Classy upscale brunch on the water

December 19, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 8 Comments

A little while back we shared a visit to Arnies Edmonds that we had over a year ago and we stated we were planning a return trip . That trip happened on Sunday with our Seattle family before we went to see The Nutcracker ballet in Seattle.

The restaurant building

Lovely views of Puget Sound

Delicious chilled fresh fruit with creamy yogurt for dipping

We got to Arnies at 10:00 AM to allow us a leisurely brunch before the matinee at the ballet. As usual, our service was wonderful and most attentive. Within a short time of seating our fruit plates were delivered to our table. The yogurt dip in the cup is such a wonderful added touch to the fresh fruit.

Sparkling mimosa

Decadent cinnamon roll

Next comes your choice of OJ or mimosa, included in the brunch meal. Our grandson of course liked his OJ that came in a differentiating champagne glass. Following on the heels of the drinks everyone is served a warm “fresh out of the oven” cinnamon roll. Can you say delicious?

Sher’s Belgian waffle

Maj’s scramble, including potatoes and Sher’s bacon!

The menu for the Sunday Brunch is remarkably varied. There are three kinds of waffles, many different omelets, salmon dishes, and of course Eggs Benedict. The chefs will prepare them to order, and will even without hesitation change or add ingredients of your choice.

Glad to be back at Arnies

The service at Arnies Edmonds is wonderful. The menu has something for anyone. The chef made a special order brunch plate for our 8 year old grandson and a special order scramble for our daughter as well. Arnies Edmonds Sunday brunch remains one of our favorite dining experiences of all of our travels. We were delighted to have yet another wonderful brunch featuring “Pacific Northwest Favorites”.

Good food and happy times at Everett Olive Garden

December 18, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 15 Comments

Today Sher an I went with our daughter, son-in-law and grandson to see his final soccer game of the season at the YMCA. Done at 1:30PM, we were all ready for lunch, so off to the Everett, Washington Olive Garden we went.

Our favorite wine here, the Confetti Pink Moscato Rosé Wine

It had been several months since we had dined at an Olive Garden and our Seattle family also was looking forward to the cuisine. We were seated immediately and our server was at our table taking drink orders as soon as we were seated.

Zuppa Toscana, a spicy Italian sausage, fresh kale and russet potatoes in a creamy broth

Classic and tasty minestrone

The soups are all you can eat. Maj had two servings of the potato and sausage soup.

Maj had his favorite: spaghetti, meatballs and meat sauce

Sher ordered cheese ravioli with marinara sauce

The Cheese ravioli and Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo are both oven baked and come right from the oven on very hot plates. You are warned to be careful.

Daughter’s choice: Chicken Tortelloni Alfredo

And of course there is the never empty basket of warm bread sticks

We all enjoyed our meals. The Olive Garden doesn’t please everyone, but we have never been disappointed at any one of these restaurants regardless of where in the country we have stopped. Consistency is something that makes dining choices a lot easier when you know what to expect.

Revisiting Arnies Pacific Northwest Favorites

December 10, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 5 Comments

Over a year ago Sher and I were blessed to have been able to visit with family in the Seattle area. Fine dining is to be found along the shores of the Puget Sound. Here is one of those establishments. We’re looking forward to a return trip to Arnies soon!

We had a wonderful Sunday brunch today. Our son-in-law’s parents are here visiting as well, and our grandson is relishing having all four of his grandparents at the same time. Thus our Sunday outing was extra special.

Arnies trade mark signage

Dining w/windows overlooking Puget Sound

Arnies has been serving the area for 25 years. Today we went to the Edmonds location overlooking the Puget Sound and Edmonds Marina. You can also see the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry from the restaurant.

Each person gets their own mouthwatering cinnamon roll

Excellent Mimosa, Orange juice in champagne glass

Fresh fruit with creamy yogurt dip

Arnies is known for several things, not the least of which is their signature specialty dishes. Keep in mind that your dining experience includes not only your entrée, but a fresh fruit and dip tray. In addition, you’ll be treated to a Mimosa or OJ and a warm freshly baked cinnamon roll.

Belgian waffle, honey butter, maple syrup and bacon

Eggs Benedict with house made roasted potatoes

Three egg omelet with honey ham and Tillamook cheddar

The entrées are absolutely delicious. Each are hand prepared, served at the proper temperature, and presented as professionally as you always expect from an upscale dining establishment.

It is fun watching the Edmundson-Kingston Ferry come and go as you eat

The ambience at Arnies is relaxed with a premium feeling. The staff is most friendly and truly want you to feel like you are a valuable guest. The view of Puget Sound is truly magnificent with the islands in the distance and boats on the water. Out of all of our travels, Arnies is one of our favorite restaurants.

Note: After reliving this through our pictures and story, we are already planning our next Sunday brunch at Arnies in Edmonds.

Fresa Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar

December 8, 2022December 8, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 16 Comments

Our daughter suggested a great Mexican restaurant for our supper last night. Sher and I went with her and our grandson and met our son-in-law at the Fresa Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar in Everett, Washington. She said that they had just happened on this place and were glad they tried it.

