Eclectic Eats (A Hodgepodge of Area Restaurants I Like)
	Some of these restaurants might actually be known outside of Seattle. Some of them probably aren't very well known in Seattle. They run the range from completely vegetarian to heavy on animals, from incredibly cheap to fairly spendy, and from total dives to great atmosphere. And there's not a fast food joint on the list. Trust me. Mae's Phinney Ridge Cafe Beth's Cafe Caffe Minnie's The Bamboo Garden The Eating Factory The Melting Pot Thirteen Coins Vegetarian/vegan friendly Open 24 hours Mae's Phinney Ridge Cafe Need a place to go for a good, solid, artery-clogging breakfast? Would it be a bonus if the decor was heavy on cows? Go to Mae's. The food is good, it's cheap, and it's plentiful. Mae's is only open 7am - 3pm (though I hear rumors they're adding hours), so go early. Be prepared to wait in line, and take an umbrella for outdoor waits since there is no waiting area. Beth's Cafe Second in my grouping of "Cafes Named After Chicks", Beth's is a greasier spoon than Mae's by far. Often smoky, sometimes crowded, but cheap and open 24 hours. They make a 12 egg omelet, served on a pizza pan, and do some mean hash browns too. Great if you're one of those people who prefers breakfast sometime after midnight. Caffe Minnie's Less interesting than Mae's, more upscale than Beth's, and open 24 hours a day. What's more, there are two locations to choose from: the original Caffe Minnie's on Denny (linked above), or Caffe Minnie's Too, on Broadway. The floor is usually grungy in both locations, and the staff is sometimes asleep on its feet, but you can go any time, day or night, and get some scones and a coffee and have a relatively smoke-free place to chat or read a book. The Bamboo Garden If all vegetables tasted like this, I'd be a vegetarian. This restaurant is not only 100% vegetarian, it's almost 100% vegan (the fortune cookies are made with eggs). What's more, it's Kosher! That makes for an interesting mix of patrons, from stereotypical "hippie tree-hugger" types to college students to Orthodox Jewish and Buddhist folks. The building looks a little rundown from outside, but it's clean and tidy on the inside, and the food is really very good. Don't let the menu items like "Sweet and Sour Chicken" throw you...it's all made with textured vegetable protein, and it's done so well even hard-core meat-eaters rarely complain. My favorite is the Buddha's Basket with Precious Nuts (and yes, the name makes me laugh too). I would recommend avoiding the Hot Almond Pudding. An acquaintance of mine slurped up several bowls on a bet, and then wondered why he didn't feel so good afterwards... The Eating Factory Hard to find unless you know where to look, but somehow it's always crowded at lunch. It's essentially the Japanese answer to the All You Can Eat buffet. For a set price, you can hork down all the tempura, miso soup, fruit, finger jello, and sushi you can stand. Selections vary from day to day, and are more plentiful at dinner than lunch. Some things are downright weird, like the mini corn dogs which often show up. Quality also varies: the soups are usually good, the fried rice is boring, the sweet and sour critters are not great, but the sushi is excellent. One thing, however...you have to eat all your sushi rice, not just the fish, or they'll charge you $1 a piece. The Melting Pot The above link is for the franchise, but you can click on "locations" to find the address of the one in Seattle. Best for groups of 2-6 people. Can be a little spendy, but it's really worth it. The decor is a bit on the Tacky 70's Side, but you don't notice once you start dipping. Allow me to recommend the Kirschwasser cheese fondue (but be warned...it is very strongly flavored of alcohol, and made with strong cheese. If you have a sensitive palate, order the cheddar instead). Their salads are boring, but who goes to a fondue place to eat salad? For the main course, you can get either broth or oil for fonduing. Go for the broth, you end up feeling less like you ate a brick when you're done, and the food tastes wonderful without being greasy at all. Dessert is a must, and I won't even attempt to tell you which of the wonderful chocolate creations you should choose. Just choose at least one, and you'll go away happy. Thirteen Coins Some people will tell you this place is overrated, but I still like it. It's a great place to go after a late show to get food, since it's open 24 hours and is a considerable step up from Denny's or the local hash houses. My personal favorite is the Chicken Parmesan, which is served with white sauce instead of red. They feed you as much bread and butter as you can tolerate, and each table gets a little tray of antipasto to start. If you're alone or with one other person, consider sitting at the counter and watching the chefs work...it's nothing like sitting at the counter in a diner. 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