WORKERS

Best Chef

In an age that’s all about the celebrity chef, Charles Walpole is a chef all about the food. And the food served at his Blind Pig Bistro is all about satisfying your hunger. I hunger for inspiration and for security. Walpole’s menu serves both. Take for instance the steak and charred-eggplant puree; the urfa biber-dusted chocolate cremaux (the most luscious hybrid you’ve ever tasted, of mousse and pudding); and an order of warm beer bread with freshly churned butter. These items, and a few others, are dependable, always on the menu. You can let the waitstaff take care of the rest. On a typical visit we pick a wine and ask Ben or Renee, who head the front of the house, to take over and surprise us with something new. They produce the perfect pairing: a sunchoke and fava-bean salad, say, or a plate of charred peaches, dishes that are always seasonal, local, inventive, and—the thing that’s hardest but most respectful of truly good food—examples of restraint. All the while Walpole is in the kitchen, quietly at work. In more than 20 visits, I have met him only once, and never had a dish I didn’t like or a meal I didn’t love. BETH MAXEY

2238 Eastlake Ave. E., 329-2744, blindpigbistro.com

Best Bartender

There are a growing number of great bartenders in Seattle. Some of them ply their trade in dedicated cocktail shrines, with hundreds of bottles at their disposal and a cornucopia of bitters, tinctures, and infusions. That’s not exactly the model at LloydMartin, where Tyler Kingdon has built a diverse, compelling, and challenging cocktail list that he manages to change regularly without the options most bartenders have at their disposal. His bar is also noteworthy for almost entirely eschewing well-known mass-produced spirits: you won’t find Grey Goose, Patron, Maker’s Mark, or Captain Morgan anywhere near LloydMartin’s shelves. Kingdon and the rest of the staff are ready, willing, and able to steer you to more interesting and often far tastier replacements: obscure amaros, vermouths, and other European spirits that take the place of the usual set of vodkas, whiskeys, and gins, often showing them in an entirely new light. In addition, he’s unassuming and always willing to explain himself and the idea behind a drink—a welcome trait given how daunting the cocktail list can look to a novice. ZACH GEBALLE

1525 Queen Anne Ave. N., 420-7602, lloydmartinseattle.com

Dining

Best Barbecue

It’s astounding that RoRo BBQ & Grill rarely registers on lists of Seattle’s best barbecue. RoRo’s fresh smoked pulled pork tastes closest to the delectable piles of soft, slow-smoked shoulder I ate when I lived in Alabama. And eating at the outside picnic tables or inside the shack of a restaurant perfectly completes the barbecue ambience. Tables are set with rolls 3 of paper towels, a necessity when eating barbecue this messy. Douse your brisket, tri-tip, or pulled pork with one of five housemade sauces to customize your barbecue just as you like it. I prefer the Rob’s Reserve sauce, which has the perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and tangy I’m looking for. Each meal comes with homemade sides, from delightfully sweet cornbread muffins to garlic “mash taters” and baked beans mixed with chunks of bacon. I have it on good authority from my Alabama native buddy that RoRo’s sweet tea is the real deal, too—it’s got the right amount of sugar to feel refreshing but not ridiculous. MEGAN HILL

3620 Stone Way N., 954-1100, rorobbq.webs.com

Best Brunch

Stumbling into the bright, high-ceilinged interior of Oddfellows and plunking down at one of the rustic tables is a favorite Seattle brunch experiences. Whether your day starts at 9 a.m. or 3 p.m., Oddfellows helps with a wake-up mimosa, bloody mary, or rotating brunch punch and endless refills of freshly brewed coffee, which help wash down the fantastic selection of straightforward but masterful dishes: a big fluffy brick of brioche French toast with a dollop of mascarpone and your choice of fruit compote or maple syrup; homemade oatmeal flecked with brown sugar and pecans, perfect for a rainy day; a bowl of beignets sitting under a snowy mound of powdered sugar and raspberry jam for dipping (a surprisingly revelatory combination for this native New Orleanian); and a dense homemade biscuit paired with cheesy scrambled eggs. When the weather’s good, ask to dine al fresco, preferably in the sliver of a back patio, hemmed in by enchanting brick walls that seem to speak to the history of this building; I can imagine old men with fantastic mustaches smoking cigars back there. MH

1525 10th Ave., 325-0807, oddfellowscafe.com

Best Chinese Restaurant

Chinese food in Seattle is primarily Cantonese, which I find a bit boring generally and lacking in quality locally. (And don’t get me started on the dismal state of dim sum.) So I send you to the Eastside, where you can find spicy Szechuan fare. Bamboo Garden is the best of the bunch. There’s a regular menu for the timid, but I recommend taking a look at the “Walk on the Wild Side” menu. Here you’ll find adventurous dishes like swimming fire fish, pork tongue slices, and sour & spicy jellyfish. My favorite is the spicy cauldron called “the other parts of the pig,” with pork intestines, pig-blood cubes, tofu chunks, basil, and pickled cabbage in a tangy broth. If things heat up too much spice-wise, refreshing watermelon juice is at the ready for a rescue. JAY FRIEDMAN

