In Downtown Bellevue, Barrio and Purple Cafe are participating. To check out their menus, go to www.dinearoundseattle.org. And remember the rules: the deal is good Sundays through Thursdays only; the $30 dinner/$15 lunch includes appetizer, entrée, and dessert; prices don’t include beverage, tax and gratuity; and Thanksgiving night is off limits (go home and cook for your family, people!)

Go forth and eat.

How about FREE CUPCAKES?  Even better, my friend.

This Saturday November 6th, from 11am-3pm, simply walk into Trophy Cupcakes in the Bravern and ask for a free cupcake. And just like that, you’ll get one. It’s their Customer Appreciation Party, and there will be balloons, giveaways, decorating demos, and a magician & FREE CUPCAKES! You had me at “free.”

I love the new Cupcake Royale on Bellevue Way, stuffed into the old IHOP. I was a customer to their “cupcake cart” prior to their opening, and now they’ve officially opened the whole shop.  This Sunday, October 10th, they’re throwing their grand opening party!

There will be live music from The Not Its from 4:30-6pm, and a DJ, Dirty Juanita, from 7pm-9pm. There will also be a “Sprinkle Your Own Cupcake” bar, Stumptown coffee tastings, and cupcakes galore.

I’m saving room in my stomach starting now.

#11 Sushispotting: I Love Sushi

Growing up in Bellevue, I think I Love Sushi was the first sushi restaurant in the downtown area when it opened in 1986. I can’t even remember the first time I went there, though the most memorable time was when my husband and I watched a sake-inebriated patron throw his car into drive instead of reverse, and crash through the floor-length windows into the restaurant. All of us eating were very intent on not losing our hard-won tables on a Friday night, thus nobody bothered to get up and inspect the damage. The sushi is that good.

I Love Sushi’s location on Lake Bellevue, however, is not so great for someone who walks or bikes everywhere. It was a veritable Frogger game for me and my friend Ryan to walk from 112th, over 405, use the “crosswalks” on the freeway onramps, and maneuver around the railroad tracks to the Lake Bellevue area.

Once we arrived at I Love Sushi, however, all was forgiven. The staff greeted us with a warm “irasshaimase,” and we were seated and brought (free!) green tea quickly. I was pleased to see that I Love Sushi’s prices were still pretty reasonable; for a full sushi bar-style Japanese restaurant, the prices reflected quality sushi at a neighborhood-joint price point.

As usual, I ordered the daily special bento box for about $12. I received a miso-dressed salad, miso soup, a perfectly cooked salmon teriyaki, white rice, shrimp and vegetable tempura (and they were not stingy on the shrimp- I received 3!), a delicious spicy tuna roll, and possibly the best tuna poke I’ve ever had. Overall, I Love Sushi is in the running with Ginza for Denise’s Favorite Sushi Join in Bellevue. After all, it was yummy, totally worth the scary walk, and isn’t it always pleasing when the oldies are still the goodies.

Freshness: 5 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 4 fishies
Value/Cost: 4 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 1 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 5 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 5 fishies
TOTAL: 24 fishies

I Love Sushi
11818 NE 8th St (on Lake Bellevue)
(425) 455-9090
http://www.ILoveSushi.com/
Monday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm
Friday 11:30am-10:30pm
Saturday 12pm-10:30pm
Sunday 12pm-9pm
#12 Sushispotting: Sushi Yama

I have been eating at Sushi Yama for many years. For me, when a restaurant’s staff knows you, remembers your order, and greets you happily by name when you enter, that goes a long way with me. And so it is with Sushi Yama.

Sushi Yama, yet another of Downtown Bellevue’s 4 kaiten sushi joints, distinguishes itself by being a small, warm, family-owned (and pretty cheap) operation. They’ve definitely had their highs and lows- during the long, protracted Safeway construction, they struggled to maintain a clientele while being trapped behind a large, noisy, dirty construction site. And then, once Safeway opened and business flourished (enough to open a second location in Woodinville), Sushi Maru, another kaiten, opened right across the street. So let’s just say they’re an underdog (and who doesn’t love an underdog?).

