Seattle

"Beautiful views of the Olympics" and Sound at this Shilsole Pacific NWer... make for a "stellar" backdrop to "epic" sablefish and "salmon so fresh you'd think it was caught just for you". — Zagat

Dinner only. Just past the Locks, Ray's is famed for its sunset views stretching across Puget Sound to the Olympics. — Michelin Guide

When Seattleites want to impress visiting friends and relatives, this restaurant often ranks right up there with the Space Needle, the ferries, and Pike Place Market. — Frommer's

The view of Shilshole Bay might be the main draw here, but the seafood is also fresh and well prepared. — Fodor's

In Seattle’s hip Ballard neighborhood, this longtime leader in locavore cuisine dishes up only the freshest Northwest fare. — Travel + Leisure

Spinasse has become known around Seattle for luscious, toothsome handmade pastas. Also expect great antipasti and meats, served family style in a warm, comforting space. — Where

With the friendly service and dynamite grappa, amaro, and an Italian-focused wine selection, you likely won't mind paying the price, even if the restaurant is loud and small. — Fodor's

This little hole in the wall on Capitol Hill is the most authentic-feeling Italian restaurant in Seattle. — Frommer's

Piedmontese cuisine is the backbone of this rustic, open-kitchen restaurant in Capitol Hill. — Travel + Leisure

Nonhern ltaly's Piedmont region is the inspiration behind Spinasse, whose housemade artisan pasta-including tagliatelle with braised pheasant and huckleberries. — Michelin Guide

The team behind Union, Tavolata and How to Cook a Wolf continue their winning streak. — Seattle Times

Ethan Stowell might be called the king of Capitol Hill, with this stylish, light-drenched space joined by a casual, meat-centric Bar Cotto next door and Rione XIII less than a mile away. — Gayot

Ethan Stowell's fishy enterprise. So fresh and so clean clean. — Not For Tourists

Anchovies & Olives serves excellent, seafood-focused Italian food in a dining room that makes you feel like a more put-together human being than you actually are. This restaurant is from... — The Infatuation

"A plethora of taste bombs" awaits at Ethan Stowell's "hip" Italian seafooder in Capitol Hill famed for its "unique small plates", "top-notch" crudos and "fantastic" pastas. — Zagat

Puget Sound waters practically bleed oysters and – arguably – there isn't a better place to knock 'em back raw with a glass of wine or two than the Walrus. — Lonely Planet

Stylish and transcendent oyster bar tucked behind a bike shop. — Not For Tourists

This tiny restaurant, with an unlikely name-from a Lewis Carroll poem-has been designated one of the top restaurants in the nation by multiple national news media. — Michelin Guide

There's a bit of Alice in Wonderland-inspired whimsy at this oyster bar—a coral-inspired chandelier, wild drawings by a local artist, and a staff that doesn't take themselves too... — Travel + Leisure

Oysters and cocktails make a great party in Ballard. — Bon Appétit

Celebrity chef Tom Douglas’ Mediterranean and Greek-tinged menu boasts kebabs, chickpea fries and dips. The breakfast, including housemade sausage, is a local favorite. B, L and D;... — Where

There's braised octopus for breakfast, lamb tongue for lunch and whole fish for dinner. — Seattle Times

Many consider breakfast the most important meal of the day, so it has to be big, good, or both. — Afar Magazine

Local chef Tom Douglas celebrates his wife's Greek heritage with this restaurant in the hip Hotel Ändra. — Frommer's

If Frasier Crane lived in Seattle and were actually a real person, Lola is definitely where he would grab a bite with Niles and commit some kind of social faux pas. While it’s casual... — The Infatuation

The freshest local ingredients. Tiny, busy, worth it. — Not For Tourists

Now in a new location in the Capitol Hill ‘hood, this small-plates fine diner has won acclaim for its casual vibe, constantly changing menu, good wine selection and involved chef-owner. — Lonely Planet

Tucked in Capitol Hill’s bustling Melrose Market, Sitka & Spruce channels both the rustic and urban aesthetic, with its open-kitchen, communal tables. — Travel + Leisure

Even simple "seasonal" ingredients become "cutting-edge" at chef-owner Matthew Dillon's "airy, modern" Eclectic set in Capitol Hill's Melrose Market. — Zagat

Melrose Market, just across I-5 from downtown Seattle's convention center, is a locals' alternative to Pike Place Market. — Frommer's

Rustic French with splash of ostenation makes for the buzziest opening in Seattle: big, beautiful resto serving classic French fare with all the fixings. — BlackBook

The French invade Little Norway with haute cuisine. Hipsters rejoice. — Not For Tourists

At this handsome reproduction of a Parisian brasserie, the menu favors French comfort food, and there's much to like in the familiar lineup. — Seattle Times

