But the downtown hotel's recent renovation has turned a dowdy lobby into a decidedly comfortable place to relax and watch the world zip past. The result is a bland, homogeneous space that actually works in the hotel's favor. Anchorage, Des Moines, Detroit. Seal's menu has a bit more character. Its list of Northwest and Pacific Rim dishes changes slightly each month.
Cole slaw is fresh and tangy.
The kitchen deserves accolades for its attempt to ruffle traditional culinary match-ups. The seafood sat on one side of the plate while the greens stood aloofly on the other. You were eating two separate dishes. The deep-fried ravioli's subtle stuffing lost its zip between two slabs of heavy pasta. A spicy chipolte pepper sauce revived the dish somewhat, but the whole experience would be so much more pleasant if, say, the ravioli came pan-fried instead.