You can go casual just about any place in Seattle except Canlis and possibly Rovers. If you like Asian, seek out one of the Chonoise restaurants or one of these Thai Restaurants on Broadway: Siam on Broadway, Simply Thai, or Rom Mai Thai.

I have found Gardyloo to be the ultimate authority on Seattle; however, I will have to disagree with his recommendation of Ray's Cafe in Ballard. We ate there last week, and the only redeeming feature IMHO was the view.

Although there were many empty seats in the bar area, we were required to choose between a long wait or eating outside, because my kids are under 21. We chose outside and nearly froze our butts off. Thankfully, the large wool blankets provided saved us.

As for the food, the best description I can give is "nasty", right down to the hair hiding underneath my son's salmon. My halibut looked like it had green puke on it, which wasn't listed in the description on the menu.

I will say that the hard-rock rolls floated well when tossed over the railing, and the seagulls seemed to love them.

Perhaps we were just there on a bad day.

Anyway, my recommendation for a meal in your price range -- although I don't know if this is "real" Seattle food -- is Buca di Beppo (Italian). We liked it so much that we ate there twice. The waitress warned us about the size of the plates, so we wouldn't over-order. We did anyway, but still paid about $25/person.

On our last day in Seattle, we took a friend visiting from Portland to BDB. Being in a hurry to get to a show -- not because we are cheap -- we ordered an appetizer, one entree and drinks. The 4 of us ate for right at $40.

On the waterfront, we had a pretty good meal at Elliott's Oyster House. I also liked the Turntable Restaurant at the EMP, if you happen to be going there.

Happy eating!

Donna

Buca di Beppo is a chain. There is also one up in Lynnwood. It is a fun place to go with a group, and yes, even though it is family style portions they are still enormous. BTW, their version of limoncello varies at each location...Seattles is much better than Lynnwoods...but still doesn't compare to the real stuff in Italy

Donna, I'm really surprised about your bad experience at Ray's. Though I haven't been there in a long time, I remember it being really good.

Just a word about Bucas--we took my daughter and some of her friends there on her 18th birthday and they loved it and we liked it, especially the price for the large group (not to mention teenage boys...you know how they eat!) The food is good, not great though, and the portions are, as Donna said, huge.

On the downside--there often is a huge line outside, (no reservations) so if you decide to go, probably either early or late during the week would be best, though I don't know for sure. (My daughter's bd was on a weekday in late Oct., so it wasn't an issue, but I've often seen long lines of people waiting.)

Another suggestion--if you're going to be here at least a week, you might consider purchasing an entertainment book. Several of the places mentioned are in there. (www.entertainment.com)

artlover: I know you are the one who recommended Buca di Beppo to me. It was really close to our hotel (Silver Cloud-Lake Union) ... but you didn't warn me about the HALF-POUND meanballs!

Donna

Oh, sh_t! I meant meatballs.

dwoodliff, My last visits to Ray's Cafe and the restaurant downstairs were disappointing. I have been eating at Ray's since the late 1940s when it was4 boathouse--it was with considerable sadness that I crossed it off my list of favorite places to eat.

Since lunch is a much better value than dinner, I eat lunch out several times a month, but I reserve dinner out for special occasions and when taveling.

Color me surprised. I was at the Cafe a couple of weeks ago and thought it was still among the best. Duly noted, though - noplace should be given a blue ribbon without occasional monitoring.

I guess I assumed the $25/$30 number was a rough range. Obviously you can blow that with just an appetizer at any of the places mentioned, provided it's accompanied by a couple martoonies.

The problem is the OP's desire for "real" Seattle food. If just getting full for under 25 bucks is the option, the Cheesecake Factory will (over)fill the bill. Like Buca, it's a triumph of Supersized, corporate, American restaurant ideology. Bah.

Siam on Broadway. Julia's in Wallingford. Red Mill burgers. Spud Fish 'n Chips. Ezell's Fried Chicken. Agua Verde Cafe at Portage Bay. Lowell's in the Market.

Now those are locals' places with "real" food.

Gardyloo: Well, I guess we missed out. We passed by the Cheesecake Factory so many times, I can't even count them. Even went to 2 movies right across the street. For some reason, I assumed they just served desserts. Names can fool you, I guess.