202 106th Pl. N.E., Bellevue, 425-688-7991, bamboogardendining.com

Best Deli

OK, so, you have to drive to Shoreline, then once you get to Pannonia Smokehouse the guy behind the counter is kinda gruff—but man, oh man, I’ve tasted cured meats from the far corners of the earth, and most of them are not nearly this good. This place sells itself as an Old World smokehouse using Old World recipes, which means you won’t find any of the extras you do in your typical deli case: gluten, artificial preservatives, lactic acid, smoke flavor, 3

fillers, MSG, and colorings. What you do find is real flavor. And value. Pannonia sells more than 70 varieties of meat—so I can’t claim to have tried them all yet. But I will. BM

1514 N.E. 177th St., 462-1227, carpatiasausage.com

Best Diner

Skillet’s elevated diner fare makes me sigh a big “duh” for this category. The diner opened on Capitol Hill in 2011 after a successful start as a food truck. A highbrow approach to comfort food makes the dishes here accessible yet refined, so as you scarf down a burger with Skillet’s famous bacon jam and blue cheese and a big pile of fries, you somehow feel like a glutton and a sophisticated eater at the same time. The beef, after all, is sourced from Painted Hills, known for its ethical and sustainable approach to cow-raising, and you’ve paid a respectable $14 for the privilege. My heart broke when Skillet, as it does every now and again, changed half of its menu, doing away with a blissful steak swimming in a rich bordelaise sauce under a teepee of potato wedges with perfectly crisped skin. But I digress. There aren’t many places where I’d feel justified waxing poetic about a dripping-with-grease grilled-cheese (on brioche! With bacon jam!) or fried chicken (delicate sprinkles of fennel float through the batter), but at Skillet, anything goes. I even forgive the purposefully hip ambience, with plaid-clad waitstaff and Ball jars for beer and water. MH

1400 E .Union St., 512-2000, 
skilletstreetfood.com/diner.php

Best Food Truck

Off the Rez combines two perfect food-truck foods: tacos and fry bread. For some reason I just can’t see myself going to a sit-down restaurant and ordering fry bread. But I do love it. Who doesn’t? Topped with cinnamon and sugar? Nutella? Made into a smoky pork taco (topped with coleslaw)? This is where Off the Rez excels. Not only do they make soul-satisfying food, they know what food is best suited to a truck and a food-truck-food mood. BM

twitter.com/OffTheRezTruck

Best French Fries

Let’s be honest. Nothing’s better than a good french fry. Well, actually, yes, there is: a good french fry (or a whole plate of them) next to a perfectly cooked steak or a juicy, crisp, roasted chicken. Le Pichet’s french fries—or pommes frites—are everything good fries should be: salty, crispy, and golden-brown. Forget the hamburger, forget the ketchup. These fries don’t need it; they’ve been soaking up all those delicious juices from their steak frites or poulet roti. Or you can just order them on the side, with mayo. BM

1933 First Ave., 256-1499, lepichetseattle.com

Best Hot Dog

The somewhat legendary 2 a.m. must-have, the Seattle Dog, got its start in Pioneer Square, but it has been perfected on Capitol Hill. It comprises a grilled bun slathered with cream cheese and topped with grilled onions. In 1988, bagel man Hadley Longe tried selling bagels to club patrons in Pioneer Square. But who wants a bagel at 2 a.m.? He started putting hot dogs on cream-cheese bialys, and a new trend was born. Other vendors eventually replaced the bialy with the bun, transforming the hot dog into what it is today. My favorite vendor is the hot-dog stand by Chop Suey. Stepping up to the grill (and under the tent, if it’s raining) feels like slipping into a pool of calm, worlds away from the hooting, drunken frenzy of a late night on the Hill. Vegetarians, choose a perfectly grilled (read: not overcooked and rubbery) smoked apple sage for your Seattle Dog; the sweetness of the apples are offset by chunks of Yukon Gold potatoes and a subtle smokiness. MH

1325 E. Madison St.

Best Indian Restaurant

Chili’s is not fancy. It used to be a restaurant-cum-mini-mart, and it retains a very practical vibe, but it’s comfortable and the food is really, really good. Most Indian restaurants in America serve Northern Indian or Punjabi food; Chili’s is Southern Indian, and because of this the menu is completely different—lighter, with many more vegetables and leavened rice breads than you are used to seeing. Try the itlay, little fermented rice pillows, or the upma, a mild, soul-sustaining dish of vegetables and cracked wheat. Chili’s tea is sweet and milky and the owners are warm: Every time they walk by your table, they smile and nod and say, “Eat, eat.” Who can argue with that? BM

