The Markets

Classy "new" grocery chain in the area. Delicious soups, given to you in a paperboard container. I can't say for sure that the rest of the containers in the deli area are equally as green, because thus far, my dining experiences there have been very soup-centric.

The Markets LLC

1519 Commercial Ave

Anacortes, WA

(360) 588-8181

8135 Birch Bay Square

Blaine, WA

(360) 366-0330

3125 Old Fairhaven Pkwy

Bellingham, WA

(360) 715-8565

Best Chopsticks

I've walked by this little corner restaurant on my way to work for years, but never had an occasion to eat there, until a couple of weeks ago. Verdict? Meh. Keep on walking. I left food on my plate instead of taking leftovers home because I saw a stack of styrofoam containers on the counter before the waitress even had a chance to ask if I wanted one.

Best Chopsticks

121 Unity St

Bellingham, WA

(360) 647-2381

The Fountain Bistro

I had the pleasure of trying out my neighborhood's newest restaurant recently, The Fountain Bistro. Good stuff! Even better, our take-out container was molded paper.

The Fountain Bistro
1910 Broadway
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 778-3671

Nimbus

Nimbus has styrofoam-free take out containers!

Nimbus
119 N Commercial St, 14th Floor
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-1307

Mambo Italiano

Rejoice! No styrofoam here!

Mambo Italiano
1303 12th St
Bellingham, WA
(360) 734-7677

Anthony's & Hearthfire Grill

Joe Holmes sent me a little message yesterday letting me know that Anthony's, Hearthfire, and the company's other associated restaurants do not use styrofoam (or plastic bags) for their take-home containers...

I have worked at anthony's and know for certain that they do not use styrofoam, but paper boxes, and paper bags for their to go orders, and I think I can safely assume that this is a company wide policy, meaning that the hearthfire also does not use styrofoam, as well as other anthony's restaurants, such as peir 66, or chinooks in seattle.

That's great news--thanks for the tip, Joe!

Anthony's Restaurants
Locations all over the Puget Sound area (and a few others in Oregon and eastern Washington).
See website for specific locations.

Soy House

New to the Bakerview Square area, Soy House is serving up Vietnamese cuisine.  While I have not eaten here myself, my husband has been there a few times and he thinks it's great stuff.  Not so great: styrofoam take-out containers wrapped up in a plastic bag for carrying convenience.  Ick.

Soy House

414 W Bakerview Rd

Bellingham, WA

(360) 393-3585

D'Anna's Café Italiano

I had no intention of throwing D'Anna's a curve ball the other night when we ate there.  I wasn't terribly hungry and just wanted a small bowl of minestrone (which was excellent, by the way).  But apparently they only have one size of minestrone--huge.  When I asked if it was possible to take the rest home, my wonderful waitress went off in search of a container.  I didn't ask for a non-styrofoam container, but I heard her ask the one of the kitchen staff, "do we have anything that isn't styrofoam that I could put some soup in?"  What she came back with appeared to be a paper cup and plastic lid that would normally be used for serving espresso-to-go.  I don't think that plastic lid was recyclable, but they did a bang-up job avoiding the styrofoam.  Kudos!

Whether or not their other carry-out containers are typically non-styrofoam, I can't say.  I'll have to check it out some other time and let you all know.

D'Anna's Café Italiano

1317 N State

Bellingham, WA

(360) 714-0188

UPDATE: D'Anna's uses paper boxes for carry-outs...yay!  Thanks to Shauna for the tip!

Jalapeños Family Restaurant & Lounge

For this post, I have to do a little boasting first.  Tonight was the first time my spouse and I  remembered to BYOC!  It's pretty sad to admit that my Mom gave me the idea of BYOC a few years ago, but because I get so stoked about going out to eat, I usually forget to take my own carry-out containers.  Not tonight, though!  Gold star for us!

As it turns out, I would've done fine if our carry-out containers had been forgotten--I am happy to report that Jalapeños Family Mexican Restaurant has paper clamshells for taking home your leftovers!  Gold star for them!

Jalapeños Family Mexican Restaurant

501 W Holly

Bellingham, WA

(360)671-3099

El Gitano

My co-workers and I frequent this restaurant in Mt. Vernon when we're there for work. Always great food, but unfortunately, they're still doing styrofoam. ¡Que terrible! There are El Gitanos in Bellingham, Burlington, and Smoky Point. I've only been to the Mt. Vernon restaurant, so I can't say with 100% certainty that the others use styrofoam as well, but it's probably likely. BYOC!

