It is February, the month of roses, chocolates and … uncomfortable blind dates. That got us at SWW thinking. Where do you meet up for a meal when you want to keep it brief?

As lawyers, our time is often not our own. Whether we are up against a deadline or a lunch with the in-laws, it is useful to have a restaurant or two in the “I’d love to have lunch but may need to leave in a hurry” category. Here are a few of our local favorites.

The conveyor-belt format and attentive wait staff at the downtown Blue C Sushi (1510 Seventh Ave., Seattle; 467-4022; bluecsushi.com) makes a quick and graceful exit from your meal easy to manage. On a Friday, Blue C was packed to the gills, but there was no wait if you were willing to sit at the counter.

We started with the sesame noodles, which were nicely chewy and not too salty. The spider roll startled, with a deep-fried antenna of some sort sticking out, but turned out to be crunchy and very nice. The star of the show was a fusion item: a sublime spicy-tuna taco, crispy on the outside and fiery on the inside. We were pleasantly full after 20 minutes.

The real test for a rapid exit at a sit-down joint, however, is how quickly you can get the attention of the waitress. Our waitress, Kaela, seemed to have telepathic powers. As soon as one of us spied her, she made eye contact and came over immediately. When all was said and done we enjoyed a delicious and economical meal and had settled up within 25 minutes. Hard to beat!

If you are looking to give an out-of-towner a taste of iconic Seattle without playing tour guide for an entire afternoon, we suggest Lowell’s in Pike Place Market (1519 Pike Place; 622-2036; eatatlowells.com). Patrons order at a counter near the entrance, take a number and wait for the meal to be delivered. It seemed like a strategic location for a meeting place where one might want a quick exit.

We did not find lunch at Lowell’s to be as quick as expected. But when we found an open spot on the third floor, which was buzzing with patrons, the view reminded us why Lowell’s has been around for almost 100 years (literally).

We tried the pulled-pork sandwich, seafood salad and Alaskan cod/seafood tacos. The seafood was fresh and the tacos were the standout. If the speed of the service did not allow us a quick exit, at least it would certainly have been easy to lose someone quickly after lunch in the crowds at the market.

Another obvious choice to try for this month’s column was the “express lunch” at 820 Pike Street. Not surprisingly located at 820 Pike Street (219-5555; 820pike.com), this SWW favorite is the successor to what was Bambuza Bistro. Ownership has changed and there has been a slight remodel, but the menu remains very similar.

We split the green papaya salad, the coconut chicken curry and bul-gogi beef. The food was fresh and flavorful, although not as spicy as we remembered. (We suspect that a request for additional spice would have been quickly accommodated.) We found the service for lunch quick, although not quite as express as the name would imply. We were seated and served, paid, and out the door in under an hour. This is a good choice when you want to get in and out in a snap.

What better way to control the length of your dining experience than to serve yourself? For an expedient and inexpensive meal, we think Indian restaurants serving lunchtime buffets are spot-on. This is a perfect spot for the lunch date with an old friend you haven’t seen in awhile and don’t have much in common with anymore.

Try Bengal Tiger (6510 Roosevelt Way NE; 985-0041; bengaltigerwa.com) or India Bistro (6417 Roosevelt Way NE; 517-4444; seattleindiabistro.com). Bengal Tiger has a vast selection of vegetarian items, including curries and paneer. On the weekends, Bengal Tiger has an even larger buffet with various soup selections. The buffet at India Bistro is smaller than its neighbor’s, but offers great butter chicken and naan made fresh for each customer. At either venue, you will enjoy the food and be in and out in a flash.

That brings us to our favorite spot for that potentially awkward blind date that took us down this path. We had heard about Potbelly Sandwich Shop (1429 Fourth Ave.; 623-0099; potbelly.com) and wanted to see what the buzz was all about during a quick lunch break from a recent deposition. With T-40 minutes until we needed to be back before the court reporter, we jumped into line.

We must warn you, your first foray into Potbelly can leave you feeling like a newbie. Before we could even peruse the sandwich offerings on the signboard in front of us, a young man with an electronic device approached demanding, albeit politely, a decision. “Ham and cheese,” we ordered.

Who were we to slow down the overly efficient process? See the opportunity this provides on a first date? The perfect excuse to avoid any small talk while deciding what to order (there is no time for such nonsense at Potbelly!), plus an impromptu test of wits to see what your date is made of.

We were at a counter watching our sandwiches spit out of the toaster within a minute. Industrial cans of Hershey’s chocolate syrup, jam and Potbelly peppers sat on shelves behind the counter, and a line of chipper staff rapidly assembled toppings onto melted cheese. From the register, only four minutes later, we watched a classic coffeehouse acoustic guitar player strum feverishly from his perch upon a stool. Loud conversations and the wails of the coffeehouse singer-songwriter dominated, creating a cacophony quite unusual in Seattle.

We shared a table with some other attorneys we met in line. Our sandwiches were tasty. We were jealous of the milkshakes our neighbors had the sense to order. And we did not find ourselves bored for one minute with new friends to chat with and a bustling, boisterous lunch crowd to survey.

