Poll for Friday night gathering!

[browneye]

Okay- I've tried to get all the suggestions on here but I had to narrow it to 10 because of the limitations of the poll, so I skipped the "all fish and seafood" places since there were some concerns about those. Please see the "dining" thread for complete descriptions, links and menus for all of these choices.

If you have another suggestion, Please vote "other" and please note it in this thread, we can always re-poll with more ideas later. This can be the first cut through.

There is a variety of pricing options here, so that should give people alot of choice, I hope.

Thanks!

[KValley]

Paula, you are fabulous. :)

I voted for Marcha (anything with salsa dancing involved and I am there, baby! The price is great, I LOVE Spanish food), but Anthony's would be my second choice.

[kima]

I voted for Marcha-I want to see Julie salsa!!! I love the variety tapas represents.
Oh heck I'd eat anywhere at any time. (except McD's)

[Peggy]

I voted for the Icon Grill but anywhere will be fine. I'm easy to please!

Paula - Just want to thank you for all of your research and hard work! We all appreciate it so much!

Peggy

[browneye]

I want to know what Salsa is!! Isn't there a song from the 80's like that?

My DH and I are headed down to Belltown today to check out Marcha. I haven't been there, so I want to give you a full report!

I haven't voted yet. I can't decide!

Anyway, whichever way it goes it will be some kinda fun, no?:D

[kima]

I voted for Marcha- but having read Paula's review I am wondering if it is the right place for a group such as ours (loud and boisterous!!!). It sounds like a wonderful place though!! Maybe the Icon Grill would be better for a large group??
I honestly don't mind where we go-I am going to be so excited and overwhelmed to meet you all that I probably won't even notice the food much!!
And that is from an obsessed foodie!! :D

[Wendy w]

I voted for Marcha with Anthony's as 2nd choice. Like Maureen, I don't care where we go as long as we get together. Paula, you rock!!!

[DmOrtega]

Can Marcha's handle a large crowd on a Friday Night? Since we are all meeting, in person, for the first time, it would be nice to all sit near enough to talk with everyone.

My husband and I will be there.

[browneye]

Originally posted by DmOrtega
Can Marcha's handle a large crowd on a Friday Night? Since we are all meeting, in person, for the first time, it would be nice to all sit near enough to talk with everyone.

My husband and I will be there.

I posted more on this on the "dining discussion" thread, but as I mentioned there, Marcha is a small place. There is an area where you could push a bunch of tables together for a group, it's not a private room or anything, it is a little bar/restaurant all in one. They don't take reservations per se, but when I talked to the manager, she said that they would try to accommodate us if we let them know ahead of time. I suppose it depends on final headcount, really, and who else is in there, and what time we want to go. If we want to start fairly early, it would probably be okay. If we go at peak Friday night hours- say 6:30 - 7:30 or after, it would be more crowded with other folks there.

If folks really want to go there, I think it would probably work out if we did a few things 1. Let them know we are coming, 2. Arrive "earlier" rather than "later". AND, 3. I could run by there a few days prior to get some "face time' with the management to make sure it will work out okay. and 4. Have a plan "b".

It is really the kickoff to tourist season and that neighborhood- right across from Pike Pl. Market, gets really busy and crowded, unlike the rainy March Saturday last weekend when DH and I went there to check it out- it was pretty quiet.

Folks who want a "for sure we'll have the table all set up for you and the wait staff will be prompt and professionally perfect" might want to make another choice. This is not a three, four or five star place.

It's just a Tapas bar! Ole'! Drink the Sangria and do the Salsa!
:D

[emily]

Alright, I voted for Icon because I liked the review I initially read on citysearch.com. That being said I love tapas and love to salsa, so I'd be gung ho to go there. The reason I didn't vote for it is because I don't know how it fits in with us being able to get acquainted and I'll be flying in Friday evening. My flight will probably land around 6 (unless I'm the only one in this situation and then I'll consider taking Friday/half of Friday off). So I don't know that all of us getting there early is an option.

Also, I like the idea of seafood. Yummy. I wish I could have voted for more than one thing - in that case Icon, Anthony's and Marcha would all be tied :D

em

[browneye]

Just wanted to be sure folks saw this website: noted on the other thread. you can take a virtual tour of this place and see the private dining room and menu too!http://www.icongrillseattle.com/1.html

That's all!

[emily]

Just wanted to say that I like the idea of taking the top two restaurants and eating at one Friday and the next Saturday - did we decide to eat in town Saturday night? After reading more about Marcha, I'd really like to go with a bunch of people who are into trying new tastes, drinking sangria and having a good time! Tapas is the best with a bunch of people because then you can try a little of everything - that said, I still think a place without loud salsa music in the background would be better for Friday... Yippee, I can't wait until June :)

em

[brykate]

Wow! Icon Grill looks like quite the place! ooh la la. But the private dining room looks nice and big and that would be another good thing.

Does Anthony's have room to accomodate us too? Reserve room?

