My Favorite Seattle Restaurants:
Please let me preface this post with the fact that this is not labeled BEST Seattle Restaurant’s or anything like that. This is just a list of the places that me and my family and friends are really into right now.
I thought I would share some of these goodies as I know tons of fellow foodies are headed to Seattle right now for the Blogher Food Conference, and I have also gotten tons of email requests for readers who are planning a trip here this Summer.
Plus, I too am interested to hear about YOUR favorite Seattle eats! I never get out as much as I mean too, and would love to know what you think about the cities latest can’t miss places! So please leave comments and let everyone know what else I missed on my lists!
Breakfast:
Jade Garden:
After many years of eating my way through the International District, Jade Garden is superior in every way. Not greasy and perfectly hot and very fresh steamed dumplings make this place stand out for Dim Sum. You will find us here almost every Saturday.
Standouts: Steamed Dumplings such as shu mai and shrimp balls.
International District
424 7th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 622-8181
Portage Bay Café:
All organic and beautiful, fresh and flavorful breakfasts served in huge portions. We go here with Pete’s family all the time because they can easily seat 11 of us at once at their huge family style farm tables.
Standouts: Migas, and caramelized banana French toast. Also the berry bar for pancakes and waffles. Oh, and the raspberry apple juice!
University District
4130 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 547-8230
Senor Moose:
Mexican food for breakfast? Yes. And it is FANTASTIC!! Also- very strong, good coffee!
Standouts: Chilaquiles with Fried Eggs.
Ballard
5242 Leary Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 784-5568
CJ’s Eatery:
If you are craving a greasy diner breakfast- but better, this is your place. While this place is completely made for family’s, you will most often find me here if I have too many drinks. CJ’s is my hangover cure.
Standouts: Swedish style pancakes, House scrambles and crispy shredded hashbrowns (I always ask for mine extra crispy!)
Belltown
2619 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 728-1648
Café Besalu:
Known for their incredible ability to turn fresh house made puff pastry into an art form- this tiny bakery will have a line out the door every morning. Bet you can’t eat just one pastry.
Standouts: Anything puff pastry, from quiche crust to croissants- everything is flawless.
Ballard
5909 24th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 789-1463
Macrina:
Fresh breads and all manner of baked goods. They also have great sandwiches and salads to go as well as good coffee- I love their Vanilla scented sugar!
Standouts: Fruit muffins, pumpkin muffins and squash bread.
Belltown
2408 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 448-4032
Queen Anne
615 W McGraw St
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 283-5900
Lunch
Matt’s in the Market:
This restaurant is in Pike Place Market and is so romantic and a sentimental favorite. They serve an amazing dinner, but I like lunch even more. They have a rotating menu of Northwest influenced comfort food that is always fresh and delicious. They have a great wine list by the glass at lunch.
Standouts: The menu is always changing, but the sandwiches are fantastic
Downtown
94 Pike St
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 467-7909
Café Campagne:
This is a beautiful little French café in Pike Place Market that serves fantastic brunch and lunch. You get a little slice of Paris in Seattle with much of the charm and none of the travel. It is a reliable and delicious meal in the sea of tourists.
Standouts: I always order the Croque Savoyard, (extra crispy), and their freshly made soups. Also- a big bowl latte!
Downtown
1600 Post Alley
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 728-2233
Rn74:
Great lunch, great happy hour, great location if you are downtown, we go here often if I meet Pete for lunch or if we go for happy hour before a movie on the weekends.
Standouts: Maitake Mushroom Tempura and Tomato soup fondue
Downtown
1433 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 456-7474
Dots Delicatessen:
This place is tucked away in Fremont and sells the best pork chops I have ever had. Maybe the best sandwiches either. Um, that is really saying something. This is Pete’s heaven and he would go here once a week if he had the time to stock up on chops and other treats. Another friend also pointed out something brilliant- Single women looking to meet men should entertain the idea of heading down here for lunch. It is predominantly packed with men at all time.
Standout: Smoked pork chops and pork chop and greens sandwich.
