We ate at Umi's in October when we were there and really really enjoyed it. I'd definitely recommend reservations though if you go.

I would avoid the Dish [from the AskMe suggestions] it's good brunch but not astonishing and I think it's full of snooty hipster types, but I have a short fuse for them. A few more suggestions.

- try for a water facing window at the Edgewater
- water up to Left Bank Books at the Pike Place Market and say to to whoever is there for me. Get something good to read. Patty Summers Lounge is underneath for a small bar with good jazz sometimes.
- I haven't been to Belltown in a good long while but the Two Bells is a good non-pretentious hangout for drinks
- the best place to eat in the city is closed on the weekends but it's called Salume and has smoked meats to DIE FOR and a little old lady who makes gnocci there on Fridays.
- My favorite low key Belltown hangouts are the Lava Lounge (crap website) or Shorty's if you're into a circus-y thing. Brasa (on 3rd) is pretentious, don't go. People have mixed feelings about the Alibi room but it's stumbling distance from your hotel, so there's that.

We don't eat out a whole bunch, but I can vouch for Nishino's sushi. I will also second jessamyn's recommendation of the Two Bells.

As for brunch, we like St. Clouds. The Hi Spot is good, too - as I recall, anyway. There's always a really huge line there on weekends, and I don't remember the last time we ate there. Science Girl said to mention it, so I did.

Visit matildaben and the rest of the Seattle crew! I give them five stars.

Bad timing...

I like the french-style brunch on Boat Cafe. It's not a lot of food, though, depending on your hunger.

It's funny that I read Two Bells, thought "Never heard of it, I wonder if Jessamyn is referring to a closed bar", then looked at the site and it's what I refer to only as "the pub on the corner" (which is just across the street from me). Great microbrewery Hefeweizen, and (especially now that the croc is closed) best burger in town.

I second the recommendation for Shorty's for drinking and playing, but as far as food is concerned, only hot dogs. Never really been to Lava, but it's just beside Shorty's, so it's easy to check it out. Buddha, which is also on the same block, might have some fancier asian-inspired food (if you can stand the "asian-inspired" bamboo deco). Whiskey bar is also nearby, and it's supposed to be a biker-style dive (don't know about the food there).

I suggest you avoid the high-profile self-proclaimed Irish pubs (Kells, Fado, Owl and Thistle). The crowd there is way too much fratboyish.

Can't say anything about sushi, as I personally don't like the stuff. Which may be why it seems to me that every other restaurant in Belltown is a Sushi place.

GODDAMNITTOHELLCROCODILETEARSWAAAAAAAAHHHHHH.

Okay, I suck and this is just my own brand of snootiness, but judging purely from le pigeon's website that place looks way snooty and would fit in perfectly in any other newly gentrified neighborhood in Seattle or Portland. I mean, sure everyone in the photos are wearing their Columbia Sportswear finest, but: "water is poured from lovely hand-blown carafes ... and the butter for your bread is pedigreed Plugra, sprinkled with sea salt." I mean, in many of the reviews the chef basically says, "you'll eat it because I told you to." Because, you know, he's a chef-school drop-out genius like Einstein or Steve Jobs or something. And he has tattoos. Cult of personality much? How about answering the question, "Does it taste good?" instead of dodging it with all this gimmickry. Yeah. Yeah. Proof of the pudding and all that, but that's several hours of income right there for a 2" by 2" slab of pork meat.

Okay, I'll stop being a dick. You might try Seasons and Regions (http://www.seasonsandregions.com/default.asp) in SW Portland sometime. It's also right next door to the Cider Mill which is way divey. I dunno about Seattle... Oh wait, I do know a dive or two: Jade Pagoda, the Canterbury, Linda's tavern.