5002 University Way N.E., 526-9392, chilissouth
indianrestaurant.com

Best Italian Contemporary

From the outside, it’s easy to overlook Spinasse. Its minuscule signage and the lace curtains blocking any view into the interior of the Capitol Hill restaurant mean many would-be diners unwittingly pass it up. But oh, are they missing out. Inside, dine on Northern Italian cuisine perfected: unfussy dishes with very few ingredients, which means every element of the dish sings. A favorite is the delightfully delicate, finely cut egg pasta with sage and butter—and that’s it. Bits of aromatic sage cling to the moist, thin noodles, and it all goes down so effortlessly that I’m genuinely sad when it’s over. Sitting at the bar means you get a front-row seat to the busy kitchen, where true artisans are hard at work stuffing ravioli, rolling sheets of pasta again and again through a machine before draping them in the kitchen window, or slicing disks of crusty bread. Spinasse’s kitchen also makes its own salumi and vinegars, other small gestures that lend to outstanding dining. MH

1531 14th Ave., 251-7673, spinasse.com

Best Southern-Italian Restaurant

Full disclaimer: I had to go to bat for my choice against the Food & Drink Editor, who would have chosen La Medusa for this category. But my Sicilian background trumped her love of the Columbia City restaurant (which admittedly I haven’t been to, but will now visit tout suite!). Growing up as I did among a bunch of food-loving relatives (my grandfather’s recipes won multiple awards), I like to think I know “real” southern-Italian cuisine when I eat it. Chefs Maria Hines and Jason Brzozowy brought Sicily to Seattle last year when they opened the all-organic eatery Agrodolce. The arancini (Sicilian fried rice balls) are perfectly crisped on the outside and warm and soft on the inside, just like the ones I ate in Siracusa. Twirling my fork through the mound of pasta marinara laced with Mama Lil’s peppers and Skagit River Ranch sugo reminded me of my grandfather. The sourcing here is impeccable (the meat from Skagit River Ranch, for example, is ethically and sustainably raised), and there’s a slew of options for vegans, vegetarians, and, most surprisingly, gluten-free eaters. MH

709 N 35th St., 547-9707, agrodolcerestaurant.net

Best Mexican Restaurant

I came so close to cutting this category this year. Seattleites seem to be fairly united in their declaration that our city doesn’t exactly kill it when it comes to Mexican food. Fonda La Catrina doesn’t dazzle me, but it gets enough right oftener than its competitors to keep me coming back. Take the mole, for instance: It really is spot-on (and I’ve been to Oaxaca for the real deal). It’s not too sweet, and has a wonderfully bold (just a tad bitter) chocolate/ancho/cumin/anise profile and a subtly spicy finish. And the enchilada verde isn’t overly smothered in green sauce. Plus there are options for the more adventurous eater, like “lengua” (tongue) and an interesting assortment of “tortas,” Mexican grilled sandwiches featuring various meats served on “pan bolillo,” with mayo, black beans, avocado, tomato, chipotle sauce, and a side of serrano coleslaw. Extra props for the outdoor seating with an excellent view of planes almost grazing the treetops as they come in for a landing at the nearby Boeing Field. NLS

5905 Airport Way S., 767-2787, fondalacatrina.com

Best Sushi

Go to Tsukushinbo. Although I can’t believe I’m saying that, because really I want it all to myself. I’ve regularly sat at the sushi counter since I moved to Seattle seven years ago, and it’s no overstatement to say that the sushi is better every time (and it was great to start with). Here’s the thing: Tsukushinbo is a family business. Mom and Dad are in the kitchen making great non-sushi izakaya (Japanese tapas) while the kids run the front. So Tsukushinbo has tons of family charm, but that’s just the setting. American-born Sho, the son behind the sushi bar, is passionate about sushi in a way we understand as a Japanese phenomenon, but don’t necessarily expect in the U.S. Sit at the counter and talk to him. He is always studying, inventing, traveling, learning, traversing the politics of American sushi-chef training, and most of all making just plain amazing sushi. It warms my soul to see the years pass and Sho’s passion continue to grow. BM

515 


S. Main St., 467-4004

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

I am not a vegetarian or a vegan—far from it. So if being an omnivore means I am not a fit judge, object now. I think it makes me better suited. I know what the veggies are up against. To me, the best vegetarian and vegan dishes don’t try to imitate meat, but instead focus on veggies themselves and their incredible range of texture and flavor. This is where Sutra excels. Cherries are combined with zucchini in a way that made me rethink both; the same with cold vegan peach-and-coconut-milk soup. I like the prix fixe menu and the intimate space; all you have to do is walk in the door and you’ll be quickly taken care of, no matter your predilections. Sutra happily accommodated my gluten-free friend, and with advance notice will accommodate vegan diners and many other restrictions as well. But “restrictions” seems like the wrong word here: Many 3 foods weren’t on the menu, but the experience didn’t seem limited at all. BM

