Seattle restaurants update?
 

I haven't been to Seattle in about 4 years so need a little update. I am amazed that using the search here I can't find much of anything about Seattle dining since 2007 and 2010 other than some of the neighborhoods places.

We'll be staying at the Grand Hyatt and will turn our car in after we go to "wine country" on Saturday and will have lunch at The Barking Frog. Generally we'd like places we can walk to. We're planning on Wild Ginger one night -- I've had great meals there. And it's hard to pass up Dahlia Lounge, but surprised it no longer seems to come up on lists of "bests" -- has Tom Douglas "slipped" in the ratings?

For seafood, frankly I've always been wowed with Etta's although the atmosphere isn't much. Would Matt's at the Market be a better option? Or another choice in our area? Always liked Flying Fish, but not even sure it's still there or the same, and it is just SO LOUD!

Like some nice atmosphere along with good food. Dare I use the words "quiet and romantic" rather than "loud and frenetic"? We're partial to Asian and Pacific Northwest, probably not Italian.

So tell me, what would your four choices be for the four nights?

Oh, and we're really thinking of doing that over the top seafood brunch on Sunday at Salty's at Aliki. Nothing like totally pigging out on crab, oysters, and all the rest. So probably a lighter fare place Sunday night.

Also one more. We pick up our car downtown when we first fly in on Saturday just before noon and drive immediately to Vancouver. Would like to stop and have a nice seafood lunch "on the way" after we pick up the car. I'm thinking of Ivar's at Multikeo? Or maybe a place on Union Lake?

If Mukilteo is an option, try Arnie's. Better than Ivar IMHO.

I haven't been to Salty's but my parents liked it a lot. We have been to Seattle 3 times now. We always stop at Top Pot Doughnuts and Dahlia Bakery. Had breakfast at Marcina's Bakery last week and it was good.

We have been to Salty's at Alki Beach and really like it; we have only been for brunch. The views are A+ and the boat ride over is fun.

Elliott's has great seafood and a lovely view.

We had our anniversary dinner here. Excellent food, views, service and it was indeed quiet and romantic. Ask for a table by the window.

http://www.edgewaterhotel.com/seattl...estaurant.aspx

http://sandbox.seattlemag.com/articl...ttle-chefs-eat

Sorry, spacing got wonky, we had our anniversary dinner at Six Seven.

All subject to personal opinions, of course.

Hope your Barking Frog experience is good, i.e. better than ours.

<i>We're planning on Wild Ginger one night -- I've had great meals there.</i>

Personally, meh. Welcome to the 1990s. It's okay if you go to some weird cabaret performance (or something really great - can be either) at the Triple Door, which Wild Ginger caters. http://www.thetripledoor.net/

<i>And it's hard to pass up Dahlia Lounge, but surprised it no longer seems to come up on lists of "bests" -- has Tom Douglas "slipped" in the ratings?</i>

IMO a case of Emeril-itis. Too much exposure, too much hype. He's gone slightly un-PC by publicly opposing the push for a $15/hr minimum wage, claiming it will hurt business. Gosh, and his entrees are so cheap to begin with.

<i>For seafood, frankly I've always been wowed with Etta's although the atmosphere isn't much. Would Matt's at the Market be a better option?</i>

Probably, but the menu is quite a lot smaller. Much more intimate, but getting a table can be a challenge. I'm also a big fan of Elliott's Oyster House on the central waterfront, but of course it's in the middle of tourmageddon.

<i>Like some nice atmosphere along with good food. Dare I use the words "quiet and romantic" rather than "loud and frenetic"? We're partial to Asian and Pacific Northwest, probably not Italian.</i>

In which case, mosey down to Second Avenue (5-10 min. from the Hyatt) to Long Provincial, a downtown spinoff of the very classy Tamarind Tree (Vietnamese) restaurant in the International District. Lovely, serene premises, great food, not too expensive. http://longprovincial.com/

<i>Oh, and we're really thinking of doing that over the top seafood brunch on Sunday at Salty's at Aliki. Nothing like totally pigging out on crab, oysters, and all the rest. So probably a lighter fare place Sunday night. </i>

