Here is a list of Seattle-area restaurants that I've visited -- the good, the bad, the ugly. My goal is to keep this list up to date with the different establishments I dine at, along with a brief review, rating (1-5 stars, 5 being best), expected price range per person, and if applicable, dishes to try or avoid. These are personal preferences. Generally, a restaurant gets 5 stars from me not just on food quality and taste, but atmosphere, service, convenience of location, and perhaps most importantly, the value you get. If a place has good food, good service, and their prices are reasonable, on my list they'll likely have a better rating than a place with excellent food, high prices, and poor service.
I'm not a professional food critic, I don't claim to have the most sophisticated palate, and what I look for may be completely different from what others look for. All I know is what I like -- and what I don't. Also keep in mind that I'm allergic to alcohol so I usually don't have any with my meals. Adjust the prices for yourself if you know you like to enjoy a glass of wine or two with your meal. These restaurants may or may not be exclusive to the Puget Sound area.
Seattle
35th Street Bistro (Fremont)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $30-50 for dinner
Review: Northwest cuisine with a French flair. Some dishes can be excellent while others are mediocre. The restaurant itself is casual and lovely.
Anchovies and Olives (Capitol Hill)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $30-60 for dinner
Review: Ethan Stowell's seafood-focused establishment. It's more yuppified than Tom Douglas's seafood venture (Etta's), and while the food is good, the restaurant just isn't comfortable (a common problem with Stowell's restaurants). I also don't like the way the menu is set out -- essentially a bunch of little plates that you can order as much or as few as you want. Problem is, ordering a few isn't filling, and ordering a lot gets expensive fast.
Art (Pike Place Market)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $20-30 for lunch, $35-60 for dinner
Review: Located in the Four Seasons Hotel, Art is a lovely place with good (not snooty) service. Their food is very good for a restaurant located in a hotel (which is generally a dicey proposition, even a hotel like the Four Seasons), but has been underwhelming too often for me to rate this place higher. Still, the atmosphere and food are both good enough that it'd be a great place to stop by to unwind.
Brasa (Belltown - now closed)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $40-70 for dinner
Review: Overpriced food that didn't match its fine-dining compatriots elsewhere.
Cafe Campagne (Pike Place Market)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $20-30 for brunch
Review: Casual-ish French cuisine. Good, but a bit boring. Its Pike Place Market location makes parking challenging.
Canlis
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $60-100 for dinner
Review: If you enjoy formal fine dining, Canlis may be the place for you. I enjoy fine dining, but don't necessarily want to be dressed up to the nines for it. The service was wonderful, but the food was only average as far as fine dining establishments go. There isn't parking to be had anywhere, so you're forced to use their valet service, for which they charge $5. They're so attentive that when you're in the process of paying the valet service is alerted and by the time you're out the door your car is waiting for you. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with a comfortable but high-class decor, and overlooking the Sound. However, atmosphere is only one component, and while Canlis excels at it, the rest of the package isn't extraordinary.
Chinook's
Rating: 1 star
Price: $12-18 for brunch
Particularly good: Warm scones served with orange butter
Avoid: All brunch dishes, as far as I can tell
Review: I've only been here for brunch, so my review is somewhat limited, but I've had their brunch menu many times. Good atmosphere, but the food is absolutely nothing to write home about -- every different egg dish I've tried, from scrambles to omelettes, have been pretty much terrible. My friend used to simply order sides -- plain eggs, hash browns, and bacon. That may be the way to go. The best thing they serve is free: a basket of warm scones with orange butter. The atmosphere and the scones gave this restaurant an extra star.
Crush (Madison Park)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $60-100 for dinner
Review: The wait staff can be a bit snooty, but just ignore that (focus instead on your companion(s)!) and you'll enjoy yourself immensely. The food is fantastic, the restaurant itself is quaint and lovely, and you'll really appreciate the care and presentation taken of your meal and experience.
Dahlia Bakery (Belltown)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $3 for a small treat, $10 for a meal
Particularly good:
Review: If you're too full from one of Tom Douglas's nearby restaurants to get dessert, Dahlia Bakery has small "bites" of his famed triple coconut cream pie available. Their cookies are also great. I wasn't enamored of the monkey bread, which many people rave about, but maybe it was just me. I've also heard a lot about their breakfast sandwiches, but have never had the pleasure myself (yet). Only 3 stars because the place is SUPER tiny (1 person with a baby carriage blocked everyone else from being able to come in) and because there are better bakeries in Seattle (see Bakery Nouveau).
Dahlia Lounge (Belltown)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $40-65 for dinner
Particularly good: Bread salad, 5-spice duck, triple coconut cream pie
Review: The Dahlia Lounge is Tom Douglas's flagship restaurant for a reason. It's cozy but obviously high end, and the food is fabulous. It is pricey though, so the best time to come is when it participates in a Seattle-area dining promotion (such as Dine Around Seattle) and you can walk away spending the same amount for a 3-course meal as you regularly would for an entree. The Dahlia Bakery is right around the corner, where you can pick up some treats before heading home.
D'Ambrosio Gelato (Ballard)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $4-8 for dessert
Review: I was lucky enough to have encountered this place before it opened and got to try several flavors of gelato -- all of which were out of this world. They have creative and delicious combinations, as well as staple gelato flavors. I managed to go back twice more after they opened and before it was discovered -- now there's alwas a packed line of people waiting to get their gelato. The family who runs this place is super nice and I am very glad for their success, but at the same time, I wish it wasn't so insanely busy all the time now!
