BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: 1 week until grand opening for Great American Diner successor Taste & Best

Hungry and confused July 13, 2026 (9:12 am)

I’m happy something is going into that space so soon! But at the same time, we already have Indo-Fusion almost right across the street AND Maharaja. The AI menu isn’t convincing me this place will bring something new and different that we don’t already have(and yes I noticed this menu has dosas which I don’t think the other two have but still.. THREE restaurants in 2 blocks that have similar menus…)
And all the weird AI nuggets in the imagery is… kind of unappealing.

Whale tail July 13, 2026 (9:36 am)

Totally agree!! Was just going to post the same. Enough with the AI. Especially on a menu.
Also confused July 13, 2026 (9:44 am)

Was thinking the exact same thing. At least they have dosas, but more of the same/similar cuisine is almost like West Seattle getting another pizza joint. The Ai menu is definitely a bit of a turn off, sort of like the name…..Taste & Best? That also sounds AI generated! Wishing them the best though.
- max34 July 14, 2026 (8:14 am)
  
  what is this constant complaint about pizza joints? we haven’t had a new one in many years unless you count in pizza we crust, which was already an established business and plopped into the empty swinery. GH in 2023? i would think anything decent outside of the junctions would be welcome. Before that it was MOTO in ’21 and Supreme in ’17. If y’all are going to complain about those (esp moto), then idk how to take anything seriously in the comments even less than I already do. peel and press is gone, with the Neighborhood being similar, so that’s a wash. credo was replaced by pegasus. if we’re complaining about stuff, what about folks keeping two dominoes in the greater junctions in business and a giant hot chicken chain coming in.
WSRob July 13, 2026 (9:54 am)

Nailed it. Well said. Sadly, I think you are right and this place won’t have the traffic it needs to provide the revenue to survive. Seems like an unwanted product in a saturated market that is barely existing in West Seattle.
Pearl July 13, 2026 (9:57 am)

Happy to introduce a new place to the neighborhood, but MAN am I tired of seeing AI everywhere… It’s ugly, it’s lazy, and it tells me there’s a lack of integrity somewhere in the business tree. I would take a 15-minute, poorly designed menu made in MS Paint over an AI-designed menu any day, and it’s just as free.
AO July 13, 2026 (9:57 am)

Yeah, AI mess of a menu… Melania-esque business name… The vibes are off.
Martha July 13, 2026 (10:10 am)

What you said, H&C.
Bob July 13, 2026 (10:42 am)

I like that they have breakfast; I think it will be the first to serve breakfast in West Seattle. The size of the menu is concerning…
- k July 13, 2026 (12:27 pm)
  
  Chelan Cafe has breakfast. Young’s Restaurant has breakfast.
  - Brad Garf July 13, 2026 (2:12 pm)
    
    Portage Bay & Easy Street come to mind off the top of my head…
    - Westwood July 13, 2026 (10:45 pm)
      
      Circa…Endolyne
  - Bob July 16, 2026 (2:17 pm)
    
    Indian breakfast*
Jeff F. July 13, 2026 (10:46 am)

I thought the same exact things. Good luck, they’re gonna need it!
Brad Garf July 13, 2026 (11:05 am)

Yeah, first thing I noticed the other day was the clearly AI-generated content all over their logo and menu. Always happy for new options in the neighborhood, but the AI-generated stuff comes off as lazy and phoning-it-in. Definitely a turn-off.
tasteandbestwestseattle July 16, 2026 (4:23 am)

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! We appreciate your feedback.

We’d love for you to take a look at our updated menu with good-quality food photos on our website:
https://taste-best-indian-cuisine-shoreline.square.site/

Our menu features a wide selection of authentic North and South Indian dishes, offering something for everyone.

Also, our West Seattle location will have the same Indian menu, and we’ll be introducing a separate American breakfast menu shortly.

We hope you’ll stop by and give us a try—we’d love to hear your thoughts after your visit!
tasteandbestwestseattle July 16, 2026 (4:24 am)

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! We appreciate your feedback.

We’d love for you to take a look at our updated menu with good-quality food photos on our website:
https://taste-best-indian-cuisine-shoreline.square.site/

Our menu features a wide selection of authentic North and South Indian dishes, offering something for everyone.