Donna

Hi, I'm kinda new to Seattle (2 years) but I'm surprised nobody mentioned the great Chinese restaurants in the International District. Personally I love Sea Garden and they have another big fancy, more expensive restaurant in Bellevue (but their dimsum is great). The black bean & ginger crab is fabulous, and when you get the rose and tea bowls-- use them for cleaning your hands not a drink (as i found out the embarressing way). i usually get hot and sour soup and sauteed pea vine and the whole meal is around $50-$60 for 2. i've ordered this menu over 3 times, and it's always been great. happy eating!

Choppy, Thanks for the Chinese restaurant suggestion.

Donna, I'm glad you liked Bucas...yes, with teens I can see myself recommending it...we haven't had the meat or meanballs yet (LOL), but stand forewarned!

Choppy, great idea--International district has lots of good places in that pricerange (or even less).

pegelicious,
One place a friend of mine from Malaysia took me to which is terrific and very casual is the Malay Satay House on 24th in Redmond (by the Bon Homestore). They used to have one in Seattle, but I think there was a fire, but it may be reopened.

Andres in Bellevue is also very good--a combination nouveau Vietnamese/French. It's in a stripmall off Northup by 130th. Also casual, not expensive and good, but service can be slow (but if you're with friends, it shouldn't be a problem.)

We also like a Thai place called The King and I on Main Street in Bellevue. Casual and inexpensive--they have a specialty duck dish that's really good and a tofu dish that's delicious as well.

I'm playing tennis on Monday with some Japanese friends and will ask for some more recommendations.

As Jim pointed out, most places here are casual.

I still think you can't go wrong with one of the Tom Douglas restaurants. Matt's on the Market has received wonderful reviews on Chowhound, Pam SF how much are the entrees here?

It's on my list along with Union and Elliott's Oyster House for our next Seattle visit. I'm back in the PNW right now for several days, it's gorgeous as always! ***kim***

Gardyloo mentioned Ray's Boathouse. We used to go there all the time many moons ago, and on a recent cruise we met a couple from Seattle who told us it still is as good as it was years ago.

I will repeat my suggestion for Matt's in the Market and I will also throw in Wild Ginger, which I absolutely love. If you share two appetizers from the satay bar (I like the peasant chicken and the scallops) and split an order of their duck, which is HUGE, you can share dessert and come out of there with the entire meal being around $30 total. Another option in the market area is Cafe Campagne, which is not as pricey as Campagne. I do agree with Jimshep on the high cost of Dahlia Lounge. I think it would be impossible to come out of there under $30 a person, unless you only ordered the least expensive entree with water to drink and barely tipped 15%. On my last visit in April, it was the most expensive place that we ate, and for two of us, appetizers, entrees, desserts, one glass of wine, and two cups of coffee came out in the $120 range, including tax and tip.

When we were in Seattle last summer, two girls and just been to Wild Ginger and said they were disappointed with the place and that the service was awful, I haven't been myself, so comment on it.

I still say go for one of the Tom Douglas places! ***kim***

Wild Ginger can be disappointing unless you know exactly what to order. Somebody mentioned the duck served with little buns and a plum sauce--it is fabulous. They also make a deliciouis soup with a creamy (but thin) base and wonderful bits of fish and shell fish (but I'm not sure they call it soup). I've had wonderful noodles there too. The problem is that I have three wonderful Thai restaurants in my neighborhood at which I can conveniently get my Asian kick at a fraction of the price.

Agree with jimshep about Wild Ginger--I've been disappointed (even in the duck--once overcooked, once undercooked), but liked some of the other dishes, especially the spicy chicken salad.

pegelicious--according to my Japanese friend, the Japanese like Izumi the best (Totem Lake--a nightmare of a place to negotiate if you don't know you way around), but the non-Asians seem to like Toyko (at Factoria) or Riki Riki at Park Place in Kirkland or Todi at Redmond Center (which is an all you can eat buffet for $25). If you go, let us know what you thought.

(I might go to Riki Riki or Izumi tonight--you put me in the mood!)

Gosh, I'm getting hungry!

Agree with everyone about Wild Ginger, but it is a hot, hip spot in Seattle. Personally I think the scallops are the only interesting thing on the menu.

wild ginger..no don't go!