We are headed to Seattle this coming week. We will arrive on Monday. Since we are from the midwest and don't have the advantage of fresh seafood, I would like to have a taste of the best crab cakes in Seattle. What would you suggest? Ray's, Etta's, Dahlia or is there another better choice?

Each restaurant will have a slightly different preparation. I believe Chandlers and Anthony's Pier 66 are two more place likely serving them.

I've not had them at Etta's, but go there frequently and they do a great job with everything! I'm sure they'd be good there.

I'd bet on Tom Douglas's restaurant for sure--Dahlia.

Are you sure Dahlia Lounge has crab cakes on the menu? I don't remember seeing them. Etta's does for sure.

Tom Douglas, of Dahlia Lounge and Etta's, has written a book titled, "I Love Crab Cakes": http://www.tomdouglas.com/products/cookbook.html

However, the crab cakes at Dahlia Lounge are too oily for me. I much prefer the Thai crab cakes at Flying Fish (a wonderful little restaurant that one Seattle Fodorite doesn't like).

Flying Fish is on 2nd Avenue in Belltown. I've never tried their crab cakes.

Another thought is to find crab somewhere that is not "cakes". Our famous local dungeness crab is so delicate, it's ashame to cover it up if the preparations are too heavy handed.

Here is a local restaurant critics' opinion on you topic: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/269869_rest12.htm

I see my link doesn't work here, but, if you Google "best crab cakes seattle," it is the first link that pops up, and it connects to the article.

If crab cakes are made properly, there is nothing heavy handed about them!! The crab is the star, not the breading. I don't even crumb mine when fixing them.

I've had them at Dahlia and was disappointed - in fact, I think mine are better. When it comes to seafood, I don't think you'll do better than at Ray's

Being from the east coast, when I think of crab cakes I think of Baltimore style, made with jumbo lump blue crab and very little filler.

How do the crab cakes in the seattle are differ. I figure they are made with dungeoness crab for starters.

I love crab cakes and order them out a lot. But I am usually disappointed too as I think my tend to be better as I use barely any filler.

KathyH

Dungeness is a very very delicate crab meat. I'd just go to Pike Place Market and buy a 1/2 pound and get a fork! I'm only half way kidding. Dungeness is $29.00/lb. at the moment.

Elliott's has pretty good crab cakes. They package them and sell at QFC (grocery store) so I've cooked them at home. They were not bad.

Hey, jumbo lump blue crab was $36 a pound around here for fresh last time I checked. That is why I only make them for special occasions.

And a container of crabmeat and a fork doesn't sound bad to me at all.
KathyH

I'm amazed that no one has tried to open a place at Pike Place that is the equivalent to Faidley's in Baltimore's Lexington Market.

repete~ Give us a clue. What does that mean?

I had them recently at Anthony's Pier 66 and they were delicious. Also highly recommend the sheered Ahi there.

did you mean seared ahi? not sure what sheered it?

I think Dahlia has the best, they are always on the menu (Dahlia and Etta's have the same owner so will be the same). there is very little filler in these.

Have fun in Seattle!

Dahlia and Flying Fish both have great food, the Softshell Crab is really yummy at Flying Fish. Enjoy Seattle! ***kim***

Hi Suze:

What the Pike Place could use is a seafood market grill like Faidleys in Lexington Market in Balto.

Great seafood counter lunch options. Raw bar. Fish market.

Could be the best crabcake in the U.S. although that's a ongoing debate. Johnny Apple, however, the late great NT Times political writer and food icon, favors Faidley's and I haven't found better.

I love Pike Place but there's no place like Faidley's near by. Emmett Watson's isn't even close. Pike Place is a little too much tourist-driven and lacks a bit of local grit.

Emmett Watson's isn't even close. Pike Place is a little too much tourist-driven and lacks a bit of local grit.</>

Excellent observation. The grit is gone. I remember going downtown on the bus with my mother to buy a shopping bag full of corn for $1 and to buy poop spotted eggs from an old lady wearing a babushka.

Maybe it seems gritty to those who don't know the difference.