Earth and Ocean (Downtown)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $40-60 for dinner
Review: Another restaurant with pretensions to fine dining, but with relatively mediocre food and high prices.
Etta's Seafood (Pike Place Market)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $17-22 for weekend brunch, $20-35 for lunch, $35-50 for dinner
Particularly good: Ciopinno
Review: Tom Douglas is a famed Seattle restaurateur, but there's only one thing about Etta's that really stands out: the cioppino. It's pricier than most of the other entrees, but well worth it. Chock full of fresh seafood in a slightly spicy tomato broth and served with grilled bread, it is absolutely wonderful. They took it off the menu for a short while, intending to try something new, but the outcry was such that it was put back on.
I Love Sushi (Lake Union, Bellevue)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $13-20 for lunch, $30-40 for dinner
Particularly good: Fresh sushi or sashimi
Review: There are three I Love Sushi locations in the Seattle area; I've been to the Bellevue Main and Lake Union branches. Both had excellent, fresh sushi. Their prices are reasonable for what you're getting, but I would definitely recommend going during lunch to get the most bang for your buck. The I Love Bento, which varies on every visit, can sometimes have everything you want or need so make sure you ask -- and it's only $12.95.
Kabul (Wallingford)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $20-26 for dinner
Particularly good: Lamb kebab "special"
Review: A popular, but small restaurant, I'd recommend making reservations. We had to wait even at 8:30pm (granted it was a Saturday night), and there were still people waiting when we left around 10pm. The lamb kebab was excellently prepared (cooked medium rare without asking), flavorful and fresh. Normally lamb is too gamey for me, but at Kabul it was only delicious. If you get a kebab definitely get the "special," which is $1 more and you get Badenjan Borani (eggplant with yogurt sauce) with your meal, which is also served with flavored basmati rice (a bit on the salty side), salata, and Afghan bread. My cousin had the Qorma-i Sabzi (a sort of lamb stew), which was a bit intense, especially with the flavored rice. She loved the lamb kebab as well, and said that next time she'd be trying the chicken version. I took off one star because they could definitely be a little more generous with their portions.
Kisaku (Green Lake)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $11-18 for lunch
Particularly good: Fresh sushi or sashimi
Review: High quality, authentic Japanese food for very reasonable prices. Has a similar menu to I Love Sushi (particularly their sashimi lunch), with fish that is just as fresh and costs a bit less. Their menu choices are slightly more limited, and their caterpillar roll isn't as big/impressive (but then, it costs $8.50 versus ILS's at $13), but when the basics are done so well, it doesn't really matter.
Lola (Belltown)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $25-40 for dinner
Particularly good: The garlic smashed potatoes.
Review: Tom Douglas's Mediterranean restaurant has some very good fare, but the seating is a bit cramped and can get very pricey if you eat a la carte (which you basically have to do). My favorite time to go is for lunch and order one of the kebabs -- at lunch they come with pita, spread, and your choice of a Jackie's Greek salad or garlic smashed potatoes.
Macrina Bakery (Belltown, Queen Anne, Downtown)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $10-15 for lunch
Review: One of Seattle's famed bakeries, but personally I've never been THAT impressed. They do have good food and baked goods, but it's tiny and unwelcoming.
Matt's in the Market (Pike Place Market)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $20-30 for lunch
Review: Bright, airy, and welcoming, you'd never guess it'd be this nice from the outside. (And especially in comparison to Shea's Lounge next door.) Casual seafood fare such as sandwiches and chowder, done very well.
Mistral Kitchen (Downtown)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $30-50 for dinner
Review: Fabulous food. However, I have to take one star off because of all the high-end dining establishments I've been to, this place really epitomizes the "tiny food, big prices" stereotype of high-end dining. The portions are super small. Too small, in my opinion. After leaving, I wasn't hungry, but neither was I really full.
Nishino (Madison Park)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $30-70 for dinner
Review: Fantastic high-end Japanese cuisine. Definitely suggest ordering an omakase of some kind, as you can trust a place like this to make it really special.
Olivar (Capitol Hill)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $30-50 for dinner
Review: Small, lovely restaurant, very comfortable. Food is quite excellent, thoughtful and well prepared.
Orrapin Thai (Queen Anne)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $15-20 for lunch
Review: Your average Thai cuisine. A bit too liberal with sugar in their dishes for my taste.
Osteria La Spiga (Capitol Hill)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $35-60 for dinner
Review: Their website says they specialize in "an authentic Italian food experience from the Romagna region." If you're familiar with food from this region and adore it, you may give this place 5 stars. It's certainly fresh and prepared well, but I've been here several times and every time, we've gotten the chef's course meal, so that we could try a number of dishes. I'm underwhelmed by the fare, the prices, and the snooty service.
Paseo Caribbean Restaurant (Fremont, Ballard)
Rating: 5 stars
Price: $7-15 for lunch and dinner
Particularly good: Their sandwiches, particularly the pulled pork
Review: Tiny place and the line may be long. Will be totally worth it. Call ahead with your order so you can pick it up (though you may still need to stand in line to pay). My favorite sandwich here used to be called the "Midnight Cuban" -- the name is completely irrelevant. All that matters is the savory pulled pork stuffed into a delicious, perfect bread roll with lettuce, grilled onions, cilantro, and garlic mayonnaise. For extra kick, have them give you a side of their habanero oil. Tip: When you dine in, the sandwich is served with corn on the cob. If you order to go, they won't give it to you unless you specify that you want it.
