed the lime chicken burrito. Their burritos are good-sized with rice, beans, lettuce and pico de gallo. Their lime chicken offerings seem to be the signature dishes.

I take issue with the fact that they specifically state "sashimi-grade ahi" then cook the pieces of tuna to death. If you're using good ahi, you lightly sear it so it DOESN'T take on the canned tuna fishy taste.

The Arnold Palmer I ordered was good. Fresh lemonade and iced tea, no powdered mixes here.

Friends rave about the happy hour at this place. So I guess, come for the booze but don't expect great food.

New Moon Cafe ^^^

2008-12-31T11:58:00.000-08:00

113 4th Ave W, Olympia

Date of visit: 12/30/2008

What we had: Tofu scramble and Little Mama, coffee

The light and fluffy seasoned tofu is tasty and quite different than you'll find at the other downtown eateries. My gf loved the blackberry jam.

Has anyone eaten at Chica's on Legion?

Darby's ^^^^

2008-12-08T07:09:00.000-08:00

211 5th Ave SE, Olympia

Date of visit: 12/7/08

What we had: SMO omelet with black rye toast, Izzy's Apple Omelet with english muffin, coffee

Hands down, Darby's is the best breakfast place in Oly. Now and then, restaurants pop up that give it a run for it's money, but soon enough their novelty wears off and Darby's welcomes me back as only they can. Friendly, efficient waitstaff. Orange juice that blows your mind. Portion sizes that give you that "whoa" factor even though you've ordered that same dish a few dozen times already.

The eggs in the omelet were cooked just right. It appeared that the sausage wasn't seasoned however. It could've used a bit. The granny apple/aged white cheddar is a delicious combination.

Break's over

2008-12-07T05:54:00.001-08:00

Okay, I've been neglectful of the Olympia restaurant reviews. I'm making an early New Year's resolution to remedy that.

Jade Dragon ^^^^

2007-10-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

424 7th Ave S, Seattle

Date of visit: 10/28/07

What we had: Dim sum

Best dim sum in Seattle. In Washington. Fresh, tasty, quick, and a good variety. There's a reason they always have a line out the door. Our 10 minute wait for a table was worth it though.

Bonus points for them asking what type of tea we wanted. Felt like we were back in San Francisco...

Four Seas Restaurant ^

2007-10-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

714 S King St, Seattle

Date of visit: 10/7/07

What we had: Dim sum

Honestly, I was hoping to try out Jade Palace, but was going to settle for House of Hong when I accidentally walked into Four Seas instead.

There was one cart and one hand held tray going around with all of about six choices for dim sum. Other customers looked as confused as we did and elected to order off the menu. We chose to leave after trying 4 of the 6 offered dim sum selections and headed to Uwajimaya for the rest of our meal.

Las Garzas Restaurant ^¾

2007-09-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

303 Beach Ave, Marysville

Date of visit: 9/14/07

What we had: Chicken nachos, chicken tacos

The nachos were sparse on the chicken, heavy on the refried beans. The tortilla chips and taco shells weren't made in-house, most likely purchased wholesale. Service was attentive and quick.

Granville Island Public Market ^^¾

2007-09-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver, B.C.

Date of visit: 9/14/07

The Perogy Place ^¾

What we had: Eggs, toast, potato pancake, kielbasa, perogy, blintz

Everything was just a bit overcooked, most likely from too hot of a pan. The perogy were boiled, as typical in Canada, and were served with a light sour cream. Two types of blintz, one with a dollop of strawberry jam, and one stuffed with dry cottage cheese were the good.

Terra Breads ^^^½

What we had: Cornbread, ginger cookie, apricot oatmeal cookie

Savory and satisfying.

The cornbread had chopped red onion and chive throughout, and was slightly topped with melted cheese. We kept the cookies for later in the day as a snack, and they were still soft and chewy, with just the right amount of combined flavor and sweetness.

La Bodega Restaurante & Tapa-Bar ^^^^^

2007-09-15T00:29:00.000-07:00

1277 Howe St, Vancouver, B.C.

Date of visit: 9/13/07

What we had: Patatas Bravas, Ceviche, Conejo Riojana, Paella, Sangria

Absolutely phenomenal.

