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
Become a Regular in Your Neighborhood Restaurant
Seattle—a collection of villages masquerading as a city—is crammed with neighborhood restaurants built primarily on the devotion of regulars. Nothing conveys a regular’s sense of belonging better than ordering a dish so “insider” it’s not even on the menu. Montlake dwellers ring Café Lago the morning of their visit if they’re hankering for its stuffed peppers. Capitol Hill denizens know they can usually get Dinette ’s kitchen to whip up some of its dreamy frittata toast if they ask nicely. And if they ask frequently enough—they may have more influence than they know. For years Ristorante Machiavelli famous filet mignon, pan-seared in a red wine reduction, was beloved of patrons who never saw it in writing—they just knew to ask for it. It’s on the menu now. Café Lago, 2305 24th Ave E, Montlake, 206-329-8005; cafelago.com . Dinette, 1514 E Olive Way, Capitol Hill, 206-328-2282; dinetteseattle.com. Ristorante Machiavelli, 1215 Pine St, Capitol Hill, 206-621-7941; machiavellis.com
Tableside Caesar Salad at El Gaucho
Nowhere in town but the swanky, underlit El Gaucho steakhouses will a dashing waiter in a tux roll a cart to your table, fold a napkin across his forearm, mash anchovies into olive oil, froth the fluid into a garlicky emulsion, toss the dressing with romaine and fresh croutons, then serve it with a flourish and a fresh snowdrift of reggiano. The whole operation is nostalgic, theatrical, indulgent, entirely unnecessary, improbably delicious, and the main reason why dinner at El Gaucho is the ultimate Big Night Out. El Gaucho, 2505 First Ave, Belltown, 206-728-1337. 450 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, 425-455-2715; elgaucho.com
Kayak to Dinner at Agua Verde
It’s Seattle’s priceless version of that dockside cantina in the Sea of Cortez, the one with killer halibut tacos and the tsunami of tequila. Perfect the (Baja) California dreamin’ by arriving at the deck of this Portage Bay beach house via kayak—your own, or the one you rent by the hour from the Paddle Club below the restaurant. 1303 NE Boat St, University District, 206-545-8570; aguaverde.com. 5811 Lake Washington Blvd NE, Kirkland, 425-822-2896; aguaverdeeste.blogspot.com
Tuck into a Hidden Courtyard
Seattle’s hidden outdoor courtyards, opening off its luckier bars and restaurants, are like tiny gifts of fresh air to a city with more than its share of indoor days. We’re particularly fond of the prettily gated court off to the side of Buckley’s in Belltown (formerly Marjorie, and before that Lush Life, and before that Septieme), and the sweet enclosed alley off Txori, just down the street. But the court at Oddfellows Café —the all-day drop-in haunt Hill dwellers find indispensable for a cup of soup and a cookie here, a brisket sandwich there—is particularly enchanting. Its skinny courtyard is completely enclosed, lined in brick, floored with wood decking…and roofed with sky. Buckley’s in Belltown, 2331 Second Ave, Belltown, 206-588-8879; buckleysseattle.com. Oddfellows Café, 1525 10th Ave, Capitol Hill, 206-325-0807; oddfellowscafe.com. Txori, 2207 Second Ave, Belltown, 206-204-9771; txoribar.com
Holiday Cocktails in the Fireside Room at the Sorrento Hotel
When the weather outside is frightful, no room feels so delightful. The masterpiece boutique hotel, the Sorrento, was built for the Alaska-Pacific-Yukon Exposition in 1909. Still wrapped in its original mahogany, the intimate fireplace lobby gleams in the firelight. Festive shoppers and winter revelers cluster over hot toddies or coffee nudges, while a jazz musician tickles the ivories, making every chorus sound like, “Why go home at all…?” Fireside Room at the Sorrento Hotel, 900 Madison St, Downtown, 206-343-6156; hotelsorrento.com
Izakaya with Shochu in Japantown
Izakaya is Japanese pub grub; shochu the distilled liquor that recently surpassed sake as Japan’s preferred poison. Unbelievably, until a handful of years ago neither was available in Seattle; now they compose the worldly wage slave’s favorite happy hour, best enjoyed at the authentic wood-hewn Kaname Izakaya. It’s a fastidious little family-run joint in Japantown with cheap happy hour exotics—gobo fries, deep-fried tofu—and six distinct varieties of the alluring liquor. Kaname Izakaya, 610 S Jackson St, International District, 206-682-1828; kaname-izakaya.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.
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 :-)
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. :)