Stuffed chile poppers

Delightful queso dip

Chunky fresh guacamole with lime, onions, tomatoes and cilantro

We started our dining adventure with some delicious appetizers. The tray filled with Chunky Guacamole tasted as good as it looked. The golden brown Chile Poppers featured full size, not sliced, jalapenos with sour cream and a dish of strawberry jelly for dipping and my was that queso dip scrumptious!

Fixin’s for fajitas

Steak fajitas

On to the main courses, our daughter and our son-in-law shared steak and chicken fajitas for two (see video). Sher raved about her vegetarian enchiladas (see video) and Maj had steak fajitas. The fajitas all came with very generous helpings of rice, frijoles, guacamole, sour cream and lettuce and tomatoes. Of course plentiful tortillas, corn and flour, were also served.

The quality of this restaurant is truly outstanding. The family traditions of this establishment shine through in not only the service but the excellent cuisine. We were very impressed and have to rate this as one of the best Mexican restaurants we have enjoyed. When in the Seattle area, do yourself a favor and dine at Fresa Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar in Everett. This is the Fresa website.

The Old Spaghetti Factory in Lynnwood Washington

December 7, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 17 Comments

The Old Spaghetti Factory is often referred to as a “family-friendly chain eatery featuring traditional Italian entrees amid turn-of-the-century decor.” The one in Alderwood Mall in Lynwood, Washington remains true to that description.

Trolley full of, and surrounded by tables

Close look at the seating in the trolley

We dined there with our daughter, son-in-law and grandson tonight. The decor is immediately impressive to see, and this location even has an old Seattle trolley car from 1970 in place and used for dining.

Warm bread flanked by our cocktails and a beer, center

We started with some great cocktails. Sher enjoyed the Strawberry Pomegranate Drop, a delightful blend of pomegranate vodka, lime, strawberry puree and a splash of sweet & sour. Maj really liked the Blackberry Pomegranate Long Island Iced Tea, a traditional mix of gin and rum and pomegranate vodka with Triple Sec and added blackberry syrup and a splash of sweet & sour.

Spinach and Cheese Ravioli, filled with spinach and two cheeses, topped with marinara sauce.

Meat Lovers Treat with Sicilian meatballs, Italian sausage, spaghetti with hearty meat sauce

The food at the Old Spaghetti Factory is just plain excellent. The portion sizes are most adequate. Both Sher and I enjoyed our choices, as did the rest of the family. Our grandson is a pasta fan, and he really enjoyed the bread and his spaghetti.

This was a wonderful meal with excellent service. Our server was a very nice young man named Gaige who took very good care of us. He was friendly and helpful in explaining the menu to us. His service added to what was a most enjoyable evening out with our family. We would definitely recommend The Old Spaghetti Factory. OSF.com is their website listing all locations.

Burgermaster a Seattle area fixture for decades

November 27, 2022November 29, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

Burgermaster began in 1952, and currently there are five in the Seattle area. Our daughter suggested we go there for supper before we went to see the Christmas lights.

No missing the name

Lots of parking, inside dining to the right

Sher and I were surprised to see what looked like an old fashioned drive-in, complete with car hops. (No, they were not on roller skates) No speakers to place orders here, the car hops had hand held devices to take our order. Large menu boards were prominently placed in front of each parking spot.

Fish hot from the fryer, lots of fries and slaw

Sher took a bite before I got the picture, rings to the right

I had the fish and chips, three pieces of “hand breaded in house” cod with a huge portion of fries and a small cup of slaw. Sher had one of her favorites: grilled cheese with a slice of onion and a slice of tomato. Her side was onion rings, thus we were able to share and enjoy both fries and rings. Our grandson wanted a hot dog, and it was split into three slices and served on a hamburger bun. I’d never seen that served in a restaurant that way. He loved it!

The big menu board

Now you know where we were

All in all the food was good, served hot and quickly. We actually enjoyed eating in the car with our grandson between us. Our daughter and son-in-law were of course in the front, and enjoyed their burgers. We all had great conversation and good food and drinks.

Birthday celebration at Everett’s Kyoto Japanese restaurant

November 27, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 23 Comments

Our chef for the evening

Sher and I celebrated our daughter’s birthday with her family at the Kyoto Japanese restaurant in Everett, Washington. This eatery is one of the “meal cooked at your table” establishments, with your chef putting on a show along with the food preparation.

The menu was awesome with a very wide variety of dinner combinations. As Sher is a vegetarian she picked a vegetable medley, and the chef was most accommodating and made her fried rice without the addition of eggs.

Preparing the onion tower

Flaming onion tower

The antics of our chef were most entertaining. His skill in manipulating the tools were remarkable and fun to watch. He could do things with the knife and spatula that were hard to imagine. And I had no idea you could do things with the eggs that we witnessed.

Plum wine imported from Osaka

Fried rice on the way

The food was absolutely delicious. The chef kept us entertained throughout his preparation of our individual dishes. His constant banter was filled with quips and humor. Once he flipped a large pat of butter into the air before it landed on the rice. He deadpanned “ah, butterfly”. Chef flipped pieces of chicken across the grill directly onto our grandson’s plate. He loved that!

