The deep pulsing of techno music radiates throughout the room, beating so strongly that you can feel it throughout your body. Brewery signs advertising what’s on tap hang from the walls as patrons line the stools, forming a mob around the bar.
This is not your typical Irish pub.

The upbeat sounds of bossa nova and samba music flow out onto the Ave. Complex, delectable smells draw passers-by into the dining room. They enter an inviting atmosphere where people are dancing, chatting in English and Portuguese and of course, eating.

In the hinterland hills above Formia, Italy, a little girl named Sabrina Tatta (lecturer, French and Italian studies) watched her favorite neighbor, Maria Filosa, pass by her house, a basket of clothes gracefully balanced on her head.

Portage Bay Cafe, a breakfast spot off Roosevelt, offers delicious organic food and a quaint, warm atmosphere to enjoy it in. The allure of local veggies and fruit applied carefully to recipes that don’t cut corners, keeps those willing to foot the bill coming in.

While many restaurants on the Ave close at 10 or 11 p.m., Memo’s Mexican Food gets ready to take on one of its busiest times: the graveyard shift.

Rain Modern Infusion Cuisine located at 2208 N.E. 45th St. in Wallingford offers fresh and incredible sushi at a relatively affordable price, along with a hip atmosphere that features live music and natural décor.

Seattle offers a variety of options for grabbing a bite to eat that might not be conveniently available in the suburbs or a small town, so it’s no wonder the U-District has a healthy vegan community.

The sweet aroma of chocolate greets guests as they walk through the door. Mounds of it line the counters while chocolate-filled gift sets decorate the walls. Children run around excited and giggling after they take bites of tasty treats. Behind this sweet goodness isn’t Mr. Wonka, but rather Carina Manz. A chocolate lover and the assistant retail manager for locally-owned Theo Chocolate, Manz is ready to begin the first tour of the day.

I remember the first time I tried it; it was right before my freshman year, during Dawg Daze, when the U-District had a community dinner for students on the corner of Northeast 50th Street and the Ave. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into when I chose Indian cuisine over Greek, but it began what has now become a four-year love affair.

More cheap places to eat around the U-District.