People's Pub (Ballard)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $7-12 for "dinner"
Particularly good: Deep-fried pickles
Review: The word dinner is in quotation marks because this place has a really big window for happy hour -- I believe from 3-7pm, every day. I have to take 2 stars off for atmosphere; it really has none. It's a sketchy-looking, divey bar. But the food, casual and comfortable, is great. They feature south German food as well as comfort foods such as grilled cheese sandwiches and creamy tomato soup (get both for $5 during happy hour). And the deep-fried pickles are out of this world. Even if you don't make it for happy hour, the prices are very reasonable.
Poppy (Capitol Hill)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $20-35 for dinner
Review: Indian-inspired nouveau cuisine. The food is good, but not riveting enough to put this one in my repeat list. I found myself wanting either proper Indian food, or Greek gyros, or just a regular sandwich. Just not a fusion I'm fond of, I guess.
Rover's (Madison Park)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $50-100 for dinner
Review: After Canlis, the place to go for formal high-end dining. I'm not really a fan of that; I'd much prefer to focus on the food rather than feeling stifled. It's pricey but ultimately average relative to other high-dining establishments in Seattle.
Sam's Sushi Bar & Grill (Ballard)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $25-45 for dinner
Review: Lovely, fresh fish served in a casual and clean atmosphere. The lobster roll was good, but the lobster was deep fried and didn't much have the taste of lobster. The sashimi plate came with decent portions of fresh fish, but was a bit lacking on variety. It was supposed to be a "chef's selection" of the day's freshest fish, and it came with several pieces of hamachi; a few pieces of maguro; a few pieces of salmon; a few pieces of albacore tuna; and one scallop sliced in half.
Seastar (Bellevue, South Lake Union)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $35-50 for dinner
Particularly good: Maytag salad, with shrimp, sliced pear, and toasted hazelnuts tossed with a creamy bleu cheese dressing.
Review: Great atmosphere (Bellevue location) and very good food, though a little less creative than you might find at other upscale restaurants. I expect Seastar is very consistent, however, from their steak to their sushi. Everything has very good flavor, but just isn't very unique. That, however, is not necessarily a downside, depending on what you're looking for.
Senor Moose (Ballard)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $20-35 for dinner
Particularly good: Camarones Enchipotlados (shrimp in a smoky chipotle sauce)
Review: Senor Moose prides itself on serving "Mexican Mexican food," but I don't care if it's truly authentic or not when it's this delicious. It's a tiny place that has counter space and maybe 8 tables, so get there early as it's frequently packed. Their fresh guacamole is good, though packed with a bit too much tomato, and their shrimp dishes (both of them) are out of this world. Skip the salsa sampler though, it's nothing special.
Serious Pie (Belltown)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $18-25 for lunch
Review: If you don't get here right when it opens, plan to wait for awhile since Serious Pie doesn't take reservations. As for whether it's worth the wait, however, it may be for some and not others. The pizza -- served in a long rectangle that's just about right for one person -- is certainly good, but not the best I've had.
Shea's Lounge (Pike Place Market)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $20-30 for lunch
Review: Small and not very comfortable. The food is passable, but not worth the trouble to find the place and pay those prices.
Steelhead Diner (Pike Place Market)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $20-30 for lunch
Review: Great little restaurant with very good food, though it's hit and miss. Some things they do extremely well at and make for great value; other things, not so much. The Theo chocolate pecan pie is spectacular. Given it's location, however, parking can be a nightmare. If you're already in the area, then it's well worth it.
Tamarind Tree (International District)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $15-20 for lunch
Particularly good: Sugar cane shrimp
Review: I haven't been here often enough to suggest anything particularly good or bad, unfortunately. I remember my one experience to be quite good, if a little pricier than one might expect from a Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown. However, this is one of the few places in Seattle I have found that serves a wide variety of Vietnamese dishes, rather than just the ubiqutous pho. My favorite Vietnamese dishes involve charboiled meat or seafood that you have to wrap yourself in rice paper and fresh vegetables and herbs, which you then dip in nuoc cham.
Tavolata (Belltown)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $40-60 for dinner
Review: Possibly my favorite Ethan Stowell restaurant. The short rib entree I had here was out of this WORLD (but they change their menu constantly so it may or may not be available when you go). The atmosphere is lacking, however. It's dark and cold seeming, almost like you're trying to fine dine in a sketchy nightclub. The food's so good though that it still gets 4 stars (and because the service is good).
Union (Downtown - now closed)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $40-50 for dinner
Review: Ethan Stowell is "the other chef in Seattle" -- less well known than Tom Douglas, but with a group of restaurants under his belt as well. Union was his flagship restaurant (the way Dahlia Lounge is Douglas's), but for whatever reason it just didn't appeal to people the way it should have (the food was great), and it recently closed.
