Hi,

We made reservation for Cafe Campagne for tonight, but another nephew is joining us and the restaurant can't accommodate that number. I'd like to find somewhere inexpensive and with local character. Suggestions? What about seafood joints along the water?

Steelhead Diner in Pike Place Market. Fabulous !!!!

Cutter's Bayhouse has an extensive seafood menu, large seating capacity,and a water view. It's at the north end of the Market.

Sure you could also go anywhere down along the waterfront... Anthony's Pier 66, Bell Street Diner, Ivar's, Elliott's, etc.

Steelhead Diner is fabulous but it's definitely not "inexpensive" and also not very big.

The food at Steelhead Diner is creative, the service is good, and the lunch/dinner menu ranges from sandwiches and salads to fish and meat entrees and really good desserts. The price is right, and meals there never disappoint us.

The cost of a meal at the Steelhead Diner is less or no more than a meal at Anthony's, Elliott's, or Ivar's--three blasts from the past.

The seafood "joints" on the waterfront, such as Fisherman's, cannot be recommended.

Waterfront Seafood Grill (Pier 70) is a great restaurant, but it is quite expensive.

Bell St Diner should be fine. Waterfront places are generally either touristy and bad or decent/good but expensive. I'd recommend Elliott's for happy hour but not for dinner (it's also rather pricey).

Since your original plan was Cafe Campagne, check out the menu for Le Pichet, close by and also very good but fairly casual French (great ambiance too).

If you want seafood and like Chinese, check out Sea Garden in the International District (adjacent to downtown). They'll have dungeness crab. If you like Vietnamese I'd recommend Long Provincal, which is downtown.

One of the nephews is more foodie and affluent, and the others are probably still paying off their wedding/honeymoon, so I'll see what the consensus is. I know it'll be good. I want them all.

nygiv, suze, happytrails and christy, THANK YOU so much!

The menu at this place will suit them both: http://www.steelheaddiner.com/menu.htm

HTTT

Thanks, happytrails! We love Seattle.

I live in Seattle and have to disagree about Steelhead. I think there are much better choices. To me, the food at Steelhead is fine, not great, and it has a very corporate feel.

My favorites downtown are Matt's in the Market, Pink Door, Le Pichet, and Place Pigalle. Check the menus to see if the food and prices suit your needs. Matt's is perched above the market but missed by many tourists because the staircase is tucked away. The view is great (as is the food).

Speaking of noncorporate: we ended up eating at the Alibi Room, and everyone loved it. Bonus was the gum wall.

I hope to check out these places over the next few years, and really appreciate the recs.

Thanks for the reminder about Alibi Room. That place had it's heyday awhile back, I'd forgotten all about it. I'm sure there are lots of great Seattle places in that category. As a local resident, I love hearing these tips, new suggestions, and reminders from other locals and tourist and visitors alike. Thanks!

I'm kind of glad Alibi Rm wasn't heyday crowded when we went anyway. We hogged our table for hours, and they were fine about it.

If you liked the Alibi Room, Mama's Mexican Kitchen might be up your alley. They've been serving up grub since 1974. Ask to sit in the Elvis Room: http://www.mamas.com/elvis_room.htm

The Pink Door in Pike Place Market enjoys inexplicable popularity. Maybe it's because of the deck.

If you liked the Alibi Room, I doubt Le Pichet will be your cup of tea.

Enjoy. You have some of our best weather.

HTTY

Pink Door is *definitely* popular because of the deck. Because it's sure not because of their food (lol) and the service can go either way. I probably go there more often than any other single place, meeting friends after work for happy hour... but I'd be hardpressed to tell you why... oh ya, THE PATIO!

A late PS: My older daughter's spending her interim break with the younger one at Tacoma. They spent last night at the Seattle Sheraton so they could go tango dancing and then go this morning for another Le Panier breakfast before dropping Sister at the airport.

Last night they called at 7 PM looking for a place to eat nearby, and I was able to pull up this thread and email links to Le Pichet, Steelhead Diner, and Café Campagne. On the way to Le Pichet they stood reading the menu at Steelhead when a "cute older couple" stopped to say they ate there all the time and gave some menu recommendations. So the Diner it was, and they liked it just fine.

So, thank you, dear helpful Seattle fodorites!

As Alaskans who retreat to Seattle we've eaten at most of these from time to time. DH loves Campagne.

If you're staying at a hotel in the area, it's just possible that if their limo isn't busy they'd give you a one way ride to Ray's Boathouse--one not mentioned here. Taxi ride back is probably $15-$18--but it's a fun experience.

I also liked Steelheaders. For high end, DH likes the Metropolitan Grill.