Rustic, intimate interior and friendly, helpful staff in an always busy restaurant.

Slightly crispy on the outside and wading in a zesty sauce, the Patatas Bravas (potatoes) are a wonderful vegetable choice from the fascinating menu.

Ceviche done right, is ceviche done here. Once you sink your teeth into a piece of delectable fish, cured in lemon juice and herbs, you'll want the whole plate to yourself.

Imagine the most tender, melt-in-your mouth, flavorful chicken... and you've got the conejo riojana, or rabbit in tomato and wine sauce.

Mmm... paella. The flavors of the saffron rice, chicken, mussells, clams, shrimp, and sausage were complex and addictive.

Be sure to order the sangria. A pitcher can easily serve 4, or 2 if you're lushes like us.

Beatty Street Bar & Grill ^^

2007-09-15T00:11:00.000-07:00

773 Beatty St, Vancouver, B.C.

Date of visit: 9/13/07

What we had: Boddington's Pub Ale, Stella Artois

Street side seating in front of the Georgian Court Hotel. Small selection of beer- mostly imports, a few drafts. Service was good.

Pink Pearl Chinese Seafood Restaurant ^^^^

2007-09-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

1132 W Hastings St, Vancouver, B.C.

Date of visit: 9/13/07

What we had: Dim sum

One of my all-time favorite restaurants for dim sum. A visit to Vancouver is not complete without stopping in for brunch here.

Served fresh- if an item has been on the cart too long, they won't serve it. If only the Chinese restaurants in Seattle would learn that...

The Pound ^¾

2007-09-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

Corner of Robson & Beatty, Vancouver, B.C.

Date of visit: 9/12/07

What we had:
Poutin, Fish & Chips, Shepherd's Pie, Rickard's Honey Brown Ale

Decent fries, peppery brown gravy, and curds slightly melted made up this classic Québécois dish of poutine.

Crispy fish and tasty, unsalted fries were served with a surprisingly good tartar sauce that contained less of that creamy-mayo consistency than we're used to.

The Shepherd's Pie didn't live up to my expectations. This version uses unseasoned ground turkey and was slightly burnt at the edges.

As for the Rickard's... if you like macros, it's a good match. We found it to be unpalatable. Far too sweet at first taste, but quickly turns bitter on the tongue.

This seems to be a fairly new restaurant/pub. They need to work on having enough staff on hand, and work on providing as good of service to first-timers, as they did to the staff who were there off-duty. Having finished dinner for 20 minutes with the wait staff continually walking right past our table, we went to the cash register and requested the bill. And waited another 15 minutes until it was finally done. The restaurant was 1/3 full during normal dinner hours... I'd hate to see how long customers have to wait when the place is hopping.

Ceili's ^^^

2007-09-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

670 Smithe St, Vancouver, B.C.

Date of visit: 9/12/07

What we had: Alexander Keith's IPA, Kilkenny

Nice rooftop atmosphere and friendly (and very attractive) staff.

We started with the Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale, brewed in Nova Scotia. This ale was hoppy, without being crisp, and neither of us were thrilled with after taste.

So, we switched to Kilkenny, brewed in Ireland and as we later found out, not available in the U.S. What a shame. Brilliant shade of red, creamy, malty, with slight notes of honey.

Han's Burgers ^^^

2007-08-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

1015 College St Se, Lacey

Date of visit: 08/31/07

What we had:
Philly Super Sandwich, fries, vanilla shake

Food is cooked to order, and they make a pretty good Philly cheesesteak. The super has cheese, onions, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Mmm... As far as I know, this is the only restaurant in Lacey that serves a Philly cheesesteak with options for what's on it.

The fries and milkshake hit the spot, but weren't outstanding in any way.

The menu was decent- various burgers, fish and chips, and a teriyaki plate.

All-in-all, I'd be willing to try a burger the next time around.

