Our lunch at the Black Bear restaurant in Sequim

Eating out in Sequim

All our guests at Sequim 'Bell Hill View vacation rental' or visiting friends from out of town, want to know what's a great restaurant to eat out in Sequim.

Well, tastes and favorite meals for dining vary a lot, especially so when it comes to name what is Sequim's best restaurant. So at our vacation apartment we keep all the Sequim town restaurant menus in a folder and let guests decide which restaurant offers their favorite food and the want to try out. Read why the Black Bear diner menu has become a great addition to our Sequim town restaurant menus.

Recently, we heard more and more great feed-backs and reviews about the new 'Black Bear' restaurant next to 'Holiday Inn Express' in Sequim. When my birthday was coming up, it was time to check out the new popular diner on our own. Big surprise when we showed up at an early lunch time 11:30am and found the restaurant parking lot already filled. One space was open just right for us.

We were warmly welcome by a big bunch of carved cute black bears at all kinds of of places. Blooming flowers in hanging baskets and containers were everywhere. And with the blue Sequim summer skies as a backdrop, we did not not know where we should start taking photos. We'll share some with you right here on our Sequim Town blog.

Long story short, when we had settled down at our outdoor table and the waitress showed up in now time, we felt we were at the right place. And we did not get disappointed a bit. Keoki had 'French dip' with a load of crispy French fries - once a year we can indulge! - and I had 'Pecan Crusted Trout'. During our not too long waiting time, we learned more about Sequim in 1969 from the 'Black Bear Gazette', which interestingly served as the menu. We also learned that there are 58 (!) other Black Bear restaurants along the West Coast.

Visiting Sequim? We can definitely recommend a visit to the Black Bear restaurant. Great ambience, fast service and delicious food! We'll be back for dinner.

Mild winter in Sequim January 2010

Dear Sequim Town visitors,

When the rest of the nation was in the tight grip of ice and snow during this January, Sequim and the Olympic Peninsula experienced one of the mildest winters in a long time. January 2010 is our 5th winter in Sequim. The El Nino year, which starts taking effect at the beginning of January, made Sequim's January more look like a spring month, if you believe it or not.

Average daytime temperatures January 2010 in Sequim were between 46 - 52 F. To be honest, we don't and won't complain! Keoki has been playing tennis with his Sequim tennis buddies at the Sequim High School tennis courts all through this 'winter' so far. I myself love to jog or bike to SARC these days trying to catch some sun on my way.

As mentioned, in our latest post about 'Hurricane Ridge closure', the recent warm Sequim temperatures make our spring flowers believe 'Spring is here'! Tulips, daffodils and primrose survivors come up in my flower bed. We also noticed beautiful patches of snow bells and crocus around Oak Table restaurant.

Well, speaking of Sequim restaurants, Sequim 'Oak Table restaurant' is not just a nice place to admire early spring flowers in January, but definitely a great Sequim restaurant we can warmly recommend to Sequim visitors and residents. We had never eaten there before but our good neighbors Sue and Bob shared their 44th wedding anniversary for a delicious lunch at Oak Table. Each one of us 4 had a different meal and really liked it. The nice ambiance and a friendly, efficient waitress made this lunch at Oak Table restaurant a full success.

Not all Sequim restaurants made it through the Economic Slowdown. After the German restaurant 'Sauerkraut' at Rock Plaza had to close after only being in business for 6 mos., Sequim Town Blog received an email a few days ago that the 'Cedar Creek' restaurant in 5th Ave closed too. Cedar Creek must have been in business for about 2 yrs. and seemed to be doing just fine. It's sad to see another Sequim restaurant closing its doors.

But tell you what one Sequim restaurant closes and another one opens. Just the other day, we read on the Peninsula Daily News that a Chinese Restaurant offering 'All you can eat' buffet has moved into the 4000sft place of the Sauerkraut. This new restaurant at Rock Plaza is supposed to open in a month.

