Two great places to have a romantic Valentine’s Day gnosh and a place to treat your lover’s spirit too

February 2009

There’s nothing like finding out that there’s someone you thought was just a hook-up in a mad rush of passion and longing, who actually hangs in there and then lets you know it’s okay to tell them you miss them when they’re away. True, no one replaces another person, especially a soul mate, but hey, we all take what good things we can, don’t we? Even if the good things are food, not a person, or persons. So, maybe in the future we can take the major pressure off V-Day and have special cards for certain restaurants. If we did, here are two that I’d certainly put on such a list.

The first is a place I had to revisit to see the joy of it. The first time I went, I was with a now ex-girlfriend who was nibbling on the grilled steak while telling me this horrifying story of vengeance. Ah, but luckily the last time I visited Broadway Grill, not only was it three days before my birthday, but being alone, I got a chance to soak up the ambiance of this delightful eatery. True, the place is across from WaMu, but if you close your eyes to that and let say, a bite size slider (Mist Isle Angus Beef Sliders) from the happy hour menu dissolve on your tongue, even your economic woes could vanish.

These little wickedly good burgers burst into sparks of caramelized onions (though these are a little too delicate for the flavor of the meat, which kind of drowns them out, but not to a bad effect), cheese and meat. Add a touch of hot sauce (being a Texan, I think hot sauce should be on just about everything) and you have a small handful of bliss.

Pair this with the Gorgonzola Fries (but only if you really like Gorgonzola, because there’s a lot of it on these fries) and you have a meal for under $30. Just know that the garlic in the sauce will linger a bit, so eat some Altoids if you plan to be kissing someone after dinner.

I also tried the Sour Cream Bundt Cake (because it was the weekend before my birthday) and trust me, this is one you should share with someone. Get one, get two spoons and feed little bites to each other. What happens after is up to you, but be assured, no one at the Broadway Grill or among the savvy, urban hipsters who walk by on the sidewalk during your meal (sit in a window seat to enjoy the people watching) will mind a show of affection.

Broadway Grill is open 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursdays, and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. So go in, munch, and keep this place going so when the other businesses re-open after the transit is finally built, there’ll be some good food on Broadway.

My second recommendation for a romantic and yummy experience requires leaving Seattle, but it’s worth it, trust me and several other fans who all attended Rustycon at the Marriott Sea-Tac last month. We all loved the food at the hotel’s restaurant, Aqua Terra, which felt a lot like a landlocked airplane. There was a busy, friendly skies feeling about the place and the woman who waited on me was the ideal of good service.

I had the bleu cheese and caramelized onion burger at her recommendation and was not disappointed. Juicy, filled with a huge patty of Angus beef and lightly crowned with the most flavorful onions I’ve ever had, this burger is almost too much to eat in one sitting. Get extra napkins, because it’s messy too. Along with the fresh cut fries, this is a meal you could share or order your sweetie something like the Simply Grilled Fish or Asian Salmon Salad (if he or she’s watching calories). There’s also a marvelous selection of appetizers if you’re in a hurry to get something going horizontally, or maybe if you’re a guest of the Marriott Sea-Tac, take a dip in the cozy indoor pool. There’s also lush desserts too. Open seven days a week, call 206-241-2000 to get directions or make special requests.

Finally, if you need incense, candles, or maybe you want to make some tasty Indian food then you owe it to yourself to take a trip to Traveler’s, located at 501 E. Pine. You can also buy your sweet one a unique piece of jewelry or a tapestry or something gorgeous to wear for that special night of love. Who knows, maybe this year even a chronic single like me will have someone to treat to a tea picked out from Travelers many blends. Tea service anyone?