1605 N. 45th St., 547-1348, sutraseattle.com

Best Pop-Up Restaurant

Pop-ups are tricky business. Poorly executed ones just feel like bad restaurants with ill-conceived themes and untrained staff. Food comes at unpredictable intervals, servers may be largely ignorant as to what’s in a dish, and in general the experience is underwhelming. Well-executed, a pop-up can offer talented young cooks a chance to strike out on their own and shine light on a lesser-known cuisine or dish. Such is the case with Kraken Congee, a monthly pop-up dedicated to the ubiquitous East Asian rice porridge. Congee itself is well-suited to the pop-up life; subtle in flavor, it acts as a canvas for a wide array of ingredients, but like any base it still needs to have the proper texture and consistency, something the guys behind Kraken nail. Arising out of the deep the first Monday of every month, what sets Kraken Congee apart from the other great pop-ups throughout the city is as much the vitality with which they infuse whatever space they’re in as the quality of their food; the packed houses at Grub on Queen Anne or Anchovies and Olives on Capitol Hill can attest to that. ZG

twitter.com/KrakenCongee

Best Outdoor Dining

Ma kai in Hawaiian means “along, near, or beside the sea,” which makes it the perfect moniker for Marination Ma Kai, the latest addition to the Marination family, located on the West Seattle Water Taxi dock on Alki. The eatery’s ample outdoor patio and large windows mean that almost every seat in the house overlooks Elliott Bay. The shiny Seattle skyline dominates, but views stretch over Puget Sound toward Bainbridge Island and the Olympics. But good luck getting a seat on sunny days—the line has stretched out the door all summer. If you’re lucky enough to nab one, you’ll dine on Marination staples like Spam sliders, kimchi fried rice, and sexy tofu tacos with Marination’s pickled jalapenos, a mound of slaw, and drizzles of nunya sauce—in addition to a slew of Ma Kai originals: Hawaiian-style shave ice and panko-crusted, beer-battered fish ’n’ chips with your choice of miso or kimchi tartar. The restaurant also serves breakfast starting at 9 a.m., perfect for watching the early ferries glide to and fro and the morning’s bike commuters head toward the bridge while munching on a breakfast slider: housemade Portuguese sausage and eggs between sweet Hawaiian buns. MH

1660 Harbor Ave. S.W., 
328-8226, marinationmobile.com

Best Place for a Date

At The Whale Wins, you don’t need a dreamy view or candlelight to bring a romantic vibe. After all, you’re likely looking at Stone Way, which, let’s face it, isn’t that pretty. Regardless, I’ve recommended The Whale for date nights to everyone who asks. In the whitewashed interior, warmed by the glow of the wood-fired oven, I feel transported to a charming, small European town—in France, or maybe Ireland. The seasonal ingredients are expertly transformed into simple yet elegant dishes undoubtedly swaddled in some mind-blowing sauce. I don’t even care that the dishes are served, purposefully, lukewarm. Start with a small plate of cheese and marmalade; ooh and aah over a colorful, artfully plated seasonal vegetable dish; and dive into slender medallions of meat paired with more seasonal veggies and one of those sauces. It helps the romance that you’re sharing plates with your date, which is how The Whale intends it. If I were planning a European honeymoon, I’d hope a restaurant similar to The Whale would be on the agenda. MH

3506 Stone Way N., 632-9425, thewhale
wins.com

Best Restaurant if Someone Else Is Paying

Altura is worth saving up for even if you don’t have someone to treat you, but it is especially well suited if you do. Here’s my logic: Altura 3 specializes in being attentive. From its inventive yet classic Italian food timed to the seasons to its well-curated and executed cocktail list and intimate atmosphere, the whole experience is elegant, smooth, and well-rehearsed. If I am with someone who really wants to treat me—like parents or a fourth date—I want to go to a place that’s both an event in itself and an unobtrusive backdrop for us to share a good time. A place that warrants a $93 chef’s tasting menu (add $75 for wine pairings). At Altura, you can have a great meal and a great conversation—and if conversation ever flags, you can always talk about the food. BM

617 Broadway E., 402-6749, altura
restaurant.com

Best Decor

La Bete should be the quintessential Capitol Hill restaurant. Tucked into an odd little corner off Olive Way, it breathes life into its space in a way that more restaurants should emulate. It starts with the beautiful and massive kitchen counter: hewn from a single tree, its crenulated edge seems to create many inviting pockets to cozy up to. The elegant chandeliers and tasteful china show that decorating isn’t just about spending a ton of money; it’s about understanding the space your restaurant will inhabit. Large windows allow for plenty of people-watching, while the well-spaced tables allow for a sense of privacy even within a relatively small space. The atmosphere is inviting and refreshingly unpretentious for the Hill, and the service staff is always well-dressed. La Bete has much more to recommend it than just the beauty of its interior, but from the standpoint of pure style, it remains (unfortunately) a bit of an outlier among many of its Seattle brethren. ZG