*/* Question for the peanut gallery: What South Sound restaurant do you think has the best fries and/or milkshakes? Comment away... */*

Best Buffet Chinese Restaurant ^

2007-07-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

5765 Littlerock Rd SW, Tumwater

Date of visit: 7/27/07

What we had:
Tried most things

This was the worst meal I've had in awhile. Cheese does not belong in sushi. Under any circumstances. Something was off in the breaded chicken. The added curry flavor in the wings was distracting. Mystery balls on a stick turned out to be really fishy tasting fish. Overall temperature of the food wasn't as hot as it should be.

Most of the fruit was from a can. The tapioca pudding tasted like it came out of a SnackPak.

The only saving grace was the baked shrimp. It was delicious, but I was already full on the taste of disappointment (and some queasiness).

Ruby Tuesday ^^^½

2007-07-26T19:45:00.001-07:00

8125 Quinault Dr NE, Lacey

Date of visit: 7/25/07

What we had:
Turkey minis with white bean chili, Turkey burger with fries

Ruby Tuesday seems to have taken a focus on quality since the last time I visited a few years ago. Gone are the standard restaurant napkins and well-used silverware to be replaced by faux-cloth napkins and a steak knife that means business. I do wonder though why the decision was made to use plastic drink ware in lieu of more appealing glass.

Often, restaurants overcook turkey burgers, that wasn't the case here. Juicy, flavorful meat on a whole wheat bun with red onion, green leaf lettuce, and a delicate sauce... mmm.

The fries were lightly seasoned with salt and a little heavier on the pepper, which was perfect.

Pho Vy ^^^

2007-07-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

909 Sleater Kinney Rd SE, Lacey

Date of visit: 7/24/07

What we had:
Pho Tai Nam, Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio, spring rolls

The broth in the Pho Tai Nam (rice noodles in beef soup served with beef flank steak and beef brisket) wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked.

The spring roll wasn't wrapped tightly so the contents spilled out into the peanut sauce after the first bite. Good thing the peanut sauce was yummy.

This version of Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio (vermicelli rice noodles served with charcoal grilled pork, egg rolls, salad greens, and herbs) is passable, but not the greatest I've ever had. The pork was a bit rubbery in texture and the accompanying Nước chấm's flavor was on the tame side.

Jumbo Chinese Restaurant ^^½

2007-06-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

4208 Rainier Ave S, Seattle

Date of visit: 6/25/07

What we had:
Dim sum

We got to the restaurant later than expected and just caught the tail end of dim sum being served. An over brewed jasmine tea was automatically brought to the table. Two standards, sui mai and ha gao were freshly steamed and flavorful though that wasn't the case for other dishes. A low budget version of lo mai gai, made only with pork was passable, but other dishes are probably more worth your while. The taro dumpling and char sui bao were tasty, but served at room temperature.

Before leaving, we attempted to order char sui bao, dan tat, and jin deui to take home. Instead of getting the baked goodies, we received a rather long lecture about how we should have ordered it at the beginning of the meal. Apparently the kitchen ran out of food, though seeing as how we were only 1 of 2 tables occupied, I'm not sure the food would have been available 20 minutes prior.

Tugboat Annie's ^^^

2007-06-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

2100 Westbay Dr NW, Olympia

Date of visit: 6/18/07

What we had:
Seafood saute, Jambalaya

They were out of the fish and chips darn it. At 5:30pm even.

Rice pilaf, steamed zucchini and broccoli, prawns, salmon, and scallops all complemented each other in the seafood saute. In a lemon/garlic/wine/butter sauce, this was one of the lighter entrees available.

The spicier the better in my book, so I ordered the spicy hot version of the jambalaya. The heat seemed to be from a vinegar-based hot sauce, similar to Frank's Red Hot Sauce and lent a nice crispness to the dish. Large shrimp, andouille sausage, and large slices of green pepper, tomato, and red onion make each bite a little party in your mouth.

Get a table that overlooks the water and watch the kayakers and boaters while you enjoy your meal. The view outside will take your mind off the wannabe upscale and hip, yet nautical casual theme that doesn't quite mesh on the inside.

Original House of Pizza ^^^¾

2007-06-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

1200 N Montesano, Westport

Date of visit: 6/11/07 - ^^^½

What we had:
Fish and chips, "Heartburner" pizza

Keep in mind that a "mini" 8 inch pizza turns out to be more like 12 inches. These folks are generous with toppings and portion sizes. The "Heartburner" consisted of spicy sausage and pepperoni, a red pepper flake pizza sauce, and large slices of jalapeño. This one's not for the meek.