Bring money, but of course the view is superb. But just as a thought experiment, consider brunch instead at Toulouse Petit, on lower Queen Anne. IMO the best breakfast in town. http://toulousepetit.com/

Then later, for your lighter meal (or as heavy as you want) take the West Seattle water taxi over toward Salty's, but instead of shelling out megabucks for that spread, stay right on the ferry dock at Marination Ma Kai, a branch of one of the more popular food trucks in town. It's a sort of Korean/Mexican/Hawaiian fusion place, with fab food, lots of good craft beers and margaritas, on one of Seattle's best outdoor decks, with these views: http://gardyloo.us/20091226_31a.jpg and http://gardyloo.us/20091226_30a.jpg . http://marinationmobile.com/ma-kai

<i>Also one more. We pick up our car downtown when we first fly in on Saturday just before noon and drive immediately to Vancouver. Would like to stop and have a nice seafood lunch "on the way" after we pick up the car. I'm thinking of Ivar's at Multikeo? Or maybe a place on Union Lake?</i>

I like Mukilteo but it's quite some distance out of your way. Try either Ivar's Salmon House at the north end of Lake Union - http://www.ivars.com/locations/salmon-house (either indoors or outdoors, or grab some chowder and clams 'n chips at the fish 'n chip bar in front, then walk around to the lakeshore where there many tables, begging ducks and seagulls, and a killer view of the lake, boats, downtown, Space Needle, etc.) *OR* have fish tacos or burritos at Agua Verde, a hole-in-the-wall place on Portage Bay at the foot of the University of Washington. Rent a kayak to go explore the houseboats if you want, but probably should stay away from the margaritas if you're hitting the road. Or one of you, anyway. http://aguaverde.com/

Or, drive through Mickey D's at Northgate, to keep from starving, but push north on I-5 around an hour to the junction of SR 11 (aka "Chuckanut Drive") and follow it north to the wide spot called Bow, WA, and have a picnic at Taylor Shellfish Farm. Stop somewhere for drinks on the way; I think they sell cokes and lemons, but not sure - maybe phone first. http://www.taylorsamish.com/ This is the real deal. Then continue on Chuckanut into Fairhaven, the historic district of Bellingham, before swinging back over to the freeway for the final miles to the border. Chuckanut is a lovely winding road along the water/cliff edge, much nicer the playing with the truckosaurs on I-5.

Funny you mention Chuckanut. That was my original idea. But then when I realized it would be something like 4 or 5 PM to us, having started the morning on the East coast at about 5 AM, I think we'll want to eat sooner, rather than later. Ivars at a Lake Union sounds like a good idea, presumably with easy parking. We're going going to want to dawdle much before heading out.

Do you have a better idea than Barking Dog? I read a ton of reviews and could scarcely find a negative one.

Another idea for unlimited fresh oysters, King crab legs, etc , etc for under $50? I know it's a lot, but to me an amazing bargain. We can get great breakfasts a lot of places at home, but nothing even remotely like that excellent seafood spread (yes, I've done it before).

"NOT going to want to dawdle much . . . "

<i>Do you have a better idea than Barking Dog?</i>

Frog. Yes, Purple, not far away. Cheaper, less pretentious. http://www.purplecafe.com/

I do not live in Seattle, but go there frequently to visit my DS who is in college there. I have wanted to try Matt's at the Market, but we have not done so yet. It gets great reviews, reserve early - we tried to go on a whim and they were booked.

As far as the Tom Douglas restaurants go, I've been to most - Dahlia's is my favorite I think. I do love Seatown for a casual lunch of a crab BLT. Just had one last week. I was driving from central WA to the airport, but detoured into town just to have one. I like the Palace Kitchen for their roast chicken.

I like the Brooklyn for seafood, and enjoy sitting at their big counter by the kitchen. The scallops are amazing. I like Elliots for the view and they have a great happy hour pricing as I remember. I've had some nice lunches there too, like salmon filet sandwich or salad.

If you like coffee, this is THE place for coffee lovers, be sure to try Stumptown - my favorite for lattes! I always bring home a bag of their house blend.