Also, our West Seattle location will have the same Indian menu, and we’ll be introducing a separate American breakfast menu shortly.

We hope you’ll stop by and give us a try—we’d love to hear your thoughts after your visit!
- rankler July 21, 2026 (9:21 am)
  
  Your logo is still AI slop though.
- Hungry and I Don’t Know What to Believe July 24, 2026 (7:17 am)
  
  Thanks for sharing the better Shoreline menu with us in West Seattle. But please tell me, do you serve your dosas with all of those different sides as shown in the real food photos? Or are these photos a collection of generic images, which honestly is what I suspect given the variety of angles, lighting, and table settings. Also, the AI writing on the menu does not align with the authenticity of which it touts. Good luck to you in the Junction. Many here are interested in trying your restaurant, but word to the wise- with your marketing’s lackluster first impressions and the other similar cuisine options already here, you’ll have to work to win us over.

West Sea Res July 13, 2026 (9:34 am)

This sounds great but when I clicked into the menu link it’s totally ai. Like every single item has an ai generated image that looks super fake. For me it’s just gross looking and I really wish restaurants would use real food pics. Ai just appears sloppy and lazy. Will check back later and hope they take the time to make a menu that actually reflects their offerings.

Jake July 13, 2026 (9:37 am)

Booooo AI art

CM July 13, 2026 (9:43 am)

AI logo is an immediate no from me. Of course I’m just one person/one opinion but I would not be surprised if this isn’t a turn off for others, which is not the first impression you want to make as a new business in a competitive landscape

AI Slop July 13, 2026 (9:59 am)

Wow it does not give me confidence this place will be good given the AI slop menu and fully AI generated advertising on their socials.

Hungrier and more Confused July 13, 2026 (11:43 am)

I was trying to be kind in my first post but honestly the more I look at their menu and socials… yeah, yuck.

I don’t see a single authentic anything, just AI garbage. Even with the name, it makes me think of those garbage ghost kitchens that you see all over DoorDash. The ones I automatically skip over because they don’t sound legit :/

Maybe I’m a little overprotective of the junction because I love our community but this really feels like a downgrade from Great American Diner. maybe the food will be awesome and I’ll be proved wrong but right now all I think is YIKES

Derek July 13, 2026 (9:59 am)

AI menu and logo, really? This looks rough already.

GoombaToes July 13, 2026 (10:04 am)

Little weird to open two restaurants at the same time. Especially with such an uninspired name like this. Best of luck, but will be a wait-and-see for me.

AT July 13, 2026 (10:14 am)

Agreed on all counts! Taste of Mumbai in Admiral has dosa so that may be unique to the Junction but not to West Seattle.

Foop July 13, 2026 (10:23 am)

Two openings in a week and fully ai menu, this seems like a smcammy ghost kitchen. I’m not optimistic about their quality.

Jack July 13, 2026 (10:26 am)

Agreed, the AI images make me want to avoid it at all costs. If you are not going to show pictures of your actual food it seems sketchy.

DRW July 13, 2026 (10:34 am)

I think the menu looks awesome! Can’t wait.

Rankler July 13, 2026 (9:35 pm)

I can assuredly say that the menu does not look awesome. Source: having eyes, seeing ai slop
- Bob July 20, 2026 (1:57 pm)
  
  Casual ableism. Nice.

Pietro July 13, 2026 (10:37 am)

What we really need there is a pizza place.

Hungry and confused but wants pancakes July 13, 2026 (11:49 am)

I love a good pizza but we already have three pizza spots in the junction too, I think we can take a break on pizza.

Honestly I wish we could just have another traditional diner. We really lost something special with Great American Diner closing.
I loved having a space where I could yap with the owner and get a really great plate of eggs, sausage, hashbrowns and a side of pancakes AND bottomless pours of coffee.
Dan July 13, 2026 (11:52 am)

No doubt. Pizza options are limited at best.
RH July 13, 2026 (4:15 pm)

Lol

BooAI July 13, 2026 (11:07 am)

Is this entire menu AI generated???? What a weird thing for a restaurant to do.

valvashon July 13, 2026 (11:42 am)

So are they really going to hand customers that menu when they sit down? Because every dish looks exactly the same and creepy on top of that.

