- Address: 1601 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA (Downtown near Westlake)
- Type: Sandwiches/Salads/Coffee
- Pricing: $8/person
- Rating: 4/5 stars
website for this chain
They have a short menu, but all the items are decent and moderately priced (about $7 for their cobb salad, my favorite). Their breakfast is pretty good, $4 will get you a breakfast sandwich (bagel and a couple toppings like mozzarella or egg or bacon or whatever) and a grande coffee.
Their coffee is pretty good for a chain restaurant that doesn’t even specialize in coffee, and it maybe the best place for getting a soy latte downtown (or at least the best place closest to my work). The difference is that they don’t use Silk Soy Milk, and it makes their lattes more frothy and with a smoother taste.
My co-workers eat here about 3-4 times a week for all meal times. I don’t eat in very often, but the atmosphere is nice and soothing, with many tables (some overlooking the street, some overlooking the Macy’s sales floor).
It’s important to note that they bake their own flatbread. It’s nice to kind of walk in, watch the guys rolling out dough and putting in the fire. You get a piece of bread with your salad, or, obviously, your sandwich is made with it. With your sandwich, you get the option of having a bag of chips (Tim’s) or a bag of carrots as your side, a nice and healthy option. Personally, I hate carrots, and I wish they offered a couple more options, like sliced apples or celery.
- Address: 15169 N.E. 24th St., Redmond, WA (Near Arby’s)
- Type: Vietnamese
- Pricing: $6/person
- Rating: 3/5 stars
website for this restaurant
Decent pho, fast service when they are paying attention to you. The biggest problem I have found with this place is that they are always extremely crowded, and it can sometimes be a bit of a wait just to sit down, let alone get someone to notice that you sat down and that you now need a menu. The make less than 10 flavors of bubble tea from powder.
I have started going to Pho Tai just a block or two away.
- Address: 14701 NE 20th St, Bellevue, WA
- Type: Vietnamese
- Pricing: $6/person
- Rating: 3/5 stars
Usually not crowded at all, though recently I’ve noticed more and more people hanging out there. Standard pho, plus some decent looking dishes for someone who might not want to eat pho - like the teriyaki chicken plate which comes with way too much chicken. They make a couple flavors of bubble tea, and though their menu says they make hot milk tea, they always say they can’t do it everytime I ask.
Always pretty good service, nice atmosphere, good crowd. I have started coming here more often than Pho Hoa, mostly because I can sit down and eat right away. Today it seemed like their pho was a little more greasy than usual, but it could have just been me.
- Address: Crossroads Mall, Bellevue, WA (Near Stage)
- Type: Bubble Tea/Coffee
- Pricing: $3/person
- Rating: 4/5 stars
A short (and incomplete) listing of Crossroads restaurants
Not too bad and never really crowded (at least, the mall is crowded but the line for bubble tea is short).
My new favorite thing lately is hot milk tea with the mini-tapioca balls, and this place is alright. Gossip on University Ave is way better.
Although it’s a mall, the Crossroads has free WiFi and has ample seating. Also, there is a lively gaming crowd at the north end with a giant chess board and lots of games to purchase at Uncle’s Games right near by. A great place to enjoy your bubble tea and hang out for a bit.