Recommended Restaurants (Updated)
Seattle has many wonderful restaurants. Relative to the hotel, there
are 3 relevant "neighborhoods": downtown (the "business district"),
Belltown (where the "yuppies" live) and Capitol Hill (where the "cool"
and/or "young" live). For random restaurant searching, anywhere in
the Pike Place Market area, Belltown or Capitol Hill are your best
bets. To reach the main drag in Belltown, just head north on 1st
(starting at Pike) or north on 2nd (starting at Virginia). To reach
the part of Capitol Hill that is closer to the restaurant and will
have cheaper and occasionally funkier restaurants, head east on Pike
or Pine and start looking when you get to Boren.
Restaurants in order of decreasing price within relatively short walking distance of hotel
All of the restaurants listed here are walking distance to the hotel
and are "can't go wrong" kind of places. They are all fairly popular
as well, so you'd be advised to try to make a reservation. They all
have either high recent Zagat ratings and/or are "approved" by the
local arrangements chairs. We haven't given a lot of detail though
because we haven't been to any of them lately, but last time we were
there, they were great. These restaurants are listed more or less in order of
decreasing price (with an estimate, when available, of the price of
dinner with one drink and tip). There are few extra categories listed
below: (1) if you are going out for
lunch, (2) cheaper options
(usually farther away) and (3) a few vegetarian only options (though
virtually every restaurant in Seattle has some decent vegetarian
options). If you're willing/interested in driving somewhere for
dinner and need some suggestions, ask us.
- Mistral (113 Blanchard St, between 1st and Second Ave, 770-7799) Highest rated restaurant in Seattle in 2005 Zagat Survey. Average price: $85. Apparently amazing French. Closed Sunday, Monday.
- Cascadia (2328 First Ave, between Battery and Bell, 448-8884). Avg dinner price: $63. Gets rave reviews for its northwest cuisine. Closed Sunday.
- Lampreia (2400 First Ave, near Battery, 443-3301) Avg price: $58. Northwest-New American cuisine. One of the places we take faculty candidates. Closed Sunday, Monday.
- Brasa (2107 Third Ave, between Blanchard and Lenora, 728-4220). Avg dinner price: $45. Northwest/Mediterranean/Spanish.
- Chez Shea (Pike Place Market, 94 Pike St., at 1st Ave. 467-9990) Avg dinner price: $45. Contemporary French. In case it's relevant to any STOC attendees, it's considered one of the more romantic restaurants in town. Closed Monday.
- Dahlia Lounge (2001 Fourth Ave at Virginia, 682-4142). Avg dinner price: $42. Northwest cuisine a la one of Seattle's most famous and excellent chefs, Tom Douglas. Great atmosphere.
- Earth and Ocean (W Hotel, 1112 Fourth Ave at Seneca St., 264-6060).
Avg dinner price: $41. More northwest cuisine. Reputed to be fantastic.
- Restaurant Zoe (2137 Second Ave at Blanchard St, 256-2060). Avg price: $40. One of the best restaurants downtown. "New American" cuisine. Great ambience.
- Lola (2000B Fourth Ave at Virginia St, 441-1430) Not rated by Zagat; on the expensive side. Unusual and yummy Greek/Mediterranean/Northwest cuisine. Another Tom Douglas restaurant.
- Flying Fish (2234 First Ave at Bell St, 728-8595). Avg price: $39. One of the best seafood places in town. Great, lively atmosphere, "interesting, eclectic" twists on "exotic and local fish". Open late.
- Andaluca (Mayflower Park Hotel, 407 Oliver Way, between 4th and 5th Ave , 382-6999) Avg dinner price: $38.
Northwest cuisine. "Cozy, romantic, Mediterranean jewel".
- Assaggio Ristorante (2010 Fourth Ave, at Virginia, 441-1399). Avg dinner price: $37. Northern Italian cuisine. Closed Sundays.
- Sazerac (in Hotel Monaco at 1101 Fourth Ave, near Spring, 624-7755). Avg price: $37. Yummy "southern" cuisine.
- Wild Ginger (1401 Third Ave at Union, 623-4450). Avg price $36. Voted Most Popular in Seattle. Really excellent Asian fusion restaurant.
- Palace Kitchen (2030 Fifth Ave, near Lenora, 448-2001). Avg price: $36. Great cocktails, yummy food, open late.
- Etta's Seafood (2020 Western Ave, between Lenora and Virginia, 443-6000). Avg price: $35. Great seafood place -- my favorite salmon in town; in fact, the whole menu is great. Awesome for brunch/lunch as well.
- Shiro's Sushi (2401 Second Ave at Battery, 443-9844). Avg price: $35. One of the better sushi restaurants downtown.
- Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant (2334 Second Ave, between Bell and Battery, 965-0500) No Zagat rating; moderately priced. Sounds like fun -- provides the full Moroccan experience including "tentlike decor, belly dancing on Saturday and Sunday nights, dramatic tea-pouring and the novelty of eating with your fingers". Apparently good for groups.
- Jasmine Restaurant and Lounge (1102 4th Ave, 382-2161). Japanese/Asian fusion. It looks
really good, but we haven't been there.
- Marjorie (2331 Second Ave at Battery St, 441-9842) Moderately priced.
Funky, eclectic and inspired menu and atmosphere. Can't pigeonhole the cuisine.
- Wasabi Bistro (2311 Second Ave, between Battery and Bell, 441-6044). Avg price: $34. Another great Japanese, with an apparently excellent happy hour with "prime specials".
- Cafe Campagne (Pike Place Market, 1600 Post Alley, between First and Pine, 728-2233). Avg dinner price: $33. Casual but romantic French bistro. The fancier "sister" restaurant upstairs, Campagne, is also outstanding, but less relaxed, and quite a bit more expensive.
