Runway Grill (Seattle, WA)

Gate D6, South Satellite, Seattle-Tacoma Airport

Runway Grill is a fast food place at the South Satellite section of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. As there is virtually no choice in this part of the airport, I have eaten here a couple of times. It is not extremely overpriced, for an airport.

This time around we had a burger and a chicken sandwich. Both look really crappy, and also tasted it. At other times I had the chicken tenders (reasonable), the hot dog and the fries (both were fairly tasteless). They also have fish sandwiches and salads; I doubt they taste better.

VERDICT: 49/100

Places like the Runway Grill can only survive at places like airports without much competition. They provide very poor quality at reasonably high prices; they are quick though!

Sweet Iron (Seattle, WA)

1200 3rd Ave, Ste 110 (between Seneca St & University St), Seattle, WA 98101

Sweet Iron serves (real) Liege waffles and coffee in downtown Seattle. While this sounds like a limited menu, they actually serve ca. 10 different kind of waffles, both sweet and savory. Prices range from ca $4 to $6.

I went here with two others for lunch and we sampled most of their waffles. I had the banana brulee waffle ($3.99), which was sweet and tasty, and the bacon waffle ($4.99), which could have profited from strong maple syrup. My friends raved about the Brie and Basil Waffle ($4.99), while they also had the (seasonal) Elvis Waffle (peanut butter and banana).

VERDICT: 83/100

This is a nice little shop in downtown Seattle, which serves reasonably authentic Liege waffles in original sweet and savory options (and combinations).

The Spudnut Shop (Richland, WA)

228 Williams Boulevard (Uptown Plaza), Richland, WA 99352, T: 509-943-3000

According to various sites, The Spudnut Shop in Richland, Washington, makes some of the yummiest 'doughnuts' in the US. Technically, spudnuts are not really doughnuts, as they are made from potato flour, but they look alike and taste very similar.

When we arrived at the shop, a disappointed woman just came out and told us: "they are out of donuts". With the desperation of a couple who had just taken a significant detour on a very long road trip, we entered the shop to be told the same by the already cleaning people. However, when M. pulled her "we drove here all the way from Oregon", they took pity on us and gave us a choice from a couple of orders that had not been picked up. We chose 3 out of 5, paid the ridiculously little money (they are only $.55 or $.65 a piece), and left happily. Unfortunately, when we tasted them, we were left disappointed. First of all, they didn't taste different than 'real' donuts (unlike the potato donut I had at the Hideaway Bakery in Eugene, which was much much more tasty). Second, they tasted like ordinary donuts, not even good ones.

VERDICT: 64/100

I honestly don't understand how The Spudnut Shop can feature on these lists of best donuts in the country. They shouldn't even be mentioned in the same article with the Voodoo Doughnut! I guess the only things they have going for them is very nice staff and low prices.

Top Pot Doughnuts (Seattle, WA)

Downtown: 2124 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121, T: 206-728-1966
(There are four other locations in the greater Pudget Sound area)

Seattle is home to its own upscale donuts chain, Top Pot Doughnuts, which offers "hand-forged doughnuts" together with their own coffee and various trendy sandwiches. It is not really a pig-out spot, but rather a European-style cafe, but that doesn't mean you can't pig out there. ;-)

Top Pot offers a choice of some 40 different donuts, which are brought back to three categories: standard ($.99), premium (e.g. glazed - $1.49), and supreme (i.e. filled - $1.69). The donuts are not very original or radical, as at the Voodoo Doughnut, but they are roughly 1.5 times the size of those at Dunkin Donuts. I chose one premium (Cinnamon Sugar Frosted) and one supreme (Bavarian Creme), which were both really fresh and tasty. On top of that, the Americano was very good and affordable.

VERDICT: 81/100

True, Top Pot Doughnuts is not a real pig out spot. In fact, one of its biggest assets is its ambiance. However, the donuts are big and tasty and will easily make you eat more than you had intended.

Market Stand (Packwood, WA)

After a beautiful drive through Mt Rainier National Park we drove to the tiny town of Packwood, Washington, where the semi-annual Packwood Flea Market was ongoing. In between the various makeshift stands with crap were many stands with all kind of greasy food. I chose for this one, of which I forgot the name, and ordered an "elk burger" at this nice woman.

As always at these kind of occasions, the burger was seriously overpriced (I believe it was $7). However, it was surprisingly tasty! The patty was square and thick with a lean and not too strong taste. In fact, it was better than many burgers I ate at allegedly great places.

VERDICT: 80/100
An elk burger is not just an exotic treat, it actually also tastes good; well, at least the one I had at this particular stand.

Miner's Drive-In (Yakima, WA)

2415 S 1st St, Yakima, WA‎, T: 509-457-8194

In town to see a game of the Yakima Reds, we stopped by the Miner's Drive-In, after having read raving reviews on a variety of websites. Allegedly, it is a Yakima tradition, famed for its Miner Burger. One thing became clear right away: Miner's Drive-In is all about size! It is the biggest drive-in I have seen so far.

