Dining Delights in the Greater Seattle Area

Critics of every stripe have praised Seattle’s dining scene for its vitality, creativity and, most of all, its use of fresh, local ingredients. In a city once known only for generic “sea-food,” innovative fish and shellfish dishes frequently rule the day, with seasonal interpretations that make the most of the bounty from local markets and the restaurants’ own kitchen gardens and organic suppliers. The Asian influence is strong here, too, although restaurants aren’t pigeonholed by type of cuisine. Rather, chefs at a single good restaurant will often combine the influence of many of Seattle’s cultures into their cooking. Naturally, there are exceptions, as noted in the guide that follows. If there’s one good rule to follow when eating in Seattle, it’s don’t let appearances fool you. The simplest restaurant or café may offer the best treat. Likewise, the oddest-looking entrée may be the best you’ve ever tried. Be adventurous and you’re sure to be rewarded.

A note about pricing: For purposes of this guide, we defined inexpensive as less than $15 for an entrée with tip and tax; moderate as $15 to $30; expensive as $31 - $45; and very expensive as $46 and up. Only one restaurant scored in the extremely expensive category, and that was the noted Herbfarm Restaurant, where a single entrée can easily tally well over $100.