City of Seattle

Ballard

Ann’s Teriyaki 2246 N.W. Market St., 789-5838. Everything you might expect from a teriyaki house and more, with extras such as a selection of rice vermicelli dishes and jars of chili oil on every table. Go for the lemongrass tofu with a heaping plate of nicely spiced veggies. The curried beef with vegetables is also a solid choice. Bonus: Wheel of Fortune is usually on the elevated TV set around dinnertime. $

Belltown

Amber 2214 First Ave., 728-8500. There’s a lot going on at Amber—in front, a packed semi-sports bar, and in back, a restaurant area with a swanky metal-meets-wood Northwest decor. Too loud for a romantic dinner date, Amber is the type of place where you’d go for a Caesar salad and a good-sized pork chop with potatoes on the side. Seafood entrees include a cedar-planked Alaskan King salmon. Gutbuster warning: Portions are Outback generous. $$

Long Provincial Vietnamese Restaurant & Jelly Bar 1901 Second Ave., 443-6266. Long (the “o” pronounced as “ao”) brings everything the Nguyen family have done at their popular Tamarind Tree into the realm of fine dining: tonier decor, more formal service, and more sophisticated dishes with equally sophisticated prices. The joke quickly emerged, though, that the restaurant was named after its epic menu. The best approach is to eat low on the, er, food chain: Appetizers like fried-catfish spring rolls and meltingly tender satays as well as the herb-strewn salads (scallop-pomelo, banana-blossom) are exquisite. Vegetable sides like kohlrabi stir-fried with dill are straightforward and reliable. Meanwhile, the entrees follow the general rule that the more you pay, the less impressed you’ll be. $$

Mama’s Mexican Kitchen 2234 Second Ave., 728-6262. Mama’s looks like whatever has been filling the minds of several eccentric souls has exploded onto its walls. It would take an awfully haughty person to begrudge the place its cheap, huge chicken screamer (chicken and sour cream) or Nolasco (veggie) burritos. Mama’s boasts Mexican tchotchkes, killer margaritas, random paintings, strings of lights, a bit of Marilyn, and, of course, the famed Elvis room. $

Two Bells Bar & Grill 2313 Fourth Ave., 441-3050. An old-growth bar in a forest of stripling condos and high-end furniture shops, the Two Bells remains one of Belltown’s rare constants. The burgers, served on unwieldy French rolls with caramelized onions and mustard sauce, are exceptional. Plus, the cooks don’t overlook the little things—the potato salad has zip, the pickles aren’t shriveled and bruised, and they’ve even got bendy straws. The allure of the tavern, however, extends past the food and beer; it’s a friendly place and has always been. $

Virginia Inn 1937 First Ave., 728-1937. Twice its original size, but with barely a seam between the old and new sections, the century-old Virginia Inn has managed to stay timeless while allowing diners to stretch their legs. The bar’s approach to food is still fresh takes on American standards, given that in the new millennium tradition encompasses mussels and fries and pasta alfredo as well as Dungeness crab cakes. There aren’t many better two-hour lunches than relaxing on the outside patio, with a pint of Manny’s and a French dip, looking out over the Market while you down house-made potato chips. $

Eastlake &
South Lake Union

14 Carrot Cafe 2305 Eastlake Ave. E., 324-1442. One of the first restaurants in the 1980s to induct Seattle into the cult of brunch, 14 Carrot Cafe is still chugging along. On the weekends, the colorful room is packed with polite families and young couples, all vying to get to the biscuits and gravy or the pancake du jour before they run out. If you don’t make it in time, find solace in the egg dishes or the huevos rancheros. $

Ravish 2956 Eastlake Ave. E., 913-2497. This charming Eastlake bistro offers a menu of local fare, from small plates to entrees, and dishes like Applegate Farms Organic Pigs in a Blanket and Pan-Seared Sweet Potato Latkes. Inventive cocktails and quality regional wines round out the drink list at Ravish. $

