Smith
332 15th Avenue East

Today it was back to Smith.  Again I got there a few minutes before 10 and the door was unlocked so I went in, but this time, I didn't get chastised.  I got welcomed!

I sat in the same place because, frankly, it's the best seat in the house.

By 10:15, the place was getting pretty nearly full.  It was a good day to be out and it is located in a very out and about spot so it wasn't surprising.

Today I got that bloody mary.  And it was good but lordy lordy, they stick every vegetable not already busy in the top of it.

It was a good bloody mary once I got all that crap out of it.  for those of you following along, that's okra (probably pickled, I never touch the stuff unless it has been cut up, coated in cornmeal and fried), cauliflower (not pickled), 2 green beans pickled and one yellow pickled beet.  The lemon was all it needed.

Food:  Today I went with the lox.

And it was an excellent choice.  The lox itself was some of the best I ever had.  It was sliced a little thicker than usual which was interesting and it had a little bit a different texture but the taste was divine.  And the platter was beautiful.

The toast was perfectly toasted - crispy on the outside and chewing on the inside.  I'd LOVE to know where the food buyer got those tomatoes.  Tomatoes that taste like tomatoes are rare in this part of the country.  These looked good and tasted fine.  Delightful.   I had a bit of an issue making it all come out even and, in hindsight, I could have used one more slice of toast.  Next time I hope I remember to ask for it.

But all in all, it was outstanding.  Really really really good.

Service:  I had the same waitress and she was her good self.  

Everything else:  Wonderful.  Plus, I love that there are two grocery stores within 4 blocks of the place on a nice, non-hilly street that is pleasant and lovely to stroll along.  I just like this joint.  This will not be the last Smith entry in this blog.

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Smith
332 15th Avenue East

I totally have a new favorite bunch place.  I don't even remember how Smith made its way to my List O' Places To Try.  But, am I sure glad it did.

It's an easy place to get to, especially from the pool where I go to aqua exercise every Saturday morning.  And parking is easy to find.  Plus it is just across the street from my bank and within easy walking of good groceries and other errands.

But while those may be high up on the list of reasons to like a place, they wallow at the bottom this time because the menu and the food are so spectacular.

Food:  The food starts with the menu.  It's not extensive. About 15 items. Of which about 80% sound heavenly and the other 20% sound really good.  Today, I could not get past the second item on the list.  I did promise myself a return visit no matter what today's meal was like.

I ordered Brisket & Fried Egg Sandwich with Fries                    
with hot mustard, fried green tomatoes & gruyÈre.  I'm still stuffed as I write this but it still sounds bring-it-to-me-now good!

And it sure was.  It was served on a wooden plank with the food tumbling off a perfect bun - butter toasted crispy with good texture inside.  The fried green tomato was outstanding.  The brisket was heaven.  The photo shows how perfect the egg was.  Next time I order it - which, is only going to be after I make myself try everything else - I'm going to ask them to maybe dial back the mustard a little.  It was good but there was too much of it.

The waitress asked me if I wanted breakfast potatoes instead of fries and I assured her that I wanted fries.  And anywhere else they would have been excellent but they turned out to be overshadowed here.  Good but it would have been a great meal without.

I cannot wait to try the other menu items.  Oh and as has become habit, the guy at the table next to me ordered a bloody mary which looked delicious.  Next time.

Service:  The service was excellent.  My coffee mug was kept full and hot.  My food came quickly.  My waitress was there when I needed her and  not when I didn't.  Perfect.

Everything else:  The place is really kind of funky.  Dead, stuffed animal heads on the walls which does not offend me but I suspect does a lot of Seattlites.  I sat in the front next to a window which I realized after I'd been there for a while was actually a garage door. I'll bed they have that open in nice weather.  Nice.

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