The Bite's in full bloom at Seattle Center this weekend

Head for your old favorites or "take a walk on the wild side" at the summer's biggest food fest, the Bite of Seattle, this weekend at Seattle Center.

Everything from seafood, barbecue, Greek, Asian and Mexican favorites to Nepali and Tibetan specialties, Indonesian or Russian fare offer so many choices that sharing tastes between pals is a common solution to the what-to-choose dilemma. This year's Bite adds 11 new restaurants, for a total of more than 50, many of which will serve up a featured item and an exotic, spicy or unusual "take a walk on the wild side" dish, marked with a gorilla symbol on the menu. And the price is right: entrees $6 or less, combos $7 or less.

There's plenty to do besides munch, with continuous entertainment on five stages, an arts and crafts market, and "The Bite Cooks" demonstrations with recipe handouts by local celebrity chefs in the Alki Room.

Pike Place Market brings its yearlong 100th anniversary celebration to the Bite with tastes of fresh fruits and vegetables. The new Roadhouse Blues Stage beer garden includes shaded seating, barbecue food and local and national blues acts all weekend. Other over-21 venues include four beer gardens, Comedy Club and the Vines of Washington winetasting area. The Alley by Tom Douglas offers samples from six restaurants a day for $8.50 to benefit Food Lifeline programs providing meals for people in need.

The Family Fun Zone features entertainment and games for all ages and a visit by Pixar's "Big Cheese Tour" with cooking demos, a big slide for kids, and displays on the making of the animated feature "Ratatouille."

More than 400,000 people are expected at the Bite over the weekend; come early or take the bus or monorail to avoid parking congestion. Because of the crowds, leaving pets at home is suggested.

The details

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday; The Alley, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

Location: Seattle Center.

Cost: Free admission; donations to Food Lifeline suggested. Entrees $6 or less, no combo over $7. The Alley full meal of tastes, $8.50 to benefit Food Lifeline.

Getting there: From Interstate 5, take the Mercer Street/Seattle Center exit, turn right on to Fairview Avenue, left on to Valley Street, which becomes Broad; right on to Fifth Avenue, left on to Roy Street and look for parking garage signs; for alternate routes, see www.seattlecenter.com/transportation/directions.asp.

Shuttle bus service available every 20 minutes, 10 a.m.-9:35 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-8:35 p.m. Sunday from Northgate Park and Ride to Seattle Center, with stops at Northgate Transit Center and on Aurora Avenue North at North 105th, 85th, 76th, and 46th Streets; $2/one-way. Metro Transit info, 206-553-3000 or transit.metrokc.gov.

Seattle Center Monorail runs two trains, open 9 a.m. Last departure from Westlake Center 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Sunday; last departure from Seattle Center, 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, $1-$2/one way, 206-905-2620 or www.seattlemonorail.com.

Parking: Seattle Center garages and parking lots, $8 for vehicles with three or more occupants, $10 for vehicles with two, and $11 for single-occupant vehicles; Seattle Center traffic hotline for traffic and parking info: 206-233-3989.

More information : 425-283-5050 or www.biteofseattle.com.

Madeline McKenzie: 206-464-8245 or mmckenzie@seattletimes.com.