The thing that secured Potbelly’s first-place finish as the best place to meet a stranger for a date is its location. Right downtown, in the Metro ride-free area, it’s easy to evacuate a disastrous date by walking out the door and right onto the next bus that pulls up in front of you. Hopefully you grabbed a milkshake to go.

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt is a multiservice, Northwest regional law firm with offices in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and Bend. For comments on this article or to share your favorite places to eat or drink with the Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt attorneys, contact Farron Lennon at 206-407-1571 or flennon@schwabe.com; see also www.schwabe.com/dining_out.aspx.

Originally published in the February 2012 issue of the King County Bar Bulletin. Reprinted with permission of the King County Bar Association.

Because We Are at Our Favorite Spot

Doom: The perfect excuse for our annual happy hour issue. This year we are adding a few more favorite spots to help us forget the doom of the unknown – or of the evening traffic jam.

Go Swank

If the world was ending, it would be worth setting aside a few pre-apocalypse hours for a final get-together with your friends at a bar. Not just any bar, of course; this is the last happy hour of your life, presumably.

If you want that ultimate libation to be a statement of your insouciance in the face of impending incineration, of your dignity in dealing with doom, then let us suggest the chic Art Lounge on the ground floor of the Four Seasons (99 Union Street, Seattle; 749-7070; fourseasons.com/seattle/dining/art_lounge). You can have your drinks at the bar, in comfy armchairs or at tables by windows that overlook the old Seattle steam plant on Western, with Elliott Bay beyond.

On a Tuesday evening visit, the lounge was moderately crowded, but a window table was available. Our waitress was pleasant, prompt and professional. Notwithstanding the high ceiling, noise levels were reasonable and it was easy to carry on a conversation, although the background music was a bit on the loud side. The bar itself is a spectacular, modernist creation, creatively lit and minimally decorated.

Drinks and appetizers are on the pricey side, however, and not really very much cheaper during happy hour (5 to 7 p.m. daily). The cocktails are a bit on the frou-frou side, including a “Lusty Lady” (Absolut ruby red vodka, cranberry and prosecco) and a “Gelt-y Pleasure” (Absolut citron, frangelico, prosecco and gold sugar dust).

This reviewer had the $4 mini burger, which was pleasant but unexceptional. If you are a cheese lover, the unlimited access to the cheese and antipasto bar for $14 is really quite good. Bottom line: This lounge is a first-class choice to celebrate any important occasion with your friends or colleagues. With a good sunset view of Elliott Bay and an elegant ambience, it is a great choice for a last toast before the lights finally go out.

Stay Close to Home

No need to travel far to watch the world end if you live in West Seattle. Our new favorite local hangout is The Cask (2350 California Ave. SW, Seattle; 938-2275; thecaskseattle.com). We stumbled (not literally, of course) upon this place, and when we first walked in we knew we loved it. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed; the bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable.

It is a great place to unwind after work or just chill on the weekend. It is mellow enough that you can actually have a conversation. This is definitely a “locals” place; you will not find the Alki tourist crowd.

What we really love about this place, besides its welcoming atmosphere, is its beer and ale selection. The Cask carries some mighty delicious ales, hard ciders and lagers from around the world. We recommend the Black Douglas ale, a dark, ruby ale from Scotland, or Brew Dog, a Storm Whisky IPA that has been aged in Islay Scotch whisky barrels.

If you want to stay close to home in Capitol Hill, there are many choices, but the eggplant fries entice us to choose Poppy (622 Broadway East, Seattle; 324-1108; poppyseattle.com). Words like eclectic and unique might be overused in food reviews, but Poppy truly deserves such descriptions.

A recent group outing resulted in more than one of us exclaiming more than once, “I have never tasted anything like this before.” Everyone wanted to come back. The cocktail list is creative. Try the “Loveless” for a complex gin drink. The wine list is well worth perusing.

Happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m., with a late-night happy hour from 9 to 10 p.m. After a few of the specialty cocktails featured in the happy hour, you should be in a better mood to meet your doom.

Comfort Food

It is possible that some people might want to resort to comfort food as their last meal. For that, we feel fine sitting at the copper counter at Harvest Vine in the Madison Park area (2701 E. Madison, Seattle; 320-9771; harvestvine.com).

Chef Joey and his able crew serve wonderful Basque/Spanish-style pinxchos (tapas) and other delightful, locally sourced, small plates. Keeping with the theme, they sport a wonderful list of Spanish wines. The menu changes to accommodate what is in season.

For a wonderful “last meal” consider a bowlful of spicy, greasy and salty pardon peppers, the (definitive) gazpacho soup, (perhaps the best) beet salad (you have ever had), and either fish, seafood (try the scallops!), lamb or slices of the exquisite jambon.  Of course, this would all be served with copious amounts of earthy Spanish rioja wine and Harvest Vine’s fine bread, and if there is still time before the doom, the flan by owner and pastry chef Carolin Messier will get you started on your heavenward journey.

Harvest Vine is open daily from 5 to 10 p.m. and for weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Special, near-monthly dinners showcase interesting Basque/Spanish food and wine, and sell out quickly, especially if the end of the world is nigh.

