I didn't even know big firms had offices in Seattle and Portland. Those are two queer cities.

K&L Gates = Seattle (former Preston Gates & Ellis)

Texas sucks. I honestly cant figure out why anyone would want to live there.

You can never go wrong with the Metropolitan Grill if in Seattle

The Pacific Northwest sucks. Nothing compares to NYC.

Lampreia (Seattle) is excellent.

On the firm:
Szmania's
Palisade's
Metropolitan Grill

On your dime:
Dicks Drive-In
Chinooks
Yoshino's Teriyaki
George's Deli
Maggie Bluff's
Kidd Valley
Pasta Bella
Duke's Chowder

Can we have some Lunch Suggestions for Asia? Perhaps another installment of The Asia Chronicles!

Portland: Higgins, Portland City Grill (Fridays only I think), Koji

Seattle: For chumps - if you are going to take the pay cut to live in the Northwest (or just couldn’t get a NY/LA/DC/Chicago job) why would you want to live in Seattle which has become just another sprawling, traffic-jammed, urban wasteland?

In downtown Portland, you can't go wrong with:

The Heathman Hotel
Higgins
Andina
Park Kitchen

But there is also a solid street cart scene for cheap eats when the firm isn't throwing down for your lunch.

Definately check out Tabor for Czech food, including the excellent Schnitzelwich. http://www.schnitzelwich.com/

Why did you cover Philadelphia or the Pacific Northwest without first hitting actual legal markets like Atlanta or Charlotte?

4:26--Because the city's a great way to enjoy life with a low density of vapid money-obsessed assholes (see, e.g., you) perhaps?

4:33 - Because there is nothing interesting about going to BBQ for the 3rd week in a row. And Charlotte, are you kidding?

Good call 4:36.

Seattle: Metropolitan Grill, Canlis, Palomino, El Gaucho, Palace Kitchen, Palisades, Brasa

Portland: Ringside

4:26 interviewed with Seattle firms, but was rejected because he came across just as he did in the post. We can tell, we can always tell.

In Portland Higgins, Heathman, and the North Park Blocks carts are all good choices depending on who is paying.

If I'm reading 4:26 correctly I think s/he is suggesting that Seattle has all the quality of life problems of the major markets and you get paid a lot less. You take a big pay cut if you work in Portland but the cost of living is also a lot lower and the quality of life is certainly higher than Seattle's.

Seattle: Tilth, Zoe, Wild Ginger, Purple, Cactus, Rover's, Crow, Musashi's (an absolute must)

why don't you do a post on places to eat in San Diego. There are many big firms here; Latham, MoFo, Jones Day, Heller, Wilson Sonsini, Goodwin Procter, etc etc. Plus, there are many good places to eat.

After 4 years as an associate, I just realized I'm pronouncing "associate" incorrectly (according to Dictionary.com) Apparently it is pronounced uh-soh-shee-it. Who knew! I was pronouncing it uh-soh-see-it.

5:15. congrats. that's great news.

Portland

If you're in a quirky mood: Voodoo Doughnuts
http://voodoodoughnut.com/

Most places in the Pearl District and along NW 23rd.
-Heathman: the chop salad is excellent.

Portland:

You cannot go wrong with Pine State Biscuits (even on your own dime). Their "Reggie Deluxe" is easily one of the best sandwiches anywhere.
http://www.pinestatebiscuits.com/

We've got some suggestions here:
http://avvoblog.com/2008/06/02/summer-associate-lunch-suggestions-seattle/

Having lived in Portland AND Seattle, I second the call on Ringside and Chinook's and, most emphatically, Dick's. What I wouldn't give for a Dick's Deluxe right this minute! However, 5:11, living as I now do in San Diego, I think I can say without fear of contradiction that every San Diego office of a BigLaw firm I've worked at or heard about is in some fashion or another a laboratory experiment in weird. But could you provide your restaurant list?

Both summered and worked in Seattle. This is a partial list of the SA's historically favorite restaurants that are (a) open for lunch; (b) near the actual law firms; and (c) take reservations: Wild Ginger, Dahlia Lounge, Metropolitan Grill, Cafe Campagne, Purple, Tulio's, and Place Pigalle. On your own dime for a downtown lunch -- and yes, most Seattle associates need to watch their dimes -- try Harried & Hungry, Other Coast Cafe (East Coast envy, anyone?), Nordstrom Cafe, or any of the hundreds of ethnic and local vendors in the Pike Place Market, e.g., Piroshky Piroshky.

Mel's is good for a quick sandwich on your own dime in Seattle.

On a late night out (hopefully not with co-workers) Dick's is great and cheap...but bring cash!!

If the firm's paying (or on your own dime; not that expensive), Kareem's in Portland is fantastic.