SlimJim July 14, 2026 (11:52 am)

Hand the customers a menu? Ha! You’re so old-fashioned (but then, so am I). So many of the restaurants dont bother printing even a 1 page menu – its all Qr this, AI that.

Jason S July 13, 2026 (11:54 am)

I read the post on here about Great American Diner. It states that they are not closing permanently but moving locations within W Seattle? Is that correct? If so, why? Where will they be next ? The owner & workers there were always so kind & great service even through the difficulties of the bridge closure & global pandemic! Loved supporting them! Really Great breakfast too! Hope it’s true they are re opening elsewhere in W Seattle but confused why they had to move out of this spot?

oerthehillz July 13, 2026 (11:59 am)

Leave it to humans to jump on board with all their negativity sentiments. So predictable and unnecessary.

C July 13, 2026 (1:39 pm)

Are AI bots now becoming sentient? Because one seems to have found this post 🤖 😆
rankler July 13, 2026 (1:56 pm)

It’s also humans who made the unfortunately decision that the first impression we should have of their business is AI slop.
Pearl July 13, 2026 (3:52 pm)

This reads like someone disillusioned by AI. Bots are nobody’s friends.
- WSB July 13, 2026 (4:37 pm)
  
  Longtime commenter, not a bot.
Brad Garf July 14, 2026 (12:37 pm)

I’m not saying I 100% refuse to go; but sorry: if your logo, menu, website, photos…virtually everything — even the NAME of the restaurant? — is AI-generated, it tells me you’re putting low-effort into your marketing which leads me to then wonder what else they’re putting low-effort into? If I end up hearing good things, I’m willing to give them a shot, but you can’t be surprised when people are suspicious of that many red flags.

I’m generally always excited when something new opens in our neighborhood, but yeah, sorry…. this comes off as rather sketchy. Just is what it is.
- tired of ai July 14, 2026 (1:32 pm)
  
  1000% agree. I’m more disappointed than anything that the space is getting such a low-effort ai mess after the diner.
  A restaurant should be proud of their food and want to showcase it off in REAL photos, not generic generated slop. If they had showcased real photos of their favorite dishes I would be SO excited.
  
  I’m so curious if the real menus they give customers will be the same. For what is the point of the AI slop images if they don’t fully represent what someone is ordering? I’m not going to look at an AI photo and think “well, that’s not the real thing but I don’t care it’s probably close enough”
  
  I know I’m on a soapbox here but there really isn’t any excuse for these lazy attempts at marketing. If a small business owner can’t afford a freelancer to make these things, Canva is a free to use platform that can hold your hand through the process of making menus, flyers, social media posts, ANYTHING YOU NEED.
  There are literally menu templates that you can fill out in minutes. It isn’t a perfect platform but anything made with Canva is way more authentic than whatever AI spews out.
  
  And if anyone is thinking “well that takes too much time”, well: it took that much time in 2021 before AI and we still managed.

J July 13, 2026 (12:09 pm)

Over 150 items on their menu… Is it too late to change the name? Taste and Best?

Ann July 15, 2026 (2:05 pm)

No way can a restaurant do 150 quality menu items. Are they all pre-made and they just heat it up. The menu looks bad…give me real food photos.Hope they have a good Happy Hour when they get their license.

Robert July 13, 2026 (12:16 pm)

Doing a logo with AI can be overlooked. But having AI pictures of food on your menu looks really really terrible. wow

rankler July 13, 2026 (2:51 pm)

Doing a logo with AI can’t be overlooked actually. It’s gross.

