Restaurant Features
Restaurants
La Carta de OaxacaFood served at La Carta de Oaxaca is incredibly fresh, surprisingly sophisticated and relatively inexpensive. The prices are a bit deceptive because portions are very small so you'll want to order at least two dishes per person. Oaxaca, which is located in south central Mexico, has a distinctive cuisine that is totally different from what most Americans expect. Forget about plates loaded with beans and rice or huge portions of cheese-heavy Tex-Mex. The cuisine at La Carta de Oaxaca is light and sophisticated; even traditional Mexican dishes, such as tacos, have an Oaxacan-spin, so be prepared for a culinary adventure.
Restaurants
Art of the TableIn the gamut of dining experiences, I summarize success and failure by one simple criterion: whether I will or will not come back. The service may be lousy, the seating cramped, or the portions minuscule, but if I’m ultimately willing to return to any given establishment, then it earns a degree of credibility in my book. Come back or don’t; eating out is as simple as that…usually.
Restaurants
TavolataYou might initially choose Tavolata for the ambiance, but you'll leave raving about the food. Chef Ethan Stowell, who also runs the upscale Union and the newer How to Cook a Wolf, elevates rustic Italian cooking to new heights. The limited menu changes daily, offering a handful of first courses, a dozen pastas, and about three entrees. Descriptions are minimal so ordering can be a challenge. Luckily, the wait staff, dressed in black shirts, jeans and white aprons, can help put together a perfect meal. Designed to be shared, dishes are presented in white bowls or on platters with minimal garnish. Restaurants
Oceanaire Seafood RoomThe Oceanaire’s concept is a 1930’s ocean liner dry-docked permanently at 7th and Olive, complete with oyster bar and vintage styling. Big-band music of the era is piped in, emulating the lost experience of sitting dockside on a sunset pleasure cruise around the bay, a horn section exciting the sea-goers and smiling waiters serving fresh-caught delicacies.
Restaurants
Rover'sRover’s is a Seattle institution, no doubt about it. Located in Madison Park, the popular eatery has been serving seasonally inspired food since before the word “locavore” rolled off locals’ lips. Chef Thierry Rautureau bought the restaurant in 1987 and since then Rover’s has established a reputation as the place to go for a special romantic dinner, business deal or birthday celebration. How does Rover’s, having been around for so long, still manage to draw in consistent crowds for those momentous occasions?
Restaurants
Pink DoorWalking down the stairway that leads to the Pink Door will make you feel like you've stumbled upon a quirky private party. The two-story dining room of this one-of-a- kind restaurant resembles the stage set for a charming haunted mansion, decorated with murals, ornate mirrors, mismatched silver candlesticks with dripping wax, and an elaborate chandelier.
Restaurants
JouleHusband and wife owners Rachael Yang and Seif Chirchi have incredible culinary pedigrees, including Alain Ducasse and Per Se in New York and Coupage in Seattle. This small Wallingford restaurant, that blends Korean, French and American cuisines, is extraordinary yet slightly disappointing. Nevertheless, it's definitely worth a visit, especially if you love to explore cutting edge cuisine.
Restaurants
Crow
Crow's seductive ambiance is a cross between a stark industrial warehouse and an artist's romantic loft. Low lighting and gauzy curtains create a visual counterpoint to the restaurant's minimal décor and cement walls, which are painted in a palette of rich colors. Despite its noisy buzz, Crow is an inviting neighborhood hangout (kid noodles are on the menu) yet intimate enough for a special occasion.
Restaurants
Squid and InkCulturally and aesthetically Squid and Ink maintains the contemporary vegan ethos of sustainability—the new generation of food politics evolving from the vegetarian movement of the sixties. With photocopied menus, dynamic color schemes and lots of artwork adorning the restaurant it has that cozy, hipster feeling. |
Eating and Drinking Guides
Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurants Sushi Restaurants Brewery/Brewpub Wine Bars Top Ten Coffee Shops
Dining by Neighborhood
Capitol Hill Fremont Belltown Ballard Downtown |