Even on a weeknight, this place was packed but they managed to provide fairly attentive and quick service.

The fish - cod, specifically - was piping hot, moist, tender, and quite flavorful. I would expect no less from a restaurant located less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean. The batter was flaky yet held together well through my grasp. Also included with the fish were criss-cross-cut french fries. They were not seasoned, as I was expecting. This did not detract from their taste, though. Dunking them in a generous portion of what tasted like house ranch dressing made them all the better.

This was definitely a family-oriented establishment with courteous servers who did a fine job, considering how busy the place was. For that and for the food quality, they received a generous tip.

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Date of visit: 7/02/07 - ^^^^

What we had:
Pizza Feta (Chicken, olives, red onion, mushrooms, feta cheese, tomatoes, and basil)
Taco Salad
Family Dinner Salad

Once again both the service and food were wonderful.

Toppings on the pizza were generously piled on. The crust tasted like freshly baked bread with liberal amounts of toppings reaching the edge.

Both the italian and greek salad dressing are made in-house and we played a little guessing game as to which herbs were used. The family dinner salad (romaine, mozzarella cheese, olives, and tomatoes) is great for 4-6 people.

Fresh salsa for the taco salad was a pleasant surprise. This restaurant has a fantastic understanding of the importance of using fresh, quality ingredients.

Little Saigon Cuisine ^^^½

2007-05-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

237 Division St NW, Olympia

Date of visit: 5/17/07

What we had:
Pad Thai w/ chicken, #6 Soup, spring rolls, Thai iced tea, Cà phê sữa đá

While the name of the #6 soup has been forgotten during the ride home, the unique flavors in the soup are memorable. Rice noodles, clear broth, squid, prawns, bbq pork, and ground pork aren't a combination normally seen but surprisingly they work well together.

Spring rolls should always taste as good as this. Fresh mint leaves and quality lettuce and bbq pork set them apart from your average spring roll. The peanut dipping sauce was a perfect blend with essences of real peanuts and hoisin.

The cà phê sữa đá was too sweet and it was served already mixed so there wasn't the fun element of waiting for the coffee to drip through the filter, stirring it together, and pouring it over ice.

The pad thai was unexpectedly not orange, but rather a more greenish in color. This didn't detract one bit from its flavor and the flavor of the similarly colored sauce. Bits of chicken breast were mingling with the noodles and tasted as if they were marinated for hours prior to being cooked.

My skewered chicken strips were quite tasty, with a nice tumeric spice, mildly peppered flavor. Again, they must have been marinated for hours to achieve the flavor.

The Thai iced tea was on par with the cà phê sữa đá, in that it was rather sweet, even for my liking of sweets. A first-timer with the iced tea...though, I would order it again, no question. What's not to like about iced tea that's creamy and sweet with a hint of what seemed to be caramel?

The service overall was quite acceptable. The servers could have been a bit more attentive to us when ready to order. They did visit our table more often throughout the course of the meal making sure we were satisfied.

Phở 38 ^^^^

2007-05-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

3815 South Steele St, Tacoma

Date of visit: 5/16/07

What we had:
Various types of Phở (including rare beef, meatballs, and brisket), spring rolls, and pot stickers.

Bowls of steaming Phở were served up soon after ordering. The broth was satisfying and once the obligatory basil, hot peppers, bean sprouts, and lime juice were added, the complex yet balanced flavors was nothing short of beautiful.

The Cà phê sữa đá (iced chicory coffee) didn't disappoint either. It was strong and sweet, the perfect complement to the meal.

GameWorks Grill ^

2007-05-14T02:04:00.000-07:00

1511 7th Ave, Seattle

Date of visit: 5/13/07

What we had:
The Works burger, turkey burger, and babyback ribs

The toppings on The Works burger were good, but the meat itself wasn't seasoned at all which detracted from the overall taste.

The turkey burger lacked any seasoning as well.