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt is a multiservice, Northwest regional law firm with offices in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and Bend. For comments on this article or to share your favorite places to eat or drink with the Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt attorneys, contact Christopher Howard at 206-407-1524 or at choward@schwabe.com; see also www.schwabe.com/dining_out.aspx.

Originally published in the January 2012 issue of the King County Bar Bulletin. Reprinted with permission of the King County Bar Association.

This month, your Schwabe cuisine critics are focusing on a combination of ground spices that is sweeping the world – and King County. The spices are turmeric, cumin and coriander, and the dish is curry.

Originating on the Indian subcontinent, curry, in one variation or another, is now extremely popular in China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Carib­bean, North America and, of course, Great Britain, where it has practically displaced fish and chips as the national dish. Curry enthusiasts (there are entire magazines devoted to curry) rave about its cancer-fighting properties, its endorphin-producing spiciness and even its aphrodisiacal qualities.

This is a professional publication, so we’ll skip over that last attribute and go straight to the cooking.

Ballard is home to India Bistro (2301 NW Market St.; 783-5080; seattleindiabistro.com), featuring North Indian-style cooking. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner; we went for lunch.

The dining area is clean, bright and presentable, although casual; you will not embarrass yourself by bringing a colleague or client here. Most tables were occupied by 12:30, although noise levels were manageable and we had no trouble holding a conversation.

We started with the buffet lunch ($7.95). The selection was limited. The tandoori chicken was spicy and moist. The other dishes on the buffet line included a mushroom curry, and a curry made with cabbage and peas. Sad to say, the food tasted tired and bland, without the wonderful aromatic nose that really good Indian food has. The vegetable pakoras had been out for a while and were no longer crispy and hot.

We ordered a lamb vindaloo (medium spicy) from the menu, and had much better luck. It came in a tomato-based sauce with long-grain, saffron rice on the side. Tomato sauces can overwhelm, but this one was bursting with complex flavors and a real pleasure to eat. The rice had just the right chewy texture. This kitchen is capable of preparing good-to-excellent food, but order off the menu because you won’t find it on the buffet line.

For most people looking for Thai food on lower Queen Anne, Tup Tim Thai (118 W. Mercer St.; 281-8833; tuptim.com) is the place to go. The dining area is simple, open and clean, with average noise levels. Be prepared for a quick, friendly greeting, often with a joke from Nat if he’s at the front. Somehow the restaurant always manages to seem fairly busy, but you’ll rarely have to wait for a table.

There are five curries on the menu: red, yellow and a recently added emerald (green) curry, along with a Penang curry and Mussaman curry. This reviewer orders takeout for dinner from here about once a week, so we’ve sampled all five. Each has its own distinct flavor, but the beef Penang (Penang neua) is simply one of the best Thai dishes this reviewer has tasted. The coconut milk balances out the spiciness of the curry while allowing the flavor of the curry to come through. The basil adds a snap to the flavor, while the peppers add a snap to the texture.

The beef can sometimes be a tad overcooked, but in this dish that’s not a bad thing. It comes as spicy as you like it, and with each additional level of spice, it seems as though extra flavor in the curry comes out. Served over white rice that’s always done well, never mushy, it makes a divine meal.

A trip to Tup Tim Thai isn’t complete, however, unless you cool off the heat from a curry with a dish of coconut ice cream. This ice cream is made from coconut milk with coconut flakes, and topped with crushed peanuts. It’s the perfect end to a spicy, flavorful curry dinner.

As you walk into Root Table in Ballard (2213 NW Market St.; 420-3214; roottablerestaurant.com) you can tell it takes its name seriously. The restaurant is warm and inviting. Large paper lanterns adorn the space, and the tables and chairs are made out of gnarled pieces of wood.

The menu doesn’t disappoint either, whether you are a curry lover or simply looking for some delicious Thai fare. We started out with curry corn fritters dipped in a spicy peanut sauce, followed by the main affair, known as the “Menage-a-Thai.” This yummy dish features your choice of meat and jasmine rice over steamed veggies, with three different curry sauces on the side. The red curry was our favorite, as it was the spiciest, but the buttery yellow and the cool green curry were excellent as well.

If you are looking for a unique twist on the season, the pumpkin green curry is another great choice. With about half of the entrees on the menu featuring some type of curry, you will be sure to find something that satisfies your lust for spice.

Overall, the curry scene in King County is alive and well, with lots of good, imaginative choices out there. We’re always on the lookout for a good curry, so if you have your own favorite curry joints, we’d love to hear from you.

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt is a multiservice, Northwest regional law firm with offices in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and Bend. For comments on this article or to share your favorite places to eat or drink with the Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt attorneys, contact Michael Herbst at 206-407-1570 or at mherbst@schwabe.com; see also www.schwabe.com/dining_out.aspx.

Originally published in the December 2011 issue of the King County Bar Bulletin. Reprinted with permission of the King County Bar Association.

No political edition of King County Bar Association’s Bar Bulletin would be complete without a food column dedicated to politics. This month’s column is a guide to political food, with journeys to food and drink on all sides of the aisle, and some unusual formats for civic engagement.

