Sushi Hana @ Bothell

If you are a Sushi lover and are in the Bothell area, try this all new conveyer-belt Sushi place at Thrasher's Corner. Located in a strip mall, this place is clean and sparsely decorated. I would love to call this place the Japanese Tapas joint or something. Small color coded plates representing different prices (ranging from $1.00 to $3.00) scoot on the conveyor belt ready to be picked up and devoured.  If you have trouble spotting the veggie plates, just tell the Chef and he will be happy to make them fresh for you! You could sit along the belt or in one of the booths. Why I like this more than Sushi Land or Sushi Connection? Tons of veggie options!

Conveyor belt @ Sushi Hana

Being Sushi lovers of epic proportions, A and I couldn't wait to try this place. The waitress brought us tea and menus. We told the chef what we wanted and the plates just kept coming one after the other. We started with the Veggie Roll. A dip in the soy sauce- wasabi mixture later we realized how much we missed Japanese food.

Veggie Roll

Veggie Tempura - Carrot, Broccoli, Potato and other veggies dipped in batter and fried. Delicious!

Veggie Tempura

Inari - Something we have never had before. It is a fried tofu packet stuffed with sushi rice. Oh, whatever! It was simply drool worthy!

Inari

Agedashi Tofu - Silken firm tofu, cut into cubes, lightly dusted with potato starch and then deep fried until golden brown. It is then served in a hot broth made of soy sauce and topped with finely chopped spring onion.

Agedashi Tofu

Egg Roll - This had only veggies and was yummy.

Egg Roll

Sesame Balls -  A type of fried pastry made from rice flour. The pastry is coated with sesame seeds on the outside and is crisp and chewy. The pastry is filled with sweet black bean paste.

Seasame Balls

And then we spotted the Super Veggie Roll and had to have it.

Super Veggie Roll

And, we had to end it with the Cheesecake. Where do you get a Cheesecake for $2.50? This place is definitely worth checking out, folks!
 

Cheesecake

Mr.Gyros in Greenwood

With a one month old baby in tow, long, elaborate weekend lunches are a thing of past. These days we prefer some place where the service is fast and the food, delicious. Since we were in the neighborhood, and the restaurant is voted for #1 gyros in Seattle, we stopped by for a yummy Sandwich.

A typical fast-food / take-out joint. So, yes, no noteworthy ambiance. L shaped counter with some stools. Menu on the wall. An open kitchen and a billing counter. Oh, the long line at the counter!

Coming to the point,  things I like about Mr.Gyros:

• $ restaurant, perfect for a quick meal or take out.
• We ordered a falafel and veggie gyro and it was ready in supersonic speed. Beware, if you order the wrong sandwich (like we did) and want to change it, sorry, too late.
• Bottomless, hot mint tea at no cost!

The food - Well, as always, vegetarians have only two options - the Veggie and the Falafel Gyros.

Falafel Gyro

Veggie Gyro

However, one could order the plate that comes with  hummus or baba ganoush, rice, greek salad & pita bread. Both the sandwiches were good, though nothing exemplary. There are other restaurants that make an equally good ones. But if you are in the neighborhood and want a quick lunch fix, then, a definite must try.

Mission @ West Seattle

My birthday and a craving for something I haven't had in a while found us at this Latin restaurant on a beautiful Thursday evening. Mission is a dark and dimly lit lounge cum restaurant, where the decor is very earthy and stylish and the attitude is quite casual. Stone walls, candle lights, date night, anyone? Grab a table and seat yourself, yo!

Mission, West Seattle

Either on the first floor or on the second level balcony which overlooks the bar on the floor below.

The bar @ Mission

Unlike most restaurants where the waitress introduces herself with a big basket of bottomless chips and spicy salsa, here, you order chips. They have a really huge menu with interesting appetizers and entrees, with good vegetarian options.

We started with Stuffed Jalapenos - Pan fried Jalapenos stuffed with cheese and mexican chocolate. There were a measly four pieces for $6. It was very different from anything I have had. The Jalapenos were spicy, obviously, and the cheese and chocolate gave it a sweetish taste. If you have a low tolerence for spice, I would say stay off from this one. But if you are a spice lover like me, you will relish it. It was fantastic!

Stuffed Jalapenos

We then got the Sweet Pappas – Sweet potatoes and roasted peppers, topped with cotija cheese. It tasted a lot like, well, sweet potatoes. Nothing glorious. Just some finely chopped sweet potatoes and some scanty peppers tossed in oil and topped with cotija cheese. It actually helped balance the heat from the stuffed Jalapenos.

Sweet Pappas

Sometime back I reviewed the best Chile Relleno I have had here. I also mentioned that no place in Seattle makes such good ones. I now take it back, because at Mission, we had the exact same plate of Rellenos. I was totally zapped when the waitress brought over the plate. It was plated and tasted just like the one we had at Palm Beach.
Chile Relleno – Two roasted anaheim peppers stuffed with three cheese mix, pablano potatoes, roasted corn, and toasted hazelnuts. Battered, flash fried, and served with red rice, black beans chili roja sauce, and garnished with crème fresca.

Chili Releno

So, yes. Just for their Rellenos, I wouldn't mind the long trek to West Seattle.