Wasabi Bistro (Belltown)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $30-50 for dinner
Particularly good: Chef's choice sashimi plate
Review: Wasabi Bistro styles itself as "modern Japanese food," and this is showcased especially in the type and variety of their rolls. Their fish is impressively fresh, and artfully arranged, making for a great presentation. Their chef's choice sashimi plate (priced at $35, $45, and $55 -- the Web menu is a bit out of date) is possibly the best deal on the menu, as it comes with a generous portion of a variety of sushi, which of course changes depending on what's freshest that day. I was lucky and got a couple of pieces of toro on mine, as well as amberjack, which is apparently a type of yellowtail -- I've never had it before. The only problem with Wasabi Bistro is that it's quite pricey. Even without a drink or dessert I managed to spend $50. One option would be to go during their happy hour, in which they have a limited selection of rolls/sushi/cooked appetizers for $5-6 (and $1 miso soup). Happy hour is every day from 4-6pm, and 11pm-1am Sun-Thurs.
Wild Ginger: Asian Restaurant and Satay Bar (Downtown, Bellevue)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $25-40 for dinner
Particularly good: Angkor wat chicken
Review: This is what I would call an Asian fusion restaurant. It borrows from various Asian cuisines in an upscale setting. The food is very good and the prices are decent, but I took a star off for: inconvenience of location (middle of downtown). It's always been jam packed the few times I've visited. It's not that good to be worth the hassle. While the food is, as I said, good, I believe the popularity of this restaurant has more to do with its ambience and perceived stature rather than the food itself. Since I wrote this review they opened another location in Bellevue, and while the parking is far more convenient, the food isn't as good.
East Side
Andre's Eurasian Bistro (Bellevue - now closed)
Rating: 1 star
Price: $35-45 for dinner
Review: Extremely overpriced for only passably decent food.
Bai Tong (Southcenter, Redmond)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $20-30 for dinner, $12-20 for lunch
Review: I'd heard from several sources that this was the only Thai restaurant in Seattle worth visiting. I don't know if that is a bit of an over-exaggeration, but there's no denying that great Thai food can be had here. Supposedly the crew of Thai Airlines eat here when they're grounded in Seattle, which seems to vouch for its authenticity. The restaurant itself is comfortable and very nice, even if it's located in a strip mall. The crispy trout with panang curry is very good, though I'm not sure if it's a permanent part of the menu, but the mango with sticky rice is a bit too cloyingly sweet.
Bis on Main (Bellevue)
Rating: 5 stars
Price: $20-30 for lunch
Particularly good: Truffled pommes frites, seared ahi tuna, kobe beef burger
Review: Pricey but worth it. The portions are generous and the food is delicious. I went with a large party and so got to try a number of their lunch entrees; everything was fantastic, from their halibut to the hangar steak. Their fries in particular were extremely tasty; everyone kept eating them and marveling at how delicious they were. The ahi tuna was extremely fresh and wonderful; my only nit here was that I wished it had been served with some kind of sauce involving wasabi -- instead it was served plain, probably because the fish was so fresh the patron was expected to appreciate it on those merits alone, which is not a bad thing.
Blue Ginger: Korean Grill and Sushi (Bellevue)
Rating: 5 stars
Price: $12-20 for lunch
Particularly good: Yuk gae jang (spicy hot beef broth w/ green onion, veggies & shredded beef brisket), fresh fish sushi
Avoid: The barbecue; it is surprisingly flavorless. Good Korean barbecue can be had elsewhere.
Review: I normally shy away from restaurants that have mixed-Asian cuisines for, as a general rule, they tend not to be good at any of them. Blue Ginger is a rare exception. I almost always order a prepared Korean entree as well as an order of hamachi, because their sushi has been very fresh the few times I have tried it. The Korean entree comes with a good number of traditional banchan (side dishes), which I just love. The atmosphere is great too.
Cafe Ori (Bellevue)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $8-15, lunch or dinner
Particularly good: Deep-fried tofu with salt and pepper, Taiwanese-style pork chops with rice
Review: Very good Hong Kong cafe-style Cantonese food found right in Bellevue. The service can be somewhat lacking, particularly when they're busy (peak lunch hours), but in a way that kind of makes it "authentic Chinese," lol. The portions are large, the food comes out fast, and the prices can't be beat. If you go during dinner you can feed a family of 4 for under $30 -- and still have leftovers. A big drawback, however, is that they accept local checks and CASH only.
Celtic Bayou (Redmond, Lynnwood)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $12-20 for lunch
Review: Irish Cajun food! Actually, it's not a fusion of those two cuisines; mostly the menu is divided in half between the two. It's sort of more upscale bar food, hearty but not gastronomically superior. If you're looking for comfort food with a little more, in a very casual atmosphere, this is a good place to go.
Coho Cafe (Redmond)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $25-35 for dinner
Review: I've only been to the Redmond branch. The food is decent, not great, but the worst thing is that nearly every time I've come here the service has been exceptionally bad. The only reason I've been here more than once is because I used to have a discount card that was good for a free entree with every paid entree.
I Love Sushi (Lake Union, Bellevue)
Rating: 5 stars
Price: $13-20 for lunch, $30-40 for dinner
Particularly good: Fresh sushi or sashimi
Review: There are three I Love Sushi locations in the Seattle area; I've been to the Bellevue Main and Lake Union branches. Both had excellent, fresh sushi. Their prices are reasonable for what you're getting, but I would definitely recommend going during lunch to get the most bang for your buck. The I Love Bento, which varies on every visit, can sometimes have everything you want or need so make sure you ask -- and it's only $12.95.
