Mendocino Farms caught my eye as a fresh and healthy location to enjoy lunch. The decor is very…read moremodern and there was plenty of seating on a busy summer afternoon. We got the asian chicken salad, Vegan Banh Mi and a side of their Spicy Curried Couscous. Service was incredibly friendly and when ordering, they explained the menu very well. Our original selection turned out to not be available, and they came by to our table and gave us free cookies while they made something else for us. They went above and beyond! The food was quickly prepared and delicious!

Mendo is my go to for work meals and now that one is closer to home, I can lunch and not have the…read moreforever drive in between! I had an issue with my free entree loading for switching my favorite location and Emma helped me right away, checking in while we were in line. We showed up around 1pm the second day they were open and with ~15 staff staying busy, the line moved quickly and we still found a spot on the spacious patio and our orders came out exactly as we'd asked for--perfect experience for a new biz! People were quick to flip and move tables so prime outdoor seating was clean and available. Our sandwiches were at least as good while the chicken parm dip was even better than we've had at other locations. The ginger cookie and lemonade were also consistent...the variety and flavor combinations in one place for fresh food has yet to be matched for me. Thanks for moving closer, we are already regulars.

my first time here-night time edition! i went to mendocino about 20 or so minutes before closing on…read morea Friday night. We were greeted by a sweet guy named Chris. He allowed us to look at the menu for a few before ordering-I DIDNT FEEL RUSH REGARDLESS OF THE TIME!!!! Once we paid, we sat down and waited for the food. The staffw ere quick and kind to us (again regardless of the time). The food was absolutely fresh and filling! The price of one WHOLE sandwich is better than Panera! My new favorite sandwich spot! The ambience was great considering it was night! The decorations were very satisfying and fun to look at! It is very homey!! But once again, staff blew me away! One of the guys let us know that he was turning off the drink station and allowed us ti get refills before-normal staff would just turn ut off and not let us know. I appreciate Mendocino in Totem Lake! Will DEFINITELY come back!!

Solid sandwich shop…read more The Peruvian steak sandwich is sooo flavorful. Their chicken lemon soup is also fantastic. They are on the food apps, which is great.

There were few but good reviews for this restaurant so we decided to try it out…read more In addition to their à la carte menu, they also have unlimited rodizio which we didn't get because we had 5 kids under 12 years old (three 5 year olds and two 10 year olds) with us which would've been $17.50 (half adult price) per child. The ambiance was cute. I liked how the walls had a lot of art and it was colorful. I cannot say anything good about our experience. We arrived when the restaurant was mostly empty. Most customers seemed to know the owners and were greeted happily with hugs and kisses. It was very difficult to get service and took about 50-55 min to get our food after ordering with no updates or apologies. We ordered 2 of the moqueca which was similar to an instant Thai yellow curry with about 2 pieces of fish, 2 shrimp, a couple small scallop, and veggies for $30.50 which seemed steep for what we got. It also came with a side of rice. I am not sure if this is an authentic Brazilian dish. We got 2 churrasco especials and they both were well done when we asked for medium rare and very tough to cut. We also got the filet mignon with Madeira sauce and French fries which was definitely not filet mignon. There was a significant amount of tendon and connective tissue and so overcooked the meat was curled up. The last dish we ordered was the garlic aioli shrimp which was just garlic shrimp and not served with any aioli. They actually forgot to make this dish and we got it after we reminded them towards the end of our meal. I think if you get the rodizio it's very fast with the sides from their buffet bar and they come out with the meats fairly quickly. People who had rodizio and arrived after us also left before we were served any food. A lot of common items were sold out like the cheese bread, sparkling water, and beef with caramelized onions but we weren't notified before selecting so had to go through the menu again to pick other dishes. I could've complained but it was hard to get the server's attention or any honest answers. Like "it'll be out soon" and after saying that, he came to confirm what we ordered for the 4th time 40 min after ordering and still no food. It was incredibly hot because it was a sunny day and the front of the restaurant turned into a sauna. We could not wait to leave as soon as possible. Overall, bad service, bad food, high prices, and extremely long wait times without any notice or warning. Will not be going back.

