Restaurant Recommendations by Jeff and Kate Hirsch
Here is a collection of restaurants in Seattle that we really like. We tried to give a brief description of each to give you an idea of what kind of restaurant it is. We hope you enjoy!
Seattle Restaurant Guide
Al Boccalino Buco de Beppo
Brooklyn Seafood,Steak & Oyster
House Cactus Cafe Campagne Cafe Lago Campagne Coastal Kitchen Dahlia Lounge El Gaucho Etta's Seafood 5 Spot Cafe Fremont Classic Pizzeria & Trattoria Flying Fish
Georgian Room Il Terrazzo Carmine Jitterbug The Kingfish Cafe Maggie
Bluff's Marco's
Supper Club Palomino Euro-Bistro The Pink Door Palace Kitchen Palisade Ponti Seafood Grill Ray's Boathouse Reiner's Queen City Grill Rover's Salute Restorante
Italiano Santa Fe
Cafe Ruth's
Chris Steak House Shanghai Garden Restaurant Unoin Square Grill
Wild Ginger Asian Szmania's Restaurant
Al Boccalino
1 Yesler Way
Seattle, WA 98104-2523
(206) 622-7688
Intoxicating aromas greet you as you
enter the old brick building just off Pioneer Square; dark wood and stained glass accent
its mustard-and-brick walls. The menu features southern Italian cuisine, although it
includes dishes from other regions too. Great seafood and meat dishes flow from their
kitchen. They have many nicely prepared risotto and pasta dish on their menu. Service is
first class. $$$
Buco
de Beppo
701 9th Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 244-2288
(By Kathleen Flinn)
There's just nothing delicate about
Beppo's, from the food to the atmosphere. The food arrives piled high on massive oval
plates, so nearly everyone takes home hefty leftovers. For that reason, it's sort of like
the Costco of Italian food; you get a lot of it and, when you get home, you're not sure
quite what to do with it. All of its served amidst manufactured Italian noisiness; true
Italian eateries derive their bustle from low ceilings, loud talk and a vigorous kitchens.
At Beppo's, they just crank up music, a looped tape of Italian standards louder. (During
our 2-hour meal, we heard "That's Amore" at least three times.) It's so loud
that you can't worry about having bad breath, you just have to holler at your dinner
companions. We suggest gathering up to 20 of your closest friends and reserving the huge
"King" table, set off in a room by itself. $$
Brooklyn Seafood, Steak & Oyster House
1212 2nd Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101-2926
(206) 224-7000
The Brooklyn is located in an historic
building retained at the base of the Washington Mutual Tower, across the street from the
Seattle Art Museum. In their bar they have up to 10 varieties of fresh oysters which can
be prepared in many different ways. Our favorite feature here is a dramatic 40-foot,
15-seat dining counter overlooking the open grill for added theatrics. Reserve a seat at
the chefs counter and order great seafood from their always changing fresh sheet or
grilled meats such as steaks, lamb chops or pork ribs. Start with their country salad (a
winner), but save room for one of their compelling desserts. $$$
Cactus
4220 E Madison St.
Seattle, WA 98112-3237
(206) 324-4140
On many evenings, the crowd at Cactus
spills out onto the sidewalk. In warmer weather you can sip a great Margarita and enjoy
some tapas (tidbits) at one of their tables outside the front door. Cactus hosts a lively
crowd enjoying the breezy decor of brightly painted tables and hanging dried peppers. They
feature southwestern cold and hot tapas prepared at the tapas bar in the front of the
dinning room. Try the Pollo Relleno or the Pork Loin Adobo for a great meal. Navajo
fry-bread or tortillas accompany many of the main dishes. $$
Cafe
Campagne
1600 Post Alley
Seattle, WA 98101-1567
(206) 728-2233
This is as close to Paris as you'll
get in Seattle. The small, Pike Place bistro offers professional service with a relaxed
and romantic ambiance. Cafe Campagne sits in the middle of the Pikes Place Market.
