Local Expert
Carolyn
Being a "military brat" has allowed me to live around the US and overseas, but I have to say that Seattle is my favorite city to live in so far.
Since moving here over three years ago, I've been…
Being a "military brat" has allowed me to live around the US and overseas, but I have to say that Seattle is my favorite city to live in so far.
Since moving here over three years ago, I've been steadily checking out and comparing restaurants in the area. With the thousands of great places in the city, I could be doing this for years to come! Yeah, it's tough to be me.
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Being that the city is bounded by water on almost all sides, there are many options for sailing, boating, and touring the city via the water. If you lean towards a more active approach to boating, kayak rentals are available in West Seattle from the Secrest Dock (where the water taxi departs from) or you can get a unique view of Lake Washington and its environs from the Agua Verde Cafe and Paddle Club.
Located on Portage Bay - the link between Lake Washington and Lake Union - near the University District, Agua Verde offers rental kayaks for you to take yourself or guided tours for those who don't want to brave the waterways on your own. The other pro for going the tour route as opposed to your own way, is the sunset and evening tours that they provide through the Washington Arboretum. There are no other options for seeing the Arboretum this way and will afford an experience that you will get nowhere else in the city. Call ahead to reserve space on a tour. Price is $40 per person.
If you decide that paddling is too strenuous for you, still check out the Cafe for a nice lunch on the patio with a great view of the bay. The cuisine leans towards Baja-Mexican. Lunch is served cafeteria style, but the cafe also offers sit-down service for lunch and a happy hour from 4 to p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Wild Ginger is one of the higher-rated restaurants in the city. The restaurant offers Asian food and a nice wine and cocktail list. However, going to the restaurant itself is not the best way to experience the menu (although lunch there is a good alternative as well). It's at The Triple Door downstairs where you will find the best option. The Triple Door offers both quality live music and its dinner menu features food from Wild Ginger's kitchen (do not miss the potstickers).
As far as music genre, the mainstage usually features jazz, blues, classical - including side groups from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra - or local accoustic bands. The calendar is booked far in advance and tickets can be purchased online before you arrive in the city.
The venue is located in the historic Embassy Theater site and lives true to its roots as the room itself is reminiscent of a 30s style cotton club with half moon seating on the floor and a tiered set-up to allow for great sight lines no matter where you sit in the venue.
Dinner and a show at the Mainstage can be expensive, but it is worth it. There is not another venue like it in the city. However, if you're not willing to commit to a whole dinner show with its attendant costs, the alternative is the Musiquarium lounge that has smaller bands performing live as well. Again, the menu (albeit much smaller) features Wild Ginger prepared snacks.
Alki Beach has always been a favorite destination for Seattle visitors right down to the very first non-natives to grace these shores: the Denny Party. Since then, businesses have been opening to cater to those who come to walk the beach and see the sights. As a result, the strip (Alki Boulevard between 57th and 63 Avenues SW) is peppered with restaurants. There are a couple Mexican places, a Thai place, a few fast food shops, an Irish pub, etc. However, the hands down best place to get a meal on this strip is at Phoenicia.
This little restaurant is located on next to the aforementioned Irish pub near the corner of 60th and Alki. The space is small and cozy, but rarely is there a wait to be seated. The food focuses on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare and can be on the pricey side. Each trip, however, is completely worth the price. The food is very well-prepared; the lamb tender, the seafood delicate, the seasonings fresh and bright. Even more noteworthy, however, is that the service is fantastic. The nice quiet man who just seated you is the owner and will, if you let him, guide you through the options - whether they be on the menu or not. If you must choose for yourself, the bouillabaisse is quite good made with fresh seafood and a light but flavorful broth. Don't forget to make sure to try the "poor man's caviar" served with the fresh bread. It is spicy goodness.
If the good service and food is not enough to tempt you, there is of course the unobstructed view of the sound to enjoy. Overall, this restaurant is recommended for a nice dinner, but also well-suited for a date.
Salty's on Alki is not the only brunch with a view of the Seattle skyline. For a change of perspective, go east across Lake Washington instead of west across the bay. The Calcutta Grill, located at the Golf Club at Newcastle, has a spectacular view of the city and the Olympic Peninsula beyond it. (The address says Newcastle, but really this is just the top of the hill of Bellevue and is only about 15-20 minutes from downtown Seattle.)
The food isn't anyting to scoff at either. The spread is laid out across a couple of rooms and has everything you could possibly want in a brunch buffet. Crepes and omelets are made-to-order. The standard carving station, salmon, fruits, pastries, breakfast meats, etc are all on hand. The stand out being the very nicely varied options of hand-rolled sushi and fresh sashimi. And no worries about their freshness since nothing sits out for very long, with diners nabbing rolls as soon as they are replaced.
Reservations are almost required. Be sure to ask for a window facing table when you call. The floor to ceiling windows on the west side overlook the golf course and the aforementioned view. Brunch is Sunday only from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. $31.95 (Adults)/$12.95 (Children 4-12).
Gastropubs are the newest rage in dining experiences these days and Seattle has no shortage of new places to choose from. If you're a fan of this higher end pub food genre though, Quinn's is the place to go.
Located on Capitol Hill, this relatively new entry in Seattle's food scene is often crowded with people in the know. The food is excellent. Yes, it borders on rich I-could-get-gout-eating-here menu items that often focus on red meat deliciousness like oxtail or wild boar sloppy joes. There is even an "ultimate" burger that isn't on the menu, but can be ordered at any time. The burger features waygu beef topped with oxtail and seared fois gras AND an incredible au jus to finish it (and you) off. Truffle fries accompany this heart stopper and is not meant for the weak willed. Personally, I find their regular waygu beef cheeseburger plenty and plenty delicious, but others swear by the $30 ultimate. Either way, Quinn's has two of the best burgers in the city.
The bar isn't so bad itself. They have over a dozen beers on tap including several high end Belgian numbers. For the liquor fanciers, they have a fully-stocked bar and a pleasing cocktail menu including a nice rye Manhattan that goes down quite easily.
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Le Pichet
1933 First Avenue, Seattle, WA, Uni...
Those visiting Seattle will more likely than not find themselves in the vicinity of Pike Place Market. There are, of course, plenty of places to eat in or nearby said market...so much so that it can be hard to choose. One of the more notable places, located on First Avenue between Stewart and Virginia, is Le Pichet.
Le Pichet is a cozy (read: small) little French bistro. Because of the size, the tables are close together and it gets crowded fast, but it is still a great place. The atmosphere is warm and the service is usually friendly.
The restaurant is open from 08:00 am to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 08:00 am to 02:00 am Friday and Saturday. However, the key to getting a table (and lounging, as you'll want to) is to come during off-hours: late morning breakfasts during the week, prior to the dinner rush around 6, or later after dinner at 9.
If you take the early evening route, this is the perfect time to order a demi-pichet and a few selections off the "Le Casse Croute" menu. Later in the evening, order a chocolat chaud, which is not on the menu and is definitely not your regular hot cocoa. The rich drinking chocolate is more of a thick dessert. Either option will allow you to sit and enjoy the your repast and perhaps watch the world go by on First Avenue.