We're visiting relatives in Bellevue, WA. We'd like to go to a couple of good places, less from the point of view of very expensive, white-table haute cuisine and more from the point of view of good regional (seafood? or whatever) food or good ethnic food -- or whatever you think is just a great place (without having to cross a bridge and find downtown parking in Seattle).

They are relatively new there, themselves, so they probably don't have a lot better idea than we do of what's good.

Hi.

I live in the area, but I don't eat out often. However, I can vouch for a couple of seafood places where I've eaten. Yarrow Bay Grill and Anthony's Homeport are both excellent seafood restaurants located in Kirkland, just north of Bellevue.

Also in Kirkland are the 3rd Floor Fish Cafe and Cafe Juanita (probably the best, but it's a little pricier and white table-ish).

In Bellevue you might want to try Daniels Broiler, Spazzo and Dukes.

BTW going downtown is really not difficult. Crossing the bridge takes 20 mins unless there is a game and a lot of places have valet parking or there are corner lots which are very easy. Hopefully that won't be a big deterant to you in the future! Have fun!

I live in Bellevue and eat our a lot. For great food and view my choices would be Waters in Carillon Point (in Kirkland, which is right next to Bellevue) and The Foghorn in Kirkland on Lake Washington. Cucina, Cucina, also at Carillon Point, has great views of Lake Washington and decent, reasonably priced food, but can get a bit loud. There are some good places in Bellevue, but they don't have as good of views--Sab Souci comes to mind offhand.

You can't go wrong with Salmon here and there are lots of choices for all sorts of different cuisines.

Seattle Weekly has a huge restaurant coverage and you can pick one up free or get it online at www.seattleweekly.com (they'll have coverage for Eastside restaurants tool.) Going into Seattle can be a real pain during the week due to traffic, but on Saturday and Sunday nights it shouldn't be bad if there isn't a game. There are so many good restaurants in Seattle (Canlis my favoirite, but a bit pricey), Harbourhouse on Lake Union--views and terrific food, reasonably priced...

You'd probably like the view, but not the food, at the Space Neetle...maybe go for drinks and appetizers.

Have a great time.

I have to 2nd Anthonys. We go to the one in Everett and it has always been good. Cucina, Cucina is good, but I feel like I am in a chain restaurant.

One of the "hidden treasures" on the Eastside is a place called Tosoni's, located in a strip mall on NE 20th, stuck between computer shops and "big box" retail. French/Italian, always great specials, not a lot of seafood but what there is is tops, killer wine list. No view, but the warmth more than makes up for it. Plenty of parking, natch.

Pulled this up from a previous post:
Eastside:

Spazzo's (mediterranean/tapas)
Cucina! Cucina! (Italian)
Restaurante Paradisio (Italian)
Mama Lucia's (Italian)
Yarrow Bay Cafe (not grill) - eclectic
Thai Ginger (Bellevue Galleria)
Las Margaritas (Mexican)
Coyote Creek (pizza/calzones/salads - VERY good!)
Herbfarm (try to make your reservation now)