Locals and tourists who appreciate simple, honest French cafe cooking and relaxed,
comfortable environs love this place. For week-end breakfast try the Brioche French toast
and the daily omelets as well as any of their outstanding pastries. At lunch we have
enjoyed a nice lamb burger, fresh soups and interesting salads. The restaurant is located
between Pike and Pine streets in Post Alley. $
Cafe Lago
2305 24th Ave. E
Seattle, WA 98112-2606
(206) 329-8005
Chef/owners Jordi Viladas and Carla
Leonardi fuel the fires at this rustic Montlake cafe, where a brick oven, tables nestled
against one another and prettily stenciled walls entice a loyal neighborhood clientele and
diners from around the city. The appetizers are wonderful and include nice crostinis and a
wonderful City of Seattle Eggplant The fruitwood burning brick oven imparts a smoky flavor
to the terrific thin-crust pizzas. The lasagna con melanzane with its thin sheets of pasta
is layered with eggplant, béchamel, ricotta and a fresh bright red tomato is a winner.
These pastas are made with love. The restaurant's popularity can mean long waits. $$
Campagne
86 Pine St.
Seattle, WA 98101-1531
(206) 728-2800
Campagne re-creates the atmosphere of
southern French countryside dining, despite its setting in a courtyard just above Pike
Place Market. Owned by Peter Lewis, one of the city's most gracious hosts, Campagne boasts
service that ranks among Seattle's finest. The restaurant is known for its rich cassoulet,
along with other nightly specials reflecting the day's catch, the season's offerings and
the inspirations of chef Tamara Murphy, who won the coveted James Beard award for Best
Chef in the Northwest in 1995. $$$
Coastal
Kitchen
429 15th Ave. E
Seattle, WA 98112-4504
(206) 322-1145
This Capitol Hill effort by
neighborhood restaurant kingpins Peter Levy and Jeremy Hardy is their best. The menu
changes quarterly, focusing on regional coastal cuisine; this is where the cooks get
ambitious and imaginative. Past features have included the cuisine of coastal Italy,
Greece, Brazil and the Mediterranean. The regular menu includes variation on American
cuisine including selections from Louisiana. This is a popular and great place for
breakfast. Try the corn pancakes served with real maple syrup. $
Dahlia
Lounge
2001 4th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101-1107
(206) 682-4142
Northwest chef Tom Douglas
consistently creates meals with an artist's eye and an epicure's palate. Douglas first
exploded on the Seattle restaurant scene as the chef in the now defunct Cafe Sport. The
dining room is trendy but warm and inviting with romantic booths lit by the glow of hand
crafted lamps. Asian ingredients such as cilantro and ginger are popular here along with
specialties borrowing from the Mediterranean and Latin America. Salads may include a
Tuscan Bread Salad made with fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil and grilled Italian bread.
Desserts are great including the perfect coconut cream pie and a homemade ice cream
sandwich. Douglas can be seen on the public TV series on rising chef stars. Douglas also
owns Etta's Seafood in Pike Place Market and the nearby Palace Kitchen. $$$
El Camino
607 N 35th St
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 632-7303
El Camino offers authentic Mexican
cuisine in Fremont. El Camino offers an exciting change of pace from the all too common
Mexican cooking in Seattle. El Camino’s menu includes items like baby back ribs with
a spicy pepper glaze, hand made duck tacos, and one of the best Margaritas around. This
place is "Fremont" all the way. Don’t expect any combination platters here.
They have nice breakfast on weekends. $$
El Gaucho
2505 1st Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121
Corner of 1st and Wall
(206) 728-1337
(By Kathleen Flinn)
This place conjures up visions of
swanky 1950s New York supper clubs, stylishly dark with neo art deco lighting and curved
teak railings separating the tiered dining areas. The piano player provides background
music on the baby grand. Martini and cocktail drinkers line the 18-foot high backlit
mirrored bar, fronted by a crescent-shaped polished counter. A separate cigar room, big
enough for two dozen smokers who want to stretch out, sits behind the bar. (A special
air-filtering system keeps it from getting too smoky -- or smelly.) El Gaucho is about
meat, but not just beef. On the menu you'll find entrees of ostrich, venison and buffalo.
