Lady Liberty Cupcakes

What could be more patriotic than a vanilla cupcake with red, white and blue butter cream frosting? These special Memorial Day treats will be available through Monday, certain to bring a smile and smacking of lips to anyone lucky enough to score one.

Cupcake Queen, Crystal Roberts, is at it again. Never one to let a holiday go by without some new cupcake delight, The Picaroon is always ready and available for photo taking and general customer quality control. You wouldn't have it any other way, now would you? Cuz I am certain I wouldn't.

Common Ground Cupcakes and Coffee
900 South Third St.(425) 235 - 1717
www.commongroundcupcakes.com

Best Rueben Around Renton - and beyond

Food envy is a terrible thing to be plagued by when it comes to family outings and restaurants of choice. The Rueben Sandwich at A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub is served up on lovely marble rye, is so large and unruly that it took two of us to manage it and the large plate of freshly made fries from real spuds served with salt and pepper that was our choice of sides.

This is your sandwich alert. If you love a good Rueben, this spot should be on your immediate "go to" list for lunch or dinner. Don't miss it - it will blow your mind and your tastebuds.

PS Remember - until 9pm, this is a family joint - so you can take the kids - if you really want to share that is.

A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub
201 Williams Ave. S.
in the DTR
(425) 227 - 3396

The Picaroon is aware that we love this restaurant - and we just want you to love it too!

Go Deli is baking it up fresh - daily

Go Deli, the latest eatery to open in Downtown Renton, has got a lot to offer in the sandwich and snacking department. Fresh bread is made from scratch on the premises daily for the traditional bahn mi Vietnamese 10" sandwiches served on french bread and the croissants for the traditional sandwiches of the more Western flavor. You can smell it in the air and see it in the lovely displayed loaves of bread behind the counter, this is a place that you can count on for tastiness and freshness.

With only local spots like Quiznos and Subway to get a quick and reasonable midday bite to eat, Go Deli is a great addition. For an extra two bucks, you can "make-it-a-meal" with a bag or chips or an eggroll and a 24 ounce soda. With the price of the sandwiches beginning at $2.69 -$4.29, with the bulk of them being below three bucks, this is a place that you must try at least once and then see if you are not hooked. Check daily to see what the fresh soup of the day is now that the season is bringing in the chill air.

Local bahn mi spots are not so easy to find in the greater Seattle area - and can be hole-in-the-wall joints that makes you wonder what the kitchen looks like. Here, you can see all the way through the entire cooking and baking area - and feel confident that you are getting authentic food in very clean environment where freshness is king.

The traditional beginner bahn mi sandwich would be the Grilled Chicken (pictured above) or the BBQ Pork. For the more adventurous and seeking an authentic flavor, try the Special Combo #2 or the Saigon Bacon. There is Vietnamese Coffee or Bubble Tea to go with it, as well as some other specialty drinks like fresh soybean and sugar cane juice, and as always, some Thai Iced Tea to round things out.

The good snacking comes in with the pastry, muffins and cookies that manager Dawn Hart (pictured above with owner John Lu) has been cooking up for Go Deli. There is a limited espresso coffee menu to accompany those treats and boxes of goodies to take on the go if you want to share something with coworkers or friends.

Go Deli will be having their Grand Opening on December 12th with live Jazz Music and a giveaway of an IPOD - so you should definitely go down and enter to win - no purchase necessary. But you will want to dive in and try something once inside the doors - you just won't be able to help yourself.

Go Deli
306 Williams Ave.S. Renton WA 98057
425-255-0620
www.Go-Deli.com
Open 7am til 7pm 7 days of the week

Not cooking dinner tomorrow?

Well, my two favorite coffee haunts will be closed tomorrow, as will a host of other places (as well they should be!), but there is a grand place for you all to go if you are not in the mood to play head cook, but definitely want to have a traditional feast - A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub.

This family friendly establishment with excellent beer and atmosphere will be glad to cook up that holiday meal for you this Thanksgiving. So, give a call and then saunter on down in the pants that you wear when you want extra breathing room in your waistline.

Classic Thanksgiving Homemade Feast
Now accepting Reservations for Thanksgiving 2009
at A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub and Restaurant

Call or come in to choose your perfect table and timeframe!
(425) 227-3396

3 course feast served at your table featuring
*Festive Soup or Salad
*Choice of entree meats with all the fixins!
*Choice of 4 homemade desserts!
*Vegetarian and Vegan Choices available!