When I visited last week, I noticed the conveyor belt wasn’t as varied as it used to be at the height of lunch hour, nor was the waiting area filled with eager sushi eaters. But the owner was warmly welcomed me with a hug, and brought my delicious agadashi tofu soup without my even having to ask. And for all the plates my friend Ani and I ate, my total came to about $20 for both of us. So while Sushi Yama doesn’t have the flash or variety of Sushi Maru, if you want to go where everybody knows your name, and save money to boot, I highly recommend a tasty lunch at Sushi Yama. A friendly, local small business is worth 10 chains any day!

Freshness: 3 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 3 fishies
Value/Cost: 5 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 5 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 4 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 3 fishies
TOTAL: 23 fishies

Sushi Yama
304 105th Ave NE
(425) 451-1111

#8 Sushispotting: Marineopolis Sushi Land

So way back in the 1990’s an Asian friend of mine excitedly told me that not only should we try a new sushi joint, but that this place had sushi on a CONVEYOR BELT, just like in his hometown of Tokyo; all the raw fish goodness, right there for the taking, in front of your greedy face. I of course readily agreed to join him for lunch – I had heard of this novelty, but couldn’t believe it had come to Downtown Bellevue.

10+ years and many franchise locations later, Marineopolis Sushiland hasn’t changed much. It sports the same crowded parking lot, the same jam-packed cluster of customers anxiously awaiting a seat at the belt, and the cheapo prices. They did upgrade from crappy stools to real chairs, and paint the walls, but other than that it’s the 1990’s all over again…and that’s not a bad thing.

The roll and nigiri variety were a bit limited, even at the height of lunch hour, but all the old standbys were there – spicy tuna roll, salmon nigiri, tempura roll, edamame beans…and you can always request something you don’t see (though asking and actually getting can prove to be 2 entirely different challenges).

Given that Downtown Bellevue now has 4 conveyor belt, or kaiten, sushi joints in the Downtown Core, each place requires something to make it stand out from the others. With Sushiland Marineopolis, it’s the price. The plates range in price from just $1 to $3, which is pretty cheap, even for kaiten. Now, I’m not saying Sushiland is the freshest, or even the best of the 4 kaiten in the Core; I’m just sayin’ that if your funds are low, and your sushi jones is high, this could be the place for you.

And now I’m gonna share a cheapie deal with you. Go here:

http://printmecoupon.com/Coupons/27120/Marineopolis-Sushiland-Bellevue

Freshness: 2 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 3 fishies
Value/Cost: 5 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 5 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 3 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 2 fishies
TOTAL: 20 fishies

Marineopolis Sushiland
138 107th Ave NE
(425) 455-2793
http://www.sushilandusa.com/
Daily 11am – 9pm

#9 Sushispotting: Sushi & Teriyaki Express

Sushi & Teriyaki Express has been in the Swensen’s Plaza for awhile now (side note – is it even called that anymore? Does anyone besides me remember going to Swensen’s for ice cream in the 1980’s?), but I shall admit that I have never been drawn to it until now. When I got a flyer shoved under my front door advertising “Free sushi delivery by bicycle in the Downtown Bellevue area!” my obvious response was, given that cycling and sushi are 2 of my favorite flavors, tell me more; you had me at “Free.”

OK then. Here goes.

Let me say that I really wanted to like this place. I really wanted to indulge in sushi, delivered magically by bicycle.

As I usually do, I ordered the bento box. For me, a bento shows all the dishes that a sushi joint does best, as well as a good example of its pricing. So for $13 and a long 15-minute wait, I got miso soup, a salad dressed in an undetermined brownish liquid, 4 gyoza pot stickers, and a choice of a 2-piece nigiri and 8-piece roll. For my sushi, what I received was a spicy salmon roll, that was neither spicy nor raw (it was mixed in with smoked salmon), served with white rice that, not being sticky sushi rice, was completely bland and proceeded to fall apart upon first prodding of my chopsticks…and that was kind of the highlight.

Maybe I hit them on a bad day; all I know is, eating imperfect sushi causes grave internal sadness.

Color me sad.

Freshness: 1 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 3 fishies
Value/Cost: 3 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 5 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 1 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 1 fishies
TOTAL: 14 fishies

Sushi & Teriyaki Express
10630 NE 8th St
(425) 635-2031
http://sushiexpresstogo.com/
No hours listed.

#10 Sushispotting: FishForDinner.com

FishForDinner.com opened on Bellevue Way a few years ago, across from the new Safeway. Let me say that I love this place; I can pick up sushi-grade fish on the way home from work, and have sake or tekka don for dinner. And it’s wholesale, so instead of dropping $20/per pound at Uwajimaya, it’s considerably less expensive.

