Seattle Restaurants
#1
Original Poster

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,729
Likes: 7
Seattle Restaurants
Thanks for all the help so far with our trip to Seattle nn May. Now I am looking for restaurants. We like pretty much all kiinds, but do love seafood. Could you pls. suggest some nice dinner dining places We'll be staying Capitol Hill so some in that area would be great. Price wise under $200 for two with drinks. Thanks!
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,197
Likes: 12
15th Ave East (Capitol Hill): Jamjuree (thai), El Farol (mexican), Rione XIII (upscale), Olympia Pizza & Harry's Bar (italian/greek), Rubenstein (bagels), Spice Walla (indian)
19th Ave East (Capitol Hill): Monsoon (excellent vietnamese), Zeeks (pizza), Rocket Tacos (mexican)
Seafood (downtown): Anthony's, Ivar's, Elliott's, Place Pigalle, Matts in the Market, Cutter's Crabhouse, Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar, Emmett Watson's, Market Grill, Jack's Fish Spot
19th Ave East (Capitol Hill): Monsoon (excellent vietnamese), Zeeks (pizza), Rocket Tacos (mexican)
Seafood (downtown): Anthony's, Ivar's, Elliott's, Place Pigalle, Matts in the Market, Cutter's Crabhouse, Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar, Emmett Watson's, Market Grill, Jack's Fish Spot
#4
Original Poster

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,729
Likes: 7
15th Ave East (Capitol Hill): Jamjuree (thai), El Farol (mexican), Rione XIII (upscale), Olympia Pizza & Harry's Bar (italian/greek), Rubenstein (bagels), Spice Walla (indian)
19th Ave East (Capitol Hill): Monsoon (excellent vietnamese), Zeeks (pizza), Rocket Tacos (mexican)
Seafood (downtown): Anthony's, Ivar's, Elliott's, Place Pigalle, Matts in the Market, Cutter's Crabhouse, Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar, Emmett Watson's, Market Grill, Jack's Fish Spot
19th Ave East (Capitol Hill): Monsoon (excellent vietnamese), Zeeks (pizza), Rocket Tacos (mexican)
Seafood (downtown): Anthony's, Ivar's, Elliott's, Place Pigalle, Matts in the Market, Cutter's Crabhouse, Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar, Emmett Watson's, Market Grill, Jack's Fish Spot
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,197
Likes: 12
You're most welcome. Pretty sure all of them have website where you can see the restaurants and menus (some show prices some don't). The ones I listed on Capitol Hill are all places I've been to often and can walk to from my house and are in that price range. Some of the downtown ones might stretch the budget depending on how many drink(s) -haha.
suze
suze
#7
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,197
Likes: 12
https://www.volunteerpark.cafe/
Thought of one more nice neighborhood place if you happen to be around Volunteer Park.
Thought of one more nice neighborhood place if you happen to be around Volunteer Park.
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#9



Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,856
Likes: 79
Coming back to the OP, I'm not clear of where you settled on the car question. I raise this because, as with many cities, especially those in the west, many restaurants, especially the newer and/or innovative ones, are spread through the area both in the city and into the suburbs.
In Seattle, neighborhoods like Beacon Hill, south and east of the city center, or Ballard or Fremont, north of Lake Union, have become serious culinary "hot spots." While of course you can get there by Ubers etc., a car could open more distant places to widen your choices.
For example, you might look at a very enjoyable place on Lake Union, the White Swan Public House. This lakefront place is a sister property of Matt's in the Market, a highly regarded restaurant in the Pike Place Market. https://www.whiteswanpublichouse.com/ Getting there from the Volunteer Park area looks close on a map, but it's really not.
Or one of the city's iconic seafood restaurants, Ray's Boathouse (with its lower cost Ray's Cafe upstairs) is on the waterfront of Shilshole Bay, several miles from Capitol Hill.
A car could make accessing these places, or MANY like them, easier, as well as expanding your touring options. Just sayin'.
In Seattle, neighborhoods like Beacon Hill, south and east of the city center, or Ballard or Fremont, north of Lake Union, have become serious culinary "hot spots." While of course you can get there by Ubers etc., a car could open more distant places to widen your choices.
For example, you might look at a very enjoyable place on Lake Union, the White Swan Public House. This lakefront place is a sister property of Matt's in the Market, a highly regarded restaurant in the Pike Place Market. https://www.whiteswanpublichouse.com/ Getting there from the Volunteer Park area looks close on a map, but it's really not.
Or one of the city's iconic seafood restaurants, Ray's Boathouse (with its lower cost Ray's Cafe upstairs) is on the waterfront of Shilshole Bay, several miles from Capitol Hill.
A car could make accessing these places, or MANY like them, easier, as well as expanding your touring options. Just sayin'.
Last edited by Gardyloo; Apr 3rd, 2026 at 12:32 PM.
#10
Original Poster

