Lunch in Georgetown, Seattle
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Georgetown is a south Seattle neighborhood, bordered by Marginal Way to the east and south, Boeing Field to the south-east, and the train tracks to the north-east. It boasts the largest concentration of Teriyaki shops on Earth. Your lunchtime options when working, living, or merely passing through here will therefore lean towards the Nipponesque. However, there exists a varied and vibrant lunch subculture in Georgetown, in which all manner of diverse tastes may be satisfied. Most of the places listed here are rather popular and so a short wait is to be expected. This is, however, a small price to pay for gastronomic excellence.
Teriyaki
There are several dozen teriyaki places in Georgetown, each claiming to be "Seattle's best". Though this researcher has not personaly tried them all (such a feat would be impossible for a one man to achieve by himself), one suspects that this unanimous claim of superiority indicates they are all pretty much the same. For reasons of proximity this researcher prefers Wok's Deli, located on 6th Avenue, just off Michigan Street.
Other Asian Food
CP Thai
Very good Thai food for $5-7 an entree. Located on Michigan, near Corson Ave.
Sandwiches
Ah, sandwiches, the classic hardworking American midday meal! As Georgetown at noon is populated mostly by hardworking Americans, as well as a good number of immigrants from various countries wishing to become such, it is reasonable to expcect that there will be a vast array of sandwich serving establishments. Let us look into the major ones.
Subway
Located on Fourth and Findlay, Subway could be placed under the Franchises heading, were it not for the superior quality of its sandwiches with respect to your average fast food place. Subway is all about very long sandwiches. If your lunchtime appetite is long, they have a sandwich to match it.
Elo's
At Elo's they serve mighty fine Philadelphia style cheesesteak sandwiches, with one or more of the following: onions, mushrooms, and green peppers. This vendor of creamy goodness is located on Airport Way. A note of warning: watch out for the lady behind the counter when you order; she may very well bite your head off, leaving you headless and quite unable to enjoy your sandwich.
The Original Deli
Located next to CP Thai, this deli serves good classic sanwiches; the BLT1 and whatnot. Located on Michigan Avenue, between 7th and Corson.
Alki Bakery
This fine bakery serves excellent sandwiches of a more "gourmet" variety. They are also therefore slightly more expensive. But a sandwich called Cashew Chicken Crunch or Italian Grinder serves on fresh baked bread is worth an extra buck. Located on 1st Avenue, just north of Michigan Street.
Pecos
Pecos Southwestern Grill is an excellent choice if you're in the mood for barbecued meat, shredded and mixed with copious amounts of hot barbecue sauce, and slopped between two hamburger buns to create a sandwich so messy that it can only be eaten with a spork. Your criteria of choice are: Type of Meat, Beef or Pork; Degree of Piquantness, Mild, Medium, or Hot; and Degree of Sloppiness, Messy, Cumbersome, Unweildy, and Everything-between-here-and-wherever-you-eat-this-sandwich-will-have-to-be-vigorously-scrubbed-and-possibly-dry-cleaned. Located on First Avenue, near the Sodo (now Starbucks) Center, Pecos is not technically in Georgetown, but worth the short drive.
Delis and Bakeries
Alki Bakery
There's much more to this place than sandwiches. They also offer many pasta dishes, like deep dish lasagne, and a daily quiche. The Alki Bakery also, as one would assume from the "bakery" element in the name, makes excellent bread, pastries, cakes, and desserts of various types.
Kettel's
The redneck truckstop atmosphere of this place is so ominous that it precludes any enjoyment of the food, which, to the best of this researcher's knowledge, may be entirely edible.
Fancy, Swanky Restaurants
These are quite rare in the proletarian environment of Georgetown. In fact, there's only one:
The Atrium Café
Located in its namesake within the Design Center, The Atrium Café is an exclusive eatery for interior design and related industry professionals, in fact, you can only get in if you are one or are accompanied by one. If you ever have the good fortune to be accompanied by such a person (or manage to sneak past the bouncers), you can enjoy delicious, expensive food, including some sublime fish and chips ($10).
Franchises
For the uncreative and unadventurous, there are the franchises that serve the same food you've eaten everywhere else.
McDonald's
It's McDonald's. You already know it.
Jack in the Box
Slightly more sophisticated than MacDonald's, which is saying little indeed
Denny's
Denny's is the classic three in the morning, not-quite-a-truckstop, night owl hangout spot. While it can occasionally be fun to pay slightly too much for food that's slightly less than good at an entirely unreasonable hour, this researcher prefers a good night's sleep.
Burger King
MacDonald's II
Arby's
Why do they even bother?
1Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato
