The 30 Seattle Restaurant Experiences You Must Have Before You Die
Call it our Where-to-Eat Bucket List: Dining moments so special, so iconic, so emblematic of the culinary extravaganza we call Seattle…you must experience them at least once in your life.
By Kathryn RobinsonWith contribution from Kristin Cordova
A Night at the Herbfarm
Say what you will about four forks, five hours, nine courses, $179. Urp. For a deft, deep survey of the freshest local bounty (with one of the nation’s jaw-dropping wine collections), no place can touch the floridly decorated farmstead in Woodinville wine country. Every Northwesterner must visit at least once—either in foodie fall, when summer meets harvest meets mushroom rains meets seafood runs, or when whatever big anniversary or dividend check justifies the expenditure required to do it right. Meaning: Spend the night. The boutique Willows Inn is just stumbling distance across the courtyard. Cryin’ shame if you were the designated driver when owner Ron Zimmerman broke out the 1795 Madeira. The Herbfarm, 14590 NE 145th St, Woodinville, 425-485-5300; theherbfarm.com
Lunch in the Heart of Pike Place Market
You can find white tablecloth dining all over the Market. But to feel its throbbing pulse, head for the lunch counter at the Market Grill in the clogged artery of the Main Arcade. There, across from historic Pure Food Fish and just a trout’s toss from the pig, a couple of fellas sling terrific chowder and blacken salmon sandwiches, delectable ones, with fresh fixings and fragrant sauce and swimming-just-yesterday fish. Humble? The point exactly. Market Grill, 1509 Pike Pl, Pike Place Market, 206-682-2654
Dessert on the Deck at Ray’s Café
The good news: Ray’s Café’s stunner of a view deck extends out over pewter Shilshole Bay where the Olympic Mountains pin the sunset to the horizon. The bad news: Ray’s Boathouse downstairs has way better food. The solution: Head for the Ray’s Café deck—for dessert. Marcia Sisley-Burger, the insanely talented pastry chef for both Boathouse and Café, crafts swoony tarts of seasonal fruit with rummy frangipane; she fires her signature chocolate soufflés with ancho chilies and cayenne, then crowns them with lime sauce and vanilla bean ice cream. Views and chews will compete for your devotion. Ray’s Café, 6049 Seaview Ave NW, Ballard, 206-789-3770; rays.com/cafe
Just You and ‘The Economist’ at Café Presse
There are folks out there who don’t understand the bliss of an unregimented day, a solo meal out, something smart to read, something potent to sip, and the perfect platter of steak frites. To the vast majority who do, the casual all-day drop-in Parisian café with the magazine rack and the irresistible casse-croûte menu and the Caffé Vita—and the all-day cocktails—is simply the quintessential spot in town for such folly. Café Presse, 1117 12th Ave, Capitol Hill, 206-709-7674; cafepresseseattle.com
Shock Your Palate with Joule
Joule is the mousy librarian who moonlights as a secret agent. In this civilized Wallingford storefront, full-throttle culinary fearlessness happens on the quarter hour. Under the bold steerage of chefs Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, continental and Korean influences collide into a dynamic fusion. With abandon and aplomb these chefs scatter cubes of acorn jelly in a cucumber salad, smear fig marmalade over a kasu-brined pork chop, and fire poussin with Korean chili rub and pickled Asian melon. Nowhere in town is East-West fusion this brainy, this exotic. For Seattle gastronauts Joule is the thrill ride of the moment. Joule, 1913 N 45th St, Wallingford, 206-632-1913; joulerestaurant.com
A Burger and Fries in the Parking Lot of Dick’s
This city’s devotion to its homegrown burger chain surpasses even its love of coffee. Why? Dick’s is about floppy fries flecked with real potato skin and burgers that taste like nostalgia and sweet pickles, paid for with couch-cushion coins and dispatched in three bites with a chaser of car exhaust. You come on a July afternoon hanging out of a convertible or at 1am the night before a hangover, then leave wondering if the food was actually good or just tasted that way. You always decide you don’t care.
Dick’s, 111 NE 45th St, Wallingford, 206-632-5125. 115 Broadway E, Capitol Hill, 206-323-1300. 9208 Holman Rd NW, Ballard, 206-783-5233. 12325 30th Ave N, Lake City, 206-363-7777. 500 Queen Anne Ave N, Queen Anne, 206-285-5155; ddir.com
Published: October 2009
exquisite read! thank you so much! I hope to delight in the best of bests restaurant hopping =)
Angelina
I would add cassoulet at Cafe Campagne to the list.
I am so pleased to see Sutra on here. There are many, MANY veg*ns here in our fine city and Sutra is a gift to us (and the rest of you) from the gods. You’ve stated here that the food is “sometimes” vegan, but the fact is that the menu is 99.9% vegan — they used some cheese in the beginning when they first opened but are not using any now. Currently they only deviate from vegan to offer cream for coffee (obviously, optional) and occasionally use honey in a dish (it will be listed and a replacement dish offered upon request). They also happen to care about things like local farmers, sustainability, etc. Not every city has a classically French-trained veg chef cooking 4 course, high-end food for its citizens at such a reasonable price. This place truly is a gem and it belongs on this list.
Oops! Lampreia is gone, sad but true! You can put yourself in Scott Carsberg’s hands at Bisato when it opens soon. Same location at Lampreia. He’s trying for a more reasonably priced wine/tapas type of place this time around.
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Kaname Izakaya is very nice, homey and fantastic family-owned Japanese restaurant. Happy Hour is great deal, you don’t want to miss that, 5-6:30PM everyday (they close Monday). Things you MUST try are Takoyaki (Octopus ball), Seared Tuna, Tori no Karaage, Kaname Steak …
Don’t miss out this lovely place, plus the waitresses are cute :-)
http://rxmedicaretax.com/ rxmedicaretax.com Make your King-Kong twice larger
There’s two I’d add to the list:
1. Canlis – I think everyone in Seattle should try it once.
2. Toulouse Petit – somewhat new, but amazing!
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I’ve tried most of the others – pretty good choices. :)
I’m surprised Paseo with their amazing Cuban pork sandwiches are not on here. Musashi’s on 45th and Wallingford is so much better than Kaname Izakaya.