Kikuya (Redmond)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $15-20 for lunch, $25-35 for dinner
Review: Kikuya in Redmond is a decent Japanese restaurant, though primarily for their cooked food. Sushi can be had better elsewhere. They used to have a daily lunch special (particuarly good on Saturdays) that included a ton of food, including a bento box (with a few pieces of sashimi) and a small bowl of udon. However, the last couple of visits have been subpar; the quality of their food has gone down as they are obviously cutting corners.
Malay Satay Hut (Redmond)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $10-15 for lunch, $20-25 for dinner
Particularly good: Roti canai appetizer, curry beef brisket with rice or noodles
Review: I've only been to the Bellevue location, but the food is consistently good. The restaurant is very open and airy, but the service is often mute and sullen. I've tried several of their dishes and they've all been good, though my favorite is their curry beef brisket with melting tendon. Like many restaurants, you get the best deal during lunch, when you get a generous portion along with soup for less than you'd pay at dinner.
Mayuri (Bellevue, Bothell)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $10-12 for lunch
Particularly good: Chicken makhani (butter chicken)
Review: This is probably my favorite Indian restaurant in the Puget Sound area, at least for now. It's a bit on the run down side, but that's what makes it comfortable. Like most Indian restaurants I've been to, the best -- really, only -- time to go is during lunch, when a buffet is offered at a fraction of the cost charged for dinner.
Monsoon (Bellevue)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $15-30 for lunch
Review: Upscale Vietnamese cuisine, done really well. They serve pho, but only during lunch. The portions aren't large, but are enough to be filling. The food is very good, but sometimes feels a bit high brow. I love Vietnamese food, but believe that much of its charm (and deliciousness) comes from the "street fare" feel of it.
Nara Japanese Restaurant (Redmond)
Rating: 0 stars
Price: $20-25 for dinner
Avoid: Everything, as far as I can tell
Review: This was possibly the biggest mistake I've ever made, restaurant wise. I should have turned around and exited when I realized that the restaurant was run by non-Japanese Asians (always an iffy sign when it comes to sushi). The food quality was extremely poor, the portions were stingy, and the prices were astronomical considering what you're getting. Imagine sitting down at a gourmet restaurant, getting served a McDonald's cheeseburger, then being charged $20 for it. That's how outrageous it was.
Regent Bakery & Cafe (Redmond)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $12-25 for lunch or dinner
Review: Very good Chinese food, if a bit pricey for the fare. But this is the Seattle area, and beggars can't be choosers. Their "dishes" are better than the more casual fare, such as soup noodles. I don't think I've ever had anything here that I just didn't like. It's also one of the few places that has Chinese baked goods (like Diamond Bakery in LA), from pineapple buns to beautiful, fruit-focused cakes to ham-and-cheese buns. It's unique in this area, though, so while it's not cheap, from time to time it's worth the 'surcharge.'
Rikki Rikki (Kirkland)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $15-25 for lunch, $30-40 for dinner
Particularly good: Crunchy roll
Avoid: Teriyaki anything
Review: Another Japanese restaurant that has seen better days -- the quality level of their food has dropped even as they've tried to spruce up the place with a more hoity toity atmosphere. They do have some of the best tempura I've ever had; the batter they use is particularly crisp and delicious. But that is tempered by some of the worst teriyaki I've ever had; it's like boiled meat swimming in a pool of glop. As for sushi, it's good -- but the restaurant used to boast that their fish:rice ratio was the highest around, and that started to be less and less true as well.
Seoul Hot Pot (Redmond)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $10-15 for lunch
Review: Decent Korean food at OK prices, but the service is pretty unfriendly.
The Stone House (Redmond)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $12-25 for lunch, $30-50 for dinner
Particularly good: Mussels in Thai red curry broth
Review: An utterly delightful place to dine. It's a bit hidden, but that adds to its charm, especially if you're there during the gorgeous Seattle summers and are dining al fresco. Their small plates are particularly good, such as the mussels in Thai red curry broth, which could serve 3-4 as an appetizer, and could practically be a meal unto itself, especially as it comes with bread that you can dip into the wonderful broth.
Szechuan Chef (Bellevue)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $10-12 for lunch, $15-20 for dinner
Particularly good: Hand-pulled noodles, Chinese hot pot ("da been lo")
Review: I'm an avid meat eater, but their vegetarian hand-pulled noodles is better than their meat versions; not sure why. And if you're not in the mood for traditional Chinese dishes, this is the only place I've been able to find in the area that serves Chinese hot pot -- a pot of soup (that can be split in two; a spicy half and a mild half) that is kept bubbling at your table while you add your choice of raw ingredients to cook in the soup. All the ingredients are small or thin enough to cook within minutes if not seconds. Afterward, enjoy a bowl of hot broth flavored by all the delicious things you and your companions have cooked in the soup during the meal.
Tu Casa (Redmond)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $7-12 for lunch, $12-17 for dinner
Particularly good: Enchiladas with shredded beef
Review: Decent Tex-Mex food at great prices. Service is fast and typically friendly, and their portions are huge. Go during lunch for the best deal.
Typhoon (Redmond)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $20-30 for dinner
Review: The food is good, but the portions are small, the atmosphere is snooty, and their prices are higher than the experience is worth.