Gatewood July 13, 2026 (12:33 pm)

May be good restaurant but I’m still waiting for a good Chinese or Asian restaurant in West Seattle. Missing it since Lee’s Asian closed.

sw July 13, 2026 (2:21 pm)

This is the way.
The Real JP July 14, 2026 (10:14 am)

1) It’s been awhile since I last consulted my Atlas, but pretty sure India is part of Asia. 2) West Seattle needs another Asian restaurant like it needs another pizzeria. Would be nice if we could get an upscale French or New American option in the Junction. Or some decent Greek Food.
CARGUY July 14, 2026 (8:23 pm)

Agreed, I cant find any Chinese food around here (and Im a-ok with americanised version) . New luck has a tiny menu, cant risk orient express anymore… closest I can think of is Youngs with is not bad, but I’d like a second option.
The Real JP July 14, 2026 (9:22 pm)

I miss Lee’s too, but WS is pretty saturated with Asian restaurant options. Would love to see an upscale casual French, New American, or Greek restaurant move in.

North Delridge July 13, 2026 (12:54 pm)

AI is always a hard pass for me, not even interested to find out anything more. Their name doesn’t even make sense.

Gay July 13, 2026 (1:44 pm)

It does to Melania.

HPmsm July 13, 2026 (1:00 pm)

While I understand the concerns about menu size and AI generation, I prefer to judge a restaurant on its actual food and quality/value proposition. Some of the options are interesting and not otherwise available in the junction, particularly the Indian breakfasts which sound great to me. Everyone is free to their opinion but I hope enough people give them a chance that if there is a compelling reason for them to succeed, we give them that chance. Imagine taking this risk and having the community, which I think we can all agree, wants something in that space, be hostile before even trying your food.

Jake July 13, 2026 (1:51 pm)

Are we not allowed to judge those things though? I mean my money is hard earned. I pick where I want to spend it.
rankler July 13, 2026 (1:53 pm)

AI art is unethical. I won’t give my money to them even if the food is good.
k July 13, 2026 (2:14 pm)

The menu pictures make their food look really unappetizing, though. There are lots of problems with using AI for your menu, one of which is that it may cause your potential customers to lose their appetite before even sitting down. I am not going to try out a restaurant whose food looks like that, whether it’s AI generated or real. The fact that they prefer those to real pictures of their food makes you assume their real food looks even worse.

PATRICK July 13, 2026 (3:16 pm)

“Unforgettable experience “? Now that I believe.

Pearl July 13, 2026 (3:59 pm)

Dammit. I love Indian food, but I’m super turned off by this all-AI menu and marketing. I’d take a hastily made picture menu with unorganized text over AI. I’m so tired of seeing it everywhere.

Flounder July 13, 2026 (4:26 pm)

I hope their food is more creative than the clipart banner.

aa July 13, 2026 (5:22 pm)

I don’t know what all of these curmudgeons are talking about, I think the menu looks great. It’s clear, items are well described. Maybe one of the reasons new restaurants fail is because too many people are expressing ‘contempt prior to investigation’.

Carole July 13, 2026 (7:03 pm)

Have you ever had the wonderful pleasure of dining in a restaurant with such ”authentic” Indian cuisine? It’s out of this world. Please go and report back.
Pearl July 14, 2026 (8:37 am)

People are allowed to make their judgments. “Judging a book by its cover” doesn’t really hold the same candle when it comes to a business that has a face, reputation, and identity to present and maintain. If the owners make every square inch of their business model off of generative AI, then that’s their choice, and we the consumers have the right to express our thoughts and provide feedback. That’s what molds our neighborhood into better shape. This is also overlooking the many, many issues–ethical, environmental, etc.–surrounding the use of generative AI, and the character given off by the business for using it.

Starla July 13, 2026 (6:10 pm)

Yay! Great to see so many vegetarian options which are generally hard to come by in West Seattle other than the fabulous Box Bar which is only open limited evening hours. Wonder if Taste & Best will offer options for my vegan friends too? Looking forward to finding out. Welcome to the neighborhood Taste & Best!

