Northwest restaurants in Seattle
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A
5 Spot
In Upper Queen Anne, everyone’s favorite breakfast and hangover diner is the 5 Spot. Good strong coffee keeps the staff ultraperky. Try a local legend, like the red flannel hash ($9.50), or get crazy with the wild-salmon cakes. On weekends, go early to avoid the lines snaking out the door – or go for lunch or dinner; this is an excellent place for a quiet meal featuring good American cooking.
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B
Black Bottle
The huge crowd congregating outside the front door of this new Belltown restaurant is your first clue that something interesting is happening inside. The menu has a lot more clues: octopus carpaccio, lemon-caper-squid salad, saffron risotto cakes, eggplant-mozzarella flatbread. It’s a spartanly decorated but warm-looking space, with friendly service and a chic atmosphere. Reservations are accepted, and might be a good idea if you want to avoid a wait.
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C
Palace Kitchen
Owned by the Dahlia’s Tom Douglas, the Palace is a see-and-be-seen hotspot that really picks up for the late-night cocktail scene. Daily dinner specials present such wonders as spaetzle-stuffed pumpkin or traditional pork loin. Snack on appetizers – including a smoked-salmon-and-blue-cheese terrine or a sampler plate of regional cheeses – or go for the whole shebang with grilled trout, leg of lamb or roasted chicken with blackberries and nectarines. There’s a late-night happy hour starting at 11pm that includes barbecued short ribs and other awesome deals ($4 to $5), plus drink specials.
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D
FareStart Restaurant
FareStart serves substantial meals that benefit the community. The constantly changing lunch menu is pretty darn gourmet for the price – try the veggie reuben, or a flatiron steak in blue-cheese sauce. All proceeds from lunch and the popular Thursday-night Guest Chef dinners – when FareStart students work with a famous local chef to produce outstanding meals – go to support the FareStart program, which provides intensive job training, housing assistance and job placement for disadvantaged and homeless people. Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner.
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E
Sitka & Spruce
Now in a new location in the Capitol Hill ‘hood, this small-plates fine-diner has won acclaim for its casual vibe, constantly changing menu, good wine selection and involved chef-owner (he’ll be the guy who brings bread to your table). All the ingredients are obtained from local producers, and the idea is to assemble a meal out of a bunch of different taster-size dishes. Only a few reservations are accepted each night, and the wait can be long, so grab yourself a beer and spend some time studying the chalkboard menu until it’s your turn.
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F
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. What’s on offer will change with the season, but small plates have included braised morel gnocchi, green beans with figs and Stilton, and a lamb heart confit, while the mains – wild boar, pork with apricots, halibut with summer squash – reveal a knack for doing interesting things to meat. Reservations are recommended.
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G
Coastal Kitchen
This longtime favorite turns out some of the best food in the neighborhood – it has an eclectic mix of Cajun, Mayan and Mexican inspirations, and an Italian-language instruction tape running in the bathroom, if that gives a clue about influences. Menus rotate by theme, but constant favorites include roasted chicken, pork chops and all-day breakfast. Fish dishes are startlingly fresh and always interesting. Pasta lunch specials are also highly recommended.
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H
Tangletown Pub
This outpost of the Elysian Brewing Company quickly made friends in the neighborhood, despite having taken over the space that was once the worshipped Honey Bear Bakery. It’s a child-friendly space, 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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I
Hunt Club
The Hunt Club ought to be on the shortlist if you’re looking for a special-occasion, top-end restaurant. The setting is ultra posh and absolutely beautiful: an intimate mahogany-paneled dining room shimmering with candles and decked with flowers. The food is equally stellar, featuring local lamb, fish and steaks from sustainable farms, accentuated by inventive sauces and regional produce. Reservations are recommended.
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J
Matt’s in the Market
A beloved spot that’s been dramatically renovated, Matt’s is deep in the heart of the market and draws from its surroundings. A pulled-pork sandwich is made with Stumptown coffee barbecue sauce; several dishes use locally grown potatoes and organic meats. The menu leans heavily toward seafood, and fresh fruit abounds, but you certainly won’t be forced to endure a meal without pork belly.
reviewed
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K
Dahlia Lounge
Owner Tom Douglas started fusing flavors at this Seattle institution in the late 1980s and single-handedly made Seattleites more sophisticated; his empire has grown a lot since then, but the flagship restaurant remains a local favorite. There’s a bakery next door where you can pick up one of the Dahlia’s fabulous desserts to go. Reservations are recommended.
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L
Canlis
This place is old-school enough for either prom night or your grandma’s birthday dinner. The traditional, classic food and service are both top-notch, and you can rest assured that none of the style is affected. Canlis has been around since 1950 and its authenticity shows. The view is lovely, too. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekends.
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M
Alki Café
One of Seattle’s favorite spots for breakfast and brunch, the Alki serves fresh baked goods, seafood or vegetable-filled omelets and hotcakes. The menu features a couple of vegetarian scrambles and a heart-healthy ‘special diet’ option.
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N
Queen Anne Café
Locals flock to this trendy neighborhood spot for traditional comfort food, including broiled pork chops and various sandwiches, but the place really shines at breakfast. Expect a bit of a wait for weekend brunch.
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Café Septieme
A pretty, Euro-style restaurant-bar with red walls and white-clothed tables, Septieme serves filling but sophisticated burgers, salads, pastas and fish dishes; the bacon-provolone cheeseburger is great.
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