Every year in Best of SeattleR readers tell about all their favs,

September 24, 2012 12:00 am
Best Outdoor Dining: Some cities content themselves with a few chairs on a busy sidewalk. Around here you're only impressed by pink-edged sunsets, gorgeous water views, hotties on kayaks, and the stunning silhouettes of the Olympics on the horizon. Luckily, the deck at Ray's obliges, along with blankets for when it gets chilly. 6049 Seaview Ave. N.W., 789-3770, rays.com.
Best Outdoor Dining: Some cities content themselves with a few chairs on a busy sidewalk. Around here you're only impressed by pink-edged sunsets, gorgeous water views, hotties on kayaks, and the stunning silhouettes of the Olympics on the horizon. Luckily, the deck at Ray's obliges, along with blankets for when it gets chilly. 6049 Seaview Ave. N.W., 789-3770, rays.com.

Every year in Best of SeattleR readers tell about all their favs, from the best TV weather forecaster (Steve Pool) to the best piece of public art (Fremont Troll). Perhaps most important of all are your favorite places to eat and drink. Here are a few of your favorites. Read more in our Best of SeattleR issue.Published on July 28, 2009

Best Brunch After a First Date: Make that a successful first date, because the Portage Bay Cafe is far too nice for the Walk of Shame. Take your waffle up to the berry bar, collect your wits, and think of something clever to say back at the table. Because the person waiting for you might be, yes, The One. 4130 Roosevelt Way N.E., 547-8230, portagebaycafe.com.

Best Brunch After a First Date: Make that a successful first date, because the Portage Bay Cafe is far too nice for the Walk of Shame. Take your waffle up to the berry bar, collect your wits, and think of something clever to say back at the table. Because the person waiting for you might be, yes, The One. 4130 Roosevelt Way N.E., 547-8230, portagebaycafe.com.

Best Desserts: How disappointing it is to receive a dessert menu and realize you don't particularly want any of the four items on it. That's never a problem with B&O Espresso's unbelievably long list of sweets, from a plethora of cakes to things that sound French to a pot of chocolate topped with whipped cream. Let no craving go unmet at one of the city's most beloved coffeehouse institutions. 204 Belmont Ave. E.,322-5028, b-oespresso.com.

Best Desserts: How disappointing it is to receive a dessert menu and realize you don’t particularly want any of the four items on it. That’s never a problem with B&O Espresso’s unbelievably long list of sweets, from a plethora of cakes to things that sound French to a pot of chocolate topped with whipped cream. Let no craving go unmet at one of the city’s most beloved coffeehouse institutions. 204 Belmont Ave. E.,322-5028, b-oespresso.com.

Best Indie Coffee House: This year, Vivace is rewarded as much for surviving a traumatic move (thanks, Sound Transit!) as for the perfect crema on its cups of espresso. 532 Broadway Ave. E., 860-5869, espressovivace.com.

Best Indie Coffee House: This year, Vivace is rewarded as much for surviving a traumatic move (thanks, Sound Transit!) as for the perfect crema on its cups of espresso. 532 Broadway Ave. E., 860-5869, espressovivace.com.

Best Place to Actually Be Able to Hear Your Friends Talk: Maybe it's not small or indie, but the much-maligned international coffee Goliath does a lot of things right. Apart from cleanliness and prompt service, Starbucks keeps the music volume down and the acoustics tuned to your conversational level. One or two locations, starbucks.com.

Best Place to Actually Be Able to Hear Your Friends Talk: Maybe it’s not small or indie, but the much-maligned international coffee Goliath does a lot of things right. Apart from cleanliness and prompt service, Starbucks keeps the music volume down and the acoustics tuned to your conversational level. One or two locations, starbucks.com.

Best Place to Eat When You're Lost in Bellevue: Big crowds, huge portions, a festive atmosphere: family-style Italian chains just seem to deliver what people want. On the west side of the lake, Buca di Beppo often fills that bill. When you're out in the Wild East, Maggiano's is the favored stop. No problem if you get hopelessly lost again trying to find your way home after the meal; you'll have plenty of leftovers with you. 10455 N.E. Eighth St., 425-519-6476, maggianos.com.

Best Place to Eat When You’re Lost in Bellevue: Big crowds, huge portions, a festive atmosphere: family-style Italian chains just seem to deliver what people want. On the west side of the lake, Buca di Beppo often fills that bill. When you’re out in the Wild East, Maggiano’s is the favored stop. No problem if you get hopelessly lost again trying to find your way home after the meal; you’ll have plenty of leftovers with you. 10455 N.E. Eighth St., 425-519-6476, maggianos.com.

Best Baked Goods: Crusty walnut loaves. Buttery Italian plum rolls. Chunky, moist morning-glory muffins. Macrina Bakery makes 'em all, irresistibly. 2408 First Ave., 448-4032, and other locations, macrinabakery.com.

Best Baked Goods: Crusty walnut loaves. Buttery Italian plum rolls. Chunky, moist morning-glory muffins. Macrina Bakery makes ’em all, irresistibly. 2408 First Ave., 448-4032, and other locations, macrinabakery.com.

Best 2 a.m. Hangover Prevention Snack: Grease negates alcohol, or the starch sops up the booze, or the milkshakes have medicinal properties, uh, right? We read it someplace, too. And for that reason, Dick's is a favorite destination after last call. Multiple locations.

Best 2 a.m. Hangover Prevention Snack: Grease negates alcohol, or the starch sops up the booze, or the milkshakes have medicinal properties, uh, right? We read it someplace, too. And for that reason, Dick’s is a favorite destination after last call. Multiple locations.