Last but not least, an update on the closure of Hurricane Ridge Rd due to a 'washout' from all the rain the Olympic Mountains had received at higher elevations in January. Well, upon closer inspection, the damage to the road proved more severe like a 'landslide', so there is no way to get the road fixed faster than the 6 weeks estimate after it happened. Good news is that reconstruction of the road to Hurricane Ridge is already in full process. Sequim residents and visitors who love skiing and snow-shoing on the weekends on Hurricane Ridge can still have hope to do that in March 2010.

Tags: Sequim mild winter weather, Sequim warm January 2010, Olympic Peninsula, Early Spring in Sequim

Sequim Restaurant

The Dungeness River Festival was a great success for Sequim. Residents and Sequim visitors had a good time. What else is new in Sequim? Sequim Town blog just received this email from a favorite Sequim restaurant of ours, Cedar Creek located in 5th Avenue across from SARC.

Congratulations Cedar Creek to your 2nd anniversary. You made this restaurant a success with your commitment to Sequim town and the residents of Sequim! We decided to publish your entire email with the exciting news for us, people who live in Sequim, and the visitors who come with retirement thoughts in mind for a Sequim vacation.

"Hello all; well it is official, fall is here.
Beginning this week, Cedar Creek will now be offering 3 new price conscious promotions.

Monday is Locals Night: We will be offering a selection of premium Wines and Delicious Appetizers for half price 5-8 pm.

All You Can Eat Pizza and Pasta Wednesdays: Our chefs have put together a special menu featuring: Hand Cut Fresh Fettuccini with a choice of homemade meatballs & marinara, roast chicken Alfredo, or grilled vegetables with smoked tomato sauce plus a selection of white pie, Margharita, and pepperoni with roast garlic. Both the pasta and the pizzas by the slice are ALL YOU CAN EAT for $18.50. Additionally we will be offering a nice Italian red and white wine for $5.00 glass or $19.00 bottle. Bring a group or the whole family for this midweek feast. Served from 5-8 pm.

Old Fashioned Friday Night Fish Fry: If you have every ventured into a restaurant in the Midwest on a Friday, especially Northern Illinois where Chef Doug is from, you will find fish fry as that night’s special. We will be serving Wild Alaskan True Cod (simply broiled with lemon or lightly fried in our own freshly milled cornmeal batter) accompanied by potato pancakes, fresh sweet corn and a basket of Bell Street Bakery Bread. Includes a choice of mixed green salad or clam chowder for $18.50. Served from 5-9 pm. We hope to have a shipment of everyone’s favorite. Fresh! Never Frozen! Alaskan King Crab Legs very soon as well.

Saturday and Sunday Brunch: We are continuing our weekend brunch, featuring Traditional Eggs Benedict, Smoked Salmon Benedict, Autumn Vegetable Frittata, "Italian Toast," Fresh Scones, Mimosas and More. Served ala’ carte from 10-3 pm

End of The Open Aire Market: October 18 marks the last market for this year. A special thanks to everyone who came out to support us in this endeavor. As you all know we chose the market to showcase our upcoming Bell Street Bakery’s products and the response has been overwhelming. We have subsequently decided to make bread and pastries available Saturdays at Cedar Creek from 10-3 pm. We will not be at the October 11 market, and as a reminder our breads remain available at Sunny Farms every day except Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Bakery Update: Our deck oven is scheduled to arrive this Wednesday October 8^th; this means we are getting close! If you have driven by lately you have surely seen the progress. We are hoping to begin wholesale production by mid-November. The groundbreaking for the second retail building should be very soon. We anticipate its opening sometime in late winter/early spring.

Olympic Medical Center Gala: The restaurant will be closed Saturday October 11 as we cater for the 3 consecutive year the annual winemaker’s dinner at Sunland. All the proceeds go to support the Thomas Family Cancer Center here in Sequim.

