“The best laid plans of mice and men…” I often mumble that to myself when something interrupts my scheduled plans. This is mostly because, typically, I don’t make many plans. So on those rare occasions when I do, I hope for everything to go smoothly. Well, for quite some time now I have been meaning to visit Serafina for dinner; that had been my plan. Of course, as the above phrase alludes to, something always came about to disrupt those plans. Fortunately fate was on my side one warm Thursday evening.

My reservation had been made for 6 PM and I arrived an easy twenty-five minutes early. While I was expecting seating to be wall-to-wall, Serafina was only about a third of the way full. Despite being early I was seated promptly and asked my choice of an indoor or outdoor seat, my choice was one outside. On a warm day the choice of a spot on Serafina’s outdoor back patio is the best choice. The sun warms the brick and gentle breezes rustle the overhanging leaves of the trees; all the while jazz plays on the overhead outdoor speakers.

While I would have liked to have spent the entire evening on that patio I knew that my time was limited. So, I placed an order for Melanzane alla Serafina ($18.95), their signature dish. This entree came exactly as described on the menu. Thinly sliced “rolls” of eggplant had been stuffed to bursting with mild ricotta cheese, sprinkled with fresh basil, topped with mozzarella cheese and baked. When the plate arrived, ricotta was oozing from the eggplant but surprisingly the rolls of eggplant themselves held their shape. The ends of each, crisped along with the bubbly brown mozzarella. This gave a nice texture contrast to the creaminess of the eggplant and sweet flavor of the ricotta cheese. With every other bite came a fresh burst of flavor from the small strips of basil that lay hidden under melted cheese. Skirted with a ring of slightly garlic-y tomato sauce, the eggplant was rested atop a small mound of cappellini and topped with fresh parmesan cheese. This final addition of parmesan added a great nutty flavor to the overall dish.

While there are many places that have signature dishes that seem to have been scrawled by second graders, Serafina’s has the presence of a “John Hancock”. Add friendly, polite and knowledgeable service to this Italian restaurant and one can see why reservations are recommended. As well as why, by the time I left, nearly every seat in the house was taken.

In an ancient space on Queen Anne Avenue North sits a throwback to yesteryear. While there is always talk of the latest and greatest restaurant or cuisine in Seattle, your fusion cuisine, organic produce and free-range meats, there are some places where a greasy spoon is embraced. It turns out that Mecca Cafe in Lower Queen Anne is just such a place. Where the motto on their menu reads, “Not fine dining, just a fine diner”.

Upon walking through the entrance one is confronted with two choices, lounge on the right, comprised of older regulars, hipsters and indie kids or straight ahead to the diner proper. Split down the middle the restaurant portion of Mecca Cafe has booths down one side and counter on the other. Both booths and counter stools were clad in worn, black vinyl that could easily be fifty years old and behind the dark green Formica counter, restaurant fixtures that are probably much older. Service can be hit and miss most times, so I was unsure how quickly I’d get my order taken upon sitting down. But the waitress was with me in short order and I had my request in for a Hot Roast Beef Sandwich ($8.25).

My sandwich arrived open-faced. A small pile of thinly sliced beef supported on two sliced of bread cut on a diagonal wore a thick coat of brown gravy. The beef itself was rather bland on its own and was a little stringy in places. But the thick slices of egg bread were fluffy and flavorful and the gravy turned out to be the saving grace. That gravy is best defined as thick, beefy, salty and brown. It had a bold presence on the plate, adding flavor to what would have been a lifeless sandwich. Accompanying my sandwich was a small mountain of mashed potatoes that were slightly lumpy and very peppery. In the center of this mound was a crater of the afore mentioned gravy.

If you like diner style meals or just dinners that are cheap then Mecca Cafe is sure to please. Be forewarned though, service is not the strong suit of this restaurant. While I got my food in a timely manner, paying for my meal was another story. I spent nearly fifteen minutes waiting at the front register for someone to come back from wherever they had disappeared to. The dining area was empty of staff and I had to go back into the kitchen area to ask someone to find my waitress. So, diners beware.

I’m not sure if most people see French restaurants the same as I but to my mind the food and level of service, even in a bistro, should be above par. Most everyone I’ve known, when they think of fine dining, thinks of French cuisine. Julia Child taught many people to cook on PBS via French cooking. And why is that? It’s because there are so many in America that enjoy the food of France but are intimidated by the supposed amount of work that goes into preparing French inspired meals. While my experiences with French restaurants are limited, especially here in Seattle, my knowledge of French cooking techniques is fairly substantial. Having been a pupil of Mrs. Child’s PBS programming from an early age, I’ve made my share of French inspired meals. So it was that my expectations were set on high Saturday evening when I stopped at Le P’tit Bistro in Belltown

For dinner I ordered the Filet de Boeuf au Maitre d’Hotel ($19.50). The filet that arrived was of good size and supported a generous slice of Maitre d’Hotel otherwise known as parsley butter. The butter was a mellow addition and added little in the way of flavor. Not that the filet needed it. Pan seared, the meat wore a mahogany brown crust that sealed in a warm, juicy center. The caramelized, crunchy exterior helped to amplify the beefy flavor of the steak. Paired with the filet were several side dishes, some which appear on the menu and one that did not. Stated as coming with the filet was a Tomato Provencale, a halved tomato topped with breadcrumbs and herb, and Gratin Dauphinois also known as scalloped potatoes. The tomato was fairly anemic and soft while the breadcrumbs that topped it lacked any sort of flavor. The potatoes I enjoyed, thick slices of spud bathed in a mild cream sauce and cooked to fork tenderness. Personally I think they could have served more of these and less of the accompanying green beans that were overcooked, listless and flavorless. One side dish that appeared on the plate but was nowhere on the menu was a ragu of eggplant and tomato that had been topped with cheese and baked. This was actually a great side, the eggplant still retaining its shape and firmness, the cooked tomato added spiciness to the ragu and of course, all of this topped in cheese. While a great side I felt that it was out of place with this entree. From the filet to the parsley butter and potatoes, the entree was about delicate flavors and the ragu proved to be too rich and bold.