Apparently there is a shortage of potatoes somewhere because we each got approximately 10 french fries.

The babyback ribs were tasteless. McDonald's did a better job with the McRib. The accompanying cole slaw was acceptable.

Service was shoddy at best. After catching the eye of one of the servers who promptly ignored us, we stood around at the entrance for a few mins before deciding to seat ourselves. Our server kept disappearing even though it wasn't busy and we were the only table in his section. He didn't check on us once the food was served and his customer service skills need some polishing.

If you're going to GameWorks to play the games, you should stop somewhere/anywhere else beforehand to grab a meal.

Meconi's Italian Subs ^^^^½

2007-05-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

5225 Lacey Blvd SE, Lacey

Date of visit: 5/8/07

What we had:
Italian, Meatball, and Turkey subs, Snickerdoodle cookies

If you've never been to Meconi's and are used to Subway or Quizno's, get in your car and head over right this minute.

Sandwiches, done well, are a thing of beauty and Meconi's knows sandwiches. You just have to see the lines out the door at lunchtime to see that many people agree.

Freshly baked bread that actually tastes/smells/feels fresh. East Coast style subs with quality meats (my fave is Capicola) that come with mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, provolone cheese, italian oil and oregano.

Oh and the cookies were soft and fresh tasting as well. I'm still thinking about that sandwich.

Main Chinese Buffet ^^^¾

2007-05-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

5580 Martin Way E, Lacey

Date of visit: 5/7/07 - ^^^½

What we had:
Sushi, assorted Chinese food

The sushi at this establishment is what really elevates it to a higher level amongst the field of Chinese buffets. Included were the standard krab, tuna, and avocado sushi, but also surprisingly fresh sashimi (ahi, sake, and one other I wasn't able to identify), tako and unakyu, oysters, seaweed, and kimchee.

The Chinese dishes were pretty good. The fish in soy sauce, sui mai (pork dumplings), and Indian chicken were delicious.

We weren't particularly thrilled with the mushrooms which were bathed in butter and the chicken teriyaki was a little fatty. The Mongolian beef was decent, rather average.

Service was attentive and even on a Monday night, the place was bustling with customers- a testament to it's popularity.

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Date of visit: 5/20/07 - ^^^^

Visit two. The sushi was a winner once again. New varieties were available for trying, including a lovely roe and cucumber nigiri that can best be described as giving little bursts of fishiness in your mouth.

There are even hidden treasures to be found, and they are worth the search. At the end of the main food line, there is what appears to be a stack of steaming baskets. The treasure is that each of the baskets contains something different, including delectable sui mai that tastes every bit as good as the kind served in top dim sum restaurants in San Francisco. If the clear dumpling with yellow paste is there, you must try one. Or two.

Also, save a little room for dessert. At the end of the dessert line on the left, the white almond jello is light and fresh. Try some with a little mandarin orange. It's the perfect end to a meal.

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Date of Visit: 06/15/07 - ^^^

Visit three. It seems with each visit our plates become heavier with sushi and lighter with the meat. Don't get me wrong, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Overall, everything was on par with our past experiences here, no complaints there.

Of special note, however, was the coconut shrimp they offered. Being a guy with a sweet tooth, I enjoy coconut shrimp almost too much. Simply put: No, don't do it. There was a special ingredient in the sauce that deadened the sweetness and about wiped my appetite. I thought it tasted of wasabi, but the foodie wasn't convinced. It just wasn't good. For that reason alone, they get a 3-star rating this time.

Island Cafe ^^

2007-05-04T06:53:00.000-07:00

830 Pioneer Way SE #7, Oak Harbor

Date of visit: 5-3-07

This little cafe is nestled in a little shopping area in downtown Oak Harbor.

What we had:
Fish, beef vegetable soup, coleslaw, garlic toast
Corned beef hash, hash browns, rye toast, eggs over medium, coffee

The generous portion of fish was breaded and a cooked to a nice golden brown. The soup of the day was chosen in lieu of fries. It was decent. The garlic toast was a hit. The coleslaw was a bit heavy on the sauce without being overly vinegary like most, but scored points for not containing raisins.

