Thursday, February 7, 2008

The Hurricane Cafe

The Hurricane Cafe
2230 7th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 682-5858
website

Four out of Ten
Hurricane Cafe in Seattle

I am not sure when I will ever crave a 12 egg omelet, but at least now I know where to get one. The Hurricane Cafe, open 24 hours, with a room of pinball machines off to the right, and a stop light up front telling you to "Stop to be Seated", gets my pick for top hangover menu, offering up 4, 6 and 12 egg omelets and all-you-can-eat hashbrowns.

Not that you go here for the ambience, but it is a bit rundown, and has a strangely eclectic mix of interior, customers and employees, including full bar, jukebox, and photographs from hurricane Andrew (the second most destructive hurricane in American history). The service was good and attentive with a great cup of coffee that never ran empty.

The food is below cafeteria quality. I had the sausage omelet, and she had the bacon and eggs. Her eggs were undercooked, my omelet was tasteless, and the hashbrowns were bland and greasy. But then again, we were not hung-over, so unfair judges.

With reasonable prices, a good menu, and 24 hour service, the Hurricane is not the place to take your out of town grandmother. I can not imagine what this place is like at 3am when the bars close, but for a quick breakfast on Sunday morning.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Tulio's


Tulio's
1100 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 624-5500
website

Five out of Ten

Tulio Ristorante in Seattle

This week is supposed to be about breakfast at Tulio's. Tulio’s is a popular, quaint Italian place. But we are done with the disappointing hotel restaurants that continually serve a mundane and average breakfast. As convenient as it is to walk to go out, we have decided we can not find the breakfast spot we seek. We need to branch further and take more risks. From now on, white linen at breakfast is a bad thing, and the bland, uninspiring food is to be avoided.

Don't get me wrong. Tulio's is not a bad place, and I am sure the dinner or lunch service is one of the best in town. We continually read about the private dining room occupied by the rich and famous. But the breakfast is just nothing worth waking up for. Nice service, nice ambience, and white linen are all here, but the food is bland, the menu is predictable, and there is no way I could get excited to recommend starting your morning here. If you wake up at the Hotel Vintage Park, and need a meal, fine. Otherwise, dear eaters, we can do much better. And will.