Election Night “Blue Plate” Special

Every other year, on the first Tuesday in November, the Washington State Democrats tend to host an election results party in the vast ballroom of the Westin Hotel. Before the polls close, we recommend grabbing dinner at the nearby Icon Grill (1933 Fifth Ave.; 441-6330; icongrill.com) lest the champagne hit you on an empty stomach.

In preparation for November 2012, which will be the next opportunity to attend, we found two reviewers who had never been to the Icon Grill. We sent them on a recon mission.

At the door, our reviewers found the host’s greetings friendly and rapidly followed by significant visual stimulation. The decor is, to say the least, potentially distracting. Peach and orange hues dominate, with much to look at, including glass sculpture and myriad light shades.

“The food was good. We tried two specials that are not on the menu: a Dungeness crab risotto and an asparagus and chevre salad. The menu certainly had enough on it for us to want to come back again to try more,” the reviewers said.

The political food operatives plan to return for “hog-wild mac n’ chz” (macaroni and molten cheese sauce with barbecue pulled pork and caramelized sweet onions). They were also taken by the dessert menu, which featured a very oversized Texas funeral fudge cake (a seven-layer cake, large enough for four to split, that comes with both ice cream and a bottle of milk).

The service was friendly and attentive upon entry and departure, but not especially prompt in between. This can be good or bad depending on your schedule, but overall our reviewers plan to go back.

The Hunt for “Red” October Burgers

If your favorite color is red, or even purple, then a trip to the PumpHouse Bar & Grill (11802 NE Eighth St., Bellevue; 425-455-4110; pumphousebellevue.com) may be for you. Known for being the location where former Republican Rep. Jennifer Dunn would take her staffers for a treat, Washington State Republican Party members can frequently be spotted there.

Our political food operatives heard word of a recent sighting of Washington State Republican Party Executive Director Peter Graves and Democrat rising star Cyrus Habib, so the political food team took a trip to the PumpHouse to see what all the fuss was about.

The parking lot smelled of bacon and the air was filled with cheers and testosterone when the team visited this sports bar during Monday Night Football. The fried foods were addictive and delicious, the mugs frosty and the beer poured just right. The burgers were greasy and tasty.

Frankly, for a few moments, in the neon light, the team forgot that they were less than a minute from The Bravern in Bellevue, Washington, and not in Bellevue, Kentucky. We approve.

New Money Meets Campaign Finance

Fundraisers can be stuffy, but not at recent political hot spot The Nabob (819 Fifth Ave. N.; 281-9850; thenabobbar.com). Former City Council candidate Maurice Classen is part owner in the bar, which has seen a high volume of events this year. From the Classen race to a young professional’s fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Rep. Jay Inslee in late September, this spot is on the rise for the younger political crowd, especially for young attorneys investing in politics.

The Nabob is a fun neighborhood watering hole. The food menu is limited, but it offers some good options for sharing and snacking.

“Really, this is a place for drinking and relaxing. There are lots of tables, and the atmosphere is comfortable and inviting,” our political team said.

You can also entertain yourself with traditional bar games such as pool or darts, and The Nabob has a wide variety of board games available. All in all, The Nabob is a great place to sit back and spend an afternoon or evening, or both.

Get Out the Vote

When deciding to delve into the spots in King County to get political, we could not help but give a shout-out to Neumos (925 E. Pike St.; 709-9442; neumos.com) and adjoining MOE Bar (1425 10th Ave.; 709-9951). These neighboring and jointly owned venues were the location for several fantastic events encouraging civic engagement.

In July, Neumos hosted Candidate Survivor — a Seattle City Council candidate forum organized by civic engagement nonprofit the Washington Bus (washingtonbus.org). The event gave 400 younger voters the chance to get to know Seattle City Council candidates. It pits candidates against each other, and asks them questions about subjects from transportation policy to skinny-dipping in Lake Washington, and it gives the audience the power to send text messages to vote for their favorite candidates.

Oddly, City Council Member Jean Godden showed her talents on stage by giving the crowd advice on “sexting.” When it’s not filled with elected officials dead set on scaring young voters for life, Neumos is a great spot to see a band with reasonably priced drinks and a fun ambiance.

Next door is MOE Bar, where Washington Bus and The Stranger held a “State of the Union” watch party in January. Any day of the week, MOE Bar is a fantastic spot to grab a drink and a snack before heading to see a band next door.

We recommend starting the night off with a “So Fresh, So Clean,” a drink made with Hendrick’s gin, Batch 206 vodka, lemon juice, cucumbers and 7-Up. Pair it with an order of halibut from Pike Street Fish Fry (925 E. Pike Pl.; 329-7453; pikestreetfishfry.net) and have it delivered to your table. We also go wild for the grilled asparagus and the smoked chili mayo.

Days of Yore

Vito’s Restaurant & Lounge (927 Ninth Ave.; 397-4053; vitoseattle.com) is frequently described as possessing a certain amount of Rat Pack glamour with an undeniable history for power deals and misdeeds. During its heyday of the 1960s and 1970s, it would certainly have made this list.

