I am taking my husband to Seattle to celebrate his 40th birthday and leaving our children at home for the first time. I have hotel reservations at the Inn at the Market and want a quintessentially-Seattle lunch for Friday, romantic and incredible dinner (Asian or Fusion, not Italian) for Saturday and a deliciously enormous brunch for Sunday.

Any suggestions?

Th3e quintessential lunch can be had close to the hotel at the Athenian Inn right in the main market arcade, across Pike Place from your hotel. Very authentic old-style bar/cafe, with good food (try the Athenian steak) and characters at the bar and taking your order. Very much a working-class scene, also popular with movie buffs (Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner in Sleepless ate lunch here.)

Numerous choices for dinner, some close to the market, some not. Probably I'd stay close and try Chez Shea right in the market, or go for the view and take a car or cab to Palisade north of town, or a tiny and wonderful new place, Lark, on 12th Avenue near Seattle University. But there are so many choices - see Chowhound.com for definitive listings and reivews.

The big brunch event - food plentiful and good, view eyeball-blowing, is at Salty's on Alki, on the West Seattle beach opposite the downtown skyline. Book ahead, as far out as you can.

A quintessential Seattle lunch would be on the deck at Ray?s Café after a visit to the Locks. Other options include Rover?s, our most honored French restaurant, which will soon be serving lunch on Fridays only or the Georgian Room in the Olympic Fairmont Hotel.

For lunch near your hotel, check out Matt?s at the Market and Café Campagne.

There are so many dinner options that I wouldn?t know where to begin. Wild Ginger comes to mind for Asian, but meals there aren?t always as satisfying as one anticipates. Three of our best restaurants are Mistral, Cascadia, and Lampreia.

Salty?s is probably the best choice for Sunday brunch, but Palisades is another good option.

We enjoyed a nice dinner at Salty's, tho weren't able to do the brunch. Sit outside on the patio, the views are amazing.

You may also want to post your questions on the Chowhound board. Lots of great food advice over there! Enjoy Seattle, it's beautiful! ***kim***

Cafe Campagne, yes, but also check out Campagne, which is right in the courtyard of the Inn at the Market. Top NW ingredients prepared beautifully, with a French accent. Our meals both inside the restaurant and outside on the courtyard have been memorable.

Just a side note: If you're interested in NW wines, there's a great little wine shop across the street (Pine) from the Inn called Pike & Western. Loads of good stuff there, and the people are helpful and fun. They can ship your wine home for you. Enjoy the market!

I'll take brunch at Palisades over Salty's any day.

Seattle lunch? I like Place Pigall in the market, sitting at a table looking out on the sound eating the best mussels in balsamic gravy every! mmmmm. Or I'll throw my vote in for the Met. All the business people, steaks and salads.

Rovers is fantastic and French, another that is newer to Seattle and amazing is Union on 1st and Union (also French). Romance can also be found at the Waterfront restaurant on the Pier (seafood), Canlis on QueenAnne if you want Asian. I hear that Zoe in Belltown is romantic and delicious. Antoher thought might be Andalucca (northwest/Spanish), very romantic!

<<Canlis on QueenAnne if you want Asian>>

I didn't mean Asian, I meant Seattle! Sorry about that, Canlis is also a good Northwest style place with views of Lake Union and Gasworks park.

You might try Ponti for brunch, and I'll second the recommendations for Salty's (my neighbors . For lunch you might consider the Brooklyn, which is just across from SAM and has a wonderful oyster bar. It's also nice for dinner but is not Asian/Fusion.

Agree with Cafe Campagne or Matt's for lunch. Matt's is my most recent favorite although I have been a loyal fan of the Cafe. You might check out recent reviews of Flying Fish or Dahlia Lounge. We liked Dahlia Lounge but have not eaten there in a few years. There are some fusion dishes. When we have stayed at the Inn at the Market we have always eaten downstairs at Campagne. While not fusion, it sure can be good
and even better just walking back to your room.
Now for another suggestion: Nell's in Greenlake for dinner.

As far as Salty's is concerned, I thought the food was good but the water taxi ride and the view worth the trip. It's a great way to get out on Elliot Bay.

I agree with the suggestion to check out some of the suggestions on chowhound.com or simply submit this same question there and stand back for the responses.

Enjoy Seattle..It's a wonderful city.

Palisades for Brunch and Canlis for dinner. What an eating feast!