what makes you return — again and again and again?

[charlabob]

The Alki Cafe thread reminded me that I’ve always wanted to know what makes things “popular” or “trendy” in (West) Seattle? I’ll start with a story about food in a far away place, but my curiosity isn’t limited to food.

There’s a restaurant in Boston called Durgin Park. 20 years ago, when we moved there, we were told, “You have to go.” Was it the food? Nah, typical Boston Scrod. Was it the view? Hell no. There was none. It was the rudeness of the waitstaff. I am not kidding. People went there–stood *on* line (we stand ON lines in the east–or is it on the east?) to be abused by the help. They made you sit at tables with strangers, made you share dishes, and yelled at you if you took too long to order–g-d it was fun. NOT! But we went back. Once I took out of town guests and we wound up on the new third floor, where they had new normal waitstaff. We were sadly disappointed.

I’m thinking that wouldn’t sell in Seattle. But what does?

Attention? Being “one of the regulars?” “Good Cheap Food?” (I’d argue that, because it’s so relative.) “Greenness/eco-friendliness?”

We went to a restaurant in the U District that is known for eco-friendliness, local fresh food, and slow but attentive service. Our friends were hugely annoyed, even though they selected the place — the food was excellent, the service was attentive and slow (as advertised) — probably slow, in part, because the staff stopped to explain things to the patrons.

The charla and bob like flexibility and uniqueness. Mac and Cheese with a twist. Beato because they have great food in “tapas” sized plates so we can sample. Easy Street because Lydia (?) knows us and always notices if we’ve gained or lost weight. If she was greedier, she’d always say we lost, so we’d eat more.

We loved Ovio because Shin knew what kinds of wine we liked and showed up with a recommendation before he showed up with the wine list. He made us feel special — also probably made every one else feel special, but we were too busy noticing our special-ness to care.

I go back to Junction TruValue because they teach me about tools and hardware instead of acting like I’m an idiot for not knowing. I can ask uninformed questions and come away an expert. (Girls, of a certain age, aren’t taught what an Allen wrench is. And one is not born knowing.) I’ve learned more from the guys at Junction in five years than I did in 20 years of going to big box hardware stores and watching DIY television. Therefore, I don’t care if I can get it cheaper at Home Despot — I’ll wait ’til I can afford it at JTV.

I go to designer boutiques that understand overweight older women (OOWs) buy hip one-of-a-kind jewelry and bags and scarves and have friends. In other words, if they don’t act like my presence is an offense to their decor–I’m theirs. Every cool store in WS is welcoming — I’m not mentioning names only because I may miss someone.

Where in the world do you go and what makes you go back?

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[Lismar]

Ok after lurking here for a really long time I’ve finally been forced to post. My Dad worked at Durgin Park many, many years ago as a teenager and I remember being dragged there for dinner more than once. <shudder>

But for me what causes me to return again and again is the attempt to re-capture that one memory of a moment in time ….

The first time I had the BLT at West 5 and it came out perfect.

The first time I had the sliders and fries at Celtic Swell at lunch time (there were about 2 people in the place and I sat at the bar and had hot fries, cold beer, and kept turning my head to look out at the water)

The first time I had dinner at Mashiko and was instantly transported back to the years I lived in Japan

Or any of the other myriad place here in WS that sparked the sense of wonder in me when first I encountered them ….

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[beachdrivegirl]

Friendliness of staff and service. I can have great food but with out a great staff i wont return.

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[Kayleigh]

For me, it’s the creativeness and quality of the food, followed by the general atmosphere (which includes how the waitstaff treat us.)

I go back to the Elliot Bay brewpub because we’ve never had a bad meal there, it’s affordable, I love their salads, and we’ve always been treated well. It’s about the *only* time you’ll find me in anything resembling a pub or a bar. (No offense to bar owners or patrons…it just ain’t my scene.)

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[add]

Just a note on Durgin Park – we went to Boston a few years ago and the kids were all excited about going there because they thought it was hilarious that the waiters would be rude. Well, we actually had a very nice waiter and one tagging along, in training. The kids were bummed. I mentioned to the waiter on the way out that the kids were a little disappointed that he wasn’t rude. So he took one look at my kids, snarled, and barked, “get outta here you little brats!”. They loved it!!!

