I'm traveling to WA for business on Monday. We're staying in Puyallup for a few days and in Seattle for our last night. We need some restaurant recommendations.

We loved the Pink Door and Wild Ginger when we were there last year. We are staying at the Best Western, Pioneer Square. I thought Cafe Paloma looked great but he isn't open for dinner on Wednesdays when we will be in Seattle. Perhaps we can drive in for lunch?

So, any ideas? Any ideas for when we are in Puyallup. The choices were pretty grim last year. We aren't looking for anything special but just good, fresh, healthy food. We all like ethnic.

Thanks!

We also stayed at the Best western Pioneer sqUARE AND HAD SEVERAL WONDERFUL SEAFOOD DINNERS AT mCCORMICK AND SMICCLS ON fIRST AVENUE; pAUL

Some of my favorite restaurants in Seattle include Le Pichet, which is French bistro fare, the Flying Fish, for excellent seafood, and the Dahlia Lounge, which is a Tom Douglas restaurant. If you go to the Dahlia Lounge, you have to try the coconut pie. It is heavenly!

Wow, I never thought I'd see Puyallup on this thread. I grew up there, but left many years ago. I drove through a year or so ago and it seemed to be taken over by sprawl and there seemed to be a lot of chain restaurants. Hopefully someone from the area will come on and tell you were the hidden gems are.

That said, Tacoma is just around the corner, and there are some good restaurants there. There was quiet an influx of good Vietnamese (you mentioned that you like ethnic) and some good old standards. For standard steak and seafood fare, Stanley and Seafort's was good, with a great view (maybe 10 minutes from downtown Puyallup). If it is still there, and as good as when I was growing up, Johnny's on the Dock in Fife had good seafood (not a fancy white tie affair). Is the Cliff House still there?

Along the waterfront in Tacoma there's quiet an array of restaurants, including a family favorite for the crab legs--Harbor Lights. Again, not fancy, just great food.

oops. quite not quiet. Although, perhaps they are quiet too. Apologies for any additional typos!

Some good places within a walk of your hotel. We like Al Boccalino (only a block or so away), Chez Shea (reservations a must) and Campagne (reservations here, too). Etta's is good as is Le Pichet.

Right in Pioneer Square AL Bocalino or Il Terazzo Carmine (both italian).

Etta's Seafood at the north end of the Market is an all time favorite of mine.

Too bad Cafe Paloma is closed-it is good. I'm not sure it's so fantastic you would want to make a round trip drive from Puyallup, but I guess you might get that desperate when staying in Puyallup. If you are willing to drive a bit, there are some good Korean places in Federal Way, and Imperial Garden has good Chinese in Kent.

From Pioneer Square, you are a very quick drive/cab/bus ride to the International District. I'd go to Tamarind Tree (upscale but still inexpensive Vietnamese) just west of the intersection of 12th and Jackson (at bit hard to see from the street, as it is a ways back from Jackson), or, if you like spicy Szechuan, Seven Stars Pepper, on the SE corner of that same intersection on the 2nd floor of the strip mall. Both places have been reviewed extensively if you google.

You are also fairly close to the Market and all the great places there-many have been mentioned already, and I'd just add Matt's in the Market and Maximilien Bistro (they have a GREAT happy hour with a fantastic view over the bay). Both places have websites if you want to check them out.

Oooh! I don't know how I forgot about Matt's in the Market. It's a little bit tucked away, but worth looking for.

Tamarind Tree looks good for us so I made a note of it. I'm trying to think what might be best at the Market if we just want to walk to dinner. We don't want such a big meal. Both Italians look good in Pioneer Sq but too much food. What about a spot for entree salads, appetizers for sharing, good soups and such. Any ideas? One of us doesn't eat fish.

You could do that at either of those restaurants, no need to make it a huge meal if you don't want to.

a quick bit of advice to echo Toucan2 -look to Tacoma for restaurants (instead of Puyallup), especially along the waterfront. Katie Downs has terrific pizza! While there spend some time at the Tacoma Glass Museum.

Campagne is one of my favorites and you can go to Cafe Campagne which is less formal (and less expensive). McCormick & Schmicks is always safe for seafood and they have great deals for happy hour (as does Dragonfish). You might want to check out chowhound.com as well and ask about Puyallup there as well.

Matt's could be a good choice. Perhaps we should make a reservation? There are five of us. It will be for a Wednesday night. Anyone know anything about Andaluca?

Andaluca is the restaurant in the Mayflower Park Hotel. I think you have better possibilities on your list.

You would definitely need a reservation for Matt's-it is small and most of it is counter seating, so you'll need to reserve one of the very few actual tables.

E.R. Rogers Mansion
1702 Commercial St.
Steilacoom, WA 98388

If the weather is nice, this is a wonderful place, about a 30 minute drive from Puyallup. Check thier web site.

Just returned from WA. We ended up eating at Matt's. We made a reservation for a Wednesday evening. It was delightful! I loved the ambience of the place - tiny with a casual feel. There was jazz music being played. The food was delicious - interesting pairings and fresh ingrediants. My vegetable gratin was divine with a specialty cheese from Billings Cheese in the market where I had been earlier in the day.

We had drinks before dinner at the French Maximillians. I had forgotton that I once enjoyed lunch there on a previous trip.

The suggestion to head out of Puyallup and into Tacoma for dinner earlier in the week was good. I located Primo Grill somehow and it was another fantasic choice! It's kind of a hip, industrial space with artwork and very good food. We sampled a lot of dishes. Delicious salads, polenta, grilled pizzas, calamari. Everything was good.

So, I would definately recommend Matt's in the Market in Seattle & Pronto Grill in Tacoma!

If you want a restaurant near your Seattle hotel, check out Trattoria Michell--which is right across the street. It has been there for years. It doesn't offer fine dining (like Il Terrazo Carmine), but it may just fill the bill with soup, salad, etc.

Karen-glad you liked the recommendations and thanks for reporting back!