My dinner on Saturday evening turned out to be simply so-so. It was, however, the service that really turned me off during my visit. I’m not sure if it was my server’s first day on the job or what but for the nearly seventy-five minutes I was a Le P’tit, she spent only about ten minutes in the actual dining area serving customers. I would say that Le P’tit Bistro would be worth a repeat visit but with other French restaurants in town, including a newly opened Madrona restaurant, it may be a while before I can be tempted back.

When I first heard the name Fremont Classic and the Italian food they served my mind immediately went to cheaply made pasta, meatballs and pizza. This is perhaps the biggest reason that up until yesterday I had never eaten there. Driving up Fremont Av. it’s hard for one to really see the actual restaurant. Set back from the sidewalk and buffered by a small, three-car parking lot one may not think of Fremont Classic as a place to stop for a good dinner. But on closer inspection you see the accolades and top ratings posted on the door and inside on the walls. So perhaps this wasn’t to be plastic tablecloth Italian.

I arrived around 7 PM and there were a few booths taken in the main dining room and I could hear three or four additional groups in the back room. I was shown immediately to a nice seat right in the front window. It took a few minutes to get my order placed but once over that bump the staff and service was quick, attentive and friendly.

For dinner I decided upon the Chicken Picatta ($14.50), which comes with a choice of pasta or mixed vegetables, I chose the vegetables. The chicken that arrived was a whole, plump breast section. Lightly floured and pan fried it sat golden on the plate; clad in a shimmer-y sauce that was studded with capers and large quarters of artichoke heart. The chicken was a little dry and cottony on the thinner end of the breast, a condition that might be cured by pounding the breast to a more even thickness before cooking. However, it was only a small portion of the chicken that held this deficiency, the rest of the meat was moist and tender. The sauce was tart and lemony but not so much as to overpower the taste of the chicken or the just-cooked-through artichokes. My side of vegetables was an interesting contrast to the lemony tang of my Picatta chicken. Sautéed broccoli rabe, onions and carrots provided a buttery, caramelized to the pallet that helped to temper the zip of lemon.

It had not been my intention to have dessert at Fremont Classic, however, the sound of Strawberry Tiramisu ($5.00) turned out to be a temptation I couldn’t resist. Made with sponge cake and mascarpone, my tiramisu was made similar to a traditional tiramisu but with white chocolate and fresh, sliced strawberries layered inside. The sweet, tart strawberries played well against creamy, smooth mascarpone and the occasional crunch of bits of white chocolate.

So the old adage, “You can’t judge a book by its cover”, is true for restaurants as well. Fremont Classic has shown me my error in avoiding them for so long. The dishes are, it is true, Italian classics but nothing about them is stereotypical or outdated. Fresh flavors and ample portions are sure to satisfy.

Since moving to Seattle I have eaten at many a sandwich shop. Some of which have been reviewed on this very website. With all of the restaurant’s that cater to sandwiches, I doubt that I will get the chance to review them all. But there are some whose name appears on websites and in newspapers, sandwich places you can’t help but notice. It was such with Honey Hole, though it would be quite a while between when I first heard of them and when I finally decided to stop in for a bite.

When I walked into Honey Hole I was glad to be in off the street. The traffic on this particular afternoon had been gruesome and all I could think of was a sandwich and a beer. I was greeted immediately, handed a menu and within five minutes had my drink in hand and order placed. The atmosphere at Honey Hole is an eclectic mix of sandwich-focused restaurant, bar and all around hangout. With bric-a-brac hanging from the ceiling and walls (A cow skull with red lit eyes was perched above the door) the decor was something akin to T.G.I. Fridays on acid. A little on the darker side closer to the kitchen, the place gave off a good vibe from both the interior and my fellow patrons.

Soon my order was in front of me. The Gooch ($7.75) sat on a plate with a small pile of fries and a steaming cup of jus. The sandwich was oozing from the sides of the grilled sour dough roll with a mixture of cheddar cheese and mustard. I dipped half the sandwich into the jus and was greeted with a salty, beefy bite that reminded me of a cheeseburger. The roast beef was sliced thin and was tender as could be. The jus was mostly beef bouillon, a little salty but it worked well with the butter-toasted roll. Amid the beef and cheese were a multitude of onions that I could have done with about only half of. The fries were on the mediocre side though. Heavy and starchy they reminded me of cafeteria fries from high school. During dinner hours all sandwiches come with fries though I was offered potato salad. My thinking is next time I’ll try that potato salad or ask for a bag of chips; salt and vinegar being the flavor that I think would go best with this sandwich.

Go for the sandwiches, have a drink and chat with friends. Hang out by the front windows and people watch as the Capitol Hill traffic passes by. Honey Hole makes one tasty sandwich and has the atmosphere to complement.