Ravenna, Robust With Restaurants, Parks, and Books!

Ravenna is one of those traditional neighborhoods that has gradually transformed in a fresh and upscale way. It is in close proximity to the University of Washington, by foot or a short drive away. It is located directly north of the university district in a picturesque community. Parks, from the beautiful and historic Cowen Park to the many pocket parks and scattered greenbelts and ravines, give Ravenna it's breath of fresh air which feels like you are walking through a natural sanctuary. But you are never far from a culturally diverse and interesting mix of small restaurants, coffee shops, book stores, and amazing variety of specialty shops from wine tasting, to bagel bakery, to natural medicines.

The restaurants, intimate and robust with character range from the classic Italian Casa Italia. With a warm and cozy rustic country feel, this family restaurant run by Anthony and Angeli Donatone offers traditional pastas, salad, breads and desserts freshly made with an open kitchen and an on site fresh herb garden in the back. As you walk in and smell the wonderful aromas, you are surrounded by rich and dark woods, counter and table seating with wine bottles set and ready to uncork, and framed old photos of the family giving you that feeling of walking into a cafe in a quaint street in Italy. They offer musical entertainment and poetry reading nights, perfect for sipping a glass of wine and relaxing with. Speaking of sipping wines, you have your very own wine sipping haven at the specialty wine store, McCarthy and Schiering Wine Merchants that offers wine tasting along with their wide selection of wine. Just down the street on 65th, two modern and sleek Thai restaurants await you. At the bottom of a newly constructed condominium complex, Bai Pai is one of them. Another excellent family run Thai restaurant on Roosevelt Way is the Royal Palm. The beautiful decor from golden sculptures to more dark woods, whisks you away to the southeast Asian country full of more treasures and delightful aromas. Several Indian restaurants, including the new addition of India Bistro and the older Bengal Tiger give you some more delicious dishes so full of flavor with curries and the vast array of herbs.

The Sunlight Cafe, a unique vegetarian restaurant, offers light, healthy and tantalizing vegetarian creations as they have for decades. And don't miss Salvatores, another first-class Italian restaurant full of homemade classic dishes that are so fun to go out to enjoy, and Jalisco's, another family run Mexican restaurant that dishes out south of the border comfort food with savory rice, beans, guacamole, and meats washed down with a refreshing margarita. Grocery shopping is also a treat with the new addition of the organic friendly Whole Foods Store. A popular, slightly more upscale food shopping experience, the grocery shopping offers an impressive array of freshly prepared dishes ready to cook, to the hot deli items to the fresh baked goods, to the arfully displayed meats and seafood items. And don't miss the ever popular neighborhood joints for a quick snack at Zeeks Pizza, as close to NY Pizza as they come, and the Bagel Oasis, freshly baked with a shmear of cream cheese. After a Sunday stroll meandering through the book selection at Third Place Books and walking your dog in the park, you deserve to treat yourself! Speaking of which, you can really go all the way and truly pamper yourself with the naturally made remedies at The Herbalist. From tree oils to vitamins, to skin care, taking care of your body becomes an indulgence that is worth every penny.

And even if you are done with school, don't miss the opportunity to see the $92 million transformation of the city's most prestigious historical landmarks, Roosevelt High School. Highly acclaimed and boasting one of the Seattle Public Schools best academic programs, Jazz Band, strong athletics and drama teams, this school gives private schools a run for their money. An incredible 91% of Roosevelt High graduates in the last academic year went on to college and universities. And you can actually eat healthy and run to the Rising Sun, the corner open fruit and vegetable market located right next door. The bus system is readily available throughout the neighborhood, as is an I-5 on/off ramp on the west side.There you are. As in all the different neighborhoods that Seattle has to offer, Ravenna has a character unique in its own. Come and visit and if you really feel at home, come and live!

Helen Toyoda
Realtor
Helen@SeattlePowerSearch.com
206.383.8182