That being said, I also used to love their takeaway pre-made sushi. So I made not 1, but 2 attempts to stop by and grab some Sushi-Spotting lunch. What did I find? Both times, their pre-made sushi coolers were completely empty and there was no counter help to be found. So I gave ‘em 2, count ‘em 2, tries, but a girl has limits on her patience. I’m guessing that while they do indeed still sell whole fish, FishForDinner.com is no longer in the takeaway sushi biz. Color me sad. Again.

Freshness: 0 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 0 fishies
Value/Cost: 0 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 5 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 0 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 0 fishies
TOTAL: 5 fishies, though I’m just going to go ahead and give it a DNF (for you non-racing fans, that’s “Did Not Finish”)

SushiForDinner.com
225 Bellevue Way Northeast
(425) 637-4908
http://www.fishfordinner.com/ 
Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 7pm

#6 Sushispotting: Flo Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

So I’ve had a lot of a comments on my Sushispotting posts, telling me I must go to Flo. Well, today I did. (note that this is not the first time I’ve been here- I’ve been to Flo many times over the last few years.) And let me say that I get why this place engenders such swooning devotion; the sushi is truly delectable. But I am the kind of person who feels as if there are diminishing returns in a restaurant’s deliciousness the higher its prices go. So while Flo is amazingly delicious, with a proper sushi ambience (including attentive tea-bearing servers, skilled sushi masters behind the bar, and even Japanese tinkling fountains), it is also quite punishing on my wallet.

I ordered the bento box, which included one of the best tempuras I’ve ever had, miso soup, salad, rice, a crunchy hamachi roll (also yummy), and nigiri so buttery it made me want to lick the box clean. But my lunch tab was nearly $20, which rather puts this joint out of reach for everyday, go-to sushi. Now, many of you are willing to pay $20 a pop for a delectable sushi lunch; I applaud you! I, however, am rather a cheapskate…though I would be happy to have YOU buy ME lunch at Flo any day of the week. And dinner, too.

Freshness: 5 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 5 fishies
Value/Cost: 2 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 4 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 5 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 5 fishies
TOTAL: 26 fishies

Flo Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
1150 106th Ave NE
(425) 453-4005
http://www.florestaurant.com/
Monday-Thursday 11am-2pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm
Friday 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-10pm
Saturday 4:30pm-5pm, 5:30pm-10pm
Sunday 5pm-9pm

#7 Sushispotting: Safeway’s sushi bar

Now, what would be the complete, polar opposite of Flo Sushi? Well, as I was walking down Bellevue Way, I saw Safeway’s reader board advertising freshly made sushi. I figured hey, I’m committed to this Sushispotting idea, bring on the raw fish.

Needless to say, as a sushi snob, I wasn’t expecting much. But I was actually pleasantly surprised. I would normally avoid pre-made, grocery store sushi like the plague because it’s not fresh, and the cold rice makes my happiness die a bit inside. But lo and behold, Safeway has a real sushi bar. With real people rolling sushi to order, if you don’t want to grab one of the pre-made boxes (and I didn’t).

For about $5, I got a surprisingly good, fresh spicy tuna roll box, with 12 small rolls. And as any sushi lover knows, 12 rolls is plenty for anyone’s lunchtime appetite (even mine). And as for a value-cost ratio, $5 is amazing for sushi. So if your sushi-jonesing bar is low, or it’s 3am and nothing but sushi will do, Safeway, like Motel 6, will always have the light on for you.

Freshness: 3 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 2 fishies
Value/Cost: 4 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 5 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 0 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 3 fishies
TOTAL: 17 fishies

Safeway
300 Bellevue Way NE
It’s always open. ‘Nuff said.

Main Street is becoming Bellevue’s foodie row – Cantinetta joins local favorites Bis on Main, Monsoon East, Cafe Pirouette, Belle Pastry, Gilbert’s, and Cocina del Puerco as the street to hit for amazing locally-owned, chain-free cuisine.
—
Update:  Cantinetta on Main Street’s big grand opening has been moved out 6 days- we can now look forward to the Grand Opening on Friday August 27th!

Welcome to the neighborhood, Cantinetta!