Udupi Palace (Bellevue)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $10-12 for lunch
Review: Udupi specializes in South Indian food, which is primarily (if not exclusively) vegetarian. As an omnivore I do just fine, but do somewhat miss meat when I eat here. My cousins (who are vegetarian) absolutely love it. Make sure you order fresh dosas if you go during the lunch buffet; it's included but must be special ordered.
Wibbley's Gourmet Hamburgers (Bellevue)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $7-10 for lunch or dinner
Particularly good: Cheeseburger
Review: Wibbley's is a happy medium between Red Robin and fast food burgers. It's not a sit-and-serve restaurant -- you order at a counter -- and the prices reflect that. But the burgers are made fresh, with quality ingredients, and the ambience -- casual and yet formal at the same time with its polished wooden tables and high stools -- is great. I've tried 3 of their burgers so far -- cheese, mushroom, and onion -- and I like the plain cheeseburger best. The onions were rather tasteless and the mushrooms were overly salty. The fries are usually fresh and hot, and you can grab what condiments you like from two condiment locations. But make sure you bring cash -- they don't take credit cards.
North of Seattle
Alligator Soul (Everett)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $12-20 for lunch
Particularly good: Their "side" dishes, which includes deep fried catfish and fried chicken (not whole pieces)
Review: I went for their crawfish boil, which as far as I can tell, is fairly rare outside of the South. If that's what you're looking for, they seem to have one every other Saturday. The atmosphere was homey and the service was very friendly. The food was also decent and reasonably priced, though I'd have to go back to give a more accurate rating.
Bonefish Grill (Bothell)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $25-35 for lunch, $30-45 for dinner
Particularly good: Fresh fish entrees
Review: I've been to both the Bothell and Seattle locations (though the Seattle one is no more), and the food at both was equally enjoyable. The food and atmophere are both very good, and the bread with pesto/olive oil dip that comes before the meal is one of the best I've had. I took off a star because I believe it's a bit pricey for what it is, and the service at both locations was somewhat snooty.
Canyons (Bothell, Redmond)
Rating: 1 star
Price: $12-17 for lunch or dinner
Particularly good: Yellow fin tuna tacos, if they don't overcook the fish
Avoid: Ultimate nachos -- heavy and tasteless
Review: Decent southwestern food, but not as good as you might want or expect. The yellow fin tuna tacos are good, but in my experience they're often overcooked when they're best only seared. They used to have "cornadoes" -- French fries made with corn instead of potatoes -- but other than as a novelty they weren't anything special. Looking at their menu now, it seems they realized it and have nixed it from their repertoire.
Caravan Kebab (Edmonds)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $10-15 for lunch
Review: A great little gem for Greek and Indian food. Another strange combination (like Celtic Bayou's Irish Cajun food), but again, it's not a fusion. They serve both Greek and Indian food, and both are wonderful. The Indian food seems more European, but not in a bad way. The lamb shish sandwich and chicken makhani are delicious.
Celtic Bayou (Redmond, Lynnwood)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $12-20 for lunch
Review: Irish Cajun food! Actually, it's not a fusion of those two cuisines; mostly the menu is divided in half between the two. It's sort of more upscale bar food, hearty but not gastronomically superior. If you're looking for comfort food with a little more, in a very casual atmosphere, this is a good place to go.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries (Northgate)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $8-12 for lunch or dinner
Review: I know this is a chain, but it's mostly on the east coast/in the south, and there's only one in Seattle, so I'm including it on this list. It's sort of on par with Fatburger and Johnny Rocket's. It's not quite fast food like In-N-Out, but frankly I still prefer In-N-Out's burgers, which taste better and are cheaper. Five Guys's burgers are good though (they taste fresh, as patties do when I make them at home), and all toppings are free. It's really, really messy -- I like a messy burger, but this may be too messy even for me. Their regular burgers come with 2 patties; the miniburgers come with one. Their fries are fabulous, though, and they're very generous with them. One regular order can serve 2 easily. I recommend getting the normal fries rather than cajun; they are too liberal with the cajun seasoning and it's overwhelming. Better to ask for the seasoning on the side if you want it.
Frida's (Mill Creek)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $7-12 for lunch, $10-15 for dinner
Review: Self-proclaimed "gourmet Mexican food," Frida's is pretty good. Prices are reasonable, but the location is a bit out of the way for me to make a special visit.
Fu Man Dumpling House (Bitter Lake)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $15-25 for dinner (could probably serve two)
Avoid: Scallion pancakes -- thick, tough, and oily
Review: This was supposedly one of "the" places to go in the Seattle area for true Chinese dumplings. But I was warned ahead of time that that did not mean it was good. Just good for here. In comparison to the dumplings that can be had in LA, this was dreck. But if you're desperate, it'll do. The dumplings were more Taiwanese style; I have yet to find a restaurant here that serves Shanghai-style dumplings.
Himitsu (Bothell)
Rating: 2 stars
Price: $12-20 for lunch or dinner
Review: Average Japanese joint. Nothing is bad, but nothing stands out as being excellent. Their prices are average as well -- nothing to break the bank, but then the food doesn't warrant high prices. I don't think I've ever tried their sushi; what I've seen in the glass cases has never impressed me as being particularly enticing. They don't serve their tempura with the usual tempura sauce, but some table vinegar instead -- a negative, in my view. I get the teriyaki chicken without the sauce -- the chicken is already flavored and the sauce just makes it too sweet.