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[JanS]

well, if it’s restaurants that we’re talking about, what brings me back is…first, how good the food is (if it’s not good, why buy?), second – decent service on a fairly consistent basis…..third – good beer (heh)…4th..atmosphere, ambience, unprentiousness – I’m a fairly casual person, if I want to dress up and be snobby, I’ll eat at Canlis….and then, lastly, affordability.(and that includes coupons if I have ’em…I’m a slut for a cheap deal on good food – lol).

And hopefully, if I go back and make sure they know that I like and appreciate their establishment, then perhaps it’ll come back to me in familiarity and good service. Karma, karma…tis truly a good thing….

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[villagegreen]

For me, when picking a restaurant for the night, it’s half food and half atmosphere. The place has to complement the mood I’m in. The same goes for movies – I can’t watch a certain type of movie unless I’m in the mood for it. Does anyone else have that issue with NetFlix?

I order a movie thinking I want to watch it, but then it sits collecting dust for weeks because I’m never in the right mood. I end up at Blockbuster even though I continually tell myself I’ll never go there again. It just happened with ‘La Vie En Rose’ – which was actually quite good once I finally watched it.

So, back to restaurants. Circa when I want something homey and welcoming. Mashiko when I want something fun and urban feeling. Skylark when I miss Capitol Hill and want great pub food along with my music. And, of course, Budha Ruksa when I want to walk around the corner and join the rest of WS at the best Thai place in the city. Ok, maybe the Crispy Garlic Chicken plays more than a 50% role in that decision.

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[JenV]

I am with you, kayleigh- we have never had a bad experience at Elliot Bay. I would say that is the one place I return to over and over again- sometimes multiple times in one week, whether it is the junction location or the Burien location. Excellent service- never an exception. The food totally rocks, the beer completely kicks a$$, everyone there is always friendly- waitstaff and customers alike. The bartenders always remember my mug number and have it out before my butt even hits the stool.

The other place I keep returning to is Beveridge Place Pub. I think I would live there if I could get away with it.

Also love the West Seattle Bowl (what up, Hankles!), Viva Mexico in White Center, The Maha (props to Bogie), Shadowland (props to Katie, Whitney & Jill)

….and yes, before you ask, I might have a teensy little drinking problem… :)

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[charlabob]

VG, I completely agree about Netflix Flicks. We waited to watch “Crazy Love,” because I expected it to be heavy and depressing (don’t ask why I ordered it.) When I finally said, “We’re going to watch or send it back unwatched,” we watched it and loved it. It was very strange and, in some odd way, not at all depressing.

La Vie En Rose went in the DVD player the minute it arrived — but, again, it fit our mood.

We scored “steveofseattle”‘s collection of videos at the auction Saturday night and there’s something there for every mood — getting 40 disks at once does wonders :-)

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[Kayleigh]

I’m totally that way with Netflix. Sometimes I get a movie in the mail, and I think: WTF was I thinking, putting this lame pretentious obscure boring movie in my queue? And it sits for weeks on my kitchen table till I get around to sending it back.

Oh, also, we go to Cactus again and again. It’s soooooo hard to find even marginally good SW food in Seattle, but we love da Cactus.

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[Anonymous]

Charlabob, your Durgin Park story immediately made me think of The Doghouse on 7th and Bell downtown. Don’t know how long you’ve lived here, it closed in 1994 to a huge public outcry. In my early 20’s I think we went there every weekend. Open 24 hours, and was the most splendidly tacky place in the whole city. It was the preferred stop after you finished everything else for the night.

The waitresses had worked there a good 40 years or more and treated you like sh.. and we loved it! Couldn’t get enough. Old guy in the back played an organ and you could listen to the drunk regulars sing along. No matter what you asked for that wasn’t already set down on your table, the answer was NO.

I don’t know anyone from Seattle that doesn’t have a hook-up, break-up, throw-up or any other up you can think of, story from there.

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[JenV]

JT- after it was the Doghouse it was the Hurricane. One night after a lot of booze we went there for a 3 am breakfast. We saw a cockroach crawl across the table, and when we brought it to the waiter’s attention he very nonchalantly said “yeah, we just sprayed yesterday, so they’re everywhere”

now there was a restaurant that did not care what people thought! or, they just assumed everyone was drunk and wouldn’t notice… :)

thanks for bringing back a funny memory…I hadn’t thought about that place in a long time.

