Dave's Diner and Brews, SeaTac / Seattle, Washington,

While Seattle is chock full of fabulous places to dine that suit every palate and pocketbook, Seatac is less fortunate, even outside of the actual airport itself. There's a Dennys, of course, and the ever-present fast-food chains are well represented by Jack in the Box and Taco Bell.

And then there's Dave's Diner and Brews.

Dave's Diner and Brews is a genuine diner, with a full service bar in the back. There's a neon sign, and a classic car parked beside the front windows of the diner. Inside, the diner is decorated with old license plates and road signs.

The menu is American comfort food, with full breakfasts (including homemade biscuits and very generous cinnamon rolls), homemade soups, meatloaf, seafood fettuccine featuring shrimp and salmon, burgers, prime rib, and a variety of classic sandwiches and salads. The food is reliably good, as is the service, and the staff, including the owner, are friendly and responsive. I like Dave's Diner best for breakfasts; it's a great way to start the day. I have a pronounced fondness for the cinnamon rolls, and highly recommend the blackberry cobbler with ice cream. In fact, I've been known to just go right to the blackberry cobbler, and skip dinner.

The bar has your basics, and does serviceable duty, but I favor Dave's Diner and Brews for the beers on tap. They usually have two or three local microbrews, and they're always fresh. The best Pyramid Hefeweissen I've ever had came from Dave's. They usually have a Pyramid and a Mac & Jack's Brewery option on tap, along with something domestic, and a good selection of bottled brews.