And if you are paying, you can't go wrong with Burgerville.

I second Burgerville! I would kill for some Walla Walla onion rings. And if they make you work too late, go have some breakfast at midnight at the 24 Hotcake House. On the firm's dime, try Jake's. Best seafood in the city.

It amazes me how much I miss Portland.

Now, I'm in the South. If only I could have some Burgerville. Or, for that matter, Jake's, or PCG. A nice maple bacon bar from Voodoo Doughnuts sounds quite good as well . . .

Cleveland:

Atty paying: Morton's, Blue Pointe, Sammy's, One Walnut, Metropolitan, Lola
You paying: Market Cafe, Tomaydo Tomahdo, Dave's Cosmic Subs, Teahouse

How about a post for Wilmington? Just kidding, we don't have shit here.

Portland: Ringside, how has no one said Jake's yet (not their grill, their old fashioned).

Also, since Portland people seem to be posting here... I'm about to start law school at Wash U in St Louis, and interested in going for a summer 1L back in Portland. Any suggestion on firms to apply with on Dec 1st?

For South Dakota, I recommend Al's Oasis.

Dick's hamburgers in Seattle. http://www.ddir.com/

Is Seattle shitty? Really? Perhaps this is just from over-exposure to images of Frasier, descriptions of Bill Gates' house and an affinity for starbucks, but Seattle has always seemed like a fantastic city ... like ... kind of a San Francisco of the NW or a ... Chicago in the middle of a natural forest and near the ocean type deal? (And I like rain ...)

... no dice? what's up with the Seattle hate?

I'm working in NY this fall, but I miss Portland so much. It has amazing restaurants for a city of its size. Pok Pok is delicious, as is Andina. Both are also really interesting and unique. SE Asian roadhouse and Peruvian fine dining. Good food's not terribly expensive so it's hard to single places out and not just eat in bars (which by law all have food). Anyone been to Le Pigeon on E Burnside? Hear it's supposed to be amazing.

In Seattle

On the Firm: Tilth, Purple, Wild Ginger, Palomino (good and quick for lunch and happy hour, even though it's not Seattle-specific), Chez Shea, Pink Door, Tango Tapas (up pine from the convention center, small but delicious), Union Square Grill, Icon, Dahlia Lounge, Flying Fish, Cascadia, Campagne

On You: Pike Place Market (Piroshky Piroshky, the Humbao place, the crepe stand, the donut machine stand), Steamers (best red chowder and fish tacos in seattle), Ivars, Kettle Korn stand in Westlake plaza (mmm...snacking), the Taste cafe at the Seattle Art Museum

Wow...just writing this post is making me homesick/excited for my second half of summer gig in Seattle

@ 4:26, yes we have too much traffic, but Seattle is definitely not even close to as expensive as DC/LA/SF/NYC. Real estate is more expensive than Chicago, but you get so much more for your $$ (um, no snow, no urban decay, views, parks, beaches) and the cost of things in the city is less in Seattle than Chicago. The pay cut still gets you farther in Seattle. I've been comparing Seattle salaries/real estate with another major market quite a lot and I could get a 3 bedroom home in Seattle with a yard and a mountain/sound view for what a no view 2 bedroom condo would be in the other city.

Seattle is certainly not a sprawling city (as chicago and LA are). If you don't like sprawl, don't live in the far burbs.

Have you ever even been to Seattle?

Seattle is not known for food. They have fresh fish but don't know what to do with it. Being as such, I would go to Saito's--probably the best sushi in town and the largest sake selection.

Dahlia and Flying Fish: over priced and wishes they were Chicago/NYC but fails miserably. However, because Seattle isn't known for food, they past muster (relatively).

Really? Tango Tapas? have you lived in Seattle or around bad food your whole life? Tango Tapas is a pretty bad imitation and their patatas bravas are probably the worst I've tasted. I would rather drive six hours to Vancouver BC and go to La Bodga--now that is an authentic tapas place.

Whoever mentioned Wild Ginger obviously has no taste buds. It is bland, boring, reminds me of americanized chinese cafetaria food (if there is such a thing). I am personally offended that the owners claim it is "authentic" unless they meant it "authentically sucked butt holes". Wild Ginger has a bad reputation among Seattlites--it's for tourists and corporate guests.

Dick's does have good burgers and you can go across the street to Jack in the Crack and get curly fries (wish dick's had curly fries). probably best eaten after a good night of drinking and hitting on summer associates. Nothing like grease and scandals.

Portland: E-san--best thai food ever near Burnside. Fiddlehead is pretty good and pizzicato's (more casual). Jakes is pretty good--get their halibut cheeks.