In the heart of old Ballard, Bastille Cafe & Bar serves well-prepared cuisine in an enchanting atmosphere. — Gayot

Bastille is the quintessential Ballard utility move. Its well-designed dining room and swanky bistro feel makes it perfect for a candlelit date, group dinner around the indoor firepit,... — The Infatuation

Impeccable flavors and luxury without a show. — Bon Appétit

Locally sourced vegetables, cheese, charcuterie, grains, fish and meats are focal points of the menu. The upper level of the space is Bitter Raw, Lark's bar, featuring cocktails, crudo... — Where

What's not to like about chicken-fried oysters with baby spinach, smoky bacon, and green goddess dressing? Or the simply prepared but divine sugar snap peas with lemon, red onion, and shiso butter? — Condé Nast Traveler

Chef Jonathon Sundstrom left the W Hotel's popular Earth and Ocean to open this small, rustic bistro, serving inventive small plates. Exposed beams, wooden booths, and sheer fabric... — Concierge

Just off the Pike–Pine Corridor in a converted garage with exposed beams and gauzy curtain dividers, Lark was one of the restaurants that kick-started the small-plate trend in Seattle. — Fodor's

You’ll find a classy circus-restaurant mashup, with low lighting, murals of a court jester and a man in drag, thick red curtains, and nightly acrobatic talent swinging on trapeze rigs above you. — The Infatuation

Italian in a garish, Cheesecake Factory-ish setting with a nice outdoor deck. — BlackBook

With its Post Alley entrance and meager signage, the Pink Door's speakeasy vibe draws Pike Place Market regulars almost as much as its savory, seasonal Italian food does. — Fodor's

This eatery offers entertainment (trapeze artists, burlesque dancers) and fare like cioppino and lasagna. L and D daily. — Where

Tucked into one of Seattle'€™s quaint alleyways just north of Pike Place Market, the Pink Door'€™s peachy-pink entrance can be hard to find. — Gayot

A "delectable array" of "imaginative", "locally sourced" and "reasonably priced" New American bites. — Zagat

The flavors are reminiscent of dishes at the Herbfarm, but the presentation is very casual. — Frommer's

Chef Jerry Traunfeld (formerly of Herbfarm) presents a small-dish menu that bursts with globally-inspired flavors and Pacific Northwest ingredients. — Gayot

Jerry Traunfeld's bright, airy restaurant on the northern end of Broadway is a feast for the senses, with funky design details, friendly staff, and a happening bar area. — Fodor's

Many of Poppy's ingredients are grown behind the restaurant in an herbfarm, and the food makes up for the overly-vigilant service. — BlackBook

Timeless elegance and accomplished cooking have made this spot Seattle's special occasion restaurant for more than 60 years. — Gayot

Delicious, memorable spot for nouveau Northwest cuisine, highlighted by wild- nettle pasta, Kobe tenderloin and Maine lobster – for some of the highest prices in town. — Rough Guide

The service is flawless, the view over Lake Union is impossible to top, and live piano music tinkles through the hushed, Asian-accented dining room. — Concierge

This Queen Anne restaurant and piano lounge is housed in its original, purpose-built, circa-1950's, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired building. — Travel + Leisure

If the dining room seems too formal, the bar menu is more wallet-friendly and you don't need a reservation. — Fodor's

Although the dress code at the Georgian is smart casual, jean-clad patrons are likely to feel underdressed at this palatial, light yellow salon in the downtown Fairmont Olympic Hotel. — Travel + Leisure

The food is equally eye-catching, and it's inspired by regional ingredients, such as scallops with truffles or roasted sea bass. — Lonely Planet

Expect luxury on a Downton Abbey scale, with attentive, accommodating uniformed staff. — Seattle Times

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle houses The Georgian, the most acclaimed restaurant in the Pacific Northwest. — Forbes Travel Guide

The "old-world surroundings" in this 1924 Italianate dining room in Downtown's Fairmont Olympic Hotel make it a "special place for a special night". — Zagat

Credited with practically inventing contemporary Pacific Northwest cuisine, with its focus on local, sustainably produced ingredients, and fusion of Asian and American flavors. — Travel + Leisure

Upmarket restaurant best known for its seafood, featuring delicious main courses like five-spice duck and roasted saddle of lamb. — Rough Guide

A glimpse of the stylish interior will quickly convince you otherwise, and a single bite of any dish will assure you that this is one of Seattle's finest restaurants. — Frommer's

Here, international influences, dramatic presentations, superb seasonal ingredients and creative accompaniments define Northwest cuisine. — Seattle Times

Owner-chef Tom Douglas was one of the area’s first fusion chefs, blending flavors into cohesive and tasty concoctions. — DK Eyewitness

