Need ideas for restaurants for first time in Seattle. No Sushi, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese or Mexican. Nothing too far away and nothing that takes 4-5 hours (I've read Fodor's). We love Pacific NW, Seafood, Steaks, French, Italian, even American . Also love neighborhood places where locals go. Doesn't have to be the finest and most expensive every night, although we don't mind paying top dollar for a good time.

I meant that I read Zagat. I do read Fodor's but had just finished reading Zagat when I posted.

For a neighborhood Italian restaurant that tourists don't visit, I like Brad's Swingside Cafe in Fremont.

I'll be trying Bizarro (Italian) in Wallingford tonight. It also gets great reviews, but more tourists may be visiting it now since it has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

For tapas, the Harvest Vine: http://www.harvestvine.com/

and you could try Salumi Artisan Cured Meats for lunch:

http://www.salumicuredmeats.com/

Italian/downtown: Assagio's on 4th, Il Bistro in the Market, Il Terrazo Carmine in Pioneer Square

Seafood/downtown: Matt's in the Market, Etta's Seafood, McCormicks, Anthony's Pier 66. Seafood/not downtown: Ponti's Seafood Grill, Ray's Boathouse, Chandler's Crabhouse

Steaks: Metropolitan Grill

French: Campagne, Cafe Campagne, Le Pichet

We are still craving the wonderful salads at Lola from last summer's trip. Love their late-night menu.

Will you have a car to get out to the neighborhoods? My favorite Italian place these days is Cafe Revo in my neighborhood of West Seattle, which is reachable even if you don't have a car via the water taxi from downtown and then a bit of a walk south to the Luna Park area.

A few downtown favorites: Dahlia Lounge, Cafe Campagne, Matt's in the Market, Steelhead Diner, the deck at the Pink Door.

NWW - We used to be neighbors.

jwj - Tried this place for brunch last Sunday and loved it: http://www.tilikumplacecafe.com/.

Beanweb, I hope you like Bizarro (I always have). Your comment reminded me that I've seen Beth's Cafe featured on two different food/travel shows recently.

NWWanderer..We won't have a car and even if we did we don't drive to restaurants without a designated driver, which we don't have on this trip. Will look into the transportation means you suggest and also the restaurants all of yall recommend. Probably too many for our short 4 night visit but all sound good. Many thanks

"Steaks: Metropolitan Grill" Visit their web site for a 2-for-1 entree coupon.

HTTY

lennyba - Bizarro was fabulous!! Was surprised to find a wait even on a Sunday at 6:45 -- they estimated it would be 45 minutes, but 5 mins later found us a table all the way in the far back corner. The food was excellent...bruschetta with figs, gorgonzola, and balsimc glaze followed by a homemade papparadelle with walnuts, mushrooms, and cream sherry (aka the forest floor frenzy). Loved every bit and will definitely go back!

beanweb24 - Bizarro's sounds terrific. Thanks for the rec.

HTTY - thanks for your tip. I have a Metropolitan Grill coupon on the way.

Thanks to all. Now we have to narrow the field down. Such a problem!!

We go to Bizzarro (no 's) from time to time - pretty good place.

FWIW if you're also looking for off-beat souvenirs, Bizzarro is just around the corner from Archie McPhee's new location at the corner of 45th and Stone Way (former liquor store.) Archie McPhee is a true hoot - http://www.mcphee.com/

Just a block south of Archie McPhee (and across Stone Way) is a branch of a local pizza restaurant, Tutta Bella, with some of the best pizza going. Highly recommended. http://tuttabella.com/

And between Bizzarro and Archie McPhee is one of the better breakfast/bar places in the Wallingford neighborhood, Blue Star. http://wendy2.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

It's not a very long walk before or after up to Green Lake, a lovely little lake surrounded by park and bike/walking paths. Get rid of some calories maybe. http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/p...ail.asp?ID=307

Without a car and only 4 days, personally I'd stick with downtown Seattle restaurants myself. There's soooo many good ones to choose from without going to outlying neighborhoods.

We loved Matt's in the Market when we went in February. We also liked Pink Door and Dahlia Lounge. I'm torn on Elliot's - I wanted to like it more but didn't.

We are back from our first trip to the Pacific Northwest and can report that we hated to leave. In Seattle we ended up eating at Metropolitan Grill and thoroughly enjoyed it. Had dinners also at Il Bistro and Union and loved them also. We ate lunch at Wild Ginger even though we aren't Asian fans but really liked it - the staff was great and helpful and we had a super time. Had breakfast one morning at Macrina Bakery and that was good, too. We stuck close to our hotel as per Suze's suggestions and all was great. If we ever go back we can branch out into other areas. Thanks to all of yall for your help.

P.S. Our football team won the game but the Huskies played better. It was really fun being in their stadium and feeling the fans' excitement over a new "era" - they hope! We'll be pulling for them!!!! (But I won't get in the middle of the "Dubs" and the "Wazoos".)

We enjoyed the seafood at Ray's Boathouse and Etta's Seafood. Have fun in Seattle!!!