Starters focus on seafood, such as Dungeness crab cakes with roasted pepper pesto ($8.50)
and shrimp with hot oysters on the half shell. Entrees range from $19 for the 16-ounce top
sirloin steak to $31 for the ostrich fillet (the steaks come with a potato, but otherwise
the menu is pretty much a la carte). At the end of the meal, our server placed on the
table a polished silver cake stand piled high with fresh fruit and nuts plus a separate
dish filled with bleu cheese and crackers -- a lovely and unexpected end to a relaxing
meal. $$$
Etta's
Seafood
2020 Western Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121-2109
(206) 443-6000
When star chef Tom Douglas opened
Etta's, his second restaurant, in early 1995, it was an instant success on the Seattle
restaurant scene. Only Douglas would have the chutzpah to list starter courses such as
fire-grilled tamales with Jack cheese and ancho chiles alongside beluga caviar. The
lengthy menu dares patrons to choose between such wonders as a wedge of iceberg lettuce
topped with an extraordinary blue cheese dressing, and fresh Dungeness Crabmeat salad with
artichokes, red bibb and lime. Be adventurous and you will not be disappointed. Save room
for dessert. $$$
5 Spot Cafe
1502 Queen Anne Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98109-3159
(206) 285-7768
Southern-style tasso ham, red beans
and rice, Northwest salmon cakes, and New England roast chicken all coexist under the same
roof, marked by a large neon coffee cup. The regionally driven menu (Caribbean food one
month; Texas fare the next) rotates regularly, and Shaker meat loaf or southern fried
catfish are a popular nightly specials. This is another great breakfast place, try the red
flannel hash or one of a few breakfast entrees with the tasso ham. Busy... come early. $
Fremont Classic Pizzeria & Trattoria
4307 Fremont Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98103-7223
(206) 548-9411
It wouldn’t be hard to drive by
and not think twice about this tiny, cheery Fremont trattoria. Servers are young and
friendly, the decor is comfy, and you will be ordering pizza or pastas. The pizza dough is
thin, crackly, floury and slightly chewy. Choose between traditional pizzas or one of
owner/chef Paul Kohlenberg's inventive concoctions. The Caesar salad is for real garlic
lovers. They make their own semolina/beer bread which is a nice addition to the pastas.
This place is inexpensive and casual. $
Flying Fish
2234 1st Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121-1615
(206) 728-8595
(from Seattle Sidewalk reviews)
This swank joint along Belltown's
First Avenue restaurant row almost sways under its bustle and great aromas. Nationally
recognized owner/chef Christine Keff deftly prepares innovative dishes blending the usual
Northwest suspects (such as Dungeness crab and grilled king salmon) with exotic imports.
These "flying fish" may include tender arctic char in a rich chanterelle sauce;
moist, snapper-like escolar in a pleasing chipotle vinaigrette; or firm opah, served in
red pepper oil. Most fun is ordering from the by-the-pound section of the menu and sharing
huge platters of whole crab, snapper or mussels. Take care when ordering; it can get
