written by Justin Prince (@prince_justin)

PAX is upon us, this weekend will see droves of gaming enthusiasts, cosplayers, and the slightly overwhelmed parents of both demographics hit the Washington State Convention Centerwith one goal in mind; to see what’s new in the world of gaming. PAX Prime is the largest public gaming convention in the US, touting an attendance of about 85,000 every year… and with that, the local restaurants will see a huge influx of business, but with every convention here in Seattle, I generally see the same two spots filled to the brim with convention goers; Cheesecake Factory across the street and Blue C Sushi just half a block away. While the convenience is there, there are so many other places you can hit with better food and generally shorter wait times, why wait for an hour to get a table at the Factory when you can nab a table for 5 in less than 15 minutes elsewhere?

Before I started Lifted Geek, I was a heavy contributor on Yelp and was part of their Elite group of contributors. Now while those days are long past, I do manage to still know a thing or two about where to nosh on some primo grub. This article will be listing off a few places you can grab a meal that isn’t the Factory, over priced conveyer belt sushi, or mediocre burgers from an arcade.

RN74: French Cuisine with an Inspired Twist

Just a few blocks west of the convention center is RN74, from famed restaurateur Michael Mina, you won’t find a more robust and inspired happy hour menu. The prices are fantastic with food items no more than $7 and a decent happy hour drink selection. A few notable happy hour items that I love and can’t get enough of are the Grilled Steak Skewers and the Ahi Tuna Poppers, for those looking for a more French inspired snack, the Duck Fat Popcorn is divine.