For bountiful Italian options, that’s Amante
January 18, 2011
Since Amante Pizza and Pasta moved from its old location on Locust Street to its newer digs in downtown Issaquah, we felt it was an opportune time to revisit this Italian eatery.
Those who were fond of Amante’s quaint, Italian villa vibe may be disappointed in the new mix of faux-industrial Tuscan décor.
A dining companion astutely noted the sparse interior could have done with booths lining the walls. And individual lamps extending over the tables would add some much-needed intimacy. Read more
Joker offers satisfying sports bar fare — no fooling
December 28, 2010
The Joker Pub & Grill has a laid-back atmosphere, with plenty of flat-screen TVs to watch the game. In the early evening hours, it’s filled with people grabbing a beer with friends or co-workers before they head home for the night.
The menu consists of your regular bar food, along with some interesting items. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, try french fries or tater tots smothered in sausage gravy.
Maybe you want to go out of your comfort zone and order the peanut butter bacon burger. The name pretty much says it all — yes, the burger really does have melted peanut butter on it, along with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, the patty, mayonnaise and bacon.
When you first bite into the burger, your mouth is bombarded with the flavor of the homemade (daily) beef patty and the flavor of peanut butter. It almost tastes like something you would eat for breakfast, but is served with your choice of french fries, tater tots, onion rings, salad or the soup of the day.
Hidden satisfaction awaits at Back of Bella Deli
October 19, 2010
Easy to miss but not easily forgotten, Back of Bella Deli is a charming local spot with simple-yet-elegant food and a comforting atmosphere.
With its exposed brick walls, small tables and casual environment, the building provides a comfortable space for lunch, dinner or a cup of coffee.
Located off of Front Street in Issaquah, behind counterpart wine bar Vino Bella, the deli is hidden from view on the main street but is worth searching for. Open daily from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., all meals are covered with a menu that is sure to please a varied crowd.
Try one of the paninis and you will receive a sandwich grilled to perfection and served with a flavorful pickle and scoop of fresh egg salad. The options range from chicken breast with Swiss cheese, bacon, Dijon and tomatoes or the perfect concoction of roasted vegetables and caramelized onions in the veggie panini.
Get a fine bowl of pho locally at Jenny’s
October 5, 2010
Finally. Venturing to Seattle for a quality bowl of Vietnamese pho is no longer necessary.
Jenny Pho Vietnamese Noodle & BBQ sits conveniently here in Issaquah, just off of West Lake Sammamish Parkway, between Costco and PCC Natural Market.
On a lazy Sunday afternoon, just after it had opened, it was already filling up quickly and people were greeted by a smiling hostess and seated immediately.
The interior is fresh, modern and clean. Traditionally painted flowers decorate the wall, a serene waterfall trickles away in the corner and sprinkles of plants fill the restaurant, giving it a relaxing, peaceful vibe, despite being a busy lunch hour. Windows line half of the restaurant, allowing ample natural lighting to shine through. Vietnamese music plays softly in the background.
For anyone unfamiliar with pho, it is a wildly popular Vietnamese soup noodle dish that consists of flat rice noodles simmering in either a beef or chicken broth. Various types of meats can be added, often chicken, beef or seafood, or it can remain vegetarian.
Billy Bob’s gives diners burger, barbecue alternative
February 23, 2010
What you’ll find at Billy Bob’s Burgers & BBQ is a great lunch hour or afternoon escape from the workday grind or a place on the weekend for sports action in the bar. Read more
Dig into the duck and dumplings at Macky’s Dim Sum
February 2, 2010
Put down the chopsticks, or maybe a fork, and ignore the stares from other diners, because the menu at Macky’s Dim Sum presents a hand-eye coordination challenge. Order the roasted duck — lacquered skin and moist meat presented in oh-so-neat rows — and utensils will be rendered useless. Read more
Thai Ginger does justice to top-billed ingredient
January 12, 2010
When a restaurant includes a signature ingredient in the name above the door, the act amounts to a challenge to diners, almost as if the owners laid down a gauntlet. Try the namesake dish, the menu demands. We dare you.
Thai Ginger, where the potent root receives top billing, deploys the main ingredient in the Thai Ginger House Special — assorted vegetables and protein studded with matchsticks of the spicy-sweet tuber. Consider the dish a litmus test. Include too much ginger, and the flavor bludgeons other players into submission. Skimp on ginger, and fail to do justice to the title dish.
Cucina! Cucina! is delicious-ina!
January 5, 2010
No matter where you are in this country, there is sure to be an Italian restaurant nearby. In Issaquah, Cucina! Cucina! Italian Café should be on your radar.
The restaurant — near Issaquah’s Regal Cinemas in Pickering Place — has been serving up tasty Italian food for years.
When you first walk through the door, you’re greeted with bright, high-energy colors and decorations. This gives diners a fun environment in which to eat their meals.
Most tables are near coat hangers as well, which come in tremendously handy on cold and often wet winter days.
Bring your appetite for teriyaki to Chopsticks
December 15, 2009
It might seem a bit of a drive for Issaquah residents to get to Chopsticks Teriyaki Wok in Preston. But the food was worth it on a recent Sunday, sandwiched in between shopping in Issaquah and Fall City. Read more
Margaritas, merriment abound at Agave Cocina & Tequilas
November 17, 2009
The times, tough. The cupboard, bare. In all of the ways the Great Recession has taken a toll — on budgets and belt-tightening — the crimp on posh noshing stings the most. Read more