In January 2009, Vito’s closed its doors shortly after an allegedly gang-related killing took place in the restaurant. But the doors reopened in April 2010, and at least one political event has taken place since then — the co-birthday party and fundraiser for Port Commissioner Rob Holland and the 101st birthday of former Gov. Albert D. Rosellini. While Gov. Rosellini did not attend, instead saving his energy, a good time was had by all.

Gov. Rosellini passed away October 10, and in his memory you can check out this Seattle landmark. We recommend pairing the “Gnocchi Verdi” with an episode of “Mad Men.” The bartenders are very knowledgeable and can direct you to some nice bourbon.

Fringe Movements

Several days after protesters with the Occupy Seattle group began camping out in Westlake Park, Big Mario’s New York Style Pizza (1019 E. Pike St.; 922-3875; bigmariosnewyorkpizza.com) came to the rescue, providing pizza to the protesters and setting up a special. Anyone wanting to feed those camped out in Westlake could buy a discounted pizza and Mario’s would deliver it to the protesters.

More than 100 slices were reportedly delivered on the third night of the protests. One of our favorite pizzas in Seattle is the Big Mario’s mushroom, pesto and caramelized pear pie.

While this article hits the presses on the fringe of the election season, by visiting the above locations all year long, you can keep the election excitement alive all year-round.

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt is a multiservice, Northwest regional law firm with offices in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and Bend. For comments on this article or to share your favorite places to eat or drink with the Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt attorneys, contact Jamila Johnson at 206-407-1555 or at jjohnson@schwabe.com; see also www.schwabe.com/dining_out.aspx.

Originally published in the November 2011 issue of the King County Bar Bulletin. Reprinted with permission of the King County Bar Association.

Seattle is a great food town, but it has not traditionally been a great town in which to find a full menu after 11 p.m. In honor of Night Kitchen — a restaurant only open for late-night dining that closed its doors indefinitely this past summer — Dining Out With Schwabe salutes the late and all-night dining options.

Nothing is more frustrating than finding yourself hungry for a full meal and not being able to find an open kitchen. These are our solutions to your late-night eating dilemmas.

Open ‘Til Midnight or 1 a.m.

Want access to a Tom Douglas restaurant after seeing a play with a client? The Palace Kitchen (2030 Fifth Ave., Seattle; 448-2001; tomdouglas.com) is open until midnight. While The Palace may print up a fresh menu every day and it has a good variety of local Northwest-style food, it is well known for its “Palace Burger Royale.” You can expect the chef to do a good job on your steaks, too. Like most any other Tom Douglas restaurant, save some room for the coconut cream pie for dessert.

Another client-friendly, midnight kitchen for the post-theater crowd is Ten Mercer (10 Mercer St., Seattle; 691-3723; tenmercer.com), conveniently located by McCaw Hall and the Seattle Repertory Theater. We recommend taking anyone here who has a gluten allergy, as the restaurant has a separate, gluten-free menu. Try the fresh halibut on udon noodles with a Szechuan broth for a tasty meal.

Want a cheaper, edgier, likely client-free, post-theater location? Try Café Mecca (526 Queen Anne Ave N., Seattle; 285-9728). On all nights but Friday and Saturday, the kitchen is open until 1 a.m.; it’s open all night on Friday and Saturday. It’s a quick walk from Seattle Center to this bar-and-restaurant combo where the corned beef hash is surprisingly memorable, even if parts of the night that led us there might be hazy.

2 a.m. to 4 a.m.

A few years ago, after striking out trying to find a full kitchen open, we discovered that much of the International District kept its kitchens open until 2 a.m. One personal favorite is Sea Garden (509 Seventh Ave. S., Seattle; 623-2100), serving a full menu until 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights.

There are many excellent seafood items, but try either the prawns or the Dungeness crab in black bean sauce. You can probably pick the crab you want from the fresh tank. Late dining in the International District does not draw a different crowd or provide an ambience different from earlier evening dining, and there is ample late-night street parking.

Remember earlier this year when we reviewed Meander’s Kitchen (6032 California Ave. S.W., Seattle) in the “Dining Alone” column a few weeks after the diner opened? Since then, Meander’s has taken off. Still nestled below the old Chinese restaurant sign, owner Miranda Krone expanded the 13-seat spot to include the neighboring space after winning Seattle’s “Favorite Diner” in Seattle Weekly.

Now, Meander’s is also open from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. It is a fantastic time to try our favorite item, “The Red Eye”, and savor some cheese grits on the side.

Finally, check out Lil’ Woody’s (1211 Pine St., Seattle; 457-2128; lilwoodys.com), reviewed last month, as it intends to open late-night hours in the future (promising “soon” to be open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights).

Open All Night

The classic all-night option in Seattle is 13 Coins, with locations in Seattle (125 Boren, 682-2513) and SeaTac, conveniently near the airport (18000 International Blvd., 243-9500; 13coins.com). This is usually the first option to come to mind for dining after midnight, to the point that you may have quite a wait if you have not made a reservation.