1802 Bellevue Ave., 329-4047, 
labeteseattle.com

Best Food Trend

Oyster happy hours are all the rage, with new oyster bars like The Walrus and the Carpenter, Coastal Kitchen, Ballard Annex Oyster House, and soon-to-open Little Gull Grocery mixing with mainstays like Elliott’s Oyster House and Taylor Shellfish Farms. Belly up to a bar for happy hour and slurp down these briny bivalves, raised and harvested around western Washington. MH

Best After-Bar Dining

Ba Bar serves real food in the wee hours, with a special late-night menu starting at 11:30 p.m. From frog legs to fries, grilled-chicken vermicelli to oxtail pho, you can still get food that is filling, nourishing, and satisfying even as the rest of the city is already asleep. And if you want more than something to eat, Ba Bar has a reasonably priced late-night drink menu, too. Since you’re straddling evening and morning, why not opt for their version of a bloody mary? The bloody Lao features house bloody mix, Bacardi Light, fresh basil, and a smoked-salt rim. BM

550 12th Ave., 328-2030, babarseattle.com

Best Meal for a Hangover

You might face an hour (or longer) wait for a weekend brunch, but Glo’s has the antidote to 3 a long night of drinking on Capitol Hill. It helps to plan ahead; call to get your name on the list before you take the walk of shame. Once you get the chance to order, sop up some of that booze with hefty servings of favorites like the salmon scramble, with flaky salmon and a mess of avocado, cheddar cheese, and sour cream; various combinations of eggs, hash browns, and toast; and enormous omelettes. On the sweeter side, try a seasonal pancake special or a pile of blueberry French toast topped with whipped cream. If you have room (doubtful), finish the meal with a chunk of warm sour-cream coffee cake, sprinkled with powdered sugar and drizzled with sweet butter. Generous pours of Pegasus Coffee keep flowing as you slowly recover. If you opt to fend off the hangover well before it has a chance to begin, Glo’s mercifully opens Fridays and Saturdays at midnight. MH

1621 E. Olive Way, 324-2577, gloscafe.com

DrINKING

Best Happy Hour

Most happy-hour joints give you a choice: cheap drinks or cheap food. It’s seemingly the only way a restaurant can offer one without killing its profit margin. Somehow List (along with its sister restaurant Barolo) does both. Eminently drinkable bottles of wine are available for $14 (or $3.75 a glass), draft beers are $2.95, and the entire bar menu is half-off for happy hour: 4–6:30 p.m. daily, 9 p.m.–close on weeknights; and all day Sunday and Monday. Favorites include the calamari, potato gnocchi with black truffles, and the spicy meatballs. Combine all that with stylish decor and solid service, and it’s easy to see why List’s relatively small space is almost always full. They don’t take reservations, and there’s not much of a waiting area, but for a budget- and stomach-conscious happy-hour crowd, it’s impossible to beat. ZG

2226 First Ave., 441-1000, listbelltown.com

Best Neighborhood Bar

The first thing to realize about a neighborhood bar is that it will have its own internal hierarchy. Regulars (and there will be plenty of them) will get served first, and they may get charged less. The bartenders might not have all that much to say on your first or second visit, but if you act respectfully and tip well, they’ll remember you, and eventually make you one of their own. Solo Bar is a perfect example of this principle. Drawing from an eclectic range of Queen Anne residents, theater-goers, and the ever-thirsty performers that entertain them, it’s often lively at the most unexpected of times. What elevates it above your typical neighborhood bar is the regularly-changing artwork on the walls, the better-than-expected wine list that features an eclectic mix of local and international wines (and seriously, how many neighborhood bars have a Torrontes by the glass?) and a cadre of bartenders that run the gamut from young and hip to … older and still hip. With an interesting assortment of tables, couches, and stools, it’s a comfortable place for a friendly gathering, a romantic liaison, or shooting the breeze with the bar crowd. ZG

200 Roy St., 213-0080, solo-bar.com 3

Best Place to Drown Your Sorrows

Whether it’s the devastating break-up, the loss of a family member, or getting fired, there are times in life when solace is found in a glass. When those occasions occur, a certain kind of bar recommends itself. It requires cheap, stiff drinks, cozy corners to hide in, and most of all a sense that you’re probably not the only one with a good reason to be drinking your sorrows away, no matter what time of day. A place like the Ballard Smoke Shop. The chances are that there will always be at least one person in there having a rougher day than you. The staff is experienced (to put it lightly), but relatively friendly and usually there to lend you a sympathetic ear. Plus, there’s always the chance that some kind soul will ring the bell and buy the bar a round; it’s almost enough to make you forget why you need that drink in the first place. ZG