2:44 is overstating Wild Ginger: it's not the end all and be all, but it's pretty good.

I second most of the Seattle recommendations and would add Earth and Ocean.

Hey 2:44. I know exactly the Dicks / Jack in the Box you are referring to....but, that Jack closed. I know...where, oh where, are the homeless kids going to hang out now?

Portland:

If you're paying, you have to check out Stanich's (sp) in NE. Best burger I've ever had (if you like 'em big and greasy). They hook it up with all the works, plus bacon, a slice of ham, and a fried egg. It's seriously bomb.

I interviewed at Perkins Coie as a 2L in Seattle, what was that restaurant right downstairs called that they brought me to for dinner? It was actually the best place I got to go during interview season (and I interviewed mostly in NY).

Higher-end: Union, Tilth, Crush, Le Gourmand (no tacky decor anymore, but also nowhere near downtown), Le Pichet, Lark. Herbfarm, obviously.

Lower: Tavolata, Chapel at happy hour, Cafe Presse, Licorous, Taste Cafe at SAM

Very low: Guaymas, Dick's, Metropolitan Market sandwiches, Baguette Box, Taco del Mar in a pinch.

(Tango Tapas is terrible, and Wild Ginger is erratic.)

You guys are unbelievable snobs. It's much, much easier to find decent, inexpensive lunch in downtown Seattle than it is in NYC.

Portland: Burgerville is great fast food. Simpatica Dining Hall is not a lunch place but it's a Friday/Saturday night experience not to be missed. Higgins can be great but I've had some misses there as well. The foodcarts all over downtown can be great as well (I wish other cities had so many).

Ringside and Jakes? Meh. Ringside is a boring steakhouse and I'm pretty sure Jake's is now part of the McCormick & Schmicks group.

For Seattle, Dick's is a great suggestion.

The fact that nobody has mentioned Roper's in Seattle tells me that nobody really knows anything about Seattle who is posting here. Ropers is THE restaurant in Seattle. If you are going to be taken anywhere on someone else's dime, you should go there. A close second is Sostanza in exclusive Madison Park. Von's is probably a distant third.

For fish, Ivar's is overrated. I tried Andre's, which is a few piers down the road, and it was ok but nothing special either. I'm still looking to be wowed by a fish place in Seattle, which is sad.

For southwestern cuisine, nothing beats Cactus (the Madison Park location).

Cafe Flora in Madison Valley is good if you are interested in vegetarian cuisine.

Screw the Palomino. It's a chain and their presentation is horrible (not to mention the food). If you're on your dime, you're better off taking the trolley down by the piers all the way to the end near the space needle, and eating at the Spaghetti Factory. Nothing special, but a full meal for around $10, and I've never experienced bad service there.

Seattle: Buenos Aires for steak, Elliot's Oyster House for seafood, Umi for sushi, and Uwajumaya for groceries.

The Magnolia Cafe in Sparta, Mississippi is delicious. Try the peach cobbler.

Portland on the firm:

Higgins, VQ, Southpark, Pazzo Ristorante

On your dime:

Lotus!!!!

10:27,

There are a few WashU grads at Stoel Rives, so you might have some luck applying there. On the whole, though, there are not very many WashU grads in Portland. You might also try applying to Perkins Coie or Davis Wright Tremaine.

I second Seattle's "Kettle Korn stand in Westlake plaza"
I can still smell it all the way over here in Philla, 3 years later

10:27:

As far as I know, no Portland firms take 1L summers unless you are a minority. I tried.

Portland and Seattle are actually quite expensive when you factor in not only starting salries (in all professions) but long term salary potential as well. Portland is a magnet for wealthy young east coasters that live of their parents and want to get as far away as possible from the kind of people that read this board. No hate intended, just what I have seen. It's a sweet town tho.

Actually, you'd probably meet as many NYC natives in Portland as you will in NYC.

I can only speak for Portland. Like a lot of people have said Higgins is a great choice for lunch. Elephants Deli in the Fox Tower is good if you are paying. Of the carts I would Aybla (sp?), Whole Bowl, and the Philly Cheese Steak cart - though I'm sure someone from Philly will take issue with that. If you can get to SE for lunch Fire on Mountain (wings) is a good call.

For evening PCG has an ok but generally crowded happy hour but is worth going to once. Dragon Fish is a better choice. The City is a good place to watch a game.

For dinner I agree with 5:38 you should go to Simpatica at least once - even if it's full you can often get in off the wait-list (it's one seating a night, weekends only). Also spend the $25 for the full wine flight. For a less expensive dinner go to Nicholas on a weeknight when the wait is shorter.

Finally, Burgerville is good but Humdingers is much better. And whoever said Pazzo must have been brownout drunk when they were there.