10 Best Restaurants 2009
Canlis
2576 Aurora Ave N, Queen Anne, 206-283-3313; canlis.com
THE VISION
“I think we have a different philosophy from other restaurants of our caliber. Most other restaurants put their food or their chef or their wine in the spotlight—and that’s not wrong. We too have a lot to be proud of. But a food museum, or an homage to a famous chef, or a great wine list—that’s not how my family wants to do it. When you see that Canlis sign on Aurora, we want you to think, ‘There’s people I can trust. I came into your restaurant and I gave you my most treasured possession—my time with my family, my big business meeting, my daughter’s 16th birthday—and you honored that, uplifted it, protected it with everything at your disposal.’ What Canlis puts in the spotlight is the guest.” — Mark Canlis, owner, Canlis
THE VERDICT
Seattle’s most legendary restaurant, now going on 60, genuinely keeps getting better. Yes, the valet still magically remembers your car without a claim ticket. Yes, the waiters still ply the far frontiers of guest service. Yes, there’s that sweeping Lake Union view, that stone-hewn midcentury design—which, taken together, create the most sublime restaurant setting in the Pacific Northwest. And, yes, there’s still a Canlis at the helm—two, actually: brothers Mark and Brian, who trawl the floor, greeting regulars and welcoming newcomers just as their parents Chris and Alice did before them, and their grandfather, founder Peter Canlis, before that.
With Louis Armstrong crooning through the sound system, your table strategically oriented toward the view, your Scotch cocktail stiff and flawless, the wine list heavy in your hand (it’s a marvel, having earned for the last several years Wine Spectator ’s rare Grand Award)—even restrooms that were up for a Best Restroom in America award—you’re sumptuously nourished before your food hits the table.
When the food does arrive, it’ll be the best it’s been in years. New chef Jason Franey (from Manhattan’s Eleven Madison Park, which The New York Times just gave four stars) has retained and mastered the Canlis Salad, the steak tartare, the prime steaks—the man’s not suicidal—but brings new levity to the tasting menu and the specials, where a slice of grilled watermelon might show up with greens and goat cheese and frisky speckles of balsamic.
Probably not how old Peter would’ve done it. Better.
Published: October 2009
Serious pie is amazing! We try to treat ourselves every month.
Fairly new to the Seattle area, and this list was great. I am excited to knock out all 1-10!
We are from Wisconsin. While visiting our son in Seattle this summer, we celebrated my wife’s birthday at the Boat Street Cafe. A nice ambience. A varied menu. Fabulous food. The service was excellent.
I love this list! We’ve enjoyed a few of the Top 10 before, and look forward to going to the rest. Good to see Seattle classics on here like Canlis and Rovers, as well as some of the newer places like Spring Hill.
I agree with Jefferson…great list. Classics deserve to stay on the list if they continue to innovate and impress! Can’t wait for the parentals to come to town…going to Boat Street and Crush for sure!
I went through the whole list wrote them down and I want to try them all. Your reviews were great. My birthday is in feb and we are going to try one of these fabulous sounding restaurants. Thankyou Sherry in south king county.
Hey,
how are you?
i’m coming into seattle and was wandering if a pro like this blog could help me out in terms of…
1. best breakfast – i’m coming in on thurs, so cant do the corson building- so depressed
2. best lunch/dinner place to eat good seattle grub fare.
thanks so much!!! anything else i must eat etc like donuts just let me know too – yum yum.. i’m so jealous you have it all at your fingertips!
michelle
you should update for the best restaurant in 2009, don’t you think ?
Serious Pie is pretty damned good, but it says a lot about Seattle that one of it’s best restaurants is a pizza joint.
If Rovers can nail it’s consistency problem down, it would probably be a strong candidate for top spot in WA, maybe even contend for a michelin star.
For serious foodies, hop a ferry to Bainbridge (half an hour, great for visiting relatives) and walk to “The Harbourside Pub.” Looks like a fun, happy Pub joint with lots of micro-beers. What it really is that’s different is locally grown foods, highly creative seasonal choices of organic and grass-fed beef. The foodies will be happy and so will the whole family (no kids). There’s even a sunny deck. The owners have made this possible by working directly with local farmers—you can really taste the difference in the food. Best list for 2011?
Great list! will try some of those.
Serious Pie is seriously UN-amazing. None of Tom Douglas’s restaurants are at all impressive compared to chef owned restaurants in Seattle including most that are on this top ten list. Tom knows how to market himself and make money. Cooking great food with authenticity and sustainability? He doesn’t have it. Serious Pie is a step up from Pagliachi, but not anything I would write home about. I miss Brasa’s fig pizza…. that is worth writing home about.
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“Welcome to our site onslko.org!!! Friends today the world is facing uncounted problems in life, and happiness is the need of everyone. So visit here and full fill your life with happiness. Here is one solution of your all problems. Kindly visit www.onslko.org (The place of Miracles)”
Hi, this is a good post, indeed a great job. You must have finished good research for the work.
Today, however, the most important cities in the U.S. have the kind of gastronomic diversity and regionality that is rich in all departments, and even if you have visited recently, you can be sure that the next time you go, there will be more new restaurants and attractions in what could visit.
nice article enjoyed reading.
ok I am going to Seattle next week to visit a friend and I think we are definitely going to try some of the restaurants!!!!
I’m not much into reading, but somehow I got to read many articles in your webpage.
Its fantastic how interesting it is for me to visit you very often.
I think you reviews were great and good. I already bookmarked this website and shared with my friends on facebook.
Hi,
These are all great. Are there any michellin star restaurants in seattle?
Hi,
Are there any michellin star restaurants in seattle?
The photos made me go in the kitchen and grab something to eat.
Great… Excellent list of restaurant… thanks for sharing this…
Thank our extravagance of edible resources, entrepreneurial enterprise, and culinary exuberance.
Wow man, it is interesting.
I feel hungry