Seattle Bars & Restaurants | Pacific Lock and Key

Now, I know this is supposed to be a site about Seattle bars and restaurants, giving you all the latest information not only on how hot a spot is, but actually how cool it is, but I from time to time there are other Seattle businesses that deserve a shout out so that people know how good they are. This is one of those times.

I may have already told this story, but a couple of months ago it snowed in Seattle. I'm sure you knew that if you were in the city at all at that time, because about half the streets were closed (by the way, I'm from Kansas, and that the city only had something like 10 snow plows blew my mind!). I didn't mind though. I have four wheel drive SUV (now, before all you greenies start to get mad and harp at me, you must know it is a Toyota 4Runner, which is on the smaller side and uses much less gas than you'd think). Because it was snowing, however, there was no chance to really get out to a favorite Seattle sports bar or Seattle restaurant. We didn't want to get in a log jam with any crazy drivers.

Instead we decided to head on out to Fred Meyer, our semi-local grocery store, to pick up some goodies, and some board games (I think). Basically we were going to drink at home and have a good old time. On the way, however, I noticed I needed gas. So I pulled into the next gas station I see, get out of the car, and fill 'er up, no problem. When I get back into the car and try to start it, however, the key won't turn in the ignition. The car still works fine, but it is as if the key is for a different car. So we freak out, talk to the gas station guy, he says he's going to tow us if we don't move (by this time there are 6 inches of snow on the ground - he's not towing us anywhere). We leave the car, call Pacific Lock & Key, a Seattle locksmith, and he says he can come first thing in the morning and take care of us.

We met the guy at the gas station the next morning, and I must say, I couldn't be happier with the service we received. He told us what the problem was (the tumblers on the ignition had worn out), tried to fix it the super cheap way, and then told us what he'd have to do to fix it all the way. He was very good at his job, worked very quickly, and charged a very reasonable fee. And then, the next day, when I freaked out and thought the key wasn't working again, he came out to the house, no questions asked, to help me out (I'd tell you that story but it is really embarrassing).

The reason I wanted to write about Pacific Lock & Key (206-784-2332) is because I feel like no matter where you are it is sometimes hard to find a trustworthy person in a service business (car mechanic, plumber, doctor, lawyer, dentist). So when I have an experience that I think is very good, I want to let all of you know about that so you can give them a try. And I would say I recommend these guys 100%.

Next time you will get another great Seattle restaurant review, probably involving wine and cheese (Portalis Wine Shop). Talk to you then!!

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Seattle Restaurants | Silence-Heart-Nest

You've already read a couple of couple of Seattle restaurant and Seattle bar reviews in my quest to find the best restaurants and bars in Seattle, but I've got something new for you today. This is my first breakfast/brunch/lunch cafe type of establishment I'll be reviewing. It's called Silence-Heart-Nest, and it is nestled in the heart of downtown Fremont. Here we go.

My wife and I actually ended up in Fremont in the first place in a pretty funny way. It was right after the big snowstorm that happened in December, and the night before our car broke down at a gas station in Fremont. It wasn't an engine problem or anything; the key actually got worn down enough that it no longer properly pushed down the tumblers in the ignition. Basically the key in our car stopped working. It was a pretty strange night.

Needless to say, the locksmith met us at the gas station the next day, so we walked to Fremont to meet him. We live in the Wallingford area, so it wasn't a long walk. And the snow was gorgeous, so we hiked over there. Once we met the locksmith (a great guy who will be reviewed later) he told us it would be about an hour before he'd be done working, so we walked over to Silence-Heart-Nest to grab a bite to eat. We'd never heard of the place before. We went there because it looked inviting.

When we first walked in to Silence-Heart-Nest it looked like what we expected it to look like - a cafe in Seattle. It wasn't spectacular, with a bunch of small tables spread throughout, a little breakfast bar people could sit at, and a couple of booths. The place was clean, but definitely gave off the vibe of a place with it's own style. In this case, that style is vegetarian, with a little bit of an extreme liberal vibe thrown in (what I mean is, when you walk in, you know it could be put together a little better and run a little better, but it's almost as if everyone is suffering a little because it's what is supposed to be done - probably doesn't make much sense, but I'm okay with that).

