Eatin' Out 'N' About at Purple Cafe and Wine Bar ~ Seattle, WA

Purple Cafe And Wine Bar 
Couple of locations but we went to: 
1225 4th Ave Seattle 98101

A few months back, fellow Hungry Housewife Dawn and I purchased tickets to see A Christmas Story- The Musical at the 5th Ave Theater.  OF COURSE if we are hitting Seattle, we want to go out to eat, too, so we checked out the recommended places from the theater which offers discounts.  


Last time we went to see a show, we ate at Rock Bottom right across the street.  Though it was good (bathroom was weird), we wanted to try something new so we walked over to Purple (get 10% off of total bill with ticket stub).  Luckily we got out of the theater quickly because they said they had a bunch of reservations coming in so we had our choice of bar seating.  


Purple's 2nd floor is more of a loft with a bar downstairs in the middle of everything or a more quieter bar upstairs where we sat.  It looked like they had a more private are in the back, the bar in the center and then these super comfy chairs that overlook the balcony.

Sorry Blurry!  Didn't want to use flash.

It was great because we got to watch a lot of prep-work they do up there but the small downside was we sat near the end which ended up being a little bit of an employee hangout.  Wasn't too bad though.

Having NO idea what to get, the menu is slightly intimidating but the waitress will explain it all to you.  There is regular dinner items or you can do Tastings (NOTE:  prices are for the FOOD- wine is additional $5 for each pairing).  

I'm just now "discovering" wine so I'm not sure what I like but I KNOW I don't like it too sweet or too dry.  The server recommended one of the Staff's favorite wines from a NW Winery: McKinley Springs 2008 Chenin Blanc Horse Heaven Hills.  It was sooooo good that after the first tasting, we ended up ordering a glass for $8.50 each (BTW- the cost per bottle was $32 so would have been cheaper overall but is only $12 from the winery itself).  It's described as being "Pale yellow wine with aromas of basil, honeydew melon, and the scent of fresh rain.  It has candied pineapple, nut and tropical fruit flavors.  Finishing with ripe fruit, good acidity and bracing minerality."  The only problem I had was that they gave us our tasting right away but nobody came back for another tasting or a refill when we got our food so we had to flag down somebody.

For pairings, you can get what you want but they recommend you choose 5 items which includes cheeses and prices starting at $3.00.  We ordered Feta Walnut Spread and Candied Walnuts, and Artichoke Hazelnut Spread With Toasted Hazelnuts (both $3 each- shown below left) which comes with pita-like strips.  The FW one was more of a mellow taste with these SUPER yummy candied walnuts on top.  It tasted best with a bite of the spread and the walnuts so I wish the pieces were smaller.  Then the AH was the better one (I love artichoke)- the hazelnuts didn't add anything to it though.

On the far right, is our Brandy Marinated Apricots and Onion, Herbed Goat Cheese Spread, Crostini ($4.00 item) which was topped with basil I believe, and White Prawn Ceviche, Cucumber, Avocado, Cilantro, and Red Peppers ($6.00).  The Apricot was SO. SO. good (which is should be at $2 a piece- it took longer to say the name than to eat it!).  I want to replicate this at home!  I also loved the Prawns which was really tangy but balanced perfect with the wine.

Next we ordered a Baked Brie.  The description for this was "apricot preserves, caramelized onions, candied walnuts, grapes and housemade crackers."  What it DIDN'T say is that it's baked into a phyllo bundle which was reallllllllllly good though it didn't leave you with a lot of cheese inside so was harder to eat with the crackers which were also yummy- reminded me of flattened cornbread.  The Brie is another I'd like to try to make at home.

We rounded out our meal by getting dessert.  The coffee- OH, STOP THE PRESSES (LOL) was THE best straight up coffee I've had at a restaurant.  The price was the best, too- $3.50 for a pretty pot full that says it's good for 2 cups (we squeezed out four).  Normally I would never order the Red Velvet Cake, Lavender Cream Cheese Icing but I'm glad I did- the icing was the best part!  We thought the dessert was a good price too but they're even smallller than the photo suggests (the Sticky Toffee Pudding Creme Brulee, Date Caramel was literally two bites) but for $3.50 each, it left you not feeling over-stuffed. 