expensive. There is a late-night menu until 1 a.m. $$$
Georgian
Room
411 University St.
Seattle, WA 98101-2507
(206) 621-7889
(from Seattle Sidewalk Reviews)
The Georgian Room, with its high
ceilings, ornate chandeliers and all the accouterments of fine dining, will take you back
in time to a place that you may not believe still exists. As you sink back into your
banquette built for two, the tuxedoed maitre d' pours your martini from an elegant shaker,
and a staff of smiling, professional waiters dressed in full "Love Boat" regalia
tend to your every need while a pianist tickles the ivories in the center of the room. Of
course, this kind of treatment isn't cheap, so come prepared to pay a lot for the
experience. Entrees appear as objets d'art -- a rack of lamb might crown a plate garnished
with garlic-stuffed olives and Swiss chard, and four joints of tender pheasant come sauced
with caramelized onions. Private parties can reserve the fabulously appointed Georgette
Petite room. $$$$
Il
Terrazzo Carmine
411 1st Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98104-2860
(206) 467-7797
Stepping into Il Terrazzo Carmine is
like walking into a great restaurant in Florence. The owner Carmine Smeraldo, has created
a dining room that captures the feel of a genuine ristorante complete with beautiful decor
and the aroma of sautéed garlic. When the weather is nice, there's a secluded courtyard
and a little fountain for al fresco dining. Il Terrazzo Carmine has a level of
sophistication that most of Seattle's of Italian restaurants can’t touch. There is a
large selection of antipasto plates on display when you first enter the dinning room.
Waiters in white jackets attend to diners with skill and efficiency. Entrees include veal,
beef, seafood and pastas. The different sauces can be "to die for" If you want a
special Italian meal and night out, try this. $$$
Jitterbug
2114 N 45th St.
Seattle, WA 98103-6902
(206) 547-6313
Wallingford's Beeliner Diner is no
longer recognizable beneath this jazzy new remodel. This place is small and funky with a
dining counter in front of the busy display kitchen. Located across the street from the
Guild 45th movie theaters, this is a great outing when you are catching a movie across the
way. Great Breakfasts here, too. This place is related to the 5-Spot Cafe and the Coastal
Kitchen. Don’t pass on dessert. $
The
Kingfish Cafe
602 19th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 320-8757
In the mood for some catfish or great fried chicken, this is your place. Authentic,
upscale soul food served with pizzazz. This is a neighborhood restaurant that does
everything right. The atmosphere is casual, warm and comfy...the food is fresh and
delicious and the twin sisters that run the place make sure that the service is on the
ball. Don't pass on dessert since the have the best homemade treats like double chocolate
cake, coconut cake and strawberry shortcake. Share one or all with a friend! $$
Maggie
Bluff's Grill
2601 W Marina PL
Seattle, WA 98199-4331
(206) 283-8322
This is the cafe located below the
Palisade restaurant. Great place to sit outside near the water and enjoy some nice bar
food and a drink while soaking in the view of Seattle.$
Marco's
Supper Club
2510 1st Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121-1303
(206) 441-7801
Marco Rulff and Donna Moodie's noisy
and busy Belltown restaurant welcomes hordes of hip diners who come for the warm, funky
atmosphere and the eclectic menu. Certainly order an appetizer such as fried sage leaves
or the goat cheese tart. Salads are great and they will gladly split an order for two to
share. Entrees such as marinated pork tenderloin with berries and herbs served with spicy
fried polenta sticks and the suburbly spiced Jamaican jerk chicken served with sautéed
greens and mashed sweet potatoes are mouth watering. The bar running the length of the
room is great if you can’ get a table or if dining alone.$$$
Palace
Kitchen
2030 5th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 448-2001
The latest Tom Douglas restaurant
offers great food and a fun atmosphere. They have an enormous tile-topped bar in the
center of the restaurant and wooden booths on the side to hide away in. At the bar you can
order finger foods that can create a very satisfying meal. For dinner entrees, try the
applewood-grilled special, perhaps spit-roasted meat, poultry or whole grilled fish. On
Tuesday the have a goat stew special. Seafood and desserts are done well here. You'll
recognize your favorites from the Dahlia Lounge and Etta's, since Palace Kitchen acts as
the dessert kitchen for all Douglas' restaurants. The coconut cream pie is a killer! $$$
Palisade
2601 W Marina PL
Seattle, WA 98199-4331
(206) 285-1000
There's a waterfall and a tidal pool
with swimming trout, tropical plants, chandeliers festooned with glass balls and a player
piano perched over the bar in this large and popular restaurant. The atmosphere is not
typical for Seattle, but it is very nice. The vast menu, hinged in wood, highlights
grilling, searing and rotisserie cooking for a variety of fresh fish, meat and poultry.
