For Paul’s Lakeview Grill, the view’s the thing. But owner Mary Campbell says the wild king salmon and steaks also bring customers back to the restaurant and bar perched on the hill overlooking Kenmore Air, Lake Washington and the Burke Gilman Trail.
Mary and Paul Campbell, owners of Mia Roma up the road, set up shop in the former home of Clifford’s and Drake’s restaurants in February of 2004. Don’t let the nerve-jangling noise of Bothell Way deter you. Once you’re inside, that’s literally behind you.
The decor of the spacious dining room is best described as 80’s Restaurant Furniture Auction, but no matter. The draw is the view of seaplanes coming and going from an air park abuzz with activity on sunny weekends. Below is the bar and a deck that’s open when weather permits.
Menu choices abound for meat, seafood, chicken, pasta and salad lovers. With the exception of baked and mashed potatoes, the dinner items are available for lunch. Diners can select a simple house salad for $2.49 or pig out on the 10-ounce rib-eye beef steak with coconut prawns for $23.95. A kid’s menu contains staples such as a burger and fries for $4.95.
My husband and I were the lone diners on a brilliant Friday afternoon just minutes before Paul’s switched to dinner mode.
We mulled the selection of hot and cold sandwiches, homemade soups and combination plates before opting for house salads plus half a turkey-melt sandwich with cup of homemade chowder ($6.95) and grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, tomato and Swiss cheese ($7.95). We threw carb-counting out the amazingly clean picture windows as we polished off the accompanying French fries with crispy jackets and hot fluffy centers.
Unable to tear ourselves away from watching the “Evening Magazine” floatplane being readied for an early-evening flight, we lingered over Power Boat Pie ($4.95), a frozen, caramel-and-chocolate confection dressed with nuts and whipped cream.
Our hostess, Mary Campbell, couldn’t have been more gracious and our waiter, more wet behind the ears, although earnest. The setting, though, trumped minor glitches.
We decided Paul’s is a fine stop-off for Burke-Gilman bicyclists and families seeking a casual dining spot that won’t break the bank.
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