Fremont
4262 Fremont Avenue
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 687-7446
The Volunteer Café:
Cute, cute, cute and charming and a cozy little retreat for sipping coffee and eating breakfast and lunch (I hear that dinner is wonderful too.) There will be a line too long to sit if you don’t get here well ahead of the rush at meal times, so get here early.
Standouts: Grilled sandwiches and Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies
Capitol Hill
1501 17th Ave E
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 328-3155
Vio’s Café:
One of the only places that my Greek husband will eat Greek food. That is meant as a compliment. It is incredibly family friendly which makes it so popular for young couples and moms juggling little ones. The food is always great and I love eat family style so that I can sample a variety of all of the side dishes that they rotate through.
Standouts: I usually get the chicken souvlaki and always order the dips and pita and Greek Salad.
Capitol Hill
903 19th Ave
Seattle WA, 98112
Phone: 329-3236
Dinner:
How to Cook a Wolf:
This is one of our date night regular stops. Owned by Seattle super-star Ethan Stowell, it is incredible food, that is consistently delicious. We always sit at the bar.
Standouts: The different preparations of crudo and the freshly made pastas.
Queen Anne
2208 Queen Anne Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 838-8090
The Walrus and the Carpenter:
I am telling you- I don’t know what they do to the oysters here (their specialty!) but they are so freaking good. They just seem to be ice cold, perfectly plump and so unbelievably fresh that I could eat two dozen myself. They also have an ever rotating menu that is always inventive and delicious.
Standouts: Oysters!!!
Ballard
4743 Ballard Avenue NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 395-9227
Canlis:
Our very favorite special occasion restaurant. There is an old school glamour that is incredibly appealing, and the service is absolutely impeccable. I have never had a disappointing meal and always walk away feeling special. Lots of times Pete and I will just have a date night in the bar so that it is not such a big deal, yet we can still enjoy the great food and wine. A bonus is the incredible piano player that I have heard play everything from Katy Perry and Rihanna to Jay-Z, only in classical piano!
Standouts: Steak (obviously), twice baked potato, grand marnier soufflé.
Queen Anne
2576 Aurora Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 283-3313
Crow:
Here is another date night place that we have been going to since Pete and I met. And we just keep on going back, because the food is always great. You can trot in here and get a seat early in the week for a quieter dinner, or come later on the weekend for more of a scene. When it is just the two of us, we like to sit at the kitchen bar and watch our food being prepared right in front of us!
Standouts: The crispy prosciutto wrapped chicken and the house lasagna.
Queen Anne
823 5th Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 283-8800
Palace Kitchen:
Pete and I have date night here probably 2-3 times a month. I love it. I really love it. We sit at the bar when t is just the two of us, but we also feel very comfortable when we bring the kids. I love it that this place is open super late by Seattle standards and even serves a special “late night breakfast” after midnight.
Standouts: While the menu is forever changing, the handful of staples are the dishes always go back for: Bloody Mary’s, giant crouton salad, grilled trout, the burger and fries, the goat cheese fondue and the pork and sage plin. Coconut Cream Pie for dessert, hands down.
Belltown
2030 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 448-2001
Mezcaleria Oaxaca:
Neighborhood Mexican restaurant serving small plates with an authentic Oaxacan edge. (read: no burritos here.) This is a very regular spot for us as a family, as well as with groups of friends for heavy margarita drinking and great food.
Standouts: Freshly fried tortilla chips, and anything in the mole de negro sauce
Queen Anne
2123 Queen Anne Ave N
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 216-4446
Café Lago:
This restaurant has been around for forever and it is not hard to understand why. Fantastic pizzas to share, and perfect pasta are served up along side the best Caesar salad in Seattle. Plus, I doodled Heather + Pete and my name as “Heather Christo” on these white paper tablecloths long before I was engaged. Wink, wink.
Standouts: Best Caesar salad and Spaghetti and Meatballs
Capitol Hill
2305 24th Ave E
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 329-8005
Brave Horse Tavern:
Super fun! Shuffleboard, darts and all of the trappings of an old fashioned bar in the fantastic ambiance of this very cool joint. You can make a whole night out of going here with your friends, and the food is no afterthought. While it is casual and a smaller menu- everything I have had has had me thinking about it days later.