Ka Won (Lynnwood)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $15-20 for lunch, $20-40 for dinner
Particularly good: Traditional Korean BBQ set menu, salad
Review: I have only been to their Lynnwood location, though there might be others. The food is excellent, though pricier than you might expect to pay. Their prepared dishes are quite good, as is their BBQ set menu. My absolute favorite thing, however, has to be their salad, which comes as a giant mound. Something about the fresh lettuce and sweet/sour dressing is just undeniably delicious. Your cost here can vary widely depending on what you order; the prepared hot dishes run about $9-20 while the BBQ set menu is $46.99 (but can feed 4).
Matsu Sushi (Lynnwood)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $12-17 for lunch, $25-30 for dinner
Particularly good: Sashimi and tempura combination
Review: This place was a delightful surprise. It's located in a strip mall (but what in Lynnwood isn't?) and doesn't look like much. The decor is a bit worn and old, and from a glance you might have doubts. But the food is fresh, the portions are reasonable, and so are the prices they charge. The people who run the place are Japanese, which is always my preference when eating sushi. The difference between Matsu and Nara in Redmond is like night and day. The same dinner combination yielded not only better fish, but better quality of the fish, period, and more generous portions. The tempura was good, with two large prawns and an impressive variety of vegetables. I took a star off due to ambience, but for everyday good value and a casual place to take family and friends, it's a great choice.
Mill Creek Bistro (Mill Creek)
Rating: 0 stars
Price: $10-20 for dinner
Review: I pass this place all the time on my way home from my carpool lot. I wanted to give it a try because what if I were missing out on good food so close by? I wish I had let myself keep wondering. The service was friendly, but the food was terrible and extremely overpriced for how bad it was. They claim to be a "Japanese Fusion/Korean BBQ," which means offering teriyaki, tempura, and simple sushi rolls, along with some traditional Korean fare. There was no way I was going to eat Japanese food there (especially since the people who ran it were clearly Korean), so I tried the beef bulgogi. The quality of the meat was so poor that they had to overseason the beef in order to make it edible. The kimchi (the only banchan to come with the meal, unless you count miso soup and a salad, which I don't) was awful. The salad dressing was thick, sweet, and peanuty -- but not in a good way. And I had to pay $16 (with tip) for this meal. For that amount I could actually get decent-to-good Korean or Japanese food.
Pasteur Noodle Soup (Everett)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $7-15 for lunch and dinner
Particularly good: Sugar cane shrimp and grilled pork with rice paper and veggies
Review: Don't let the name fool you -- this place has far more than just noodle soup (unlike the vast majority of pho shops in the Puget Sound area). It offers a variety of dishes from Vietnamese cuisine that goes beyond pho, including sugar cane shrimp, and barbecue that you conduct right at your table, wrapping the results in rice paper and fresh veggies/herbs, then dipping into nuoc cham. Their sandwiches are also very good -- and only $2.95. If I worked or lived near here I'd be coming all the time. The atmosphere leaves a bit to be desired -- it's in a strip mall attached to a gas station and across the street from Home Depot, and the place itself has probably seen better days -- but you're here for the food. Reasonable prices for items you can rarely get elsewhere in these parts.
Patty's Eggnest (Lynnwood, Everett, more)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $12-15 for breakfast or lunch (closes at 3pm)
Particularly good: The "Big Foot Special"
Review: Very homey food in a diner setting. Their specialty is their breakfast; they serve large portions at mid-range prices. Their Big Foot Special comes with an 11 ounce country-fried steak, 2 eggs, hash browns, and toast for $10.95. It's definitely not health food -- but if you're looking for a comfort meal and a comfortable setting, this is the right place.
The Rock (Lynnwood, Mill Creek)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $12-25 for lunch or dinner
Particularly good: Their pizzas, especially the "Wild Child"
Review: Stumbled upon The Rock due to having late-night munchies with a friend and it was one of the few places open. Who knew it'd be such a gem? Dark, modern atmosphere and great food. Perfect place for a casual get together after work or any time.
Szechwan 99 (Lynnwood)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $15-35 for dinner
Particularly good: Szechwan 99 fish, tea-smoked duck
Review: Possibly the best Chinese restaurant I've found in the Puget Sound area. It doesn't look like much -- in fact, the poor atmosphere is why it's not getting 5 stars. I've tried a number of dishes, and they've all been quite good, even excellent, other than the pan-fried dumplings (oh, for a proper Shanghai dumpling house). The Szechwan 99 fish consists of thin fillets of fish, battered and deep fried, then tossed with a wonderful spicy seasoning (but not overwhelming). The tea-smoked duck is right on par with the best tea-smoked duck in LA. Truly, if you're craving proper Chinese food, come here for it, even if it's out of your way.
Ta-Ke (Bothell)
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $11-20 for lunch
Particularly good: Beef teriyaki
Review: According to a friend (and my GPS navigation system), this place used to be "Yama San." I've never been to the old incarnation, but the new one is not bad. It's above average Japanese food, with a fairly typical menu (sushi, teriyaki, tempura). The sushi was not the freshest or most generous portions I've ever had, but nor did it come close to being as bad as some places, which serve you sushi that looks old or oddly stiff and off-colored. The prices were about what you'd imagine for an average Japanese restaurant ($11.95 at lunch got me a bento box with soup, salad, rice, beef teriyaki, shrimp (1) and veggie tempura, 3 pieces of sushi, and 4 small pieces of sashimi), but frankly for the same money you're getting a far better/fresher meal at I Love Sushi -- and more, too. However, I Love doesn't serve meat, which is a mixed blessing, and Ta-Ke actually has beef teriyaki that was surprisingly delicious. They also have a choose-your-own-combination plate for $8.95; you choose two items from a fairly large selection -- that could be a decent deal. Bottom line is, for an average Japanese joint, it was above average.
