Eat & Drink
Restaurant Roundup: Literary Libations and Tequila on the Docks
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
There are still three weeks until Thanksgiving, but the spread of offerings this year at Seattle-area hotels is already impressive. Whether you’re traveling in the city or simply don’t want to deal with dirty dishes, the cornucopia overfloweth. Enjoy a feast at the Four Seasons’ recently remodeled Goldfinch Tavern, or a three-course meal at The…
Best Coffee Shop: Drip Drip Coffeehouse
This women- owned and minority-operated coffee shop gained popularity for its Vietnamese-style coffee and matcha flights. The former is brewed with a phin—a Vietnamese coffee press in which hot water slowly drips through coffee grounds—yielding a bold, concentrated brew. Drip Drip’s phin-brewed coffee comes in sweet and savory flavors, including banana, salted egg yolk, coconut…
Best Brewery: Stoup Brewing
Like any good craft brewery, Stoup has a little chaos to it. Dogs tuck under tables, kids tear into snacks, food trucks hum in the background, and friends squeeze together at long tables. Husband-and-wife Brad Benson and Lara Zahaba opened the original Ballard brewery with their friend Robyn Schumacher in 2013, amid the neighborhood’s craft-brewery…
Best Bakery: Bakery Nouveau
If one pastry can explain Bakery Nouveau’s appeal, it’s the twice-baked almond croissant, dipped in simple syrup, filled with almond cream, and sent through the oven twice. Co-owner William Leaman, who has more than 35 years of experience in professional baking, was named one of the country’s Top 10 Next Generation Chocolatiers and captained a…
Best Ramen: Ramen Danbo
It’s easy to spot Capitol Hill’s Ramen Danbo—follow the line snaking up East Pike between 12th and 13th Avenues. As the restaurant’s first United States location, it specializes in Fukuoka-style Tonkotsu ramen. Known for its thin noodles, Tonkotsu ramen has a base of rich broth made by simmering pork bones in an hours-long process that…
Best Wine Bar: Le Caviste
France fills the glasses at Le Caviste, a cozy Denny Triangle wine bar affectionately known as “the Cave.” The wine list reflects a serious knowledge of French pours, with bottles from across the country, including all 10 crus of Beaujolais. Then there’s the food—French cheeses, charcuterie, and choucroute garnie (a classic dish of braised sauerkraut…
Best Happy Hour: Ray’s Boathouse
Available daily from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Ray’s Boathouse happy hour features $10 cocktails and wine pours, and specials on classic dishes like fried calamari, clam chowder, mussels, clams, and crispy Brussels sprouts. At Ray’s Café, happy hour is 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The food and beverage offerings are similar, but…
Best Cocktail Bar: Smith Tower Observatory Bar
Located on the 35th floor of the historic Smith Tower, the Observatory Bar serves up classic cocktails—think martinis and old fashioneds—and seasonal signatures inspired by the time of year. Barrel-aged favorites are a throwback to the Prohibition era, bites are shareable, and the city views can’t be beat. If you’re looking to bring an elevated…
The Magic’s in the Making: Theo Chocolate Co-Founder Joe Whinney Finds His Next Act
After stepping away from the chocolate industry, he never thought he’d return. Now, he’s launched his second chocolate company with history-making treats.
For years, Joe Whinney was Seattle’s own Willy Wonka, complete with his own chocolate factory. One of the cofounders of Theo Chocolate, Whinney applied his passion for social and environmental justice to the brand, using organic ingredients and fairtrade practices that ushered in a new era for the industry. He remained at Theo’s helm until…
Counter Culture: Three Great Burgers Hiding in Plain Sight
A Ballard sandwich shop, a private club in South Lake Union, and a Mountlake Terrace Greek restaurant serve up burgers worth seeking out.
Sometimes you want a burger. You just don’t want a burger joint. Maybe the person across the table has something else in mind, maybe you’re looking for a new neighborhood spot, or maybe you’ve learned that a burger can be particularly good when it has to earn its place on a menu devoted to other…
Restaurant Roundup: Wine O’Clock and Brief Beef
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
With the closing of Mi La Cay Restaurant on Oct. 29, it’ll be hard to ignore the sizable hole left in Little Saigon—just look how long the lines were in its final days. For 34 years, the noodle shop was a community gathering place not only for the Vietnamese community, but for diners across Seattle….
Restaurant Roundup: Oysters Benedict and a Bar Tartare Tease
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
Even if you’ve lived in Seattle your whole life, chances are there are still unexplored culinary secrets tucked away in the recesses of Pike Place Market. An obvious hit with tourists, walking tours—like the ones offered by Savor Food Tours for nearly 20 years—are a great way for locals to get reacquainted with their city,…
Opening Night: Wallingford’s Janta Is Exactly What a Cafe Should Be
The Indian coffee and chai shop from the Spice Waala team hits all the right notes.
Spice Waala’s owners have just opened a little cafe in Wallingford, and to understand why I’m so excited about it, you first need to know what’s so great about Spice Waala, which is that it’s one of the last restaurants in Seattle that feels like a deal. You can get a chicken or lamb roll…
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