Seattle Layover
 

Husband and I have a 4 hour layover in Seattle around dinner time. I KNOW it doesn't translate into 4 hours available away from the airport :-)...but is it enough time (considering that the airport is remote from Seattle and Tacoma proper) to go out to dinner? Is there a restaurant close enough that offers a faire better than airport food?

If you're into steaks, you can try the Spencer's at the Hilton Seattle Airport. It's just across from the airport, and the shuttle should take just 2-3 minutes to get there.

Not much time to comfortably get anywhere fun, but try 13 Coins. Saveur Magazine called it one of the most entertaining places to dine because of the display kitchen.

I'm a recent visitor to Seattle, and I'm not familiar with the restaurant rkkwan suggested, but I'd go for that one, or something else CLOSE to the airport. I've heard good recommendations on 13 Coins, but it is right in downtown Seattle, and you are talking about rush hour traffic. By the time you deboard your plane, get a taxi, and ride to the restaurant, you would have used up at least 45 minutes. (Correct, Seattlites?) Assuming you could get a table, order and eat in an hour+, you would still have to get a taxi, ride back to Sea-Tac, go through Security and walk to your gate (which could take up to 2 hours total). You would be cutting it awfully close.

Donna

Spencer's not cheap, but good food. You can get information and menu here:

http://www.spencersforsteaksandchops...tle/index.html

Pollyvw: 13 Coins has two locations and one is just a few minutes from the airport. You will be able to relax and enjoy great service and an amazing menu without the worry of getting back to the airport in time. Fun to watch them cook if you sit at the bar in one of the cushy, high-backed chairs!

believe me, dwoodliff, if I thought pollywv had time to get downtown, i'd have plenty of suggestions.

Matched against the array of places downtown, 13 Coins won't be at the top of my list. (I'd look for a Tom Douglas room or perhaps Wild Ginger, despite some of the other reviews). The second Coins near the airport stands out because of the dismal dining options near Sea-Tac.

repete: Please forgive my mistake. I didn't realize there was a 13 Coins near the airport.

Assuming you don't have bags to fool around with, your only real issue is getting back to the airport with 90 min. or so; less if you have your boarding passes for the next flight. So with 2 1/2 hours give or take, you really could get downtown and back if you wanted - 20 min. tops on a cab each way - with the better part of 2 hours for dinner.

If you don't want to go that far, but still get out of the airport commerce schlunk, you might get a cab to Salty's at Redondo, a reasonably good over-the-water seafood place in Redondo Beach (yes, I know, not the same one) which is on the Puget Sound waterfront in south Des Moines (yes, I know, not the same one). Here's the website: http://www.saltys.com/ It too would be around 15-20 min. in a cab, maybe a tad less, and it's a fine place for a brewski and some decent fish as the sun sinks behind the mountains/Vashon/clouds. Be sure you arrange for the cab's return.