Tubs Gourmet Subs (Lynnwood, Lake City)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $9-15 for lunch or dinner
Particularly good: The Firecracker
Review: Pretty pricey for a sandwich place, but boy is it worth it. I've never had a sandwich here that I haven't liked. The bread is perfect, as are the fillings. Many sandwiches come with BBQ sauce on the side to dip in, which sounds weird but totally works. One of the best sandwiches places ever.
West Seattle
Australian Meat Pie Company
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $3.75 or so per pie
Review: This isn't a restaurant per se; it's like a little bakery where you go and order little meat pies instead of sweet pastries. Each pie is a fairly good size; 1 makes a good snack but you'd probably want 2 as a meal. The beef and mashed potato pie as well as the spinach roll are their best offerings. Very tasty, but a bit low brow (which, depending on your preferences, may add or take away a star!).
Bakery Nouveau
Rating: 5 stars
Price: $10-15 for lunch, $5-7 for baked goods
Particularly good: Chocolate cake, almond croissant, olive fougasse
Review: Hands down the best bakery in Seattle. Maybe the world. Okay, I might be a bit too enthusiastic about this place. But it is unequivocally wonderful. There are a couple of breads I've had here that were average, but in general, everything else is better than anywhere else. The chocolate cake is literally the best chocolate cake I've ever eaten (the sentiments of all the people I know who have had it). The almond croissants and olive fougasse bread are out of this world. Seriously, it is worth a trip to West Seattle for this bakery alone. West Seattlites are so, so lucky.
Circa
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $15-25 for lunch or dinner
Particularly good: Fish & chips
Review: Circa has a bar-like atmosphere, but is a cut above. It's very comfortable, and while the food is familiar and ordinary fare, it's also a cut above. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they might have the best fish & chips in the Seattle area, and people also rave about their burger.
Endolyne Joe's
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $18-25 for dinner, $8-15 for late-night happy hour
Particularly good: Their late-night happy hour menu, particularly the mac & cheese (to die for!) and onion rings.
Review: A good neighborhood restaurant that serves a non-threatening menu of food, much of which is the comfort kind. It's pricey for what it is, though, even though the atmosphere is nice and comfortable. The fish I've had there was dry and overdone, the fried chicken was small and not very flavorful, and the blue plate special I had once was a really fatty pot roast, half of which I couldn't even eat. The reason I'm giving it 3 stars, however, is because I recently had the good luck to try its late-night happy hour. The mac & cheese was possibly the best I've ever had, served piping hot in a crock, its flavors deep and rich -- an adult's mac & cheese. The onion rings were crisp and flavorful, while the garden salad was fresh and a great complement to the other items. Best of all? Each item was $3 during happy hour. That is a true steal for mac & cheese that delicious.
La Rustica
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $25-40 for dinner
Particularly good: The Bruschetta al Salmonaccio starter. Tender and delicious, and generously portioned.
Review: Lovely restaurant overlooking the water and serving Northern Italian fare. The food is very good and they make sure you walk out of there with a full stomach. The place is a bit small and they don't take reservations for parties under 6 so you may have to wait a bit, but it's worth it. They usually participate in Seattle Urban Eats, and that's always a great time to go.
Mashiko
Rating: 3 stars
Price: $30-50 for dinner
Particularly good: Chef's choice courses
Review: Mashiko serves only sustainable seafood. The environmentalist in me applauds them highly for that. The foodie in me misses all the seafood they don't serve. The restaurant is pretty small, with a tiny sushi bar. The food they do serve is fresh and well preapred.
Spring Hill
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $25-40 for dinner, $20-30 for brunch
Particularly good: The hangar steak
Review: Great food -- but you have to be one of those people who have a broad and sophisticated palate and are willing to place yourself in the hands of the chef (in this case, Mark Fuller, alumnus of The Dahlia Lounge), because there's no specifying how you want the food prepared; it is prepared how the kitchen deems it should be prepared. Their steak is served medium rare -- they will not cook it any other way. Don't bother to go in for take out; they feel this compromises the integrity of the food. These standards work just great for me, because in my opinion they sure know what they're doing. Favorite time to go is on Mondays, which is "pasta night." Pastas are $10, and my favorite hangar steak is on the menu. They also serve a by-reservation-only fried chicken dinner on Monday nights that serves 4. Divine.
South of Seattle
Bai Tong (Southcenter, Redmond)
Rating: 4 stars
Price: $20-30 for dinner, $12-20 for lunch
Review: I'd heard from several sources that this was the only Thai restaurant in Seattle worth visiting. I don't know if that is a bit of an over-exaggeration, but there's no denying that great Thai food can be had here. Supposedly the crew of Thai Airlines eat here when they're grounded in Seattle, which seems to vouch for its authenticity. The restaurant itself is comfortable and very nice, even if it's located in a strip mall. The crispy trout with panang curry is very good, though I'm not sure if it's a permanent part of the menu, but the mango with sticky rice is a bit too cloyingly sweet.