Olive July 13, 2026 (7:05 pm)

Curry restaurants usually have a huge selection of vegetarian entrées. With so much flavor, who needs meat? It’s a good thing.
- WS Res July 13, 2026 (10:33 pm)
  
  Indian dishes very often use butter (ghee) unless they are made for Jains, who are vegan.
rankler July 13, 2026 (9:34 pm)

Speaking as a vegan there are plenty of options at the Junction that aren’t AI slop merchants

WSSpartan July 13, 2026 (9:15 pm)

AI is a cost effective way for small businesses to create marketing materials and content. Their menu is no more staged or fake than a typical fast casual restaurant’s menu created and printed by a marketing shop. Judge the place on its food and service people. Not your fears and judgmental attitude towards AI.

rankler July 14, 2026 (7:53 am)

This is a bit disingenuous. AI is a cost effective way for small business to unethically create ugly marketing materials and content. We can judge the place on the totality of their business choices.
my two cents July 14, 2026 (8:36 am)

Will disagree with you on this. The purpose, the focus, the intent is to provide customers with food & service. If you have to use AI to develop and write your purpose, well then? Would you like to hire a contractor on your kitchen remodel when only AI generated content is presented?
Wes C. Addle July 14, 2026 (10:11 am)

Exactly. Yes, AI slop sucks when done badly.But traditional marketing is also very fake in many instances (basically any food image in a magazine) I guarantee the pic of the Big Mac on a menu looks nothing like what you get in your bag for instance.
- Brad Garf July 14, 2026 (12:49 pm)
  
  The difference is, at least back in the day, an actual person took time and effort to make a fake burger look appetizing because they believed their business was worth investing time and effort into, to get people in the door. This place appears to be doing the bare minimum to market their establishment. That at least makes me wonder where else are they putting in the bare minimum effort? Sorry, it’s not an unreasonable question to ask. If you’re going to be lazy, you can’t get mad when people call you out on it.
  All that being said, there are plenty of folks in the comments willing to give them a try, and I genuinely look forward to their thoughts when they open; and willing to change my mind, if I’m wrong.
  - Pearl July 14, 2026 (4:00 pm)
    
    This, this, this.
- Pearl July 14, 2026 (1:06 pm)
  
  If you’re cutting corners on the advertising, then for God’s sake, what else are you cutting corners on? If someone has to take the cheap route–and takes pride in it–they’re willing, prepared, and going to serve you something that reflects it. I miss human integrity so much. I miss the honesty and drive we used to have. When is it coming back?

Mark M July 14, 2026 (12:13 am)

It seems they’re doing things rushed instead of doing things right. The menu photos are clearly AI but the intro and outro text also sounds AI, meaning the rest of the menu likely is too. The menu is the first thing someone sees when deciding to visit or online order. It’s the first impression. They took a shortcut. If they are taking shortcuts here, then I can only assume they’re taking shortcuts elsewhere. Like when you walk into a restaurant, if the front of house is dirty or disorganized, then you be the back of house is equally or worse. I will not be visiting until a large enough sample size of reviews and photos appear online, as the intial surge of reviews may or may not be legitimate customers.

J July 14, 2026 (12:34 am)

The picture of the West Seattle location isn’t even West Seattle. It’s a picture of the building that they’ve cropped out and put on a completely different location.

k July 14, 2026 (1:56 pm)

The pictures of the Shoreline location are off too. The building matches the address, but then they took some serious liberties with the final product that shows the restaurant on their website. This seems kind of sketchy. You can be lazy and still appear to be a legit business. Has anyone checked to see if this business even has a license?
- WSB July 14, 2026 (3:19 pm)
  
  Yes, they have a Seattle business license, according to the city database.
  - K July 14, 2026 (5:41 pm)
    
    Well, it will be fascinating to see what happens when the two locations open!

Keenan July 14, 2026 (7:13 am)

After the long residence of Great American, people forget this location was cursed. I remember half a dozen restaurants in as many years occupied this building before the diner. Based on the overwhelmingly negative online reaction to this AI slop Indian restaurant, it appears that the curse will live on.

Villagegreen July 14, 2026 (8:48 am)

Real question. Why are there so many great and unique restaurants in Beacon Hill (compared to West Seattle)? Musang, Homer, The Coupe and Flute, Bar del Corso, familyfriend, El Quetzal, Fable All Day, milk drunk , etc. Lower rents? Greater clientele? Chefs live over there? I acknowledge there are some good (and even a few great restaurants over here), but thank god Beacon Hill is only a ten minute drive.

