Restaurant Reviews

3 Squares

The Stoneway Cafe at 3620 Stone Way N has far and away the best home fries of any diner in Seattle. Stoneway uses those little red new potatoes, and they're glistening, fresh and hot when they get to your table. Our favorite breakfast there is eggs over easy with home fries and a biscuit and bacon or sausage. Don't forget the biscuit. It's a real homemade, 2"-high fluffy number that you can load up with butter and marmalade. Our second favorite breakfast there is a short stack, sausage and eggs over easy. The place is crowded in the mornings and usually filled with roofers (it's right next door to Stoneway Roofing Supply), electricians, carpenters and plumbers fortifying themselves for a good day's work. We wish Stoneway would start using a better grade of coffee, but that is a minor cavill for what is hands-down our favorite breakfast place in North Seattle.

Lunch in Fremont

Located at 3501 Stone Way N in the no-mans-land of south Wallingford/east Fremont, the Pacific Inn Pub's unassuming exterior hides a cozy neighborhood bar, complete with a pool table, wooden booths and lots of local microbrews on tap. But the things that bring customers back to this joint are the friendly atmosphere and the great pub grub. The menu is short, but everything on it is deliciously made. The fish 'n' chips rises above the typical, while their fine caesar salad and wonderfully spicy lemon pepper chicken sandwich make this little watering hole a great lunchtime destination.

Dinner in Greenwood

The Neo Bistro is easily the equal of better-known and more expensive restaurants with dazzling views and trendy locations. This little, homey place is right across the street from the Texaco station at 14053 Greenwood Ave N. Mark Moray is the chef and his wife Kathy is the restaurant manager. They designed the interior, which feels like a collection of several comfortable rooms, rather than one large dining area. The food is superbly done. We had the best steamed mussels we've ever had, and our companion still raves about the pumpkin ravioli in gorgonzola sauce. The third diner at our table had an individual pepperoni pizza and gave it a distinct thumbs up. The menu sparkles with creativity and variety. The wine list is extensive, and includes eight varieties of champagne. Prices range from $18 to $100. Our tab came to about $20 each, so we'll save the return trip for out-of-town guests or a special celebration. But it was worth every penny, and we'll definitely go back. They have jazz on weekends.

The 3 Squares column is a collaborative effort by the Seattle Press staff.

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