Standouts: The house made soft pretzels with mustard and the cheeseburgers.
South Lake Union
310 Terry Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 971-0717
Via Tribunali:
This is my children’s FAVORITE restaurant, but Pete and I never feel bad about going with them. They are serving up authentic wood-fired Neopolitan pizzas that are beyond thin and crispy and chewy and amazing.
Standouts: Pizza- clearly! Salami and Dante pizza’s are my favorite.
Capitol Hill
913 E Pike St
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 322-9234
Queen Anne
317 W Galer St
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 264-7768
Great list! As a Seattle native, you really nailed most of my favorite places (and I would consider those some of the best, too!) Another favorite is Skillet, home to some of the best breakfast, lunch and dinner I’ve had!
oh yes!! I love skillet too. Thanks Kelly!
In the Pike Place Market, we also like Steelhead Diner and if it is a sunny day sitting outside at The Pink Door. Also, Anchovies and Olives another Ethan Stowell restaurant featuring seafood.
You need to head over to West SEattle sometime. West 5, Matador, Cactus, Mission, Circa, Jak’s, Bangbar, Budda Ruska, Lee’s Asian, Ma’una (the former Spring Hill) just to name a few fabulous restaurants! Give ’em a try!
YES!!! I have heard that Ma’una is amazing. and Mission is really good- you are right, I need to take a spin over there!
Great list Heather – I like that you included the “Standouts” as what your favorites are. Get to Paseo sometime soon in Fremont so you can add “best Cuban sandwich ever” to your list! 🙂
I know! I really have to, I have been missing the boat for forever!
Such a timely list for BlogHer Food ~ I will refer back to this when I head to Seattle someday!
Great Marla! We will miss you this week!
Great list, Heather! I’ll have to bookmark it for my next trip north. Have you thought about making a google map with all of these places so people (like me!) could track it? I have similar ones for LA and SF: http://goo.gl/maps/o1Ew
That is brilliant Aida!
I can’t wait to get to Seattle! I have a lot of eating to do:) Can’t wait to see you! xo
You too Maria!!
Thank you!! I can’t wait to eat my way through Seattle on my first visit there 😀
Oh good! I hope this helps you find a place to eat!
This post makes me want to hop a flight to Seattle right now! What a great selection-thanks for sharing!
I don’t live in Seattle anymore but this list made me miss it terribly… especially your mentions of two of my favorite neighborhood spots, Senor Moose and Cafe Besalu!
I don’t blame you- those are certainly some pf the best 🙂
Thanks for a great list of new places to try. One of my favorites is Palace Kitchen for date night with my hubby and that is where I met you! haha What do you think of Lola’s for breakfast? It’s one of my favorites. 🙂
Hi Tambi!! That was so fun! I have not had Lola for breakfast, but my husband does all the time and loves it. I have to get down there and try it!
This is brilliant! Hubby and I will be using it as we troll around the city!
oh good! Can’t wait to see you!
I soooo hope I get to go to Seattle to try these places out!
Me too Brooke! thanks!
OH, this is awesome! We will be there in July and will definitely use this list. Thank you! Do you happen to have a favorite hotel? Luxury!
Yes! Four seasons
I am going to be in Seattle this summer – this list will certainly come in handy!!
I am so saving list for when I visit Seattle…some day.
boo. wish i could’ve been there for blogher food! 🙁
me too Jen. I thought of you!
I love McCormicks Fish House & Bar, I think on 6tth & Madison. Definitely the BEST French Onion Soup!!!
As for Queen Anne Hill, you must include Olympia Pizza in rememberance of Spiro the Greek founder! What a fabulous man he was. There is no better sausage on a pizza!!!
Hi Heather,
Now that you’ve made significant dietary changes, how would you (or would you?) edit this list of your favorite restaurants? Are there new favorites which are gluten-free? My husband and I are planning 3 days in Seattle in July. He has to eat gluten-free. I want to have a list of foodie places to checkout with him. I’ve started doing some research but was just hoping you’d have a few places to recommend. Thank you!