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Restaurant Zoe
Chef-owner Scott Staples' sleek, attractive restaurant still has people lining up for dinner. The menu depends on the freshness of the ingredients; there's a lot of barely seared fish and seasonal vegetables. Starters include a rabbit and foie gras 'mosaic' with Granny Smith apples, beet risotto and a horseradishy tuna tartare, and the mains - wild boar, sea scallops - reveal a knack for doing interesting things to meat. Reservations recommended.
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Schultzy's Sausages
This former hole-in-the-wall has doubled in size, which serves as a warning to all who overindulge in Schultzy's meaty goodness. Its claim to fame is straightforward and simple: bratwurst, burgers and beer. There are also veggie dogs, but come on, seriously.
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Sitka & Spruce
Despite its unlikely location - in a strip mall nextdoor to a Subway - this small green restaurant has won acclaim for its casual vibe, constantly changing tapas-style menu, good wine selection and involved chef-owner (he'll be the guy who brings bread to your table). Ingredients all come from local producers, and the idea is to assemble a meal out of a bunch of different taster-size dishes. Reservations only for groups of five or more.
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Sky City
You don't really go to this revolving restaurant atop the Space Needle for the food. The view's the thing, and it is tremendous from 500ft up in the air. The elevator ride is free if you have meal reservations.
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Steelhead Diner
'Highbrow diner' sounds like an oxymoron, but the Steelhead does it right - hearty, homey favorites become fine cuisine because they're made with the best of what Pike Place Market has to offer. The awesome gumbo features Uli's sausage from the market; 'squimbled eggs' come poached over Dungeness crab on toast; a fried-chicken sandwich is fall-apart moist and lemony; and the crab cakes have been making local foodies swoon. Great bay views.
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Tangletown Pub
This outpost of the Elysian Brewing Company quickly made friends in the neighborhood, despite taking the space of the worshipped Honey Bear Bakery. It's more child-friendly than Elysian's Capitol Hill brewery, and the building itself is gorgeous: when afternoon sunlight comes streaming into the leaded-glass windows and hits those burgundy walls, look out! Glorified pub food (chicken wings, an eggplant panini) and Elysian beer carry the day.
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Triangle Lounge
Good old American pub food kicked up a notch - like pizza with garlic sauce, grilled chicken, red peppers and fresh mozzarella, or a goat-cheese-and-apple salad - as well as a cool red-neon 'Prescriptions' sign above the bar are the trademarks of this arrowhead-shaped hangout.
