Washington

University of Puget Sound

From Chris Sheppard, '08, Assistant Director of Admission:

Rosewood Café
3323 North 26th Street
Tacoma, WA

Only six blocks from campus, this charming and cozy spot is great for all occasions – lunch, dinner, or coffee. The menu offers a selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees, and deserts to please both vegetarians and meat lovers – from black sesame chicken salad and Italian meatball subs to roasted curried eggplant potpie and smoked cheddar and bacon macaroni. 

 

Primo Grill
601 South Pine
Tacoma, WA

Zagat-rated Primo Grill features Mediterranean tapas (steamed mussels and parmesan polenta), gourmet wood-fired pizzas (think “prosciutto, fig and goat cheese”), and enticing pastas (try the wood roasted mushroom lasagna). Close to campus, this contemporary restaurant is classic but casual, and especially good for dinner.

 

Anthony’s
5910 North Waterfront Drive
Tacoma, WA

A bit of a Washington institution, Anthony’s is your quintessential Pacific Northwest seafood restaurant. The menu features oysters, clam chowder, seafood salads, prawns, shrimp fettuccine and more. Located on Tacoma’s waterfront in beautiful Point Defiance Park, Anthony’s is a good spot for the entire family. Be sure to order one of the salmon dishes for a complete Pacific Northwest experience.

 

Silk Thai
3401 6th Avenue # F 
Tacoma, WA

Thai restaurants are plentiful in Tacoma but Silk Thai is a perennial favorite among the Puget Sound community. Only a few short blocks from campus, it blends quality dishes with an inviting atmosphere – An extensive menu includes Bags of Gold wontons, “Super Wild Shrimp,” Five Spice Crispy Duck and Yellow Curry chicken and has  vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. But plan ahead, this place can be packed on Friday and Saturday evenings.   

 

Indochine Asian Dining Lounge
1924 Pacific Avenue 
Tacoma, WA
 

A bit further from campus than Silk Thai (just over 3 miles), Indochine boasts some of the best Thai & Asian fusion cuisine in the region. House specialties include grilled lemongrass chicken, honey-glazed walnut prawns, and Oceans Five featuring prawns, calamari, fresh fish, clams and scallops in a habanero, lime and cilantro reduction. Located in a gorgeous, old brick building in the heart of Tacoma’s downtown museum district, trendy, Zagat-rated Indochine is the place to go if you’re serious about Thai food.

 

Metropolitan Market
2420 North Proctor Street 
Tacoma, WA

“The Met” is not your typical grocery store. Located in the nearby Proctor district, it features a world-class deli, a selection of gourmet soups (the creamy Tomato-Basil is a classic), imported cheeses, a top-notch bakery, and quality local produce. Grab a soup and panini or salad, and walk over to nearby Puget Park for an enjoyable afternoon.  

 

Shakabrah Java
2618 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA

On any Saturday or Sunday morning during term, you’re bound to run into a few Puget Sound students at Shakabrah, one of Tacoma’s popular brunch spots. Located in the Sixth Avenue District, the portions will satisfy both stomach and wallet. Free coffee refills plus a selection of books, board games, and newspapers will encourage you to linger.

 

Metronome Coffee
3518 6th Avenue #101 
Tacoma, WA

 

With six independent coffee shops within a mile of campus (in addition to the two on campus), Tacoma affirms the Northwest cliché that great coffee is ubiquitous here. Each café has its own personality, and edgy, “hipster” Metronome, three blocks from campus, offers freshly roasted, scrupulously prepared coffee (your choice of a French press, pour-over, or “tri-fecta” brew). The late hours and warm fireplace make it a great off-campus study spot.  

 

Gateway to India
2603 6th Ave
Tacoma, WA

 

A long-time fixture of the Sixth Avenue District and a good spot for vegetarians, Gateway offers a wide selection of classic Indian dishes – including samosas, tandoori, sag paneer, and subji biryani. The lunch buffet is particularly popular with the Puget Sound community.  