You can get a private, high-backed booth or sit at the bar to watch the chef prepare the made-to-order hollandaise for the “Dungeness Eggs Benedict” — a favorite for out-of-town clients if you are picking up or dropping off at the airport. The “New York Steak and Eggs” is also a perennial favorite.

Beth’s Café (7311 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle; 782-5588; bethscafe.com), a favorite of the Travel Channel, “does not close.” It is open 363 days a year, 24 hours a day; closed only for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The breakfast menu is available 24 hours a day.

Beth’s is both an after-hours destination and an experience. No doubt most of those who read this article will have visited Beth’s Café at some point or another. This will not be new to you. However, for those of you who have not experienced Beth’s yet, it is worth the wait, and wait you will. At 12:45 a.m. on a Sunday morning, there was a wait. Driving by at 10 a.m. on Labor Day morning, there was a line of at least 30 people waiting to get into the café.

There is much to tempt you on the menu, but Beth’s claim to fame is the omelets. Two sizes only — six or 12-eggs, the latter accompanied by all-you-can-eat hash browns (as seen on “Man v. Food’s” Seattle edition). I mean really—who EATS that much? Apparently everyone. While I sat waiting for my breakfast burrito, those omelets were coming by me faster than a Labrador at a dog park. The breakfast burrito was HUGE, spicy and delicious, accompanied by the bottomless hash browns.

Then there’s the atmosphere: Where else can you enter a literal modern art gallery and order greasy hangover food any time of day or night? This is definitely a place to bring newcomers and visitors to Seattle, as it is a Seattle institution and deserves the status.

The Hurricane Café (2230 Seventh Ave., Seattle; 682-5858; hurricanecafe.com) is perhaps Seattle’s quintessential 24-hour locale after a night of serious drinking. The music is loud and the food is a blocked artery waiting to happen.

All around, The Hurricane Café is exactly what it is supposed to be: open in case one needs food to soak up one too many drinks from the firm’s holiday party or a night reliving one’s youth. The diner fare has all the classic breakfast options; our personal favorite is undoubtedly the biscuits and gravy.

Dining Out With Schwabe has a confession: At all hours, we are a little enamored with The 5 Point Café (415 Cedar St., Seattle; 448-9993; the5pointcafe.com — not to be confused with the Five Spot). Maybe it’s the catchy slogan — “Alcoholics serving alcoholics since 1929.” Maybe it’s the very public battle its owner had to obtain outdoor seating on the outskirts of Tilikum Place Park in Belltown.

Whether it’s while grabbing an early breakfast on the way into work or late-night drinks and diner fare, The 5 Point is, frankly, just interesting. During the 2010 primary election, we spotted Congressman McDermott celebrating with folks from the political blog Publicola and the civic engagement organization The Washington Bus. Earlier this year, we spotted news crews speaking with owner Dave Meinert — organizer of the Capitol Hill Block Party — about what we presumed to be the city’s late-night initiative.

The full menu is served 24/7 and the chicken-fried steak weighs 11 ounces (translation: It’s heavy; perhaps the largest in town).

Also open all night, Randy’s Restaurant (10016 East Marginal Way S., Tukwila; 763-9333; randys-restaurant.net), previously reviewed in our “Scary” article [Bar Bulletin, July 2009: https://www.kcba.org/newsevents/barbulletin/BView.aspx?Month=07&Year=2009&AID=diningout.htm].

Next time you are suffering from insomnia, working far too late or just simply suffering from Night of the Living Dead Syndrome, you don’t need to drive around looking for a place whose kitchen is still open.

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt is a multiservice, Northwest regional law firm with offices in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and Bend. For comments on this article, or to share your favorite places to eat or drink with the Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt attorneys, contact Christopher H. Howard at choward@schwabe.com; see also www.schwabe.com/dining_out.aspx.

Originally published in the October 2011 issue of the King County Bar Bulletin. Reprinted with permission of the King County Bar Association.

It is back to school time again. In celebration of the season and the fond memories we have of September, the Dining Out with Schwabe Team went into the restaurant community to learn something “new.” Be it a new restaurant, a new way of doing things or a restaurant that teaches its guests something new, the Dining Out squad was schooled without the heavy investment in back-to-school gear. Here are some of the lessons learned.

Lesson No. 1: Bring an Apple for Teacher (and Your Burger)

While looking for lunch on Capitol Hill, we were saved by a plain, black chalkboard sign. In choppy, white chalk letters, it commanded us to “Eat a Burger.” We followed the sign’s advice, just like we once followed the instructions of our fifth-grade teacher. We were glad we did.

It was inside the new burger joint, Lil’ Woody’s, 1211 Pike Street, that we met “The Trotter.” The Trotter is a messy burger and we mean that in the best possible way. It is covered in caramelized onions, apples and Hills bacon chopped into little pieces and drenched in Woody’s own horseradish. You can easily find yourself full from it alone, but we also give credit to Lil’ Woody’s for naming its fries (and the special salt with them) “crack” and encourage taking up the habit and washing it all down with a Molly Moon’s Handmade Ice Cream shake served on premises.

The owner, Marcus Lalario, has a winner on his hands. He is also part owner of Captain Blacks and the HG Lodge, and an investor in Havana, The Saint and Molly Moon’s.

