Seattle - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 166

good wine selection and involved chef-owner (he'll be the guy who brings bread to your
table). All the ingredients are obtained from local producers, and the idea is to assemble
a meal out of a bunch of different taster-size dishes.
Only a few reservations are accepted each night, and the wait can be long, so grab
yourself a beer and spend some time studying the chalkboard menu until it's your turn.

Cascina Spinasse ITALIAN$$$ $$$

( 206-251-7673; www.spinasse.com ; 1531 14th Ave; 2-course meals $40; 5-10pm Sun-Thu, to
11pm Fri & Sat; 11) Behind the rather fussy lace curtains hides what is possibly the finest
new restaurant in Seattle. Spinasse specializes in cuisine of the Piedmont region of north-
ern Italy. This means delicately prepared ravioli, buttery risottos (enhanced with stinging
nettles, no less), rabbit meatballs and roasted artichokes. The impressive wine menu is
dominated by fine Piedmontese reds including Barolo, available by the glass.

U District

This is one of the best neighborhoods for authentic, inexpensive ethnic food and invent-
ive vegan menus. Don't be put off by unappetizing-looking storefronts - some of the
most interesting food comes from places that have the outward appearance of run-down
five-and-dime stores. The adventurous will be rewarded.

Thai Tom THAI$
( 206-548-9548; 4543 University Way NE; mains $7-10; 11:30am-9:30pm; 72) About as
wide as a train carriage, with permanently steamed-up windows, an open-kitchen lunch
counter and flames leaping up from beneath the constantly busy pans on the stoves, Thai
Tom feels like some backstreet-Bangkok hole-in-the-wall. Yet, many hail its simple Thai
food as the best in the city.
Push in among the elephant heads, dark-brown walls and elbow-to-elbow crowds to
find out. Cash only.

Flowers VEGETARIAN, CAFE$
( 206-633-1903; 4247 University Way NE; lunch buffet $8, mains $7-15; 11am-2am; ;
72) One of the most stylish places in the U District, Flowers has a vegetarian buffet
served until 5pm, and dinners include meat choices. The lunch menu includes 20 sand-
wiches, each around $5. After hours it becomes an inviting place to sip a cocktail, munch
on an appetizer and 'do homework' with a promising study partner.