Best Outdoor Dining: Some cities content themselves with a few chairs on a busy sidewalk. Around here you're only impressed by pink-edged sunsets, gorgeous water views, hotties on kayaks, and the stunning silhouettes of the Olympics on the horizon. Luckily, the deck at Ray's obliges, along with blankets for when it gets chilly. 6049 Seaview Ave. N.W., 789-3770, rays.com.

Best Outdoor Dining: Some cities content themselves with a few chairs on a busy sidewalk. Around here you’re only impressed by pink-edged sunsets, gorgeous water views, hotties on kayaks, and the stunning silhouettes of the Olympics on the horizon. Luckily, the deck at Ray’s obliges, along with blankets for when it gets chilly. 6049 Seaview Ave. N.W., 789-3770, rays.com.

Best Place for a Bachelorette Party: Nothing says awesome night like dropping a C-note on overpriced drinks and making out with a plumber from Algona. This is what Cow Girls, Inc., delivers, night in and nightout. Sorry, readers, we're baffled by this one. 421 First Ave. S., 340-0777, cowgirlsinc.com.

Best Place for a Bachelorette Party: Nothing says awesome night like dropping a C-note on overpriced drinks and making out with a plumber from Algona. This is what Cow Girls, Inc., delivers, night in and nightout. Sorry, readers, we’re baffled by this one. 421 First Ave. S., 340-0777, cowgirlsinc.com.

Best Hotel Bar: Good lighting, comfy seats, well-poured drinks, and a casual/sophisticated staff make the swellegant W Bar a perfect cocktail hang. And if you meet someone you like, there are generally rooms free upstairs. 1112 Fourth Ave., 264-6000, Whotels.com.

Best Hotel Bar: Good lighting, comfy seats, well-poured drinks, and a casual/sophisticated staff make the swellegant W Bar a perfect cocktail hang. And if you meet someone you like, there are generally rooms free upstairs. 1112 Fourth Ave., 264-6000, Whotels.com.

Best Guilty Pleasure: Trophy Cupcakes, you say. Wait a minute; cupcakes are a guilty pleasure? But they're so petite, so light, so...oh, right, we're talking about Trophy's cupcakes, with icing caps two inches high and the unmistakable traces of pure butter. 1815 N. 45th St., 632-7020, trophycupcakes.com.

Best Guilty Pleasure: Trophy Cupcakes, you say. Wait a minute; cupcakes are a guilty pleasure? But they’re so petite, so light, so…oh, right, we’re talking about Trophy’s cupcakes, with icing caps two inches high and the unmistakable traces of pure butter. 1815 N. 45th St., 632-7020, trophycupcakes.com.

Best Ice Cream/Gelato/Custard: Molly Moon's, Molly Moon's, Molly Moon's. This city is kee-razy for Molly Moon's. Is it Molly Neitzel's good timing, jumping in early on Seattle's ice-cream mania? Or the fact that her maple-walnut and Scout mint flavors are so damn good? A bit of both, we think. 1622 N. 45th St., 547-5105, mollymoonicecream.com.

Best Ice Cream/Gelato/Custard: Molly Moon’s, Molly Moon’s, Molly Moon’s. This city is kee-razy for Molly Moon’s. Is it Molly Neitzel’s good timing, jumping in early on Seattle’s ice-cream mania? Or the fact that her maple-walnut and Scout mint flavors are so damn good? A bit of both, we think. 1622 N. 45th St., 547-5105, mollymoonicecream.com.

Best Teriyaki: More than a hundred teriyaki shops dot this city, but the original reigns supreme: Toshi's Teriyaki. Creator Toshi Kasahara sold all his restaurants decades ago, but the love for him is still strong. 6421 15th Ave. N.W., 789-1998, and other locations.

Best Teriyaki: More than a hundred teriyaki shops dot this city, but the original reigns supreme: Toshi’s Teriyaki. Creator Toshi Kasahara sold all his restaurants decades ago, but the love for him is still strong. 6421 15th Ave. N.W., 789-1998, and other locations.

Best Restaurant to Expand Your Palate: At a time when black cod in sake lees and duck confit are everyday fare for Seattle foodies, the Korean-American-everything-else cuisine at Joule has become the new culinary frontier. 1913 N. 45th St., 632-1913, joulerestaurant.com.

Best Restaurant to Expand Your Palate: At a time when black cod in sake lees and duck confit are everyday fare for Seattle foodies, the Korean-American-everything-else cuisine at Joule has become the new culinary frontier. 1913 N. 45th St., 632-1913, joulerestaurant.com.

Best Happy Hour: Despite their famous half-pound cheeseburger getting bumped up a buck to $2.95, McCormick and Schmick's happy hour hasn't lost its benchmark status. It still feeds one of the city's most diverse cross-sections of noshers. 1103 First Ave., 623-5500, mccormickandschmicks.com.

Best Happy Hour: Despite their famous half-pound cheeseburger getting bumped up a buck to $2.95, McCormick and Schmick’s happy hour hasn’t lost its benchmark status. It still feeds one of the city’s most diverse cross-sections of noshers. 1103 First Ave., 623-5500, mccormickandschmicks.com.

Best Restaurant for a First Date: Hearty pasta dishes, stiff drinks, private curtained booths perfect for canoodling -- if you're not having a great first date at Bleu Bistro, s/he's a loser. 202 Broadway E., 329-3087.

Best Restaurant for a First Date: Hearty pasta dishes, stiff drinks, private curtained booths perfect for canoodling — if you’re not having a great first date at Bleu Bistro, s/he’s a loser. 202 Broadway E., 329-3087.