Lesson No. 2: You Are Never Too Old For Grilled Cheese

When tasked with trying new things, one of Seattle’s newer restaurants, which happens to be down the street from our office, popped into mind: RN 74, 1433 Fourth Avenue, 206-456-7474. RN 74 is the latest venture from restaurateur Michael Mina.

RN 74 is named after the main highway that runs through the Burgundy wine region of France. True to its namesake, RN 74 offers “simple interpretations of regional French cuisine” and, of course, a wide variety of wines. One of these “simple interpretations” that is a must try is grilled cheese fondue. This dish is served with tiny squares of grilled cheese and a “fondue” pot of tomato soup.

Also of interest is the “Last Bottle Served” Train Board, which, similar to a train station departure board, is constantly updating patrons on the status of the wine stock. Expect to get service from a number of employees — as the tips are shared, anyone who walks by will care to help you get that new glass of chardonnay. Also, for anyone who misses “Ally McBeal,” let’s just say the restroom setup and style make you think John Cage will be peeking out of any corner.

Lesson No. 3: Bring Your Beer in a Brown Paper Bag

This month we discovered a new diner that we adore: The Lucky Diner, 2630 First Avenue, 206-805-0133. And true to the best diners, it has something about it that is unique, but hard to place.

The Lucky Diner brings an old-school look that screams Norman Rockwell nestled within Belltown. The menu is a new take on classic diner fare with hearty breakfasts and late-night hours for coffee after the theater or a night at the bar. But the lesson we learned was not the pleasure of the chicken-fried pork and eggs (although they are pretty tasty), but the small touches added to the experience. For instance, the diner serves its bottled beer in a paper bag with the restaurant’s logo delicately stamped on the bag.

Despite the urge to try new things, the Dining Out Team is quite nostalgic about the diners of Seattle’s past. Many of these beloved diners have not survived — our largest woe was the loss of Minnie’s on Capitol Hill and Lower Queen Anne. Maybe The Lucky Diner will fill that void.

Lesson No. 4: Make Friends Outside Your Clique

It can be too easy to stay within the core of downtown for happy hour or to dive deeply into the neighborhoods, but Dining Out With Schwabe eyed some construction at the corner of Fifth and Wall, outside the hectic downtown world where the parking was ample. Thinking we were embarking on a new restaurant, we learned it was merely a new location for an established local, known to many, even if new to us: Amore Infused, 522 Wall Street, 206-462-4552.

When we stepped in to this new location for the “infused” Italian cuisine, the environment seemed somehow a bit surreal, perhaps due to what seemed like mixed metaphors between the two halves of the bar area. As we dined in the lounge, the servers seemed particularly proud of the cucumber-infused vodka that allows you to drink your salad. For those clients coming into downtown for happy hour, this may be a parking-friendly alternative, especially on Wednesday when happy hour is all day.

The team went through the “Blue Glacier Martini” listed as the signature cocktail, the “Dirty Ernie” and the “Cucumber Mist,” made with the house’s aforementioned cucumber-infused vod­ka. We learned the infused reference is to an Italian style infused with other European and Northwestern influences. It might also refer to the bar’s wide selection of vodkas infused on the premises.

We also tried a variety of the happy hour food items. Well received: the marsala burger sliders and the jojos, and the free basket of truffle oil popcorn.

Lesson No. 5: White Wine Totally Goes with Bacon

In addition to delectable treats, the Dining Out gang also has a hunger for learning. So why not satisfy both cravings at once at TASTE Restaurant, 1300 First Avenue, 206-903-5291, where you will learn how to pair some of the Northwest’s best wines with the perfect plate of food.

TASTE’s wine list reads like a cheat sheet, arranged by taste and aroma profile — “Black, Bitter and Blue” for some of the reds and “Caramel and Honey” for a few of the whites. The staff, led by TASTE director and local winemaker Danielle Custer, are skilled at pairing great local wine with the perfect meal or snack.

And you want to know the best part? TASTE loves to share its wisdom with its guests. Settle in for a group study session led by your server. Or opt for the learn-on-your-own model with TASTE’s “Flights & Bites” menu, which offers three pre-selected pairings (our last meal on Earth might have to be the Wilridge “estate mélange blanc” and stuffed fig with bacon combo). At TASTE, you really can learn something new every day.

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt is a multiservice, Northwest regional law firm with offices in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and Bend. For comments on this article or to share your favorite places to eat or drink with the Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt attorneys, contact Jamila Johnson at jajohnson@schwabe.com or Christopher Howard at choward@schwabe.com; see also www.schwabe.com/dining_out.aspx.

Originally published in the September 2011 issue of the King County Bar Bulletin. Reprinted with permission of the King County Bar Association.

When the temperature rises, not everyone heads out to climb rocks or raft whitewater rapids. For some, the rising mercury signals to the brain that it is time to engage in the age-old practice of “summer reading.” This month, Dining Out takes a look at the best places to sip and read in the city, depending on the genre that strikes your fancy this summer.

Genre: Mystery. Coffee Shop: Cherry Street Coffee House, 103 Cherry St., Seattle, cherryst.com; 206-621-9372.