El Gitano

1810 Riverside Dr

Mt. Vernon, WA

(360) 424-5514

Also:

1125 E Sunset Dr, Bellingham (360) 714-1065

624 E Fairhaven, Burlington (360) 755-9010

3528 168th St NE, Arlington (360) 653-1400

Jeckyl & Hyde Deli & Ale House

It's not in a neighborhood where you would expect to find many restaurants, but it's a great little place to eat. I like the tabletops coated with blackboard paint. You know...the paint that allows you to draw on it with chalk and erase it as if it were the old-style classroom blackboards. They even have a little cup of chalk at each table--you can create a masterpiece while waiting for your food! Better still, they don't use styrofoam carry-out containers!

Jeckyl & Hyde Deli & Ale House
709 W Orchard Dr #1
Bellingham, WA
(360) 715-9100

Sandwich Odyssey

Another local favorite, the Sandwich Odyssey (across the street from Bellingham High School) is a great sandwich place. I love the fact that they use hunks of roasted turkey in their sandwiches, not processed, thinly-sliced 'turkey-in-a-tube'. Big props for that! What I don't like is that they're using styrofoam cups to serve their soup and side items--even for the folks who are eating there in the restaurant. They gave me an actual metal fork to eat my macaroni salad, but that salad was served in a styrofoam bowl. Ack! Come ON! You're willing to wash silverware, but not small bowls for the soup and salad?

I'm in a letter-writing mood this weekend...I think I'll be shooting off a letter to them about this injustice, as well. Can this be BYOC? Hmmm.

Sandwich Odyssey
2001 Cornwall
Bellingham, WA
(360) 738-6919

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen

After teasing us locals for months, the Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen opened a few weeks ago. Yay! Food = great. Beer = fantastic. Best of all, no styrofoam! We didn't have leftovers, but I saw a waitress carrying folded paper boxes for those that did.

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen
601 Holly St
Bellingham, WA
(360) 752-3377 (easily remembered as 360-75-BEERS)

Diamond Jim's Grill

Wow. Utter disappointment are the words that come to mind. This blog isn't meant to be a place for food critique, but I can't help but rant a little here. In my mind, it's really hard to screw up greasy spoon-type breakfasts. Somehow they managed to do it. Homefries (or American Fried Potatoes, as Jim's calls them) are the cornerstone of my greasy spoon breakfasts and these were awful. They were frozen potatoes, not fresh, and they cooked them with no seasoning whatsoever. The omelet tasted ok, but it was way too big. It was the size of most burritos I've gotten and I had to bring half of it home...
...which brings me to the point of the post...styrofoam. Why am I not surprised?

Diamond Jim's Grill
1906 N State
Bellingham, WA
(360) 734-8687

Maybe it was the awful Pop/Easy Listening 70's, 80's and 90's radio station that was blaring...
Maybe it was having to wait 30 minutes for lukewarm food...
But I don't think I'm going to have to worry about BYOC'n to Diamond Jim's in the near future.

Busara

Ah, Busara. Yet another great Thai place right here in Bellingham. Carry out containers: typical Asian restaurant folded paperboard containers.

Busara Thai Cuisine

404 36th St
Bellingham, WA
(360) 734-8088

Supon's Thai Cuisine

Since it's in my neighborhood, I've eaten at Supon's a few times.  Food is good--never disappointed with it.  They use those coated paperboard Asian to-go containers.

Supon's Thai Cuisine

1213 Dupont St

Bellingham, WA

(360) 734-6838

The Daisy Cafe

Aside from a couple of goof-ups with my husband's calzone, the food was decent, service was fantastic. Best of all--just fabulous to-go containers...molded paper clamshells! The paper is probably bleached, but it's a good alternative to styrofoam.

The Daisy Cafe (same location as the former Cafe Toulouse)

114 W Magnolia

Bellingham, WA

(360) 733-8996

Casa Que Pasa

I was glad to discover that Casa Que Pasa, home of the semi-famous potato burrito, does not have styrofoam take-out containers! Hooray! Folded cardboard boxes for them. Non-bleached paper with not a lot of waxy coating. Tip o' the hat. =)

Casa Que Pasa

1415 Railroad Ave

Bellingham, WA  

(I'd give you the phone number, but no one ever answers when I've tried to call)

Fiamma!

I can't start off with just a negative entry. Here's a couple of my favorites...both locally owned and operated. I can't say enough about these places, but don't want to spend a lot of time doing that here. Check out the websites for more information. Both use biodegradable packaging.

La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza

200 E Chestnut St
Bellingham, WA

(360) 647-0060

Fiamma Burger

1309 Railroad Ave
Bellingham, WA

(360) 733-7374

Greetings!

Welcome to the inaugural post of Eat Greener!

It is with great disappointment that I have to start off with a non-green restaurant post. The food was good, but we had to haul our leftovers home in styrofoam. I keep forgetting to bring my own to-go containers from home when I go out...my bad.

Lemon Grass Cafe
111 N Samish Way
Bellingham, WA
(360) 676-4102

If you go...BYOC. Bring your own container.