Capitol Hill has some great food too. I love The Skillet for breakfast or lunch - very casual but innovative. There is always a wait. I also like Terra Plata which has really fresh kind of different food, although it is classified as American, I think there is a Latin flair to it. They have a dessert with churros that comes with a pot of warm chocolate sauce to dip them in - yum!

Don't miss the Chilulay museum, incredible indoor and outdoor displays.

How much is the Chihuly museum--couldn't seem to find a price on their website?

As for restaurants, I'm like OP -- hadn't been to Seattle in a few years and was familiar with all the same places--even use Tom Douglas' recipes.

One additional place we did used to go to--Ray's Boat House. Is it still good--or flooded with tourists in August?

Gardyloo, finally had a chance to look more at those suggestions on the computer (rather than my Ipad I was using before). The menu (and reviews) of Long Provincial look wonderful and we're definitely going to do that -- probably instead of Wild Ginger or maybe in addition to. Couldn't find much in the way of interior pictures and it doesn't look like much inside, but the food sounds wonderful.

I looked at Purple -- funny you mention it being cheaper, because the lunch menus side by side for it and Barking Frog make it look considerably MORE expensive -- particularly comparing the same sorts of dishes. But it does look very good.

Also looked at menus and reviews of Toulouse Petit and it looks wonderful -- not for our Sunday seafood extravaganza, but a definite breakfast one day.

I'm also wondering about that lunch on the way "out of the city" on Saturday. Maybe even driving right down to Elliott's -- they seem to have parking there, even validated for lunch -- if not driving out to Ivar's Salmon House on Lake Union. Or if not doing Elliott's one evening when we get back after Canada.

OK now one more question. Coming back to Seattle from Victoria, we'll be driving and taking the ferry to Port Angeles arriving there right at noon. So what's a good stop within an hour going towards Seattle for a nice lunch? That will be on a Friday.

Dahlia Lounge is still great. I don't know why it wouldn't be mentioned (I always do -lol!).

Too bad you said no Italian because I think Il Bistro in the Market is has a very romantic and quiet atmosphere. Maybe Maximillien's? It's french, also in the Market, with water views.

I'm a fan of Wild Ginger myself. I held my office holiday party there and they did a great job for us. But you've been, so you know what it's all about. I agree Long's Provincial nearby gets great comments (i haven't eaten there).

If you end up back at Etta's, eat on the bar side (left as you enter) instead of the dining room (on the right). Same menu but a lot cozier and quieter.

suze, in seattle

I just checked on Flying Fish, and seems they are still around but moved to the new South Lake Union development area. Never been a fan of the place (2 out of 3 times at the 1st Ave location they managed to get our order wrong, and i mean really wrong!).

How about Steelhead Diner or Matt's at the Market instead?

HOw is the Whale Wins? I keep reading about it in Sunset magazine and Bon Appetit. It looks like a fun restaurant.

http://www.thewhalewins.com/

Nice interesting sounding place, kureiff. And I like that they say "roasted half chicken". I always laugh at all the places that call it "half roasted chicken" to which I want to say -- well, let me know when you cook one the rest of the way -- I don't eat half cooked chickens!"

Sure gets a lot of press. while I live here but don't have the budget for those kinds of restaurants, so can't comment 1st hand.

It's pretty much the same price as Etta's. I had great crab cakes at Etta's when I lived in Seattle, bu that was 10 years ago. I also loved Matt's in the Market, too.

I keep meaning to get over to Seattle for a long weekend trip, and I've been keeping a list of new places to try. But we keep getting other plans put ahead of that trip.

Bar Sajor and Sitka and Spruce were two other places on my list. And Delancey (because I love the blog Orangette). :)

http://www.barsajor.com/

http://www.sitkaandspruce.com/

Bar Sajor and the two new London Plane's are right around the corner from my office. All three have that extremely stark/sterile look going on. Very plain, high ceilings, tables right on top of each other, noisy. I know it's all very hip but is totally unappealing to me, so I've yet to go in any of them (except to pick up a bottle of wine from London Plane -lol!)

Until I changed jobs recently (from Belltown to Pioneer Square) I had lunch often at Etta's, I don't think I've ever been there for dinner as far as menu prices.