SlimJim July 14, 2026 (11:58 am)

Probably due to lower rent on Beacon than in W Seattle’s junctions. Allows independent and startup businesses to get going without such high overhead.
k July 14, 2026 (1:46 pm)

They have light rail. We don’t.

JA July 14, 2026 (10:32 am)

this restaurant name is not even gramatically correct

WSB July 14, 2026 (11:14 am)

If you look at both words as nouns, it is grammatically OK.
- JA July 14, 2026 (4:40 pm)
  
  That’s not how people will think about reading it. It’s not congruent.

Kathy July 14, 2026 (11:45 am)

It’s pretty judgey on this comment thread. I will keep an open mind and try even though Indian style food is not my favorite. Maybe they will introduce me to something I’ve never had and I will like it. Having lived overseas for many years (not India) I have a prejudice that ethnic food not native to the USA is rarely up to snuff due to lack of authentic local ingredients. That is why the Great American Diner was such a breath of fresh air in the Alaska Junction.

aa July 14, 2026 (12:22 pm)

Saars Super Foods in Tukwila, like many stores all over Seattle, sell authentic foods from many countries. It a great place to check out if you haven’t even there.
- Kathy July 14, 2026 (2:15 pm)
  
  Maybe canned or processed foods. Authentic fresh ingredients need to be grown/raised on the native soil in my opinion. By the time it gets shipped here, if even possible, it’s not fresh.

cwit July 14, 2026 (2:02 pm)

Well, we’ve apparently overwhelmed the bandwidth on their website. I can’t get to it. And while folks are always complaining or joking about another pizza place opening, most of them seem to survive. There has to be some demand for it, if that’s the case. I’m sure someone will provide an extensive list of pizza shops that didn’t make it, though.

Gay July 14, 2026 (6:32 pm)

It’s kind of sad. They seem to know not about the peninsula’s sensibilities. Our attractions to things not corporate. We LOVE ETHNIC! We love AUTHENIC! The presentation is leaving us empty. I love this cuisine. Let the basmati rice fall where it may. Good luck!

Delridge res July 15, 2026 (11:53 am)

Wow. Their menu is a big yikes with the fake ai food…..I have no idea who thinks this is a good idea. It looks awful. And it looks like every bit of their promos are ai as well? Eek, can’t say I’m confident in the food if the effort is so ai slop heavy.

WS4eva July 29, 2026 (7:49 pm)

We just went this evening, it’s not great. Was the old place yellow, green and red inside, I never went? In any case, it smelled very strongly of scented cleaner. The table cloth was dirty. The menu is boring with AI generated descriptions of the dishes, has no drinks on it, but has a large Chinese food section. No music was playing in the dining area, however you could faintly hear a radio in the kitchen.The rice was MUSHY, the saag was very greasy and tasted like nothing, and there were five, FIVE, small pieces of chicken in the biryani. It was also bland, without any spice, we had asked for 🌶️🌶️🌶️. The garlic naan was super thin and barely garlicky. We also ordered paneer pakoras and unsurprisingly, those were gross. Our server was kind, but did not come by to ask how the food was or if we wanted anything to drink. He just brought water and walked away. The bar shelves are empty. The entire place is giving abandoned cafeteria vibes.

Suzanne July 31, 2026 (5:25 am)

I had dinner at Taste and Best for the first time last night, and it was some of the best Indian food I’ve had. The flavors were rich, balanced, and beautifully layered, and the heat level was just right.For my first visit, I asked the server what he recommended to give me a good sense of the restaurant’s flavors. He suggested the Masala Dosa, and it was outstanding. Every component was fresh, well prepared, and full of flavor. The spices blended beautifully, and every bite was delicious.I can hardly wait to go back and explore more of their extensive menu.

rankler July 31, 2026 (8:00 am)

This reads just like the fake reviews on their Google Maps listing.
- WSB July 31, 2026 (12:38 pm)
  
  Suzanne is an actual longtime commenter.
- SUZANNE July 31, 2026 (1:00 pm)
  
  I’ve lived in west seattle for more than 30 years. I loved my dinner at Taste and Best last night. The food was absolutely delicious and service attentive. Everything was perfect.