Fremont

Art of the Table 1054 N. 39th St., 282-0942. Chef Dustin Ronspies originally set up shop as a caterer in 2007 and started serving food a few days a week to lure potential clients. Passionate word-of-mouth turned his unlikely location into a cult favorite. Ronspies does his own shopping, churns his own ice cream, grows his own herbs, and, yes, washes his own dishes. Check artofthetable.net to see what he’s serving at his small-plate Happy Mondays and prix-fixe multicourse dinners, Thurs.–Sat. Whether seared spring mushrooms with gnocchi and parsnip puree or pork and bacon albondigas, it’s made by hand from market ingredients. There’s no dining without a reservation, since he only has 12 seats. $$–$$$

Greenwood & 
Phinney Ridge

Gordito’s Healthy Mexican Food 213 N. 85th St., 706-9352. The team of tie-dye-wearing cooks behind Greenwood’s Gordito’s grills insists on stuffing their Mexican burritos to the limit with black beans, rice, tomatoes, jalapenos, and your choice of charbroiled pork, beef, chicken, veggies, or tofu. The familial staff is not real keen on letting you leave hungry, and the remains of a burrito picked up for dinner can easily translate into tomorrow’s lunch. Going to Gordito’s is like going to your favorite aunt’s for a birthday feast—only here you get to keep the leftovers. $

Marination Mobile locations vary, N/A. Seattle’s office workers, foodistas, and drunks all love this roving Korean-Hawaiian taco truck. The kalbi (beef short rib) and pork tacos—soft corn tortillas loaded up with tender grilled meat soaked in classic Korean marinades, frilly cabbage-carrot-sesame-cilantro slaw, and a smear of sriracha mayonnaise—may be the best street-food treat to hit Seattle since the taco buses rolled into town, dispensing carnitas and salsa roja. Not far behind the tacos is the Aloha slider, a tiny sweet-roll bun with smoky, oven-roasted kalua pork and the bright crunch of the slaw. And no bar food soaks up the last two beers quite like Marination’s kimchi fried rice with a sunny-side-up egg on top. $

International District

Sub Sand 419 Sixth Ave. S., 682-1267. A tiny sandwich shop that combines the elaborate toppings and soft rolls of an American sub (do take a few moments to admire the giant submarine mural on the wall) and the pickled vegetables and marinated meats of Vietnamese banh mi. The culinary fusion leads to $4 ham-and-cheese sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, red onions, and daikon, as well as one of the best veggie subs in town: marinated tofu with both Western and Vietnamese fixings, cilantro, and green chiles. Should you be eating in rather than running back to the desk, paper-wrapped oval in hand, the right side of the sandwich board lists Chinese-Vietnamese specials like spicy beef noodles. $

North Seattle

Plaza Latina 17034 Aurora Ave. N., 533-9440. Located past rows of pawn shops, strip clubs, casinos, car dealerships, and ‘70s-era hotels, it’s not the most glamorous of shopping strips, but this massive Latin American market warrants a trip north. The spacious shop is stocked with everything you’d need to make a meal of empanadas, arepas, enchiladas, and more. Shelves are lined with jars of chiles and chili paste from around Central and South America, bags of achiote and yerba mate, cans of chimichurri and dulce de leche, dried beans in every shape and size. A couple of freezers to the left as you walk in carry frozen ingredients too tropical to carry fresh, plus a few items, like those arepas, that just need to be heated before eating. There are Costco-sized birthday cakes, and a meat case holding chorizo and longanitsa sausages. Fluorescent colored pinatas hang overhead, creating a disjointed party atmosphere. $

Pike Place Market

El Puerco Lloron 1501 Western Ave. (on the Hillclimb), 624-0541. The rickety old metal tables and chairs, the loud shades of blue and maize adorning the walls, the strings of gaily colored lights, and the wealth of imported knickknacks all holler “south of the border,” but it’s the initial glimpse behind the counter revealing the woman shaping and grilling handmade corn tortillas that lets you know for sure that El Puerco Lloron is true Mexican fare. The menu here is no-frills: Ten entrees—order by number, por favor—are all priced under $7.25. No bulging burritos or taco salads here, just classic meat dishes like carne asada and tacos. Taste the moist carnitas and you’ll understand why the pig is crying. $