Order the pupu platter to sample most of the appetizers. The prime rib of beef has a great
wood roasted flavor. This is a nice place to celebrate a birthday or to bring visitors. A
great view of Seattle is across the marina. Finish with a trio of burnt creams or a warm
apple tart with cinnamon ice cream.$$$
Palomino
Euro-Bistro
1420 5th Ave. Suite 350
Seattle, WA 98101-2333
(206) 623-1300
Located on the third floor of the City
Centre, Palomino tempers the shine of marble and glass with warmly colored pillars, carpet
and objets d'art. They feature food with a Mediterranean flare and extensively use a wood
burning oven. Their menu includes a nice chopped salad, spit-roasted chicken and meats,
seafood and pastas. It is a good choice for dinner or drinks and a nosh before or after
the theater. $$$
The Pink
Door
1919 Post Alley
Seattle, WA 98101-1014
(206) 443-3241
It's just a plain pink door. Yet the
low-profile entrance to this Italian trattoria in Pike Place Market belies the busy scene
within. In the winter, the dining room grows noisy around a burbling fountain, but come
warm weather, everyone fights for a spot on the covered terrace, with its romantic view of
the Sound. This is one of the first restaurants we were taken to when we moved to Seattle
and it is still fond in our hearts. Enter from Post Alley and watch your step down. Great
for a romantic date. $$
Ponti
Seafood Grill
3014 3rd Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98109-1601
(206) 284-3000
The Ponti Grill is tucked in beside
the Freemont bridge and has stucco walls, red-tiled roof and elegantly understated dining
rooms. There is a large variety of fresh seafood prepared in every way imaginable. It is a
nice place for a sunny summer dinner or for Sunday brunch. This restaurant is popular at
prom time. $$$
Queen
City Grill
2201 1st Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121-1625
(206) 443-0975
At the Queen City Grill, the menu is
relatively simple with a classic Caesar salad, nicely prepared grilled entrees of fish,
steaks, and chops. The atmosphere is city bar scene hear, with tall wood booths, waiters
with white aprons and a nice bar with good hand shaken drinks. I nice place to slip into
after a busy day of holiday shopping. $$
Ray's Boathouse on Shilshole Bay
6049 Seaview Ave. NW
Seattle, WA 98107-2658
(206) 789-3770
Good food, along with an unabashedly
romantic view of Shilshole Bay and the Olympics beyond, long ago established Ray's as a
landmark for waterfront dining in Seattle. Try the fresh fish that made Ray's famous,
paying particular attention to the daily fresh sheet. . If reservations for the dining
room are hard to come by, head upstairs to the more moderately priced Ray's Cafe that is
fast, popular and fun. Great with visitors. $$$
Reiner's
1106 8th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101-2739
(206) 624-2222
Reiner's, a handsome, unobtrusive
space on First Hill, offers much in the way of Old World charm: a big domed ceiling, a
sparkling chandelier, beautiful silks, European antiques and solid service. Elegant
without being stuffy, Reiner's is a splendid dining room. Their is a new owner/chef
Hanspeter Aebersold, who spent 18 years at the culinary helm of the Rainier Club, who has
a good reputation. He relies heavily on the tenets of classic European cookery as he
maintains the rather continental menu that often features Northwest ingredients. We
recently tried a delightful halibut with saffron sauce that was outstanding. Romantic. $$$
Rover's
2808 E Madison St.
Seattle, WA 98112-4862
(206) 325-7442
Chef Thierry Rautureau, who began his
culinary apprenticeship in the French countryside at age 13, is an energetic French master
who likes to impress his diners with inventive food and great wines. Dinners here are
marvelously sauced, classically French-inspired treatments of not strictly Northwest fare.