When coming in you are greeted by someone who either directs you to the next available free counter (if you are a regular), or answers your questions (if you are a newbie). The place was bumping with various soft ball teams celebrating their victory/eating their defeat away as well as people from all ages (but mostly the same size...). In the end, I decided upon a Miner Burger meal (clearly, one has to taste the original), while M. had a grilled chicken sandwich. We then headed to the sauces counter, where you can fill little cups with various different sauces (including fry, ketchup, ranch, and tartar).

Although we were enjoying the sun on the grass outside, the wait was excessive. This was clearly not fast food (although, to be fair, it was very busy that day). As we had read online, and were told by the greeter, the portions were huge! This somewhat justified the also fairly excessive price (together roughly $16). Unfortunately, the food only stood out in size, not in quality or taste. The Miner Burger is a very average burger in taste, just twice the size. I could hardly taste the thin patty; I assume a half pound, but spread thin over a huge bun. The fries were crispy, but also not remarkable, while the grilled chicken sandwich was, despite including real grilled chicken, to quote M, "dumb" (the taste was totally dominated by the very hot mustard).

VERDICT: 72/100

Clearly, we were much less impressed by Miner's than other people who post online. Maybe this is the best Yakima has to offer (although I would like to sample the provocatively named "Major's before making that call), but on a broader scale Miner's only stands out in size. That said, I rather pay half the price and get half the food.

Frank's Diner (Spokane, WA)

1516 W 2nd Ave, Spokane, WA 99201, T: 509-747-8798

Frank's Diner is a landmark in Spokane, Washington; voted best breakfast in the city for more than 11 years running. Although it is a relatively small place, it goes through 15.000 eggs and 2.5 tons of hashbrowns per month!! It's menu includes various (three egg) omelets, waffles, burgers, soups, etc. I sat at the counter, watching the cook making his omelets.

I ordered a Frank's Breakfast Combi ($11.29): two eggs, two slices of bacon, toast, and eight dollar-size pancakes -- I substituted the hashbrowns for extra whole wheat toast and added a side of links. Everything was delishes: the toast was thick, the links spicy, the pancakes tasty; only the bacon could have been more crispy.

VERDICT: 83/100
If you are in Spokane, have breakfast at Frank's Diner! You will not be disappointed (even if you are a vegetarian).

Red Mill Burgers (Seattle)

Phinney Ridge: 312 N 67th St, Seattle, WA 98103, T: (206) 783-6362. Interbay: 1613 W Dravus St, Seattle, WA, T: (206) 284-6363

 

 

I was pointed to the delights of Red Mill Burgers by the fantastic tv program Man vs. Food. Its host, Adam Richman, was raving about their onion rings and burgers, so the next time I was in the neighborhood, I stopped by to sample the goods. Since then, I have been back three times, visiting both shops, and I live almost 5 hours away! 

 

 

Red Mills Burgers does exactly what it says: burgers! It has a broad variety of burgers, including chicken and different veggie ones. They are famous for their verde burgers, made with freshly peeled and roasted Anaheim peppers. I had four different burgers at Red Mill: (1) the Red Mille Deluxe, a basic burger with their own "mill sauce"; (2) the Verde Burger, with fire roasted Anaheim peppers, (3) the BBQ Burger, with bbq sauce, and (4) the Bacon Deluxe, with bacon (duh!). In all cases the burgers were big, fresh, and juicy, but I prefered the 'simple' Red Mill Deluxe. Seriously, the burgers at Red Mill are so good, you don't need anything else than that! It costs $4.09 (excl. tax), but comes without any sides. 

 

 

And talking about sides, not taking anything away from their burgers, but oddly enough, Red Mills Burgers stands out in its... onion rings! I am not even a fan of onion rings, but their Babe's Onion Rings ($2.59) are to die for! Do add a side of Tub O' Tartar Sauce ($0.23). If you have any space left, get a side of french fries ($1.89); as the onion rings, they are fried in 100% peanut oil. The fries are not special, but they are very decent. Finally, do not leave without a shake; they have many different tastes at $3.19 (I love their banana shakes!). 

 

UPDATE: I can also vouch for the Red Onion Jam Burger, with baked red onions, and the BLT (on whole wheat toast and with thick peppered bacon). Both are YUM!

 

VERDICT: 92/100 The onion rings are, without a shadow of a doubt, the best I ever ate. Absolutely amazing! The fries are good, but no competition for the onion rings. The burgers are among the best I ate at a pig out spot, though I wasn't that impressed by the Verde or BBQ burgers. The milkshakes were really creamy and tasty. If you are in Seattle, you MUST go to Red Mill Burgers! And once you are there, and have waited your turn (there is ALWAYS a serious wait!), do get whatever burger you want and do NOT leave without the onion rings and tartar sauce!