I have read all of the helpful recommendations for restaurants in the Seattle area from this web site but need some clarification. I am not familar with the Seattle area and am traveling with someone who prefers Kirkland along Lake Washington and the area along Elliot's Bay for dining. If we plan to spend $30 a person for dinner, what would be your recommendations for these two areas?

Try Cactus in Kirkland. The food (Mexican/Spanish)is delicious and so are the mojitos! Here's the link:
http://cactusrestaurants.com/

Cafe Juanita in Kirkland is also excellent. It's an Italian restuarant but I'm not certain if you could get out of the restaurant for $30 a person. I believe there is a website so you could check prices.

Have fun!

Cactus! is a cute place where you can eat well within your $30 budget. We go to the original place in Madison Park--near Lake Washington.

On Elliot Bay, you can eat at the Bell Street Diner for $30 per person. (It is a casual restaurant in the popular Anthony's chain of seafood restaurants.)

Maggie's Bluff and Chinook's are other restaurants in your range with water views.

Which of the following do you hope your $30 to cover: starter, main course, dessert, alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beveragese, tax, tip, or all of these?

happytrailstoyou: Good question. I hope that $30 will cover all the food; not tax/tip/alcohol.

Kureiff: The person I am traveling with loves Mojitos. Thanks for the recommendations.

I love mojitos, too. You'll love the mojitos at Cactus. Cactus also makes a lemonade with jalepeno and cilantro that is very good.

I seem to remember a place in the north part of Kirkland that had a name something like Kirkland Roasters a Bar/rest. Anyone know if that place is still there, or if it is any good?

Carillon Point in Kirkland has two nice restaurants. Right on the water. Fancy restaurant upstairs, casual cafe downstairs. I'll find the names and post again.

when you say Elliot's Bay do you mean the waterfront right in downtown Seattle?

"Yarrow Bay Grill & Beach Cafe at the Point"
Carillon Point in Kirkland on Lake Washington
425-889-9052

The Kirkland Roaster has been gone a few years now, luckily, as the food was pretty bad.

Answered my own question by looking at a map (yes that body of water down the street from my office is Elliott Bay!).

I like both Cutter's and Anthony's restaurants. They are large and kind of tourist oriented restaurants but both have wonderful views and are right on the water. Both have large menus with loads of choices and emphasis on local foods. I'm pretty sure $30 would get you an entree and salad.

Suze: Yes; I'm thinking of the area in downtown Seattle. Has anyone heard of a microbrewery that is in the Kirkland area?

I'm guessing they might be talking about The Roaster as mentioned above that is now closed.

In Kirkland: The Yarrow Bay Beach Cafe is fine, and has a nice view, and you could easily get out for less than $30. Cactus would be good as well (but no view).

If Anthony's fish bar (across from the Seattle Marriott Waterfront) is any indication of the quality of the seafood in the full service restaurant - that would be my choice. Excellent fish!

Anthony's is nice because there's plenty of outdoor seating and the choice of the to-go window, bar, and restaurant.