Rautureau's excels with seafood, and he's adept at finding the highest-quality
ingredients. We recently enjoyed crab stuffed cabbage leaf appetizer that was very
impressive. The menu includes items like squab, rabbit and venison. $$$$
Ruth's
Chris Steak House
800 5th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104-3122
(206) 624-8524
The steaks...butter drenched, cut from
corn-fed Midwestern prime beef are broiled at 1800 degrees then placed on plates that are
heated to an impressive 450 degrees. Your waiter will quickly deliver it to your table as
it splatters and hisses before you. The beef filet or the prime lamb chops are both good
choices. The à la carte side dishes such as creamed spinach or scalloped potatoes Au
Gratin are very nice and can feed two. Make sure you are not scheduled for a cholesterol
test the following week. If you like steaks, give them a try. $$$
Salute
Ristorante Italiano
3426 NE 55th St.
Seattle, WA 98105-2310
(206) 527-8600
The charming trattoria atmosphere,
good food and reasonable prices usually draw a full house at Salute. Everything is fresh
and the kitchen is judicious with the garlic, letting the flavors hold their own. Good
plate size pizzas and nice homemade pastas top the menu. This is one of the restaurants
that started the Seattle Italian trattoria scene. $
Santa Fe
Cafe
5910 Phinney Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98103-5834
(206) 783-9755
Although Seattle has little to show in
the way of Southwestern cuisine, Santa Fe's menu offers a particularly welcome respite
from the standard Mexican fare we've grown accustomed to. Thanks to genuinely friendly and
able service and a solid menu this restaurant has been around for a long time now. All of
their appetizers are special including great guacamole, a garlic custard and an artichoke
ramekin. Our favorite main dish is the chicken enchilada (different and better than any
you had before) which we order every time. Hopefully, you have room for dessert including
a nice mocha cake, banana flan and sizzling bread pudding. $$
Shanghai
Garden Restaurant
524 6th Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98104-2813
(206) 625-1689
Owner/chef Hau Te Su ("Mr.
Su") caters to a largely local clientele in this International District eatery.
Anything made with pea vines, Chinese greens or the chef's special hand-shaved noodles is
worth trying. Sugar pea tendrils resemble sautéed spinach, especially when paired with
plump shrimp. The Crispy Shrimp with Lemon sauce is a real treat. The food here is
prepared with the freshest ingredients and intense flavors often missed at other Chinese
restaurants. $
Szmania's
Restaurant
3321 W McGraw St
Seattle, WA 98199-3209
(206) 284-7305
Szmania's open kitchen gives you a
great view of chef/owner Ludger Szmania as he creates such dishes as jaegerschnitzel with
spaetzle or roasted monkfish with a chanterelle cream sauce. This restaurant is located on
Magnolia and is quite a trek from the Eastside. However, the menu is inventive and the
food is delicious and artfully presented, making this restaurant a worthy journey. This
place is a good choice for a special dinner for any occasion. For dessert, try the
signature pots de creme trio. Look for Szmania's bottled salad dressings in QFC. $$$
Union
Square Grill
621 Union St.
Seattle, WA 98101-2322
(206) 224-4321
This is a handsome dining room that
surrounds you with the warmth of wood and the feeling and confidence that you are in very
well run and dependable restaurant. At lunch this place is filled with business people
enjoying their power lunches. No shortage of Lawyers in this place. The evening crowd
usually includes theatergoers taking advantage of a well-executed pre-theater menu and
visitor who want to enjoy great steaks and seafood. Caesar salads are made fresh
tableside. There is always a selection of great desserts including fresh berries and a
nice cheese cake. Add this place to your list. $$$
Wild
Ginger Asian Restaurant
New Location
Seattle, WA 98101-2022
(206) 623-4450
Wild Ginger is very popular with the
in crowd. The owners Rick and Ann Yoder were inspired by time spent in Southeast Asia. The
cuisine is that of Bangkok, Singapore, Saigon, Hong Kong and Jakarta. The atmosphere is
friendly, busy and sophisticated. Expect to spend more here than in your typical Asian
eatery, but you will have a great time an be glad you did. Located south of the Pikes
Place Market on Western Ave. $$$
$ Least expensive----- $$ Moderate prices----- $$$ Expensive----- $$$$ Very expensive
Updated August 5, 2000
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