5439 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-6611

Best Soccer Bar

Despite the apartment-dominating flat-screen my plus-one insists on having, it’s still more fun to watch the Sounders’ away games among a group—the more raucous the better—than at home. The best we’ve discovered is Kangaroo & Kiwi, an antipodean-themed bar rather incongruously housed in an old Carnegie Library building in Ballard (recently relocated, K&K was formerly an Aurora Avenue dive on the same block as Beth’s). The floors are wooden and creaky; the walls covered in maps and memorabilia; the menu tends to the heavy and heart-unhealthy (fried egg on your burger, mate?); the center bar space and its two flanking rooms are airy and spacious. Even they get packed for big games, though, most memorably the victory last November that marked the Sounders’ first advance ever beyond the first round of MLS playoffs. For 80 minutes the place was packed, the match scoreless, the tension debilitating. Then, in the 81st, Mario Martinez scored what would be the game-winner. Strangers embraced strangers. Strong men wept. A rainbow arced across the sky, a flock of doves soared heavenward, and a marching band in full dress came down the street playing the “Hallelujah Chorus.” At least as I recall it. GAVIN BORCHERT

2026 N.W. Market St., 297-0507, 
kangarooandkiwi.com

Best Dog-Friendly Bar

For dog owners, dining out can be fraught with tension: Do we leave the pup at home, where they might do who-knows-what to the carpet; try to find a dog-sitter; or just bring them along and hope the restaurant doesn’t mind? That’s why apprehensive owners like Norm’s so much—it makes no bones (sorry) about its dog-centricity. Well-behaved pooches are always welcome, and it’s a great place for dog lovers to meet and converse with others. Those with dog allergies, phobias, or aversions would be well-served to steer clear, but even if you’re not a dog owner, the quality beer selection and solid food make it worth checking out. ZG

460 N. 36th St., 547-1417

Best Gay Bar

Let’s be blatantly clear: Pony is not a bar for those who only dabble in gay culture. While other Capitol Hill bars try to appeal to both a gay and straight clientele, Pony is unabashedly aimed at gay males. If you were unsure of this upon entering, the gay pornography plastered on almost every inch of the space will reassure you very quickly that you are in fact in a gay bar. Because it doesn’t pander to a straight crowd, it remains relevant to several generations of gay guys in Seattle without going too far down the nightclub rabbit hole. Drinks are affordable and (pun intended) stiff, and I’m led to believe that it still serves as one of the city’s better meat markets. Oh, and there’s a gloryhole in the bathroom, if that’s your thing. ZG

1221 E. Madison St., 324-2854, ponyseattle.com

Best Brewery

After 30 years of microbrews, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Seattle’s brewing scene was a bit predictable. Enter Cody Morris and Epic Ales. From the umami powerhouse of his Terra-saurus to the Szechuan peppercorn- and cinnamon-laced Beatrice, he challenges conventional notions of what flavors you should expect in a beer. The small SoDo space that constitutes Epic allows only enough room to brew one barrel at a time, and each one’s handcrafted and esoteric nature is clearly evident. ZG

3201 First Ave. S., Ste. 104, 351-3637, epicales.com

Best Beer Selection

When it comes to beer bars, “selection” is a bit of a tricky word. A few establishments offer a veritable avalanche of beers, intimidating all but the savviest drinker. Others might offer plenty of local beers at the expense of some of the great ones being made worldwide. Uber Tavern manages to find the sweet spot. With a solid but not overwhelming set of beers on tap and hundreds more (including some rarities) in bottles, you’ll always be able to find a beer for you. Even better, the place features fun electronic reader-boards with information on each beer, including origin, alcohol content, and how much is left in the keg. Uber is unabashedly for beer drinkers, and they love it unreservedly. ZG

7517 Aurora Ave. N., 
782-2337, uberbier.com

Best Bar Music

In the age of Pandora, Spotify, and other on-demand music stations, crafting a perfect music mix for a restaurant or bar is becoming a lost art. Given some of the music I’ve heard in such establishments, this is probably for the better. Live-music venues, on the other hand, remain relatively inviolate. While Seattle boasts a number of fine spots to hear live music, none combine a truly eclectic mix of performers (bluegrass, funk, jazz, hip-hop, soul) with as sexy a space as

The Triple Door. Access to Wild Ginger’s menu and wine list provides the opportunity to combine dinner and a show, while the cocktail list is affordable and creative. There’s no telling what you might see if you walk in on a random Tuesday evening, but that’s the hallmark of a great venue. ZG 
216 Union St., 838-4333, thetripledoor.net