Obutekim in Kirkland is at a quiet strip mall with plenty of parking. Inside, the restaurant has a…read morebeautiful, colorful blanketed ceiling. I had high hopes for Obutekim - an a la carte version of Brazilian BBQ, instead of AYCE. We have no self-control, so this is much better for portion control. Service was sufficient, not particularly attentive. They were busy chatting with folks at a table behind us (people they seem to know). We waved for water refills, etc. The food was a mixed bag of hits-and-miss resulting in a grumpy hubby. (We went to Fogo the next weekend to make up for it.) The Food: Beef with Madeira Wine Sauce and French Fries, $27 - 3.5 Stars Menu: Sautéed Filét Mignon with mushrooms, garlic, onions, parsley, creamy roti sauce, flambéed with Madeira wine. Served with French fries. This dish tasted pretty good with the light wine sauce, many mushrooms, and very crispy fries. The beef chunks tasted mostly good with mostly tender pieces. However, my dish (see photo) doesn't look like their online photo, which is a richer variant visually closer to what a beef bourguignon looks like. I think I missed out on whatever this dish is intended to be. Their pieces of beef are randomly cut in different sizes and shape, irregular and random. My mediocre knife skills can cut more uniform pieces of beef than they did. I like this dish enough but also not hitting the bar. Fried Banana Side, $8.50 - 4 Stars Menu: Banana empanada e Frita (Breaded and Fried Bananas) These fried bananas are under the Sides in the menu. We received unbreaded fried plantains, which is fine with us since we like fried plantains. Their online menu says breaded and fried bananas, and the photo is completely different. I don't know what this dish is supposed to be. Brazilian Churrasco, $27 - 2 Stars Menu: Choice of Beef Coulotte, Garlic Sirloin and Pork Sausage. Served with jasmine rice, Brazilian style black beans (containing smoked pork sausage), potato salad, and farofa. Choice of any meat. This dish should be amongst their signature dishes. Hubby chose their two beef options: beef coulotte and garlic sirloin. See photo. The tiny piece is the garlic sirloin, which is garlicky but a bit tough. The two bigger ones are beef coulottes which have little flavor (seasonings), both are tough, with thick trims of fat. He said "2 out of 5 stars" with a grumpy face. I fed him some of my food to make him feel better.

This place is a hidden knock-out gem. Hidden in a small parking lot near totem lake, The Box's…read moreburgers are TOP NOTCH. The French Blues burger was so delicious that it momentarily distracted from the horrors of our collapsing democracy. 10/10. Get their burgers and put them inside you.

Hawaiian/Asian fusion fast casual place in Kirkland. Parking is easy as it is located in a plaza. I…read moreordered ahead and scheduled the order so I don't need to wait for my food, and it was ready at exactly the scheduled pickup time, no earlier no later. I got the combo - Hawaiian chicken + karaage requesting extra salad instead of rice, as well as a half order of loco moco. It's nice that there is half order as a lot of Hawaiian restaurants tend to be full orders so it is incredibly hard to try a variety of options if you're solo or in a small group. The Hawaiian chicken and karaage both are juicy and delicious. It's great that the combo is the same price as the standard individual options so I got to try more variety without paying extra. I looked at the reviews and opted to remove the rice and get extra salad which was a good move - their chop chop salad is very delicious with a nice balance of dressing, cheese, and ham. I still had some rice from the loco moco, which was sufficient for me. The loco moco is good - I wished the patty was a bit less tough but the gravy and egg make up for it. Overall, great value and great food. I'd be a regular if I didn't live so far from Kirkland (1 hr drive for food can be challenging in busy schedules)

I really dig this place - been a handful of times, both the NA and boozy cocktails are well done…read more Bar staff is knowledgable with a very well equipped bar - on a recent visit my wife didn't see anything that caught her mood and they happily made something else for her. Food has always been good, from apps to mains. I don't think I've had a burger here, yet...most recently I had the fried chicken, which had been well marinated and cooked - juicy, flavorful, plentiful. Vibe is always chill, here. Now that the weather's warming up, outdoor seating is available. I usually make a reservation, but my sense is for a couple one could almost always walk in without a rez and get seated quickly. One of my favorite east-side places...if it was a little closer to me I'd be there all the time!

