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Chaco Canyon Cafe
I was never one for scarfing down a platter of salty hash browns and runny eggs to cure a hangover. I am a firm believer in feeding a hangover, but I think a long meditation session and an hour of yoga will do the trick. Top that off with an organic meal (Chaco Canyon uses 90 percent organic ingredients), a glass of nutrient-rich juice, and a cup of shade-grown, organic Costa Rican coffee, and I’ll be ready to tackle the day. Chaco Canyon is like an oasis in the city. For starters, the servers are kind, with no trace of the self-righteous piety that often comes with all-organic and raw-food devotees. Secondly, the price is right, with most dishes topping out at under $8. And best of all, the deliciousness of the sandwiches will make firm believers out of anyone who remains fearful of healthy food. The hot pesto melt—Essential bread topped with a rich walnut-basil-parsley pesto, a slice of vegan mozzarella, onions, and tahini—is, without a doubt, one of the best vegan sandwiches I’ve had in the country (and I’ve had quite a few). Each sandwich comes with a side of crisp, colorful Terra Chips and my personal favorite, the coleslaw, whose sweetness is augmented by a spoonful of raisins. When really trying to feed that hangover, I recommend “the Boost,” a juice made from apple, carrot, wheatgrass, and ginger. It’s also effective when feeding a cold. BRIAN J. BARR
Serves: Vegetarian4757 12th Ave. N.E., 206-522-6966.
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http://www.chacocanyoncafe.com
Cellar Bistro
Like an extramarital flame, this nook of a restaurant pulls you into its dark, velvety spaces and tastes heavenly compared to what you’re getting at home. A friend of mine once threw a 10-person birthday party here, and the restaurant’s discreet entrance mystified most guests, who had to call for directions a second time once inside because they couldn’t locate the table of familiar faces hidden away in the innermost of four intimate dining rooms. What if you didn’t want to be found? In a nod to the god of drink and debauchery, bunches of fake grapes dangle from this Italian bistro’s latticed ceiling. Bacchus himself would be sated after feasting on free-flowing glasses of clean, house orvieto classico and a two-chicken-breast saltimbocca with ample pieces of salty prosciutto, mozzarella, and cream. The side of fresh cheese tortellini is an unexpected extra—some postcoital cuddling from the entrée. Follow up with espresso-flavored mud pie . . . unless you can think of a better way to cap the evening with your dining partner. SARA NIEGOWSKI
Serves: Italian2355 10th Ave. E., 206-709-8744.
http://www.cellarbistro.com