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,729
Likes: 7
Coming back to the OP, I'm not clear of where you settled on the car question. I raise this because, as with many cities, especially those in the west, many restaurants, especially the newer and/or innovative ones, are spread through the area both in the city and into the suburbs.
In Seattle, neighborhoods like Beacon Hill, south and east of the city center, or Ballard or Fremont, north of Lake Union, have become serious culinary "hot spots." While of course you can get there by Ubers etc., a car could open more distant places to widen your choices.
For example, you might look at a very enjoyable place on Lake Union, the White Swan Public House. This lakefront place is a sister property of Matt's in the Market, a highly regarded restaurant in the Pike Place Market. https://www.whiteswanpublichouse.com/ Getting there from the Volunteer Park area looks close on a map, but it's really not.
Or one of the city's iconic seafood restaurants, Ray's Boathouse (with its lower cost Ray's Cafe upstairs) is on the waterfront of Shilshole Bay, several miles from Capitol Hill.
A car could make accessing these places, or MANY like them, easier, as well as expanding your touring options. Just sayin'.
In Seattle, neighborhoods like Beacon Hill, south and east of the city center, or Ballard or Fremont, north of Lake Union, have become serious culinary "hot spots." While of course you can get there by Ubers etc., a car could open more distant places to widen your choices.
For example, you might look at a very enjoyable place on Lake Union, the White Swan Public House. This lakefront place is a sister property of Matt's in the Market, a highly regarded restaurant in the Pike Place Market. https://www.whiteswanpublichouse.com/ Getting there from the Volunteer Park area looks close on a map, but it's really not.
Or one of the city's iconic seafood restaurants, Ray's Boathouse (with its lower cost Ray's Cafe upstairs) is on the waterfront of Shilshole Bay, several miles from Capitol Hill.
A car could make accessing these places, or MANY like them, easier, as well as expanding your touring options. Just sayin'.
Maybe if the price comes down I will adjust, but right now we will use uber or public transportation. It seems like there are plenty restaurants, just looking at some of Suze's suggestion, to be fine for the nights we are there. Also we do like to stay nearby our apt for some nights when possible for dinner. We have eaten at Rays on previous trips.
Last edited by yestravel; Apr 3rd, 2026 at 04:34 PM.
#11
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,197
Likes: 12
how is Serious Pie and Dahlia Bakery these days.
To be honest, I rarely go downtown now. But anything that Tom Douglas does has always been solid and both of those are still open. I've loved both those places and been many times when I was working in an office in Belltown, but not recently.
To be honest, I rarely go downtown now. But anything that Tom Douglas does has always been solid and both of those are still open. I've loved both those places and been many times when I was working in an office in Belltown, but not recently.
#12
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,530
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Thanks suze. We actually planned lunch on our visit last year figuring on either Serious Pie or Dahlia, depending on which was less crowded. Both were closed for some corporate event with a notice posted on the door. I don’t even remember where we ended up, must have been a forgettable last minute place lol.
#13
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,197
Likes: 12
I mean they are nice enough places but nothing I'd make a special trip for or plan around. I was at Dahlia Bakery often for lunch when I worked nearby for about 8 years. These days, if I want pizza I'd just walk to one of the places in my neighborhood (Zeeks or Olympia). 

#14
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,197
Likes: 12
OK one more if you are willing to go a short distance north but would require transportation. If you are near the Capitol Hill Light Rail that gets you there up to Roosevelt. For me around Volunteer Park I'd use a taxi, uber, lyft (rather than going south to go north).
On Roosevelt this is a traditional Italian place my visiting sister and I truly loved. Open (flaming) kitchen, great service, old-school in the best of ways.
https://www.salvatoreristoranteitaliano.com/
More romantico (upscale vibe) is Serafina on Eastlake https://serafinaseattle.com/
On Roosevelt this is a traditional Italian place my visiting sister and I truly loved. Open (flaming) kitchen, great service, old-school in the best of ways.
https://www.salvatoreristoranteitaliano.com/
More romantico (upscale vibe) is Serafina on Eastlake https://serafinaseattle.com/
#17
Joined: Feb 2026
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
You’ll have plenty of great options around Capitol Hill. For seafood, you might want to try places closer to downtown or the waterfront like Elliott’s Oyster House or Taylor Shellfish — both are really good for fresh seafood.
In Capitol Hill itself, there are lots of solid spots too — some more casual but still great quality. It’s a very food-friendly area, so you really can’t go too wrong just exploring nearby.
In Capitol Hill itself, there are lots of solid spots too — some more casual but still great quality. It’s a very food-friendly area, so you really can’t go too wrong just exploring nearby.
#18
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 98,197
Likes: 12
The Ivar's located at the north end of south Lake Union would be closer and easier than going down to the waterfront. Nice restaurant with a great view. Outside seating in good weather. Another fun one up that way is Aqua Verde, it's mexican food and with boat rentals. Either would be a fairly short uber/taxi. Kind of hard locations for public transportation without quite a bit of walking.