I know where ever we end up the food will be fabulous and the introductions even better!:) I don't care where we end up.

Besides; if we don't get to "let loose" at dinner then those who want to can of course go find the action later!:D (I wanna go too!!)

Thanks again Paula for your time and considerations that you've put into posting. Your 'work' and time here means a lot.

:) Katie

[sushibones]

I also like the idea of going to Marcha, but probably not on Friday night. Maybe we could do lunch there Saturday or Sunday if we still want to go to Bainbridge Saturday night.

Hi, roomies!

em, count me in on new tastes and having a good time; maybe I'll even drink the sangria. However, I'm pretty sure nothing is going to entice me into getting anything pierced—not even ears. I'm sooo boring.

Katie, amazing what nine months of being a new mother does to you: let loose? action? You go girl.

[Jewel]

I voted for the Icon Grill only because I love the idea that they have the separate dining room, and the food is good and reasonably priced! :) I personally can't do seafood and neither can DH (allergic) so Anthony's wasn't tops on my list, but they do have non-seafood entrees so I'm open there. I think Marcha sounds great in theory, but I think they may be too small for all of us! We want to be able to talk too! ;) Maybe we could do Marcha for lunch on Saturday? Or go earlier on Saturday night, like 4 or 5pm? Besides, if I drink too much at Marcha I might end up at SkinPrints Tattoo with Julie getting my belly pierced! :rolleyes:

Any place that is going to be too loud and boisterous UNLESS they have a separate room, I say save for Saturday night. Friday night we want to be able to meet up without having much trouble finding each other, and be able to visit and get to know each other without screaming across a huge cluster of tables shoved together!

Thanks for all the research Paula!

[kima]

Whoa- the Icon Grill looks amazing. Since it has a separate room maybe we shold go for that! I think we will all want to spend the first night getting to know each other. I hate yelling over loud music.
I am all for dancing or boisterous stuff after dinner!
My only concern is clothing- I don't own anything fancy!!!

[brykate]

Fancy?!?!? :eek: Oh no you said the word! Me neither. This could be a problem.
I confess that's one reason I voted for Anthony's #1 and IG #2. I've been to Anthony's and it seemed more relaxed than the IG "looks" - But maybe it only LOOKS fancy inside but the atmosphere isn't really. ??

Well.... it IS Seattle we're talking about here.... I don't know for sure; but it seems like all the nice resaurants I've been in downtown you can get away with not looking like a celebrity and dressing casual/nice is fine. Seattle folks - what do you know? :confused:
Or maybe this will be an issue for later when we know where we'll be etc.

If all else fails - we'll set up our table on the sidewalk;)
We'll hear from the Seattle experts. you'll see....

:) katie

[emily]

From my weekend of experience in Seattle - it's not a fancy city. So you can go to a nice restaurant and the people inside won't necessarily be dressed fancy.

From the seattle.citysearch.com (http://seattle.citysearch.com) website regarding the Icon Grill:

The Scene
It's a spectacle to behold. Every wall, table and shelf is chock-full of you-name-it: glass art, posters, knick-knacks of endless variety. Diners come to have a good time, ensuring the room's constant buzz.

The Food
There's something refreshing about a restaurant that breaks all the fashionable Downtown dining rules and, instead, serves "something for everyone."

IMO, doesn't sound like you need to be gussied up to go there.

Not that I'm pulling for Icon over Anthony's over Marcha, just thought I'd through my 2 cents in since apparently I can't keep my mouth shut, ok, I'll stop now :D

em

[KValley]

I say we have a new poll, narrowed down to our top 3 picks Anthony's, Icon, Marchas. I don't think I'm the only one who has changed her mind, sort of... ;)

What say you?

[kima]

I agree another poll is in order- now that I know more about the size of the restaurants etc. i may change my vote!

You know this is hilarious-we are such a democractic bunch! I can just see us doing Rock paper Scissors over where we'll stop for a pee break!!!:D :D

[browneye]

Seattle is definitely fairly casual. My experience at the Icon is that the restaurant is itself dressed up like a painted lady! BUT, the diners go there dressed fairly casually. I would feel comforable going in casual pants and in the winter, a sweater, in June a light sweater or cute shirt, etc. I would say, however, that it isn't really a "jeans and tennies" kinda place, but neither is it a "dressy or gussied up" kinda place. In between!
The Icon's private room is really cool. I know people would love the decor and the room, the food is what I would call "pretty good"- it won't send you to the moon, but it will be tasty.
Service will be very good, too.

Remember, the Icon requires a deposit for the private room of $350.00 ( I think that's what it is, if memory serves) in advance, But they apply that toward the total bill. Also, they present one total bill, not individual ones, which is common with large groups in Seattle, anyway. Just details to consider.

Marcha could be visited most anytime in the afternoon anyday, for those who want to check it out- Saturday afternoon or Sunday, whatever. So it wouldn't be out of the line-up entirely (remember it's just across the street from the Pike Pl. Market!)

We could do another poll, if you guys wanna! Shall I post another one with the three choices?