our guide

Our Guide To Seattle (In Progress)

Restaurants in Seattle

Ok here's our working list. indicates "The Best" as Jeremy would say. View them all mapped here!

Seafood Top

Ray's
A Seattle institution. If the weather is nice try to get on the deck upstairs for Sunset over Puget Sound. Downstairs is more formal and more expensive. They will bring you a blanket if you get cold. This is a good place to get Salmon, the rock fish is also good.
Entree Price: about $15-$20
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Palace Kitchen
Our favorite of Tom Douglass's well know Seattle Restaurants. We spent our 6 month anniversary here.
Entree Price: about $20+
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Italian Top

La Rustica
Out of the way on out by Alki point, this will be a bit of an adventure to get to. Go ahead of time while there is still light and stroll Alki Beach.
Entree Price: about $10-15
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Maciavelli
Classic blue-collar home cooking. Expect to wait without a reservation
Entree Price: about $10-15
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Volterra
Upscale Northern Italian cuisine. This is a nice special occasion place; make reservations
Entree Price: about $15-25
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French Top

X O Bistro
This is hearty rustic fare. For a while they had a special beach dish that featured pheasant, chicken pork sausage and lamb. Needless to say this may not be the place for vegetarians.
Entree Price: about $15-25
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Le Pichet
This is a decidedly social affair, with smaller parties sharing tables in a fairly intimate room. The food is outstanding however.
Entree Price: about $10-15
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Thai Top

Thai is as ubiquitous in Seattle as Pizza is in New York. Also like Pizza in New York, thai food in Seattle tends to be universally really good and universally really inexpensive. The only easier way to start an argument with a Seattleite, other then telling them that really doesn't rain here all that much, is to tell what you think your favorite Thai place is. That said for the sake of friends and family we are ready to take our lives in our hands:

Jamjuree
Just a few blocks from our house this is our local Thai hangout. The curry's are excellent.
Entree Price: about $10-12
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Kwanjai Thai Cuisine
Great place for lunch this is a little hole in the wall. It can't be described as fine dinning, but the food is really good, and the price can't be beat. The dinner menu is a bit more expensive.
Entree Price: about $6-10
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Buddha Ruksa
One of our four West Seattle Picks this is a favorite of our friends Jesse and Kelly.
Entree Price: about $10-15
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Mexican Top

La Carta Oaxaca
Hands down the best Mexican food we know of. Small plates slightly bigger than tapas top out at $9. We usually order 3 for two people. The salsa bar is outstanding and can really spice up any plate. If a guy that looks like a young Woody Allen is pouring at the bar order the Sangria. There are no reservations and the place is small. Plan to wait at the bar for 30-45 minutes for a table. Go at you own risk on the weekend.
Entree Price: about $5-10
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Cactus
Cactus is a scene, but really so is all of Madison Park. The outside seating under the heaters is nice on a chill night, and the food and margaritas are worth bearing the painfully hip.
Entree Price: about $10-15
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Indian Top

Taste of India
We work with many people that are from India; not a single one of them will commit to an Indian restaurant that they recommend. Short of send you to our co-worker's homes, we recommend this place. It is in the U-district, and inexpensive: expect students.
Entree Price: about $8-14
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Chutney's
Another of our local haunts, Chutney's has about 3 location that are now split up under different management. The once strong baseline of quality differs somewhat these days, but the Capitol Hill location is really good. Try the Tandori mixed grill.
Entree Price: about $10-20
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Sushi/Japanese Top

Nishino
This is a great sushi place at a less reasonable price. This is probably closest to most commonly sited opinion for best Sushi in Seattle.
Entree Price: $10-20+
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Pizza Top

If you are from NY, Seattle doesn't have "a slice." You know what I mean. It does have a couple of places that do gourmet and Neapolitan style pizza. Here's the best of these:

Pazzo's
A sentimental favorite for Nina and I. We hung out, outside work for the first time here. Order the Miguel.
Entree Price: $14-18/pie
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Belltown Pizza
Loud, happening, and really good Pizza
Entree Price: $14-18/pie
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Tutta Bella
Certified (who does the certification?) Neapolitan style pizza. Many Seattleites vote this the best in the city.
Entree Price: $10-20/pie?
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Burger & A Beer Top

Elliot Bay Brewery
Hand's down Brian's favorite Burger and Beer place in the city. Go for the Black and Blue Buffalo burger or the Ahi Tacos. Like hoppy beer, go for the Dry Hopped IPA.
Entree Price:$6-14
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Cyclops
Both of us used to live a few blocks from here in different building on the corner of Western and Broad, and both of us used to hang out here, and both of wish we had wandered into each other at the time, rather than a few years later. Oh well, the apparent lack of karma aside this is a great Belltown hang out.
Entree Price:$8-16
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Barking Dog
Great selection of Belgian Ales. Try the meatloaf.
Entree Price:$8-18
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The Deluxe Bar and Grill
The 625 Burger is about as close as you can get to the half pounder common to Vermont inns and pubs. The fries rock too.
Entree Price:$6-16
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Southern Top

Kingfish Cafe
Check you blood pressure at the door. Just got done with a marathon? You might be able to justify the baked mac and cheese.
Entree Price:$12-18
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Pho Top

Pho Than Brothers
A Seattle chain. This is Vietnamese comfort food, and a great way to pass a cool rainy lunch hour.
Entree Price:$6-8
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Southwestern Top