Review: Cherry Street Coffee House’s original locale is nestled in an historic Pioneer Square building adjacent to Seattle Mystery Bookshop. The spacious underground seating provides plenty of spots to sit and read your favorite whodunit. As you wonder who broke into the bank vault in your favorite book, look over to the bank vault inside the café that houses the owner’s office.

We recommend savoring an iced Americano and a Seattle Bagel Bakery bagel with house-cured lox, red onions, cream cheese and capers, or one of the pita BLTs. Almost everything on the extensive menu is delicious, from delightful feta and Mediterranean sandwiches to vegan soups and quiches. Mysteries never tasted so good.

Book Recommendation: One of the best things about Seattle Mystery Bookshop is its author events. Check out Chris Ewan’s signing of The Good Thief’s Guide to Venice, a book about a thief considering a new career as a crime novelist until his first-edition copy of The Maltese Falcon is stolen by a femme fatale burglar and he has to catch the thief. Get your copy signed at noon on August 12 and bring it over to Cherry Street Coffee House.

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Genre: Northwest Writers. Coffee Shop: Oddfellows Café, 1525 10th Ave., Seattle; oddfellowscafe.com; 206-325-0807.

Review: There is something rustic and charming about Oddfellows Café: white wood walls, metal coat hangers, cupcakes with fluffy whipped icings, and old coffee tins. The interior of Oddfellows is made of 90% salvaged, recycled or repurposed items.

Summer readers are destined to find bliss when combining the Oddfellows experience with a book from Seattle’s legendary bookstore, The Elliott Bay Book Company, next door. The North­west writers section is located conveniently near the cash register. We recommend an iced latte and the baked eggs.

Book Recommendation: Looking for a new book, Dining Out with Schwabe picked up two great summer reads on the last trip to Oddfellows/Elliott Bay. Check out Spokane author Jess Walter’s The Financial Lives of the Poets and take a comedic journey into debilitating debt and financial journalism in blank verse.

Consider moseying over to Oddfellows with the classic western homage The Sisters Brothers, by former Washington (and current Oregon) author Patrick deWitt, and follow western hitmen Eli and Charlie Sisters as they track their prey and Eli questions the morality of his career choice.

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Genre: Memoir. Coffee Shop: B & O Espresso, 204 Belmont Ave. E., Seattle; b-oespresso.com; 206-322-5028.

Review: “Life is like a box of chocolates.” Cliché? Yes, but we have no shame in suggesting that memoirs are best enjoyed with a macchiato and a sweet farina custard baked in phyllo, and served warm with an aromatic rosewater and orange syrup. Nearby Half Price Books at 115 Belmont Ave. E. is within easy walking distance and is an interesting choice for an afternoon treat and literary escape. On hot days, we recommend indulging in a double espresso milkshake.

Book Recommendation: There is no shortage of memoir recommendations, but two jump to mind: Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking and Marie Brenner’s Apples and Oranges: My Brother and Me, Lost and Found.

“Life changes fast.” These are the first words of Didion’s masterpiece memoir of the year following the death of her husband. The raw emotion, neurotic grace and perfectly crafted sentences of this memoir make it a must read.

Less acclaimed, but nonetheless interesting, Brenner’s memoir starts with a similarly blunt sentence: “We fight at the dinner table.” Brenner’s memoir explores how two siblings can be so different: one a bleeding-heart liberal, New York journalist, and the other a conservative apple farmer in Eastern Washington. Brenner’s tale of siblings and redemption is a rewarding read.

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Genre: Manifesto (a genre of sorts). Coffee Shop: Bauhaus Books and Coffee, 301 E. Pine St.; bauhauscoffee.net; 206-625-1600.

Review: Many Seattle coffee houses scream self-righteous, revolutionary hive. Love it (as we do) or hate it (as many do), it is not hard to find a number of coffee houses that openly advertise that they are a superior reading locale.

We tend to agree that Bauhaus is a great spot to dive into a good book and some serious intellectual thought. Grab your lit on how to change the world, a cup of joe and a Ding Dong by the register, and be the change you want to see.

Book Recommendation: Bauhaus sealed this category when a recent trip to the café resulted in seeing a young man reading Mao’s “little red book.” But in our mind there is more to this category than the traditional definition of manifesto. Instead, we recommend Com­mon As Air: Revolution, Art and Own­er­ship, by Lewis Hyde. Hyde provides a stirring defense of our cultural commons by an historical review and skepticism of the very concept of intellectual property.

We also recommend When Brute Force Fails: How To Have Less Crime and Less Punishment, by Mark A.R. Kleiman. With 2.3 million people currently behind bars in the United States, Kleiman presents a number of new ideas, and challenges traditional beliefs of justice and crime in America.

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt is a multiservice, Northwest regional law firm with offices in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and Bend. For comments on this article or to share your favorite places to eat or drink with the Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt attorneys, contact Jamila Johnson at jajohnson@schwabe.com; see also www.schwabe.com/dining_out.aspx.

Originally published in the August 2011 issue of the King County Bar Bulletin. Reprinted with permission of the King County Bar Association.