Had a work dinner here a few nights ago and had a good time. The place has all sorts of different…read moreseating whether it's at the bar or a big group. I wasn't feeling like a big entree but I put together a fun little meal out of their falafel bites and tomato soup- both were really good. I appreciated that the service folks made sure I got some extra toasted bread with my soup. A coworker got the buttermilk fried chicken and it was an impressive serving. Also loved the extensive selection of whiskey, cocktails, and non alcoholic cocktails. Non alcoholic options really allow anyone to relax with a drink. But not me I had woodinville rye whiskey because it's a local fav. OH! They sell hotdogs here and that's awesome cause it's hard to find a good hotdog place- and these hotdogs are made of freakin waygu beef.

1st time coming to this restaurant, and I have to say it is one of the best pizza restaurants I've…read morebeen to. The staff is incredibly kind and Mauricio one of the chefs makes a killer pizza!! I definitely recommend this place to anyone passing by. If you don't think you are wanting pizza just wait till you get a smell of this place. It will make you turn your car around. It has great outdoor seating with cute fairy lights, great environment for date night and also family get togethers!

This is definitely the best pizza I've had since I moved to the area. They earned that spot on the…read moreTop 50 list and I can see why after tasting it. We ordered the La Catrina and Fire in the Hole pizzas and while a bit pricy, it's a wayyyy better deal than pizza at the other local spots like Pagliacci's and Zeek's. The crust was so light and crispy, the pieces held together well and none of the slices really fall apart when you pick it up to eat. They offered us some hot honey on the side too when the pizzas came out and that was a welcome addition too the Fire in the Hole. I didn't find it too spicy but consider your own spice tolerance before ordering. The La Catrina was my favorite of the two. The steak and the toppings all went together so nicely that it 100% beat eating tacos at your average PNW taco truck (but obviously not California tacos). Pickled red onions on the pizza really gave it the depth of flavor it needed.

After a long drive to my nephews birthday party, I needed something sustainable for lunch and in…read moremood for something healthy as well. Since so many new spots been popping up on the eastside, it was kinda fun to see whats near and quick to grab a bite to eat. This mall was packed...! even after the holiday season, so if you can strategize parking on the fly as you drive in, you should be fine ;) When I walked in, there was hardly a line but a couple in front of me & some people dining along the windows. Theres no signage but start the opposite end of the cash registers to go through a line similar to Chipotle or Panda Express. After several of us lined up, some of the staff came out to get our orders. They have a lot of great choices which I had difficulty narrowing down but ended up with the Chicken Pesto Parm. So good! I appreciated the overall variety of flavor, like the sauteed seasoned broccoli as well as the heated up quinoa and amount of parm, pesto, & hot sauce added so much to what would be 'just' a salad. The side of sourdough bread was great addition as well.

I wanted to like this Sweetgreen location in Kirkland because the salads themselves are actually…read moretasty and the ingredients seem mostly fresh. But everything else about the experience makes it not worth coming back. First, the portions are disappointing for the price. Don't expect a properly sized salad. They also seriously skimp on protein, very similar to what you see at Chipotle. And if you politely ask for the correct portion, be prepared for eye rolls, sighs, or visible annoyance from the staff. The biggest issue, though, is the lack of customer service. It's easily some of the worst I have experienced. The employees come across as completely uninterested and disengaged. I don't know if they are overworked or just don't care, but the service is incredibly slow and inattentive. I placed an online pickup order and specifically requested the dressing on the side. When I got my order, there was no dressing cup inside. I went up to ask whether it had been mixed in or simply forgotten. The person at the counter literally shrugged and walked away without answering. I had to double-check that I wasn't imagining it. She just walked off without giving a response. I then asked another employee who came up to the counter. He was busy on his phone and chatting with a friend waiting nearby, and I couldn't get a proper response there either. At that point, we just left with our order, frustrated and disappointed. Honestly, I would much rather go to Mendocino Farms just a block away. It costs a couple dollars more, but the staff is friendly, the service is professional, and the food is significantly better overall. Really disappointing experience.

The missus and I snagged the second last open table when we arrived on a late Friday evening (no…read morereservations! Walk in only!). The staff were friendly and polite - and they graciously accommodated my peanut allergy, and quickly accommodated small requests like for bowls or extra napkins. We ordered four items: the missus got the bun bo hue, and I got the special beef pho. We shared the pancake and the spring roll. The noodle dishes were decent, but the standout was the Vietnamese pancake. Definitely order this if you're on the fence! The restaurant got a lot busier after we got our food - at least two or three parties who arrived (two each) had to wait between 5-10 min for a table to clear. The staff are super efficient at clearing tables so you won't need to wait long, but the downside of this place is that their popularity easily exceeds their capacity - so be patient! I don't have any notes for ambiance. Parking is available in the same plaza, but there isn't much - a lot are reserved for specific businesses between specific hours, so be careful not to park in an open business if you intend to eat here!