The corned beef hash was good, it looked like a homemade mix rather than something out of a can. The hash browns and toast were average. The eggs were more over easy than over medium like I requested. Coffee was average restaurant quality.

Perla's Lumpia ^

2007-05-04T06:29:00.000-07:00

1281 SE Ely St, Oak Harbor

Date of visit: 5-3-07

We stopped at this Filipino mini-mart/restaurant on Whidbey Island because the sign in the window advertised lumpia. The short menu contains standard Filipino dishes like pancit, lechon, tilapia, and of course lumpia. We ordered the lumpia which was cooked fresh and picked up a some kutsinta and ube biko as well.

The lumpia was okay. I wouldn't order it from them again though, as the filling wasn't that flavorful and it differed greatly from the lumpia I had in the Philippines.

The kutsinta and ube biko were average- not much flavor in either.

Noodle Dynasty Restaurant ^^^

2007-05-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

4315 6th Ave SE Suite A, Lacey

Date of visit: 5-2-07 - ^^

What we had:
Almond chicken, pork fried rice, egg roll, wonton soup, sweet and sour pork

The food and service were both decent. What stood out for me was the wonton soup. Light flavor, piping hot, generous use of green onion- it's what I would order as a main dish on a future visit.

The almond chicken was what you'd normally expect, no surprises, though I wasn't crazy with the slightly too much crunch to the breading.

The fried rice was bland, though the slices of bbq pork throughout were a nice addition.

A slight salad comprised of shredded lettuce and rice vinegar seasoned julienned carrots would have been better had the lettuce been given a sprinkle of the rice vinegar as well.

The egg roll was decent, nothing notable about it though.

Though the sweet and sour pork was coated with that unnatural glowing red stuff passed off as sweet and sour sauce, surprisingly the pork itself was tender upon biting into it- a pleasant change from most restaurants in the area.

Service was okay. Fairly attentive and very polite. Food was served quickly.

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Date of visit: 5/22/07 - ^^^½

What we had:
Wonton soup w/ bbq pork and wonton soup with roasted chicken, Vietnamese chicken sandwiches

Best wonton soup outside of San Francisco's Chinatown, hands down. Savory broth, rice noodles, hearty wonton, and a generous helping of on-the-bone roasted chicken with bok choy and green onion.

The sandwiches were a good deal at under three dollars. The bread tasted freshly baked, roasted chicken, julienned carrot and cucumber, onion, and a surprise- green peppers. If you're not a fan of jalapeños, you might want to request them to hold the peppers. Normally though, Vietnamese sandwiches have a light vinegar based dressing, where this one involved mayonnaise. These would be a good choice to pick-up on your way to Huntamer Park for the City of Lacey's Summer Concerts in the Park or Outdoor Cinema series this summer.

Great India Cuisine ^^^

2007-04-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

116 4th Ave W, Olympia

Date of visit: 4-30-07

What we had:
Samosa, Roti, Palak Aloo, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken curry, and Mango juice

I've been wanting to try this place for awhile now and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and selection available.

The samosas came with three dipping sauces- tamarind, chili, and some sort of green herb sauce. They were crispy on the outside with just the right texture inside.

I happen to love roti, which is similar to a tortilla, only thicker.

I seemed to be the only fan of the palak aloo, a potato in spinach sauce dish. The rest of our group thought it to be either too bland or they expected whole spinach instead of spinach sauce.

The chicken tikka masala was in a very flavorful sauce loaded with veggies, however the chicken seemed a little dry and wasn't cooked/marinated in the sauce, just added at the end.

The chicken curry was good, but not exceptionally remarkable. But, then again, I am very, very particular about curry having an ethnic heritage synonymous with curries.

The teenager in our group had mango juice to drink and thought it was brilliant.

Chopsticks ^

2007-04-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

119 5th Ave SW, Olympia

Date of visit: 4-28-07

What we had:
Bubble Tea (blueberry, peach, and honeydew)

We've had better bubble tea before. It wasn't cold enough, wasn't mixed thoroughly, tapioca balls were added to the blueberry when we asked for none, and the large size comes in regular Pepsi cups instead of the usual plastic ones. They were also out of many flavors.