Il Bistro 93A Pike St., 682-3049. Il Bistro, the longtime resident of the surprisingly spacious grotto under the Pike Place stairs, positions itself as a romantic destination: The red sauce joint’s staffers have seen their share of teary wedding proposal scenes at candlelit tables. But the food sometimes threatens to interfere with the mood, since it’s nearly impossible to feel amorous after downing mounds of rustic rigatoni bolognese laden with veal, or a portion of lasagna so hefty that a burly server warned: “I can only finish it when I’m hungover.” Still, the restaurant does right by classic Italian dishes and makes good use of fresh fish and seafood from the market overhead. Complete the seduction with an excellent martini. $$$

Maximilien 81A Pike St., 682-7271. The four-decade old Maximilien has a certain shabbiness—some might call it romantic—that only comes off as stylish when it’s associated with France. The Pike Place Market restaurant flaunts its Gallic associations, serving up classic dishes like escargot, apparently secure in the knowledge that most diners know so little about French cuisine that the kitchen’s competence won’t be questioned. But it doesn’t take a culinary education to recognize grease and salt, which figure into far too many dishes. Maximilien is a lovely spot to practice French with your waiter, or gaze out at the window at the Sound below. Do your eating elsewhere. $$$

Ravenna & Wedgwood

Salvatore Ristorante Italiano 6100 Roosevelt Way N.E., 527-9301. An old standby. The essentials are always right at this homey trattoria. Skip the lackluster salad and head straight into the southern Italian thin-crust pizza. For the main course, take your waiter’s advice on specials or try the very good penne puttanesca. Service is helpful with the daunting wine list. $

Thrive 1026 N.E. 65th St., #A-102, 525-0300. Good food is like sunshine for the soul. Thrive is completely gluten-free, vegetarian, and extremely friendly toward those with other allergies as well. Aside from serving raw food in the cafe, they also teach classes, have a raw-food “immersion program,” and offer pricey getaway “cleanse and detox” programs at their Sedro Woolley Wellness Center. $$

University District

Agua Verde Cafe and Paddle Club 1303 N.E. Boat St., 545-8570. Agua Verde functions as a kayak and canoe dispensary in the University District, but the attached canteen is worthy of a visit even if you’re not in need of a boat. The food is middling, but the restaurant’s waterfront setting and sunny energy is beguiling. Proteins for tacos and burritos are frequently overcooked, although there’s nothing wrong with the sturdy chips and selection of housemade salsas that a shot of hot sauce can’t fix. Agua Verde is the rare restaurant where diners always seem to enjoy their meals, regardless of the food’s overall quality. Perhaps the margaritas help. $

Araya’s Vegetarian Place 1121 N.E. 45th St., 524-4332. Popular for its lunch buffet, the charming Araya keeps an all-vegan kitchen, so its dining room draws a diverse group of college students, animal lovers, Muslims, Hindus, Jews—as well as eaters who aren’t driven by dietary restrictions. The restaurant’s decades-long history shows in its decor, a dark wood scheme that’s a few leaves short of a fern bar, and its mastery of Thai cooking. The custardy fried tofu could pass for dessert, and the silky green curry is terrific. Many of the dishes made with meat substitute somehow taste meatier than the real deal, perhaps because Araya has cut out the bovine middleman and put stunning vegetal flavors straight on the plate. $

Cafe Allegro 4214 University Way N.E., 633-3030. Founded in 1975 and billing itself as Seattle’s oldest coffee shop, the Allegro is a U District institution. One that many thought—given its alley location between the Ave and 15th—would be destroyed by the new UW tower that filled in the old sunny parking lot it once faced. Before, patrons would follow the sun from the familiar wooden benches and over to the parking lot. Now, the view and sun are obstructed, but the UW has made the alley a lot more pleasant than it could be. The Allegro still specializes in studious types, yet the place has wi-fi and the mood here is low key and convivial. Nodding acquaintances have been maintained for decades. Yesterday’s undergrad is today’s professor. $