We came in just to try the Bun Bo Hue because we were craving it; and we thought it was alright; i…read morewas hoping for it to be really good but i think the 4.5 star reviews are for the other dishes. It deffinitely felt very light for a bun bo hue; and the extra paste does help it to have more flavor and dept. not spicy tho. Giving it a 3 stars until i go back and try the other offerings on their menu. Restaurant is nice and the staffs were very friendly.

Noon Café is a family-owned Persian/Iranian eatery in a plaza called Totem Square with plenty of…read moreparking. Noon Café is a casual family diner offering traditional grilled kababs (aka kebab), appetizers, sandwiches, and pizzas - all Persian/Iranian style. The interior is basic, decorated with photos of Iranian landmarks (I assume). Currently, they have a memorial due to the ongoing war. (Peace to all...) Service is warm and friendly. Be sure to ask questions if the dish names are unfamiliar. The Food: Soltani, $32.99 - 4 Stars Soltani includes one skewer of Koobideh (ground beef) and one skew of Barg (flank steak). Both are well-seasoned with excellent flavor. We ordered the flank steak medium rare, but it was medium with no pink inside. The steak was tolerable, not as tender as it could have be. This dish was served with rice per the menu. After I saw another table has their kabab served with a bread, I asked the server. She said other than rice, there is a choice of Persian bread (flat bread with sesame) and salad. Curious that wasn't in the menu nor did she say it. Not a dealbreaker. Her reply did raise my eyebrow. Zaboon, $16.99 - 3 Stars Menu: Veal tongue, simmered and fried, tomato, pickles, parsley Based on the description, the texture completely threw me off. The meat is mushy to the point of spreadable. The flavor is light with minimum seasoning. I applied hot sauce liberally to the sandwich. Portion size is large. I ate only half. Fries, $6.99 - 3 Stars Menu: Golden and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside Some pieces aren't crispy enough. Some pieces are too thick such that the inside has the potato gritty texture. The sauce is a house-created flavor. We like the sauce more than we like the fries. The food is closer to 3.5 Stars. I like the family vibe and am rounding up to 4 Stars for the overall rating.

Food :5/5 Ambiance : 5/5…read moreService :5/5 We actually came across Noon Cafe by accident while looking for another nearby restaurant where we were supposed to meet someone. When we realized we were at the wrong place, we informed the staff. They were incredibly polite and friendly and didn't show any irritation at all. They kindly said it was no problem and were very understanding. While we were there, we took a look at the menu and decided we should come back and try the food another time. A couple of months later, we returned to give it a try. We ordered the non-mixed grill, and it was absolutely delicious. The beef was cooked perfectly--juicy, tender, and full of flavor. The chicken was also excellent. The rice was perfectly cooked, and when we added the butter, it tasted amazing. They also had a special Persian spice that elevated the flavor to another level. The service was warm and welcoming. Our server took the time to explain how Persian food is traditionally enjoyed and described the purpose of each ingredient. We followed his suggestions, and the experience was even more enjoyable. The ambiance was simple and modern, and the place was very clean and well maintained. Definitely a must-try.

A good place to stop by and grab a standard, no frills sandwich. Service was pretty friendly, all…read moresandwiches come with chips but you have to ask for it when you finish ordering. Seems like most customers are construction workers nearby on breaks. The sandwich itself was pretty fairly priced and tasted pretty good, the ingredients seemed fresh. Would go again if I needed something fast and easy, but not too different from what you could make at home - which is probably the point.

This is a solid no frills sandwich place. I ordered the bacon lettuce tomato sandwich on sourdough…read moreand it was pretty solid. I like how they shred the lettuce instead of one piece. I would've preferred more tomato slices because one doesn't get enough coverage for the whole half of the sandwich and made it slightly dry. But for the price and overall quality, I'd say it's a solid 4. I would come back to try their other sandwiches like egg salad