 

Gibson’s Frozen Yogurt
8 North Tacoma Avenue 
Tacoma, WA

 

Located in Tacoma’s Stadium district, Gibson’s offers delicious, self-serve frozen yogurt (with a selection of over 30 toppings) and smoothies. Try some warmed apple pie in the bottom of your frozen yogurt! And while you’re there, walk over to nearby King’s Books or Stadium High School, housed in a gorgeous old building (originally built as a hotel) and featured in the film “Ten Things I Hate About You.”

 

Asado
2810 6th Avenue 
Tacoma, WA

 

For high-quality Argentinian food made with fresh, Pacific Northwest ingredients, try Asado, a trendy and casual but intimate restaurant in the heart of Tacoma’s Sixth Avenue District. Voted Best Latin American Restaurant in Evening Magazine's 'Best of Western Washington' for three years running, Asado also features a good list of Argentine wines. Open late and known for its selection of grilled steak, it’s a great dinner option.

 

University of Washington

 

From Philip Ballinger, Director of Admissions, and the Students of University of Washington:

Cultivate
Elm Hall
1218 NE Campus Parkway
Seattle, WA

A fabulously scrumptious, sit-down, waiter-served, no tips restaurant run by Housing and Food Services at the UW, Cultivate is on the ground floor of ‘Elm” -- one of our residence halls.  This place is hard to get into sometimes it is so popular (with good cause).  The award-winning Chef is Amy Belknap, and here is her inspiration for the restaurant: “I want Cultivate to be a place where people can come and learn something about their food sources and maybe try something they haven’t tried before. It should be special and drive that memory home.”  And she is not kidding….for lunch or dinner try the cubano mojo roasted pork, with smoked ham and swiss cheese on a pressed french bread with yellow mustard, pickles, or the black-eyed pea and quinoa cakes with green tomato relish, crème fraiche, and simple green salad.  For dessert try the affogato vanilla gelato with hot espresso pour-over.

A Burger Place
4234 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

This is the restaurant where you will get the closest to a good "backyard" grilled burger. It is great because you get to pick from a list of ingredients to customize your "perfect" burger -- fried eggs, avocado, barbecued onions, swiss cheese. To top it all off they have a large flat screen that is always playing sports. And they always tune in for the Huskies when they're playing.

Aladdin’s Gyro-Cery
4139 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

A very cool, Middle-Eastern atmosphere right on the Avenue and the food is delicious! Lentil soup, falafel, spanakopita, kabobs. We are huge fans of Aladdin's gyro combo meal -- a jumbo lamb and beef gyro, fries, and a drink for only $7!

MOD Pizza
1414 NE 42nd Street
Seattle, WA

Made- to-order artisanal pizza from classic cheese to the Sienna -- mozzarella, parmesan, garlic, fresh rosemary, red onion, mushrooms. It's close to campus and a fixed price no matter how many toppings you choose. Or try the MOD pizza salad -- choose your greens and any toppings all on a warm asiago crust. Lots of variety so you never get tired of it, the service is also fast so you can eat within an hour break.

Banana Leaf
4002 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

The quick and friendly service makes this Thai restaurant a favorite. Try the best Pad Kee Mao ever tasted or opt for the Panang Curry, garlic chicken or Pad Ka Pow or Tom Yum Noodle soup.

Little Thai
4142 Brooklyn Ave NE
Seattle, WA

Healthy Thai cuisine with vegetarian, seafood and chicken dishes prepared with vegetable broth and the freshest ingredients -- from mixed vegetable with tofu soup and green papaya salad to crab wontons and ginger fish. The Panang Curry is mindblowing.

Orange King
1411 NE 42nd St
Seattle, WA

A burger and teriyaki restaurant, Orange King has a variety of options -- from double bacon cheeseburgers to Japanese yakisoba noodles stir-fried with beef and vegetables. The prices are reasonable, the portions are plentiful, and the food is delicious.

Pho Than Brothers
4207 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

On a nice, cold, rainy, Seattle day, grabbing a quick bite at Pho Than Brothers is going to be your best bet. Pho -- rice noodle soup made with chicken, meatballs, beef, tofu, or veggies -- and cream puffs are the specialties here. For $6 you are able to eat a bowl a pho that will warm your soul.