Korean Tofu House 4142 Brooklyn Ave. NE, 632-3119. Korean Tofu House (alternate name: Myung Dong), housed in a below-ground-level storefront around the corner from University Way, is one of very few Korean restaurants in the city limits worth hitting. While the panchan and seafood pancake are decent, and the gruff pack of women who run the place get sweeter each time you return, you’ll want to stick to the restaurant’s specialty: soondubu, or soft tofu stew. Huge on flavor, the stew comes to the table boiling away in a clay pot, and the server cracks an egg into the bright-red bubbles, which you stab with your chopsticks and stir into soft, golden clouds. Reminder: blowing on your spoon will only cool the heat, not the chile burn. $

Wallingford

Kabul 2301 N. 45th St., 545-9000. Lovers favor Kabul’s softly lit interior, carnivores love its chicken kabobs, and pretty much everyone agrees that the kitchen has a way with eggplant, simmered in a spicy tomato sauce and dressed with yogurt and mint. Kabul isn’t cheap: Kabobs with Kabuli palaw (pilaf) can top $20. But there are enough layers of flavor in the ashak—pasta half-moons stuffed with leeks, scallions and cilantro, then topped with ground beef, yogurt, and mint—to justify its bistro price. $$

Olympia Pizza and Spaghetti House II 4501 Interlake Ave. N., 633-3655. This cozy, if not divey, eatery comes complete with take-out counter and red pleather booths. Their pizzas are thick, cheesy, Greek-style, and made to order, though there are 28 recommended combos. If you are superhuman, try the desserts, made with Oreos, ice cream, and lots of sinful sauces. $

West Seattle

88 Restaurant 9418 Delridge Way S.W., 768-9767. This place might not be much to look at, but notice the plaque on the wall commemorating a pho cook-off victory. The kitchen could easily win awards for its excellent banh mi sandwiches, too; even its Thai dishes are superb. The Panang curry is a favorite, full of fresh, exciting herbs and vegetables. Who needs atmosphere when the food is this good? $

Husky Delicatessen 4721 California Ave. S.W., 937-2810. Families congregate in West Seattle for scoops of homemade ice cream, aspiring cooks scan the shelves for paella fixings, and little kids with Swedish fish in their fists careen through aisles. The Husky Deli is a candy store, ice cream shop, and gourmet specialty grocery all rolled into one. $

La Rustica 4100 Beach Drive S.W., 932-3020. Located a fair distance from the bustle of Alki Point, La Rustica isn’t the sort of restaurant you’re likely to just happen upon, unless you just happen to be taking a leisurely, aimless drive along the beach’s sleepy residential side. But by all means do, if only for the opportunity to scarf down basket after basket of free, (usually) freshly baked focaccia before dinner at this intimate, family-run Italian restaurant. Even the menu items that cost money offer tremendous value—mouthwatering dishes like the sausage and saffron risotto can be had in the $15 range. And waiting isn’t even a drag (they take no reservations for parties of fewer than six); there’s a cave-like back waiting area where cocktails and wine can be proffered. But they really should turn it into a focaccia bar, for the sake of serious freeloaders. $

Locol Barley & Vine 7902 35th Ave. SW, 708-7725. Just out of reach of The Junction, Locol was designed for neighbors to easily meet one another in a comfortable environment: The colors are warm, the narrow bar is intimate without being claustrophobic, and most important, the lighting is dim (strangers don’t need to see your drunk face under bright lights). The motto here should be, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” $$

Salty’s on Alki 1936 Harbor Ave. S.W., 937-1600. There are brunches all over the city, one for every palate, appetite, and budget, but in terms of sheer volume and variety—not to mention view—Salty’s is king. Carving tables of roast beef and ham are lined up next to waffle irons and French toast griddles. Around the corner there’s an omelet bar, a crepe bar, and a made-to-order pasta bar with lobster ravioli and sinful sauces. This probably won’t be the most cultured eating-out experience you’ve ever had, but you certainly won’t need to eat again for the rest of the day. $$$