Best Bloody Mary

You know that old saying: You are only as strong as your weakest link. Well, think about the bloody mary. I think the weakest link is too-sweet, too-salty, too-pulpy tomato juice from a can. Or even worse, a bloody mary mix. Ugh! At Poppy, Capitol Hill’s Indian-inspired tapas restaurant, this is not what you will find. The 3 bloody mary is on the menu when tomatoes are in season, because they make their own tomato juice. The difference cannot be overstated. Imagine fresh, tangy, complex, still-ripe-from-the-sun farmers-market tomatoes. Now that you have, can you imagine anything else in your bloody mary? BM

622 Broadway E., 324-1108, poppyseattle.com

Best Margarita

Here’s the truth: A good margarita isn’t very hard to make. I’ll just quote one of the world’s great experts on drinking, Sterling Archer: “Five ingredients. Tequila. Cointreau. Lime juice. Ice. Kosher salt.” While plenty of restaurants and bars in Seattle offer a well-made ’rita, few have the added perks of a beautiful view of the Montlake Cut and the ability to rent a paddle boat like Agua Verde. The food is fresh and relatively interesting for reasonably priced Mexican fare (like shredded pork in tamarind barbecue sauce), and the margaritas are tasty and inexpensive, perfect for a sunny summer afternoon. Or a rainy January day when you wish you were in Mexico. ZG

1303 N.E. Boat St., 545-8570, aguaverde.com

Best Cocktail Name

I’m a bartender, and the hardest part of my job is to name cocktails. First, most of the best names are taken. Second, a good cocktail name should give the prospective drinker a sense of what the drink is going to be like, but all I can ever think of are obscure science-fiction characters. That’s what makes The Restraining Order such a great name. It might not technically be a cocktail, but you sure know what you’re going to get: a shot of Jim Beam and a slap in the face (yes, seriously). The servers at Roxy’s are of course always happy to indulge in what can only be considered one of the great American fantasies, at least in the service industry: the ability to assault a customer without losing your job. ZG

462 N. 36th St., 
632-3963, backdooratroxys.com

Coffee and Confections

Best Coffeehouse

Picking the best coffeehouse in a city of coffee maniacs is dangerous work. At Espresso Vivace, carefully sourced, shade-grown beans lead to some damn fine coffee. At the South Lake Union location in particular, the baristas take their time, pulling shots topped with thick, caramelly crema—the richest I’ve tasted yet. Every cup is adorned with intricate foam art before it crosses the counter. And, my God, the Caffe Nico is a beautiful little beverage: a dainty cup of rich espresso capped with decadent steamed half-and-half, a dash of orange and vanilla syrups, and a pinch of cinnamon. Its aromas waft through your sinuses as you sip. It ends me. The baristas are nice here, too, which makes the experience all the more delightful. They seem genuinely proud of their art and happy to be here—which is more than I can say for some other similarly tasty coffee purveyors. MH

227 Yale Ave. N., 388-5164, espressovivace.com

Best Bakery

Lines went out the door from day one last spring at Capitol Hill’s Crumble & Flake Patisserie. The crowds have only recently begun to let up, at least a little—not surprising given that pastry chef Neil Robertson’s background includes a stint at Canlis. Crumble & Flake is a jewel box of a place, with no counters or tables and inside space for only a few customers at a time. In the showcases you’ll be tempted by such treats as crunchy kouign-amman (like a croissant folded into itself), perfectly caramelized caneles, chewios (like a chewy Oreo), colorful macarons, and cream puffs. What makes those cream puffs extra-special? They’re filled to order, typically with chocolate, vanilla, and another, ever-changing flavor, like caipirinha or black currant. Robertson’s croissants might not be the best in town (if forced to choose, I’d crown Besalu’s), but they’re still high quality; perhaps better, and certainly unique, is his smoked-paprika and cheddar croissant. With baked goods this delicious, I’m convinced that Crumble & Flake was so named because you’ll want to eat every crumble and flake that falls onto your plate—or your lap. JF

1500 E. Olive Way, 329-1804, 
crumbleandflake.com 3

Best Ice-Cream Joint

I have to admit I was skeptical when Bluebird opened, thinking the brand was reaching too far in trying to incorporate ice cream, beer, coffee, tea, and board games. Now, three locations and a legitimate microbrewing addition later, it’s clear Bluebird is the real deal. The ice cream is made in-house from scratch, meaning they don’t merely add inclusions to a plain ice-cream base. A thick peanut-butter ice cream pairs delightfully with the lighter, fruitier marionberry; a chocolate-chunk blends in Theo Chocolate’s intensely flavored goodness without overdoing it on richness; and the surprising vegan flavors horchata and coconut mint chip are much lighter in texture than the milk-based ice creams and more refreshing. The beer here isn’t bad (there’s a chocolate stout and a coffee porter), but it’s even better with a dollop of ice cream offsetting the bitterness. Same goes for the affogato, a scoop of ice cream floating in heady espresso. I also appreciate that Bluebird is rarely crowded. Even at the Capitol Hill location on a Saturday night, you probably won’t have to claw your way to the counter, and you’ll definitely have a place to sit. MH

