My Favorite Piroshky Of Bellevue
My Favorite Piroshky was one of the first delis on the Eastside specializing in Russian/Ukranian food, like piroshkys and perogies. Theyve been remarkably successful at introducing foreign food into the American palate, in large part because the ingredients fit right into the diet of a typical Midwesterner. Nothing wrong with that though their piroshkies, egg bread pockets filled with your choice of meat, potatoes, onions, cabbage, cheese, or mushrooms, hit the spot, and theres no better deal in the mall. The strong European coffee is not to be beat either.
Scott's Dairy Freeze Ice Cream
Scotts Dairy Freeze doesnt have much in the way of outward appearance, but theyve got the best selection of homemade shakes, floats, and ices on the Eastside. Their burgers and fries arent bad either, but its their shakes that really hit the spot after a hike on Mt. Si. During the fall, they have seasonal flavors, like my favorite, pumpkin, made fresh!
Grocery Outlet
Lacking the benefit of having a WinCo nearby, we finally stumbled upon this place in Kenmore, near our neighborhood. The good news is that its a perfect place for small families, since you can buy random household items (saran wrap; aluminum foil; new, large terracotta plant pots are 99 cents each) without having to buy in Costco-sized lots, and despite their bargain pricing, they do accept credit cards. The bad news is that their selection varies depending on what overstock inventory they can buy that week, and you have to check over their produce very carefully. Its a good place to go to supplement your food needs, but not enough to be your main grocer.
Great Outdoor Clothing Co
This local companys only location is, of all places, in an outlet mall in North Bend. They carry items and brands that you normally find at places like REI at a significant discount, and if youre willing to look, you can usually find a great deal. Ive bought some Royal Robbins pants for $5 that retailed for 10x that amount at REI and some Asolo hiking boots as well. While youre there, you can check out the other outlet stores (some chain, some not), and its not a bad place to swing by on your way to hikes in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Forest for some last-minute items.
Rosner Jeanne
UW Medicine (previously UW Physicians) has a series of clinics located all around Puget Sound. The one closest to me happened to be located in the Eastgate (Bellevue) location, and I was very pleased with the attention and care I received. I mostly used them for just preventive care, but when I needed outpatient surgery, they were able to schedule me in with no problem. I had a Dr. Osborne there, and highly recommend him. With UWs School of Medicine ranking #1 in the nation in General Practice for 11 years in a row, would you want to go anywhere else?
Pcc Natural Markets
Fremont Sunday Market runs all year round, rain or shine, starting at Canal Street and Fremont and going on for a few blocks. People come to browse vendors selling things as varied as vintage and collectible items to hand-made goods, jewelry, and food. Its also very dog-friendly, and many vendors have dog treats. The place not to miss is called Rococoas Chocolate Cookie stand. Hes just starting up, so the only place (beyond a couple local restaurants) to try his items is here. My favorite is the Creme dOrange chocolate cookie, though he also has a popular flourless chocolate cake and European style thick hot chocolate when it gets colder!
Kutzke Dianne L
I went to this clinic for regular checkups before my insurance switched (note: make sure to call them to check which plans they work with). Despite my apprehension at having to schedule an appointment with a doctor without prior references from friends, I was very pleased with the service I received. I started with one doctor, and when she left, I was automatically transferred to another one, who was even better. I always received results of lab work in the mail, without having to request a copy and never had to wait for an appointment, even once when I had a minor walk-in emergency.
Beadclub
Instead of going to Michaels or some other general craft chain store, try the Beadclub for all your beading needs. Whereas chain stores only carry a few standard seed bead colors, this place has multiple sizes, with every color youd want, perfect for my beadweaving projects. They also carry all sorts of other beads, including unique vintage German and Japanese glass, and offer classes on everything bead- and jewelry-related. The staff is very knowledgeable and can help you out with solutions for making or fixing projects.
Malay Satay Hut
The original restaurant hails from the International District, but a few years ago the owners opened up a branch in Redmond. Its popular with the Microsoft lunch crowd, and you can order things ranging from typical Chinese fare to the exotic. Prices are very reasonable and portions are large. Be sure to try their thick avocado shake, a standard in SE Asian cooking, but atypical for everywhere else! The only downside is that youll probably leave the place smelling of Asian food.
Victor's Coffee Company
We tried this place after learning that Walter of Walters Waffles, which closed a few years back, took over the cafe. We were eagerly looking forward to getting authentic Belgian snack waffles on a Sunday (the only day he makes them) but were disappointed at the selection. They were cold, hard, and starchy, nothing like the authentic stuff from the streets of Brussels. I admit Im not a coffee drinker, and though Ive read good things about their espresso, their powdery hot chocolate left a lot to be desired.