When we sat down our waitress was not friendly but not rude. I think she could tell that we were neither regulars nor necessarily the demographic they like to attract. I don't think that necessarily affected the level of service; again, I got the feeling you were supposed to suffer a little. I ordered an orange juice that came out pretty warm, and my wife ordered an espresso that after about 3/4 of the way done was refilled with coffee (she was not impressed).

The food, once it made its way out, was okay, but slightly overpriced (I think that is what you can expect at a place that bills itself as strictly vegetarian). I would give the food a passing grade. It didn't blow me away nor make me queasy. I had biscuits and gravy and a blueberry muffin. My wife had eggs Benedict. It was a nice cafe breakfast. And once our water was gone, it was never refilled. As you can tell, the service was a little suspect.

For my first Seattle breakfast restaurant review, it was a little shaky. I think it's safe to say I probably won't be going back again, both because the food and service were a little shaky and because it isn't really my scene (I have nothing against vegetarians or the whole super left wing vibe - and I'm not grouping them together - but I felt like people were eyeballing me the entire time). To get some of that Fremont vibe, it might be worth checking out once.

In the end Silence-Heart-Nest was just okay. If you get stuck in Fremont and need to eat and nothing else is open, I'd give it a shot. Otherwise, there is enough other selection around to have a better experience (and I hate giving even slightly negative Seattle restaurant reviews, but I just can't help it here).

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Seattle Bars and Restaurants | The Ram

If you are new to Seattle and want to go to a restaurant that can serve both as a fine dining establishment and a great sports bar, The Ram Restaurant & Brewery is the place to go. Well, fine dining in a great city like Seattle might be a stretch, but it is a great place to grab a bite to eat if you want to change your nightly routine up a little (the food is good is all I'm saying). And, if you time it right, while you are wining and dining your wife or husband you can catch that Seattle Seahawks game or University of Washington Huskies basketball or football game without catching a bunch of flack.

For a little background, the Ram is a restaurant chain located throughout the greater Seattle area. Because I live in the Wallingford area, I frequent the Ram located in the University Village shopping center. I've been there several times to get prepared for both UDub basketball and football games and University of Kansas basketball and football games (I'm a huge Jayhawks fan and love going to any bar that will show a KU game).

No matter what your view of a traditional sports bar is, the Ram will not disappoint. The theme of the restaurant is sports, but they have not forgotten that people need to eat when there isn't much on television. Because of that, there is a central dining area, with an exposed kitchen, that services your regular dining crowd. And, as I've already said, the food is good. The menu ranges from burgers and sandwiches to steaks, pasta, and your traditional dining fare. It's really as good for sports watching as it is for taking a date for dinner.

And if you are looking for a traditional sports bar in Seattle, this is also the place to be. At the UVillage location, all you have to do is walk to the back of the restaurant to put yourself in sports bar heaven. Although it may be a little be more subdued than Fox Sports Grill in downtown Seattle, it definitely gets the job done. With a full service bar that comes to a "T" in the middle and plenty of high top tables and booths, it is definitely a great place to be for a big game. If you are going to go, however, you better get there early. It fills up quick, and I must admit that the service can be a little slow at times (when the place is packed, I mean). I stopped by there before the UW vs. ASU game last week and left before I even got a beer it was so packed and took so long to get a drink. Despite that, I'd still recommend it.

Another great aspect of The Ram is it's happy hour specials. They have great drink and food specials (1/2 price appetizers I believe, which are super tasty). So, if you just need a drink to unwind after work, I'd also pop in there (one of the great things about the northwest is how early all the sports start in the evening - so even after work you can catch a little bit of what is usually a mildly entertaining game).

As for service, I'd rate it average at best. As I said, it can be slow at times, and I've gotten the feeling in there before that some of the waitstaff is not as interested in customer service as they should be. But the booze, the televisions, and the overall atmosphere make up for that.

Overall, I'd highly recommend the Ram in Seattle for all of your dining or sports needs. So, the next time you feel like a beer, a crowd, and a great sports scene, check it out. You won't be disappointed.

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