1205 E. Pike St., #1A, 588-1079

Best Pancakes

I feel a little odd talking about the pancakes at St. Clouds when their Grandma Hazel’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake that comes with all brunch entrees is pretty much to die for. But their buttermilk pancakes truly do impress, managing to be dense and fluffy at the same time: a seemingly impossible task, evidenced by so many crappy pancakes served at breakfast spots where you’d expect them to be right on. (I’ve had more than enough that are either the consistency of cardboard or more like cake.) Plus, their maple syrup is rich and delicious. You can be really decadent and order their chocolate-chip pancakes like my daughter does, but with regular ones this good, why bother? I also appreciate having good pancakes in a non-diner setting. St. Clouds has a homey yet artsy feel, and lots of space to boot. NLS

1131 34th Ave., 726-1522, stclouds.com

MARKETS

Best Farmers Market

There are bigger farmers markets in Seattle, but none do a better job of balancing produce, prepared food, community, and downright fun than the Queen Anne Farmers Market. With its expected breadth of fruits and veggies as well as plenty of breads, meats, eggs, and cheeses, it fulfills one basic market requirement: You can get your shopping done. It excels in its inclusion of a wide range of food trucks and stands, great chef demos, plenty of live music, and a tremendous cross-section of the neighborhood. Run independently and mostly on volunteer labor, it’s a true reflection of the neighborhood it caters to, and seems to get bigger and better every year. Whether you’re looking for a relatively obscure green (say tot soi or sunflower greens), a snack (an oyster po’ boy or some tandoori chicken), or just a grassy spot on the hillside for people-watching, it’ll be there for you. ZG

qafma.ne

Best Grocery Store

PFI, or Pacific Food Importers, is a warehouse, with cement floors and old-style shelves. I get giddy when I go in there. It is not DeLaurenti, but it carries many of the same things for a fraction of the price. PFI has the absolute best cheese counter in the city, nearly 25 feet long; olives in bulk; Essential Bakery Bread at a fraction of the price; and a whole wall full of fragrant olive oils. There are sections for honey (avocado, tea tree, and pine cone, from Lebanon to Tanzania to Greece), jams (try one of the several varieties of sour cherry or rose petal), Dutch candy, British and German cookies, high-end bulk chocolate (I like the 70 percent Onyx), and tea from all over the world. There’s a wall of artisan pasta, sardines from every country where they are fished, amazing prices on all types of tomatoes and salted cod, anchovies, almond paste, nuts, and even phyllo and sometimes Turkish brik. Shipments come and go, so don’t expect them to always have the same things, but this is part of the joy of shopping at PFI: You are always trying something new. I especially love it around the holidays: In addition to the normal delights, PFI imports all manner of seasonal, occasional foods from the best places to eat in the world. BM

1001 Sixth Ave. S., 682-2022, pacificfoodimporters.com

Best Fresh Seafood Counter

Mutual Fish just feels right: white tile, men in rubber boots, and a hint of brine in the air. Ocean-fresh, clear-eyed whole fish are nestled, gleaming, in ice. Whenever I walk in the door, all my fears are allayed: Crabs—check. Salmon—check. Black cod—check. Spot prawns—check. Whole albacore, Pacific sardines, and local sea urchin in season—check, check, and check. If they don’t have it, you don’t want it. The seafood does not merely need to be fresh, it has to be the freshest. I’ve chatted with sea-urchin divers in the parking lot (unloading their still-squirming prickly catch), strangers at parties, and devoted customers in line. Everyone says the same thing: Mutual Fish is the only place to buy fish in town. Seafood is always a splurge. At Mutual Fish, I know that what I take home will be well worth one. BM

2335 Rainier Ave. S., 
322-4368, mutualfish.com

Best Wine Store

In this era of wine saturation, it’s all the more essential to find a guide through the clutter—one that starts with the staggering amount of experience offered by Dan McCarthy and Jay Schiering, who have each spent most of their lives tasting, buying, and selling wine. The staff at each of their two McCarthy & Schiering locations do an excellent job of maintaining their high standard, sizing up each customer’s needs and experience level. Add weekly tastings that cover the length and breadth of the wine world; a membership club with real benefits in the form of discounts and wine events; and access to some harder-to-find wines (from premier-cru Burgundy to the cult wines of the Northwest), and it’s a great spot for both the neophyte and the oenophile. ZG

6500 Ravenna Ave. N.E., 524-9500; 2401 Queen Anne Ave. N., 282-8500; mccarthyandschiering.com