Matador
Not as big a scene as El Camino, but a scene none the less. Access to a table on the weekends will be limited. Margaritas are great, so is the Habenero Enchilada. (Hot!)
Entree Price:

El Camino
This is a big time scene, but the food is really good and the margaritas lethally alcoholic. Try the Carne Asada with Mole.
Entree Price:$10-15
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Brunches/Breakfast Top

Coastal Kitchen
The best Bloody Mary in town. This is a good all around restaurant that features a coastal theme from through out the world (Greece at the moment). There are no reservations, but the wait is usually not too bad for a table.
Entree Price: $6-$12 (breakfast)
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Terry's 14 Carrot Cafe
Huevo Rancheros almost as good as Brian's. The Omelets are real good to, as is the "Eastlake Special". This not a bad lunch place with great fries.
Entree Price: $6-$12 (breakfast)
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Highlife
A new comer to the Ballard scene, this place is a great place to take a lazy late breakfast.
Entree Price: $6-$12 (breakfast)
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Fish & Chips Top

The Owl & Thistle
This place is tucked in on Post Ave by the waterfront. There is really one main reason to go in: the best Fish and Chips in town and a Pint of Guiness.
Entree Price: $8-$12
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Best for less than $10 Top

Little Coney & Golden Gardens
This is a little fish and chips place on Shilshole Marina. Grab the halibut and chips, then drive or walk about a quarter mile north to golden garden park and have a picnic on the beach with the Olympics in the distance.
Entree Price:$6-9
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Almost Anything at Pike Place Market
The market is packed with little shops were great meals can be had for cheap. In fact one can almost totally feed themselves walking around and chowing on samples. Some of our favorites are Piroshki Piroshki (run by the Russian Grandmother mafia), Beecham's (get the grilled cheese) or just make your own meal of fresh bread, smoked salmon, fresh produce and just about anything else you could want.
Entree Price:$0+

Salumi
This place has gotten so popular/famous it hurts. As will you if you show up at noon on a weekday for a sandwich. If the weather is nice the line could be 30 deep and around the block. Yes it is still worth it. You will find Salumi Plates as appetizers in many restaurants around the city, and as far away as New York. Brian's favorite is the hot coppa with mozzarella. Ask someone how to get to "The Waterfall Park" and take your sandwich there.
Entree Price:$8-10
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Upscale Top

Wild Ginger
Truely a Seattle institution, Wild Ginger defined Pan-Asian. Make sure to sample the Satay Bar, and the House Special and unusual duck dish is spectacular.
Entree Price:$15-25+
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Cascadia
This is a great special occasion place; they do everything right from palate to plating. Dinner is pricy by Seattle standards, but there is a great alternative. Set up on the sidewalk seating for happy hour, where many plates (including their famous angus miniburgers) are less than $5.
Entree Price:$20-30
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Greek Top

Porta
This was our favorite Greek food in the city when it was a little cozy neighborhood place in Eastlake. They have moved to a swank new location downtown and we have not been yet. Let us know how it is if you go.
Entree Price: $10-20 (used to be)
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Vios
This place is kid friendly. No really we are talking seriously kid friendly, as in dodge the flying Lego block, lord of the flies kid friendly. So is the food really worth braving a swirling 5 year old swinging her Barbie doll by the hair temper tantrum? Yes, we have actually went back. Just remember that you hold the conch!
Entree Price:
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Wine Tasting Top

The Tasting Room
This little place is next to Kells on the post alley at Pike Place market. Ask locals for Kells, it is the next door south of it. The shop is run by a consortium of 6 little mom and pop vineyards from eastern Washington and they pour and price by the ounce, so this is a great place to try a lot of local wine. See if the Wineglass Vineyard Zinfandel is there.
Entree Price: $5-10 (meat and cheese plates)

Portalis
Or the Wine Portal as Nina likes to call it, is a small plate and wine tasting bar/shop. They taste wines from around the world.
Entree Price: $5-10 (small plates)

Dive Bars Top

The Zoo Tavern
Ah the Zoo, like a great archeological dig one can trace back the evolution of city of Seattle through the dusty concert posters on the wall, the local art piled three deep, and the bar flies still bellied up after all these years. Decidedly VFWish when you first walk in the space opens up to formica topped shuffle board and the only regulation snooker table I know of in Seattle. Line for the dart board? You don't need no stinkin' line! Just look for the wear marks in the plywood floor.
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The Bit Saloon
Fear the impromptu karaoke, its not good for anyone.
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The Tractor Tavern
A dive in spirit only, The Tractor gets national music acts in the door for a very intimate concert setting.
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The Inn At Ship's Bay

Entree Price:

Olga's Cafe

Entree Price:

Rose's Bakery & Cafe

Entree Price:
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Our Guide To Seattle (In Progress)

Restaurants in Seattle

Seafood Top

Italian Top

French Top

Thai Top

Mexican Top

Indian Top

Sushi/Japanese Top

Pizza Top

Burger & A Beer Top

Southern Top

Pho Top

Southwestern Top

Brunches/Breakfast Top

Fish & Chips Top

Best for less than $10 Top

Upscale Top

Greek Top

Wine Tasting Top

Dive Bars Top

Things To Do in Seattle Top

Hiking Top

Biking Top

Walking Top

Kayaking Top

Underground Tour Top

Space Needle Top

Locks Top

Things To Do on Orcas Top

Restaurants on the Way To Orcas Top

Restaurants On Orcas Top