Mario Batali's dad makes damn good salami. — Not For Tourists

Fans wait in "long lines" for "massive sandwiches" of "insanely good" house-cured salami in addition to other "delicious" deli specialties. — Zagat

Since opening in 1999, this charcuterie/deli/eatery has become almost as much of a pilgrimage site as the Space Needle. — Travel + Leisure

With a shopfront as wide as a smart car and a following as large as the Seattle Mariners, Salumi is a well-known vortex of queues. — Lonely Planet

Salumi feeds the occasional lunch diner with its selection of rustic sandwiches prepared with fresh sausages. — Gayot

In a clubby, old-fashioned setting, Metropolitan Grill serves a wide range of Prime, dry-aged steaks. — Gayot

Hey big spender, welcome to the adult table- Met Grill is the big boy club of Seattle. — BlackBook

Fronted by massive granite columns that make it look more like a bank than a restaurant, the Metropolitan Grill is a traditional steakhouse that attracts a well-heeled clientele. — Frommer's

This "old-school" Downtown meatery is a "staple" with the "power lunch" crowd for its "amazing cuts" of dry-aged beef. — Zagat

This downtown steakhouse offers an elegant dining environment, with its dark wood-panelled walls, plush forest-green velvet banquettes, and white-tablecloth service. — Travel + Leisure

A popular “gastropub” featuring a high-end bar menu with items like wild boar sloppy joes and a pork belly BLT, along with an extensive selection of beers. — Where

Greasy, meaty pub food served in a spruced-up warehouse with checkered yellowed windows and showers of lightbulbs. — BlackBook

Patterned after the much-lauded gastropubs of London, Quinn's is the second Seattle restaurant for local kitchen legend Scott Staples. — Frommer's

For the snack-minded, small bites such as spiced bacon caramel corn or salt cod fritters pair well with drinks and conversation. — Gayot

This Capitol Hill American gastropub "sets the bar high", with midpriced "gourmet food" and a "broad array of brews" to match. — Zagat

At this American "favorite" on Downtown's Harbor Steps hill climb, Matt Janke...) and Jill Buchanan present an "adventurous", "unfussy" menu that changes "nearly daily". — Zagat

Lecosho's motto is "food we love"—they say the name is Chinook for "swine," and that means a menu heavy on the likes of house-made charcuterie. — Fodor's

Tucked away on Harbor Steps, this popular spot offers innovative small plates, entrees and a not-to-be-missed happy hour. L and D. — Where

If you like eating pig, they provide numerous ways to do it. — Not For Tourists

Matt Janke, who for many years ran Matt's in the Market, has long been one of my favorite Seattle chefs, and here at his latest restaurant... he continues to impress me. — Frommer's

A great addition to Seattle's slow food movement. — Not For Tourists

The menu at Renee Erickson's newest restaurant (she also runs The Walrus and the Carpenter in Ballard) focuses on vegetables. — Fodor's

Award-winning chef Renee Erickson's cuisine is vegetable-heavy, inspired by some of her favorite places in southern Europe and England. Simple preparations bring out the best in her... — Where

The white-and-blue cottagelike room couldn't be more welcoming, what with an art installation suspended from the ceiling that spells out ‘hello.'. — Zagat

What Chef Renee Erickson began at Boat Street Café and at The Walrus and the Carpenter, she takes to a more ambitious level here. — Seattle Times

The menu is packed with crowd pleasers such as tacos, massive burritos and tamales, made with mostly organic ingredients. — Gayot

This sunny, bright, taco temple serves up faithful Mexican on the water. Vibrant collection of some pretty decent Mexican eats. — BlackBook

Tucked along Portage Bay at the University of Washington, this cafe serves Mexican favorites including tacos, enchiladas, burritos and more. The adjacent Agua Verde Paddle Club rents... — Where

Agua Verde Cafe is where you go to show your out-of-town friends that Seattle isn’t just about king salmon and passive aggressive people. It’s also about waterfront decks, frozen... — The Infatuation

Set on the shore of Portage Bay, which lies between Lake Union and Lake Washington, this casual Mexican restaurant is a hit with college students from the University of Washington. — Frommer's

A certified organic restaurant by the much-lauded Maria Hines, Tilth serves up wonderful, inventive dishes that can be had as small plates or full entrées. — Fodor's

The menu emphasizes fresh, seasonal ingredients in dishes that seem simple yet are packed with flavor. — Frommer's

Executive chef Maria Hines creates fresh, seasonal, organic dishes at this cozy restaurant. Tasting menus are available, as well as a vegan menu. D only; weekend brunch. — Where

At Tilth, you'll feel right at home--someone else's home, that is. The rustic bungalow doesn't resemble your typical restaurant. — BlackBook

The only ingredients on chef Maria Hines's menu that aren't organic are those found in the wild, like mushrooms and seafood. — Lonely Planet