This event, benefitting Children’s Response Center, is making its return to Old Main Street on August 21st. Like food? You’re gonna like this.

The Taste of Main offers a Passport ($30/adults, $10/kids) for samplings of restaurants, desserts, and wine – as well as special offers, giveaways, and activities for kids and adults. Passports will be sold at the event or can be purchased beforehand at 425-688-5130. And for an extra $20, the ‘Woodinville Wine Country Experience’ will provide you with local wine samplings in selected boutiques and shops. The Wine Experience can be purchased at the event.

Participating restaurants include Bis on Main, Monsoon East, 520 Bar & Grill, and Gilbert’s on Main; dessert purveyors include Amore Chocolates and Fran’s Chocolates.

If food isn’t enough to get you going, you can also enjoy complimentary pedicures from Julep Nails, live entertainment, a Silent Auction, and more. La Ree, Design 10301, Ottica, Intentional Images, Glassy Baby, and Newport House are some of the Main Street businesses that will be offering exclusive sales, giveaways, activities, and samples.

#3 Sushispotting: Kobe Well Being Tonkatsu

I was feeling lazy today, and hit the first sushi joint nearest my office. This also makes the first NEW sushi joint for me- I’ve never been to Kobe Well Being Tonkatsu. I was a fan of the previous restaurant occupying this space- Asian Spoons. However, apparently I was their only fan. They went out of business a while back.

So Kobe Well Being Tonkatsu specializes in, surprise, tonkatsu (Japanese deep-fried pork cutlet). But they also offer a full menu of sushi and bento. So I sat myself at the counter by the window and ordered one of my fave lunches- a bento box. I love bentos because they don’t force me to settle on one delicious Japanese dish, but rather several at once, and at a discounted price to boot. Kobe’s bento didn’t disappoint- for $9.95 I got chicken teriyaki (but weirdly, no rice), three pieces of tempura, six spicy tuna roll pieces, salad, miso soup, and three slices of orange for dessert. The spicy tuna roll was just how I like it- fresh, not overly chili-oil-spicy, and all the ingredients mixed into the tuna before it’s rolled (pouring chili oil over the top after it’s rolled is a cheapie shortcut, IMHO). The tuna roll made me wish that I’d ordered more sushi- but I had noted that their sushi ran a wee more expensive than the bentos. Call me cheap, but also call me full and happy.

Freshness: 4 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 4 fishies
Value/Cost: 4 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 3 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 5 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 4 fishies
TOTAL: 24 fishies

Kobe Well Being Tonkatsu
850 110th Avenue NE
(425) 451-3888‎
Monday-Saturday 11am-2:30pm, 4:30pm-10pm
Sunday 5-9pm

#4 Sushispotting: Ginza

Oh, Ginza. How do I love thee. No website, no marketing, yet packed to the sushi gills every day for lunch. And on the nicest Downtown Bellevue street to boot- Main Street.

I discovered Ginza years ago, and I will admit it: I don’t like to tell people about it. It’s mine. It’s been run by the same family for ages, out of a quietly hidden location behind Main Street. The menu includes not just sushi- served from a proper sushi bar- but also Japanese tapas (izakaya), udons, and rice bowls. And their lunch menu is a deliciously screaming deal- $9 for the special bento of the day, which today was one salmon hand roll, a tuna hand roll, salad, miso, rice, and nigiri. I know that sushi is a religious argument, but there is nowhere else I have been in Downtown Bellevue that compares to Ginza.

Dang. Now you’re all gonna go. My secret is out….

Freshness: 5 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 5 fishies
Value/Cost: 4 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 4 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 5 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 5 fishies
TOTAL: 28 fishies

Ginza
103 102nd Ave SE
(425) 709-7072‎

#5 Sushispotting: Sushiya

Sushiya is one of those quiet, unknown sushi restaurants. Which I find weird, since it’s well located in Downtown Bellevue, and quite good. I ordered the daily special- a true sushi aficionado will always order the special- which was 5 pieces of nigiri, salad, miso, and udon noodle soup. Besides the variety of their menu, Sushiya scores for free green tea and including miso soup. These are important sushi-eating components.

I hadn’t been to Sushiya in a few years, but was happy to taste that their fish was fresh and delicious. Its prices are standard for sushi lunch, and while I enjoyed everything, there wasn’t a whole lot to make Sushiya stand out. But if you’re looking to try a hidden Downtown Bellevue restaurant, I recommend a sushi break at Sushiya.