Boy’s and Girl’s Club Auction: November 15th. This Year Cedar Creek will cater the annual auction at The Boy’s and Girl’s Club (menu attached). We look forward to making this the best year yet. The club plays a vital role in our community and we are honored to be involved. For tickets and or information please contact Stacy at 683-8095. The restaurant will be closed that day to prepare for the event. We will also be closed the following week from November 16 – 21 for kitchen maintenance. We will reopen Saturday the 22 at 5pm for dinner.

Happy Anniversary! Cedar Creek turns two Friday October 17 a special thanks to our local guests who have supported us and made this possible. We will be making a few seasonal changes to our menu next week including Wild Boar Osso Bucco, Game Bird Trilogy (Grilled Quail, Crispy Duck & Pheasant Sausage), and Butternut Squash Risotto.

Thanks again, we hope to see you soon. The Gang of Cedar Creek."

Next post, we will start our Sequim Photo project. Ron and Mary Nell from Texas are sharing lots of Sequim vacation photos with our Sequim Town blog visitors.

Tags: Sequim, travel, vacation, best restaurant

Sequim Restaurants - where to eat in Sequim?

Sequim Restaurants

When on your Sequim vacation on the Olympic Peninsula, who wants to cook each evening after lots of hiking or biking or kayaking the ocean?! Not me! We shared with our Sequim Town blog visitors on our recent 7 Cedar Casino post that you can combine entertainment with having some decent food at a good price at the 7 Cedars Casino restaurants.

In addition to the all you can eat buffet option, you can also sit at a table at the Totem Bar & Grille and choose from a regular menu. Seems like good food at decent price. We took a menu sample with us, so we know what we can expect next time, when we want to give the Bar restaurant a try.

Well, before we continue talking about Sequim restaurants we have to admit that we are not going out a lot. At most holidays, we or our neighbors, do a Pot Luck. Nobody can cook and bake at that variety as a pot luck can. We are looking forward to our 2 pot lucks we will be attending on July4 th, one at lunch in the Carrie Blake Park neighborhood and another one with BBQ later in the afternoons at Sun Meadows.

Ok let's get back to the restaurants. Here are the ones we visited. Please, visit our blog again. Sequim Restaurants 2014 are coming soon with all the updated information on new restaurants.
 

Keoki wanted to go to Applebee's badly. When he got his wish fulfilled, he was a little disappointed but again he chose something which he was not so sure about. I was happy with my food (can't remember what I had). I was not so happy about the loud music but that is their understanding of creating cheerful atmosphere. Some easy going background music would keep guests much longer for a drink or a dessert. If I want to go for a fast, casual meal, I might go again to Applebee's. Applebee's is located at Sequim River Road Exit of Hwy 101.

OK Keoki loves Mexican. So when I was on a trip to Germany, he went to Las Palomas Mexican Restaurant in E.Washington, next to the entrance of the Ramada Inn. He liked the Mexican food a lot and wanted to take me there. However, the a friend in Sun Meadows told us that El Cazador is much better. Well, next time when Keoki wanted to eat Mexican, we ended up at El Cazador. I am not a big Mexican eater. All these places seem the same to me but to tell you the truth, Keoki said next time he will go back to Las Palomas. He still needs to take our contractor out for dinner and that is where they will go.
 

Before finishing this Sequim restaurant posts, I want to mention Papa Murphy's Pizza. You call 360-683-8102 and order what you want on your pizza, pick it up and bake it at home. Great casual dinner when playing cards with friends or relaxing after your Olympic National Park hike. You will get a coupon for a discount for your next pizza. Keep it at a good place. You will order another pizza from Papa Murphy's soon. Sequim Papa Murphy's is in Safeway Shopping Center.

Find a few more Sequim restaurants websites below.

More feedback from us and our friends on our visits to Sequim restaurants will be added here. We'd love to hear from you about your dining or lunch experience at Sequim restaurants. Eat well!
 

Cedar Creek Cuisine , Oak Table Cafe , The Buzz Icecream and Coffee Artist Cafe

Tags: Sequim restaurants, Sequim vacation