- Marco's Supperclub (2510 First Ave, between Vine and Wall, 441-7801)
Avg price: $32. Unusual and interesting dishes. Great atmosphere.
- Saito's Japanese Cafe and Bar (2122 Second Ave, between Blanchard and Lenora, 728-1333.). Avg price: $32. Closed Sundays.
- The Capitol Club (414 E. Pine, 325-2149) Cross between Moroccan, Spanish, Italian and French. Great atmosphere.
- Tango (1100 Pike St at Boren, 583-0382). Avg price: $31. Tapas.
- Le Pichet (1933 First Ave, Virginia St, 256-1499) Avg price: $30. Authentic French bistro. Great, simple food with great atmosphere. Not a good place for large groups.
- Matt's in the Market (Pike Place Market, 94 Pike St, 1st Ave, 467-7909)
Avg price: $29. One of the gems of the market. Tiny (23 seats) seafood place. Closed Sundays.
- The Pink Door (Pike Place Market, 1919 Post Alley, between Stewart and Virginia, 443-3241). Avg price: $29. Funky, fun Italian. Food is good and the atsmosphere is great. Often there is live music or some sort of cabaret act in the bar area. Closed Mondays.
- Dragonfish Asian Cafe (722 Pine St, 467-7777). Ave dinner price: $27. Has been referred to as a "poor man's Wild Ginger". Fun place for sharing Asian style plates and getting drinks. Open late, with cheap happy hour food.
- Typhoon! (1400 Western Ave at Union, 262-9797). Avg price: $26. Delicious and inspired Thai food.
- Shallots (2525 Fourth Ave near Vine, 728-1888). Avg price: $25. Relatively inexpensive "Pan-Asian bistro".
- Le P'tit Bistro ( 2616 Second Ave, 728-4141) A new creperie/French bistro that is supposed to be great and not terribly expensive.
These are in order of approximately increasing distance from the hotel.
- Cyberdog (909 Pike) 100% gourmet veggie dogs, cafe, open late and cheap. Also have wireless.
- Alibi Room (85 Pike Street, Suite 410, 623-3180). Relatively cheap and totally hip place for drinks and good food and sometimes music (especially electronica). A bit hard to find -- once you are close, say the main entrance to Pike Place Market, ask someone where it is.
- Pabla Indian Cuisine : (1516 2nd Ave, near Pike, 623-2868).
- Mama's Mexican Kitchen (2234 Second Ave, 728-6262). Cheap, tasty, fun Mexican.
- Noodle Ranch (2228 Second Ave, between Bell and Blanchard, 728-0463). Relatively cheap, relatively hip noodle place.
- Jai Thai (2132 1st Ave, at Lenora, 770-7884). Good Thai food, open late.
- Bambuza Vietnamese Bistro (820 Pike St, at 9th, 219-5555) Pan-asian.
- Cilantro (93 Marion St, at 1st, 652-9300) Thai.
- El Puorco Llorando (1501 Western Ave, Suite 200, 624-0541). Funky little
Mexican place down the market steps from Western. Only open till 6pm on Sunday and
till 8pm on Monday and Tuesday.
- Two Bells Bar and Grill (2313 Fouth Ave between Battery and Bell, 441-3050). avg price $15. Basically a bar, but they have good pub food, especially burgers.
- Caffe Minnie's (101 Denny at 1st) 24 hour diner.
Those listed below are on the Pike-Pine
stretch between Boren and Broadway. This area either is or feels like a long walk away (it is
uphill from the hotel). If you're
not up for that, you can hop
on either the number 10 bus or the number 49 bus (pick it up at 4th and Pike) and ask the driver
for help figuring out where to get off.
- Baguette Box (1203 Pine St, 332-0221) Great, cheap sandwich place, that closes at 8pm.
Apparently, they deliver for free.
- Honey Hole (703 E. Pike, 709-1399) sandwiches and burgers.
- Bimbo's Bitchin' Burrito Kitchen (506 E Pine, 329-9978). Mexican with attitude.
- Six Arms (300 E Pike St, at Summit, 223-1698) pub fare including sandwiches, pastas, burritos, salads, excellent microbrewery.
- Green Papaya (600 E Pine, at Belmont, 323-1923) Good vietnamese. Good vegetarian selection.
- Rosebud ( 719 E Pike, 323-6636) Comfort food in a romantic art-deco setting. Great place for drinks too.
- 611 Supreme (611 E Pine, 328-0292) Best crepe place in town. Great cocktails too.
- B & O Espresso (204 Belmont Ave E, at Olive, 322-5028): French brunch, Unconventional Spanish tapas in the evening, excellent desserts, open late.
- Cafe Flora (2901 E. Madison St. 325-9100, about 2 miles away): Innovative menu, entrees
aboout $15. Very popular weekend brunch.
- Teapot Vegetarian House (345 15th Ave E at Thomas St, 325-1010, about 1.5 miles from hotel):
Vegan Asian restaurant with faux meat as well as other options.
- Carmelita (7314 Greenwood Ave N, 706-7703, about 5 miles from hotel). Innovative vegetarian menu with many vegan options. Great antipasti.
- The Pike Place Market has an incredible variety of yummy, relatively cheap finger food to eat, including many restaurants where you can sit down and eat inexpensively (e.g., Emmett Watson's Oyster Bar, World Class Chili, Three Sisters Bakery, Mischou, etc.)
- Macrina Bakery and Cafe (2408 First Ave near Battery St, 448-4032) avg price $14. Great freshly baked goods, sandwiches and salads. Yummy Sunday brunch.
- Mae Phim Thai Restaurant (94 Columbia St at 1st Ave, 624-2979). Average: $9. Not open on Sunday. Very cheap, very fast, apparently quite good place, "what it lacks in decor it makes up for in price and speed".