Freshness: 4 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 4 fishies
Value/Cost: 4 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 5 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 5 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 4 fishies
TOTAL: 26 fishies

Sushiya
300 110th Ave NE suite 104
(425) 467-1453
http://www.sushiyabellevue.com/

Sushispotting is a multipart series to review all 15 sushi restaurants in Downtown Bellevue.
——–

#1 Sushispotting: Rolls & Rolls + Sushi

My first venture on my Sushispotting quest took me to Rolls & Rolls + Sushi, a neighborhood gem across the street from the Bellevue Downtown Library.

Now, I have been a fan of this teeny sushi joint for years. It was my regular go-to lunch sushi spot when I worked in nearby Kirkland. I loved the family-owned warmth of it, the delicious sushi, and the shockingly cheap prices on the menu. In fact, the first time I visited, I assumed the prices reflected tiny portions and accidentally ordered enough for 4 people. (FYI, that doesn’t mean I didn’t eat it all) Rolls & Rolls’ creative roll menu was so extensive that it became my mission to try everything, at least once. I failed, but only because I got stuck on the Red Dragon Roll (spicy crab meat, cucumber, and avocado, topped with spicy tuna).

So given this, my return to Rolls & Rolls after several years was put at the top of my Sushispotting list. I happily ordered the 5-Piece Sashimi + Spicy Tuna Roll Combo, and noted 1 sad, tragic detail: their prices. In the intervening years, Rolls & Rolls have increased their prices about 25% – this combo, which used to cost $9.95, is now $13.95. Granted, it was severely underpriced before, but being a cheapskate, paying more never makes me happy.

But what did make me happy was the deliciousness of the sushi. That remained unchanged. So did the funky, let’s-make-a-sushi-joint-out-of-a-7-11-interior vibe. I didn’t recognize any of the staff, so I don’t know where the sweet family is that used to ever so lovingly make my sushi. But overall, I say grab a book at the library, and chow down at Rolls & Rolls. See how far you can get through their menu before you get stuck on a favorite….

Freshness: 4 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 4 fishies
Value/Cost: 3 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 3 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 2 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 4 fishies
TOTAL: 20 fishies

Rolls & Rolls + Sushi
http://www.rollsandrolls.blogspot.com/
11011 NE 12th St
Monday – Saturday 11am – 9pm

#2 Sushispotting: Sushi Maru

So what’s better than just sushi? KAITEN sushi! If you’re like me, lying in wait like a leopard on the savannah, watching the sushi float by, waiting for the perfect moment to strike your prey…then kaiten (conveyor belt) is the most optimal sushi delivery system. And in Downtown Bellevue, we have not 1, not 2, but 4 of them. Seriously. Apparently there are a lot of leopards in the Downtown core.

My favorite kaiten tends to waiver, but lately my fave has been Sushi Maru. Sushi Maru moved in over the winter to the former Kohana Mongolian Grill space (formerly the Shakey’s Pizza space, for us long-timers) behind the ginormous Bellevue Way Safeway. I dig its crazy conveyor belt shape, as well as the extensive, well-priced menu.

I’m not going to detail all that I ate – that would be patently embarrassing, given the volume – but I devoured a variety of plates including spicy tuna rolls, salmon nigiri, orange chicken, edamame, scallop nigiri, hamachi nigiri, and even chocolate-covered strawberries. Each plate is color-coded by price, ranging from $1.50 - $3.50. If you eat less than voraciously, it’s a pretty sweet deal (note: kaiten can also painfully damage your pocketbook if you confuse it with an all-you-can-eat buffet. I’m just sayin’).

Sushi Maru also features a flashy teppanyaki-style grill and a full bar, but given that I had to head back to work, I skipped the bar (honestly). I like to order green tea with my sushi, and Sushi Maru upholds the sacred value of Not Charging for Green Tea. Good sushi and free tea makes me a happy girl.

Freshness: 4 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 4 fishies
Value/Cost: 5 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 5 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 3 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 4 fishies
TOTAL: 25 fishies

Sushi Maru
http://www.sushimarubellevue.com/
205 105th Ave NE
425-452-0100

Monday – Thursday: 11am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 9:30pm
Friday – Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Sunday: 12pm – 9pm