A warm and calm environment with the entire family without the stress of cooking at home. Let us serve you while you enjoy soothing music, warm fire, wonderful ambiance, and thankful time with your family.

Adults $15
Children under 12 $7.50
Children under 3 FREE!

A Terrible Beauty
201 Williams Ave. S.
in the DTR
(425) 227 - 3396

Where everyone knows your name - DC's Bar and Grill

Terrence Vaccaro, Steve Fjelstad and Pete Olive

Three partners, something akin to the Three Amigos in my eyes, owners of the bar and grill called DC's in downtown Renton, and already past their first year anniversary. When Terrence, Pete and Steve took over the establishment named after the first owners - Danielle and Casey, the first thing they turned their efforts to was improving the food items. This past week launched another new menu, with 5 new appetizers, 5 new burgers and sandwiches and new salads along with a new cocktail list in yet another refinement on the kitchen that they have been making more delectable since July of last year. Things are looking and tasting mighty good around there these days folks.

My favorite has to be the $5 Lunch Menu that DC's has Monday through Friday 11 am til 3 pm. There is quite a nice list of regular food entrees to begin with plus a special daily item (rotated seasonally) that is different each day of the week. Their hamburger, which is hand mixed and hand packed, is a big favorite with a regular Picaroon follower who can't say enough about them and the fries that come on the side. Arrive at 4 pm until 7, and you can have some really great beers at Happy Hour prices($2.50 for micro drafts) and appetizers with prices for all budgets ($2 - $5).

Every Third Thursday of the month is Comedy Night at DC's with a very modest $5 cover charge. The comedians are all well known, some even nationally, and come in pairs for a good night of laughs. To keep things interesting on the other days of the month, there are specials everyday. Microbrew Mondays and $1 PBRs and $4 Martinis in a pint glass on Fridays just to name two. This is a casual place where the bartender/owners know your name and all are welcome. There is no dress code, but as Pete says, there is an attitude enforcement. Never had a fight at the bar yet. So don't be a downtown Renton hater - the shooting at Pounders the other week is a different crowd, and even though close, a whole different neighborhood than what South Third sports. The Picaroon can stand firmly by that assessment as well. After all, this is our DTR.

If you like football and breakfast in front of the tube, you are in luck. Now open for morning meals throughout the football season, you can see any football game that is televised in the nation on the nine TV screens that DC's boasts having. It's called Sunday Ticket. Mostly egg dishes, plus some chicken fried steak and a biscuit dish, this could be a fun hang this Fall. You can also get a large Mimosa or Bloody Mary for $4. What a way to start the morn, eh guys?!

Oktoberfest started recently and though there are only 9 taps, there will always be at least a couple beers celebrating the season on ( Sam Admas Octoberfest this week for example) as well as the PBR, Manny's Pale Ale, Stella Artois, Mac & Jack's African Amber, Budlight, Alaskan Amber, Smithwicks and a seasonal ale brewed by Big Al's Brewery just for DC's that are usually on pour.

The business has grown well for these three partners who between them have at least 3 plus decades of bar service, bar management and waitstaff experience under their collective belts. They like their work, they like their beer and food and it shows. This is a place worthy getting to know. Head on in - you'll be glad that you did.

DC's Bar & Grill
907 S 3rd St
Renton, WA 98057
(425) 255-2511

Soon there will be sandwiches

Soon there will be hot, fresh sandwiches in Renton. Bahn Mi Vietnamese sandwiches and traditional American sandwiches on bread that is baked right on site and a coffee bar where you can get your caffeine hook-up to boot. Note the lovely and inviting fireplace as well. Hard to imagine it this week, but this will be a toasty destination once the wetness remembers to fall from the sky and our temperature numbers begin to drop in the Fall.

Photo by Su-Lin/Flickr

The project is moving quickly apace and next month is slated for the Grand Opening of Go Deli, which is owned by Pho Hoa Noodle Soup Restaurant on the corner. After a mere handful of months since opening my new favorite dessert spot, Yoggi Yogurt just around the corner, I am impressed that the owners were willing to move on this new investment so fast. However, with no bakery in the vicinity and no sandwich shop nearby to fight for our hungry stomachs attention, I feel certain that this will be a successful venture right from the start.

GO DELI 306 Williams Ave. S.