Subway on the Ave

Subways are everywhere.  It is quite likely that you have eaten at one if not more.  If not, let me orient you.  They are a sandwich shop.  They make 12" submarine sandwiches and 6" submarine sandwiches.  You can also get them on flatbread or as a salad, but most customers order submarine sandwiches.  You can choose the type of bread; there are probably six different types.  The bread is baked on site so it can be quite fresh.  You can get it toasted or not toasted.  You pick your fillings: meat/veggie patty, cheese, veggies, condiments.  The sandwiches are made in a sort of assembly line and your participation is required.  Voila!  Chips, soda, cookies are available.  The prices are reasonable and there are daily specials that are even less expensive.

I ordered the 12" Veggie Delite.  It's just a slice or two of cheese, veggies, and condiments, but it's plenty of food if you have a normal appetite.  I've had the veggie patty and it's okay but sometimes I just want cheese, no patty.  No chips, no soda, no cookies.   I got it to go which is the usual way, but most locations have tables.

The Subway on University Way

Daily specials.  The price is for the 6".

The sandwich is wrapped in paper, then tucked into a plastic bag with napkins.

Veggie Delite 12" submarine sandwich.

Cheese, veggies, honey mustard.

Finn MacCool's Irish Public House

Finn MacCool's Irish Public House

4217 University Way NE

Seattle, WA  98105

Finn MacCool's website

Who would have predicted it?  This is a hidden gem.  My friend and I visited Finn's around 1:00 pm for lunch.  We got a booth.  It was relatively quiet - no shouting required to carry on a conversation across the table from each other.  The waitress was very attentive, filling our beverage glasses whenever there was the slightest chance that we were about to take the last swallow.

The menu was fairly extensive.  There were a number of non-meat options, some quite unique, some standard bar food.  I ordered the veggie grill, a sandwich of grilled vegetables, including sweet potatoes, covered in melted cheese, and served on a toasted french roll.  Sandwiches come with fries, tater tots, or cole slaw.  For $2 more, you can have a salad, soup, or sweet potato fries.  I skipped the side altogether, sensing that the sandwich would be more than enough.  My lunch companion wanted soup.  They had clam chowder and crab bisque.  The waitress brought her samples of each.  She was able to order a bowl that was 50/50 clam chowder/crab bisque.  It was a large bowl and was served with sliced french bread and butter.

You've probably seen the sign, but have you ever gone inside?

Yes, there is a bar, a full bar.

The bowl of soup (crab bisque and clam chowder) served with french bread and butter.

Amazing veggie grill sandwich.  I only finished half and ate the other half for lunch the next day.  It was fantastic!  Be sure to ask for a fork.  

Definitely decorated in pub style, dark wood, tiffany lamps, pool tables in the back, darts anyone?

Our little booth post-lunch.

Expect to pay a little more than that fast food places, but you are seated at a table and waited on.  The portions are generous, the service excellent.  Just say yes!

Chipolte

Chipotle

4229 University Way NE

Seattle, WA  98105

(206) 547-4644

Chipotle Website

 

I thought I would skip Chipotle.  What could I say that hasn't already been said or thought or written about in the journals?  But I found myself walking in to check out the menu and the prices and I was sucked in.  Ever since the food poisoning problem a few years ago, I haven't had any interest in eating here, but what the heck.  

Interestingly I guess I didn't remember the menu.  They basically serve three items:  burritos, salads, and bowls.  There is a lot of choice with each.  I decided to go for the Sofritos.  What's that?  It's some sort of spicy meat substitute made from tofu.  It's even vegan.  It was wonderful. I had it in a bowl with lettuce, beans, brown rice, fresh salsa, and a dusting of cheese - 'cause I am a vegan of the loose-observance school.

It was great!  It was priced reasonably, and I watched them make it.  

My only complaint about the Chipotle's on the Ave is that I had to ask the staff to repeat every single sentence that they spoke to me because the place is noisy, really, really noisy.  So I wouldn't recommend going there with friends for conversation and I wouldn't recommend working there or spending much time there because eventually you will go deaf.  What?  Yep, like that.  I got mine to go and ate it at my desk.

Check out the photos on their website.

Best of Bento

Best of Bento

4245 University Way NE

Seattle, WA  98105

(206) 633-3262

Best of Bento Facebook Page

I'm still catching up on some of these, so I don't remember what this meal cost.  However, I do remember that it was yummy with lots of variety.  For you meat-eaters out there, I'm sure you'll do just fine.  To my fellow vegetarians, fear not, this place has something for you as well.  Just look!

Doesn't that look yummy?

I think I need to return to this place.

I wonder what else they have?

China First

China First

4237 University Way NE

Seattle, WA  98105

(206) 634-3553

China First Website

Chinese New Year?  You bet!  My granddaughter's kindergarten class cooked Chinese fried rice.  It sounded so good that I thought we could have it for dinner, but we didn't.  What to do?  I know!  Go to China First and get my own.  Who says that I have to get a whole meal?  

Street view - oh so typical of the Ave

Oh, look!  There's a lunch special.  Maybe I'll get a bargain!

Order to go please!

Inside view at about 1:00 pm

Back at the office after paying almost $10...the vegetable fried rice was not one of the lunch specials and all I got was fried rice, a packet of soy sauce, and a fortune cookie.  Will these businesses never learn?

Yummy!  All sorts of vegetables and tofu.  Soy sauce added.  Enough for lunch for two days. Okay maybe the price wasn't so bad after all.

So many places to eat on the Ave.  China First has standard American Chinese food.  The menus are easy to read.  The prices are in the mid-range.  The staff were nice but in a bit of a hurry even though it was after the lunch rush.  Maybe one of the these days I'll try the lunch special.

Nisai Teriyaki

Nasai Teriyaki

4305 University Way NE

Seattle, WA  98105

(206) 632-3572

Nasai Teriyaki Website

This is a long narrow restaurant.  The service is fast and there is usually a bit of a line at lunchtime.  Eat in or take out.  Atmosphere conducive to conversation with friends or contemplation.  Prices are reasonable; portions are large.  No photos though.  Guess I'll have to return!

I returned to Nasai with a colleague.  Photos this time.

Tucked between other small businesses on University Way...

...the sandwich board may catch your eye.  Do not be deceived, not all offering are meat-based.

Walk in to the business from University Way and continue to the back of the long, narrow restaurant.  Orders are taken, you pay, then you wait, take-in or take-out.  Hot tea and water are self-serve.  A number of condiments are available.  If you need condiments to-go, let the person taking your order know and they will give you little covered cups of the condiment already prepared.

There is a wide variety to choose from and most prices are below $10.  A number of non-meat options are available.

Enjoy the numerous license plates and road signs that decorate the walls.

Or get take out.  This is the tofu yakisoba, very tasty and filling.

The chicken teriyaki special

Shredded beef special - my colleague did not care for it, too dry.  She ate the meat the next day with french bread and broth.