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[charlabob]

Damn, we didn’t move here ’til 2000 so I totally missed the doghouse; I have to say, your story has given me a whole new angle Seattle (which I already love — but sometimes worry about our, um, gentility.)

Thank you!

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[JanS]

The Dog House…J.P. Beaumont’s favorite hangout…

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[JoB]

Lismar…

thanks for posting because you hit the nail on the head for me.. it’s the sense of wonder and the desire to recreate that moment…

unless i am just going out because it’s the thing that night.. or i want something i can’t cook better… i want a night out to leave me feeling good…

for me.. right now that is the luna cafe… we often go in after our library night and play wonderful old songs on the juke box, eat messy hamburgers and just relax. it almost never fails to make my toes tap and my smile linger.

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[Jerald]

Similarly, I think what makes a place a “keeper” is if you remember what you had there the first time and loved it…and order it every time you go there, even though other things sound good too.

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[JoB]

Jerald.. you and hubby are a pair..

i want to keep trying new things.. who knows.. you might find something better…

and he wants to go for the sure bet:)

but i have to confess.. i have the same dripping to the elbows hamburger at the Luna every time …

i try not to think of it as a rut:)

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[charlabob]

Last time I was in the Luna, apparently around the time schools were letting out, a whole bunch of spanish-looking and -speaking kids came in. Some middle aged white folks tensed up.

The wait staff obviously knew them, were glad to see them, hugs were exchanged, etc. The kids dug in their pockets to find jukebox money and boogied to aretha, elvis, ray charles, johnny cash (!) — what I would have selected, so their taste was obviously impeccible. Would that the middle-aged white folks were that, um, liberal :-) It was a joy to behold and fun besides!

Moral of story: equal factors in our decision to go back is how we’re treated *and* how others are treated. Both count equally. So we’ll definitely be at least irregulars at the Luna.

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[Anonymous]

I don’t think I can pinpoint exactly one thing that would guarantee a return visit from me.

I think friendliness, quality of food, no wait, etc.

I do know that I wouldn’t go back to Circa only because, we went there for breakfast one morning and, not only was the waitress not very friendly, but they were already out of some items on the menu (both food and drink items). It just seemed weird. Poor planning I guess.

We regularly visit Angelina’s mainly, I think, because they are always open. We will sometimes eat at odd times and we always know that they will be open. Plus I like their food and employees.

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[celeste17]

I think on restaurants it’s the service and the friendliness of the staff. We often go to Chelan cafe for dinner and Cherryl will say where have you been I haven’t seen you in a while. The owners son, Scotty is nice. He always says Hi to us and will refill our drinks for us and makes sure everything is satisfactory.

I have a florist in the downtown area and when I call him and identify myself he is always ready with a smile in his voice and goes the extra mile for me. When my Mom was in the nursing home last year (recovering from hip surgery)I called him and asked for an arrangement for her birthday I asked him for something nice but not to have anything fragrant in the arrangement, she is allergic to most fragrances, he did the most beautiful arrangement for me and had it delivered. She was the toast of the floor.

I go to Husky’s for deli meats and cheeses and love it when Jack is there he give me a great big bear hug and a kiss on the check and makes me feel special.

I grew up going to Junction True Value and when I was a kid I would see Santa there. The owner I knew then was John (?) and Norma was his wife. My dad use to take me there to visit with them. I remember at Christmas John would give me the Christmas album. He son Bruce owns it now and its still a good place to go. I prefer to go there for things rather then the big place down the road. Its all about making the customer feel welcomed.

I often go back to places because of the service and not the product or food.

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[JanS]

Celeste17…I agree, it’s how one is made to feel welcome, to feel part of the community, to be a valued customer, instead of just another credit card walking in. I like that, too. I’ve only ever had breakfast at the Chelan…I know this is a little off topic, but how are the dinners there?

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[celeste17]

Jan- I like there dinners. On Thursday’s they do Prime Rib and its a huge cut (fills the whole plate). They always have home made soups and there salads are good. The lettuce is always crisp. I like they Yum Yum burger. Its served on a French roll with two types of cheese and a bowl of au jus for dipping. Haven’t had a bad meal.

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