Spiro’s 3401 California Ave. S.W., 932-5100. Spiro’s, a Greek-leaning pizza and pasta joint, is the restaurant that children who get dragged to nicer digs would undoubtedly prefer. While epicureans might scoff, kids will appreciate a frozen fried chicken breast layered with cheddar cheese and microwaved (then passed off as chicken parmigiana); white-crusted pizzas; plain noodles with under-seasoned tomato sauce and the popular blue cheese-and-ranch blend that graces green salads. The peppy family-run restaurant is extraordinarily friendly, too. No wonder the walls are adorned with children’s crayon drawings celebrating Spiro’s. $

Kirkland

Bin on the Lake 1270 Carillon Point, Kirkland, 425-803-5595. Housed in the swanky Woodmark Hotel at Carillon Point, this restaurant and bar features a selection of 80-plus wines, fancy interpretations of comfort food (e.g. foie gras on French toast), and a spectacular view of Lake Washington. Behind the polished servers, muted colors, and classy views of Yarrow Bay are hints of whimsicality, backed by the eclectic “fusion” menu. For entrees, try the magnificent seafood stew or the proscuitto crusted scallops with porcini cream, mache, piquillo peppers, and manchego. The wine list is broad and deep, the dessert selection fine. $$$

Cafe Happy 102 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, 425-822-9696. The flavors at this Chinese-influenced vegetarian spot are so rich that you won’t miss a thing. The soya-protein sweet and sour “fish” isn’t going to fool anybody, but will fill you up nicely. There are also a number of non-Chinese items, such as grilled eggplant with mozzarella on focaccia. How can you resist a restaurant with a name like Happy? $

Ristorante Paradiso 120-A Park Lane, Kirkland, 425-889-8601. Meals start with delicious rolls and continue with basic pasta dishes that are simple and absolutely satisfying. The capellini al pomodoro fresco is one example, a dish proving that fresh tomatoes are usually much better than ladles of tomato sauce. The rich pollo alla mia maniera is a chicken breast robustly stuffed with spinach, mozzarella, and prosciutto and covered in a sweet marsala sauce. You’ll soon find yourself robustly stuffed as well. $

The Slip 80 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, 425-739-0033. Think Red Mill Burgers, only with a full bar, near the beach. In addition to basic one-third-pound char-grilled burgers with whatever you want on them (like slathered with a signature wasabi mayo), they get creative with offbeat indulgences: Consider (but not for too long) the “peanut butter bacon burger,” which has a kind of Elvis appeal. For those who don’t eat beef, bacon, or peanut butter, the Slip offers an array of salads and soups and chicken, veggie, or seafood burger options, including a grilled patty of smoked salmon, onions, and capers. $

Mercer Island

Roberto’s 7605 S.E. 27th St. #111, Mercer Island, 232-7383. Awash in brick red and a calm decor, Roberto’s invites you to settle into a woodsy booth and order pizza toppings to your heart’s content. The crust is buttery and thick without being doughy, the sauce offers plenty of tang, and the anchovies are almost perfect. $

Redmond

The Bento Box 15119 N.E. 24th St., Redmond, 425-643-8646. The yakisoba and the stir-fries are sure bets, with lots of crisp vegetables—not just onions and carrots but also pea pods and fresh asparagus. Opt for the spicy teriyaki or the Korean specials: Bi bim bop is a bowl of rice with marinated beef, sprouts, zucchini, and spicy julienned carrots. $

Neville’s Restaurant at the British Pantry 8125 161st Ave. N.E., Redmond, 425-883-7511. The place in Redmond to get a spot of tea also brews up dinner. The menu ranges from fish and chips with peas to roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. At lunch, try a ploughman’s pie made with lean pork sausage. Don’t forget the traditional full afternoon tea service. $

North of Town

Bothell

Grazie Ristorante 23207 Bothell-Everett Highway S.E., Bothell, 425-402-9600. Fans of the Factoria Grazie Ristorante beware: This is not your Grazie, but the food is good for the money. The tutto mare, a green salad with salmon, shrimp, and scallops in lemon-garlic dressing, is satisfying; the pizza is fine. All in all, it’s a flight of stairs up from the Olive Garden’s class. $