Nana’s Soup House, Wedgewood

Amanda Ford — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 11:25:25 +0000

A bowl of soup is one of my all-time favorite meals on the planet. I have collected recipes for years and regularly spend entire Sundays waiting for a hearty stew to finish simmering on the stove or tending to a delicate bisque. There are times, however, when chopping, waiting, and fishing a bay leaf from a pot full of spinach, carrots, onions and leeks before running it all through the food processor requires more energy than I am willing to invest into a single meal. These are the times when I fall to my knees and thank the soup gods for Nana’s Soup House. Because let’s be honest, a warm hug from Campbell’s, bursting with salt plus a trace of tin can, is mmmmm…not good.
Nana’s ambiance is exactly what one might expect at a soup house (dark walls, heavy wooden booths, mix-matched silverware) while the menu reads like Pulitzer-worthy literature for the soup lover. Served in a cup, bowl or “big bowl,” the soups du jour change, but my regular favorites are lentil and brown rice, corn chowder and the ever spicy, ever belly warming southwest chicken fiesta. Nana’s always offers vegan and vegetarian options and nearly all of the soups contain no flour. Green salads are fresh and plentiful, and the grilled “Nan-wiches” are served on focaccia bread and make for delicious dunking.
Take note: Nana’s has a daily happy hour with specials on beer and wine, and Thursday nights offer live performances from local musicians.
Nana’s Soup House
3418 NE 55th Street
(206) 523-9053

Pies and Pints, Roosevelt

Amanda Ford — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 06:45:02 +0000

My friend Alex and I used to live near Pies and Pints. At the time he and I were next-door neighbors and this wonderful little pub was an easy walk from home. The thing is though, neither one of us knew about Pies and Pints until after we both moved out of our apartment building and into new digs in different parts of town. It was my mother who discovered the place when a friend of hers had a flamenco dance performance in the restaurant’s front room. The next day mother gushed to me, “You have to go to this place Pies and Pints. You are going to love it.” I relayed the message to Alex and the following week he and I met in our old hood for a meal that would have us immediately addicted: meat pies and sweet potato fries.
Pies and Pints has since become one of my favorite spots in Seattle. The place with its welcoming, super casual vibe offers everything you want in a good neighborhood joint. The food, which (as the pub’s name implies) consists mainly of individually sized, Australian-style savory pies, is simple yet hearty, fresh, and satisfying. The staff is genuinely friendly. The proprietors pride themselves on environmental stewardship and community building. Food is served late, until 2:00am Thursday thru Saturday and until Midnight Sunday thru Wednesday. And while the restaurant’s name suggests beer drinking, and while the bartenders can make a very smooth martini, do not be fooled. Pies and Pints welcomes patrons of all ages.
My favorite meal at Pies and Pints is the classic chicken pie with a Caesar salad and a side of sweet potato fries with aioli to split with a friend. You can find a pool table in the back near the bar and a group of leather chairs surrounding a small fireplace, which is a cozy place to sit. Alex and I, however, prefer to sit up front near the windows. Sometimes we play cards, but every time we both say, “I am so mad we didn’t know about this place when we lived here. Can you imagine if we had? We would have come here almost every day.”
As we say this, we both know that we are not exaggerating.
Pies and Pints
1215 NE 65th ST
(206) 524-7082

Girls Guide to City Life: Seattle » Thrifty

Nana’s Soup House, Wedgewood

Pies and Pints, Roosevelt