Happy Birthday song with tambourine and gong!

We all had a delightful meal and enjoyed each other’s company. And to top things off, the staff brought our daughter ice cream with candles, and the whole place sang Happy Birthday!

Everett Washington’s Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Pub

November 19, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 18 Comments

This morning Sher and I and our daughter were off to a nearby Walmart for our (gulp) annual flu shots and another COVID booster, per doctor’s recommendations. Got the “needle sticks” done and then we went and picked up our son-in-law and our grandson. Our daughter suggested we head for an Irish Pub and American Grill named Shawn O’Donnell’s.

The storefront of the Everett O’Donnell’s, the first of the chain

Interesting interior design

The center bar

We got to the pub right at 11:15 and were seated immediately. We were probably a bit ahead of the lunch crowd. The decor of this restaurant has a definite Irish flavor, expected from a family owned business started by the grandson of Irish immigrants.

The Full Irish Breakfast

Corned Beef Benedict with smashed potatoes

The fare at Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Pub is very tasty, and does have some interesting items not commonly found on most menus. The smashed potatoes are just that: yellow gold Yukon potatoes cooked and then literally smashed near flat. The biscuits are very unique, named Soda Farls and served with raspberry jam. Yummy!

Bacon Lover’s Scramble

Smashed potatoes with 2 Soda Farls w/ jam

The service, coffee and of course the food was excellent at this fun Irish Pub. Shawn O’Donnell built this facility in 2006 after several years in the restaurant business. Currently there are five locations in and around Everett, including one in far eastern Spokane. Our server told us that plans are in the works for expansion into other states. Any community would benefit if a Shawn O’Donnell’s located there.

Return to the Oxford Saloon in Snohomish

November 16, 2022November 18, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 9 Comments

Sher and I first patronized the Oxford Saloon in Snohomish, Washington in the fall of 2014. We had driven from Indiana in our new RV to the Seattle area as our daughter and son-n-law were expecting their first child. Being the dotting grandparents we are, we had to be there for that blessed family event!

Stunning scenery on the way to Snohomish

The classic 1900’s exterior of the Oxford

We had been antique shopping along Main Street in Snohomish, a lovely little town north of Seattle. Needing a break we stopped at this interesting looking old bar named the Oxford Saloon. We split a basket of hand cut fries and enjoyed a couple of sodas. Thus began our love affair with the Oxford.

Enjoying our custom made drinks

Every bar needs a moose…

Sher and I went with our daughter, son-in-law and grandson Tuesday afternoon late. We got there in time for Happy Hour, and our server Jenny made special “Christmas Season” drinks just for us. Not only were drinks a special price but all of the appetizers were also $2 off. We had been seated when we noticed several folks with guitar cases coming into the bar. We had picked Open Mic Tuesday.

Delicious fare: Burger & fries, Fish & Chips, Mac & Cheese, Potato skins, Loaded Jalapenos and Pretzel bites with beer cheese

All of our food was most delicious. Sher and our daughter enjoyed the appetizers, our grandson loved his burger and fries, and I absolutely relished my 3 piece Fish n Chips. I’ve been looking forward for this! (Every time we have visited over the past 8 years, we always make it a priority to enjoy visits to the Oxford.)

The place was full!

Good music!

At six the first pair of musicians took the stage. By that time the place was packed with people. The crowd was lively and very nice and friendly. This bar has such a wonderful atmosphere, no judgement, be yourself, be accepted and have fun.

B&W sometimes works best

There is that creepy doll, a fascinating story

Back in January, 2020 Sher and I were fortunate to have a private tour given to us by Rebecca Caden, General Manager of the Oxford Saloon. We both have interests in the paranormal, and the Oxford is one of the most haunted places in the state of Washington. Rebecca was kind enough to provide us a tour of all three stories of the Oxford including the history of the hauntings in each building area where sightings were observed. This link will take you to our post detailing that tour. Check it out, you will find it very interesting.

All in all, we cannot say enough about what a wonderful facility you will find in The Oxford Saloon and Eatery. Becoming “regulars” at the Oxford is a goal that we would love to obtain. Yes we really love this place and truly enjoy the food, staff, and of course the live music. Special hats off to Jenny who served us well.

Went to a sushi belt, not a sushi bar

November 10, 2022 / Roadtirementvintage / 12 Comments

The entrance signage

Tonight Sher and I had an experience new to both of us. Our daughter, son-in-law and grandson took us to a sushi restaurant set up like we had never seen before. Named the bitty fish sushi, it is not a sushi bar, but a sushi belt.

The sushi items offered were like most sushi places, with a variety of protein and vegetarian and vegan ingredients. What was different for us was the conveyor belt that was constantly moving. On the belt were circular metal pieces that held plates with the different menu items, each covered with a clear domed cover.

You simply picked what items you wanted, took them off the conveyor and enjoyed them. It was easy to share, and each plate had four individual pieces of sushi.