After a few attempts to make this video, we realized that really, just writing an article for you all would make more sense. So without further ado, we present: Food and Drink Recommendations!
Katie Leone has lived in Seattle for 6 years and Katey Lee spent a year living there as well. We know a few good places to eat around the convention center. Keep in mind our recommendations are just things we like – we are in no way associated with these places. There are also plenty of great options that aren’t on this list, so don’t forget to check Yelp as well. Towards the end of this article, Katey will also talk about food allergies and how to manage those at PAX. It can definitely be a challenge, but it’s totally possible.
Katey’s recommendations (in no particular order):
I really recommend this place, mostly because it’s attached to the EMP. If you’ve never been to the Experience Music Project and Sci Fi Museum in Seattle, you are doing yourself a disservice. They have a really awesome Icons of Science Fiction exhibit going on right now, and you might find me there when I’m up in Seattle.
pop kitchen itself is pretty average. The food is priced pretty decently for a restaurant attached to a museum though, and they have a good beer selection too. pop is not right by the convention center, and the easiest way to get there is probably to take the monorail from Westlake Center Mall (which IS near the con) to the Seattle Center. Those are the only two stops, so just pay your fare, get on, and get off.
This is pretty self-explanatory. Get yourself some damn good chowder at the awesome Pike Place market. There are actually a few places to get some chowder in Pike Place, but this one has the most variety – all are good though.
Tap House Grill’s food is not why they are on this list. Why they ARE on this list is their massive 160-handle selection of beer. This place is always pretty busy during PAX and has parties at night sometimes and is rented out for the evening, but if you can get in the beer selection is one of the best downtown, hands down. These guys are only a couple blocks from the con.
Gamma Ray Games happens to be Bitch Team Alpha’s PAX Sponsor (come to our party Friday night of PAX!) but they also happen to serve up beer and wine in an awesome environment where you can play games.
Katie’s recommendations (in no particular order):
What about my food allergy?
Food allergies at PAX suck. They just do – but you’re probably used to dealing with the total suckage if you have them, right? I spent one PAX at Seattle gluten free. And when I say gluten free, I mean really seriously gluten-free with no cross-contamination allowed. No cheating. I was on a restrictive diet at the time based on doctor recommendation to see if I had a gluten intolerance causing my stomach problems, so I took that shit seriously. Turns out I didn’t (yay me… sort of), but I still know how hard it can be.
First of all, if your allergy has an app to help you, download it. I used Find Me Gluten Free and highly recommend it if that happens to be your allergy. Even so, check the menu before you go. Tap House Grill is listed in FMGF because it has cider and Omission beer, but NOTHING you can eat there is gluten-free and they have no awareness of it. So basically, be careful.
Bring as much food as possible. I brought GF oatmeal and made it in the room. We went grocery shopping when we got there and I also got fruit and other snacks that I could have. You will need to make this a priority and you will end up needing to bring stuff with you to PAX because…
…There’s just about nowhere to get food-allergy-safe food in the convention center depending on what your allergy is. Aside from a bag of chips and soda, I couldn’t have ANYTHING in the convention center itself when I went. Had I not brought snacks with me, I would have had a bad time.
Lastly, you will need to plan your meals more. Your friends might want to just go eat whenever they’re hungry, and that’s fine, but you might not be able to go with them if you don’t do a bit of planning. Make sure the people you’re going with know you have a food allergy and already are aware of a few places that you can eat so you aren’t stuck with suggestions that you can’t stomach (literally).
That’s it guys! Let us know if you have any recommendations below!