Shalimar
4214 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

Shalimar offers fine Indian and Pakistani cuisine. The extensive menu includes appetizers such as samosas and aloo tikka; chutneys; vegetable dishes like  aloo gobi, fresh cauliflower and potatoes simmered in a blend of spices, and bengan ki bhaji, a popular vegetarian entrée made with fresh eggplant, slowly cooked in a vegetable style curry sauce; tandoori specialties like tikka masala or butter chicken; traditional bread; meat and fish specialties including madras curry, tiger prawns and creamed spinach and basil masal, as well as pastas and sandwiches. It's a little pricier but still within a college student’s budget on occasion.

Bratz
4759 Brooklyn Ave NE
Seattle, WA

This is a great German restaurant -- think bratwurst, schnitzel, spaetzle, currywurst!, and a decent German beer selection. Great food served fast. Try the mushroom hunter snitzel.

Jimmy John's
4141 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

Whenever I'm looking for a hearty, healthy meal fast, I go to Jimmy John's. They have amazing wheat bread and so many different varieties of sandwiches to choose from --8" Subs, Plain Slims and Giant Club Sandwiches. Try the Beach Club -- fresh baked turkey breast, provolone cheese, avocado spread, sliced cucumber, sprouts, lettuce, tomato, and mayo! They also deliver, which is a huge plus! My friends and I have gotten sandwiches delivered to libraries on campus when we are really busy studying.

Schultzy’s Sausage
4114 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

A great college sports bar atmosphere and the perfect place to stop in for a hamburger, hot dog, sausage or cheese steak. Try one of the creative local specialties made with Husky pride, like the SARKburger and  fries -- not to be missed.

Voula's Offshore Café
658 NE Northlake Way
Seattle, WA

Near the waterfront, Voula's is a favorite place to meet up with a few friends before class or on the weekend and have a huge breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, sandwiches, and shakes! Try the Chinese Pancake with ham and egg inside or the Oddinator, an omelette with smoked pork, mushrooms, green onions and Swiss cheese, topped with BBQ sauce. This place will fill you up for the next week with great diner food. It was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network. too!

It wouldn't be Seattle without its own category for coffee shops. Here are some of those on-campus:

Burke Café
Burke Museum
17th Avenue NE and NE 45th Street
Seattle, WA

The inside is so cool, it feels like you are almost sitting inside a tree, and there's always really soothing music, so it's a nice place to sit and study or just hang out before going back to class.

Molly’s Café
Henry Art Gallery 15th Ave NE & 41st Street
Seattle, WA

It's the only place in the University District that serves Stumptown coffee. Enough said. But there are also sandwiches, salads and more...

Parnassus Café
Art Building
Room 007

Located in the cozy basement of the Art Building, Parnassus has a very cool vibe and laid-back ambiance that provides a different studying experience from most cafes. Calm and quiet, the cafe serves coffee and snacks to students reading or catching up with friends. Parnassus serves exclusively organic, shade-grown, Fair Trade certified coffees from Fidalgo Bay Coffee Roasters.

Vista Café
William H. Foege Building
South Campus

Not only can you enjoy a chicken panini and iced coffee, but, with views of Portage Bay and the Montlake Cut, you can watch all the boaters and rowers pass by.  The menu is fantastic -- in addition to the shade-grown espresso, there are salads, soups, yogurt parfaits, and sandwiches made with Essential Baking Company organic breads. The food tastes great, and there are many tables to sit at to eat, study or meet with friends or professors.

And off-campus but in the University District:

Café Allegro
4214 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

Seattle's oldest espresso bar, this is a hidden gem.  Perfect for people who like local and organic and want to avoid the Starbucks down the block. And don't forget the Skydottir Epic Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Café on the Ave.
4201 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

Great coffees and teas -- and a great place to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner. Grab a Hot BBQ sandwich or the Roasted Veggie, snack on a hummus plate or nachos, or choose a burger or Fresh Basil Pasta.

Café Solstice
4116 University Way NE
Seattle, WA

A university coffeehouse where you can be social or tune out and study, in the perfect cafe atmosphere: cozy and with very skilled baristas! The menu features salads, sandwiches, smoothies, dips and snacks, and superfood shakes, as well as beer and there's wi-fi!