We really liked it here- in fact, a week later, I woke up to a text from my friend saying, ""I have been thinking of the Purple Cafe for days!!  Especially their coffee!".  So who knows?  Maybe we'll come back for my birthday this month (cause I would LOVE to spend a day in Seattle!).

Last photo!  Had to share the 5th Ave Theater that we passed on our way back to the parking garage.  Oh, I love Seattle during Christmas!

Eatin' Out 'N' About at Five Guys Burgers and Fries ~ near Northgate Mall in Seattle, WA

311 NE 103rd Street Seattle, WA 98125
www.fiveguys.com (for all locations AND you can order online!)
Check them out on Facebook

My husband had heard about this place from a buddy of his so we popped in after a baseball game to check it out.

Looking at some of the locations, it seems FGBAF doesn't feel the need to eat up real estate with their own lots.  So, because of that, we had to park in a nearby lot.

Below an AMC theater, the inside is similiar to a basement.  In fact, one of the -MANY- posters on the wall promoting itself, said something about the restaurant feeling similar to being in a bathroom.  Taken out of context, that would sound bad but they seem proud of the fact.  It's all tiled in white/red with stainless steel panels on the restroom doors.

Though we came through the front, we have to meander around the drinks dispenser and tables to the back where the order counter is.  Eating somewhere new is always interesting since you don't know what to get.   Dave's buddy said that a Regular Fries (plain or cajun) is enough for three people so since we're STARVING, we order a Large to share, two Regular Drinks (free refills), and since they don't have ANY kids menu, the lady at the counter slipped me a water cup for our 4 year-old's soda.  Dave orders the Hamburger with "the works" but without tomato or mushrooms and I get the Cheeseburger with "the works" but without mayo.  ALL TOPPINGS ARE FREE!!!  Talk about making it how you want it!
After you order, you are given a slip for when they call your order.  It takes longer that I thought so we get our drinks, find seats and use the restroom.  I MUST SAY that my 4 year-old (who was asleep when we got there) declares he does NOT want to be here and refuses to sit with us.  Whatever....the music, sounds of cooking and background noise of the patrons is loud enough that not a single person hears him.

The bathroom, like the rest of the building, are practically wallpapered with laminated signs with every single good review FGBAF has ever had.  Some of these quotes are the highlight of the decorating scheme plastered in large letters around the room.  On their website, it says, "At Five Guys, we don't like to talk about ourselves very much.  We would rather focus on making burgers."  Well, with all the reviews everywhere, FGBAF doesn't HAVE to talk about their own food!  Though, it makes me think of the guy who protested too much???  So here's hoping their food is as good as they are trying to hypnotize you into believing.

Finally they call our number and it comes- no matter if you're dining in or not- in a brown paper bag.  Sure enough, the fries are a VERY generous portion!  Not only is that cup filled, but those fries in the bag is what over-flowed!  I really liked the fries, Dave said they needed salt (we're used to McD) and Corbin wouldn't touch them since they were natural looking.  Oh well, more for us!

I reach in the bag and pull out two over-sized foil bundles.  Little did we know that a Burger is actually a double patty so this is A LOT of meat!  Dave mentioned that the burger itself could be a little more seasoned but you are so focused on how all of the toppings are super crisp, fresh and DE-licious, that you don't notice.

Since I had more toppings than Dave (oh- he soooo misses out not eating all that good stuff!), my cheeseburger is S.U.P.E.R. huge!!!  I -literally- have to take a bite of the top half, then the bottom half since I can't fit my mouth around the dang thing.

As we are almost finished eating, we notice these large bags of peanuts stacked in the middle of the room.  I vaguely remember hearing Dave say something about peanuts and we do see a few people eating them but it's not on the menu....

Of course, it's as we leave that we practically stumble over the low table stacked with boxes of peanuts for people to scoop as they come in (hmmm...with the box being right by the front door, makes me wonder how many homeless people snag some freebies?).  By this time, we are bursting so skip the peanuts.  Guess we'll have to come back! ;)