Restaurant Roundup: Live-Fire Cooking and Galician Prix Fixe
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
By Ben McBee May 22, 2026
Like a juicy beef patty smacked between two buns, next Thursday is National Burger Day, and one local burger joint is making sure you experience the occasion on a full stomach. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Uneeda Burger in Fremont is giving away one free Classic Burger — that’s romaine, tomato, pickles, and house sauce on a quarter-pound patty — per guest. Of course, if you’d rather expand your palate, there are plenty of other recipes to enjoy from James Beard-nominated chef Scott Staples, like the Big Bison, Blue Onion, or Veggie.
Just don’t forget the fixins.
ELDR reignites
The live-fire cooking restaurant is experiencing a new dawn in the Sunset Hill neighborhood. To start this second run, Chef Brian Clevenger has introduced a vibrant spring menu with seasonal, grilled vegetables and top-tier proteins, like the Albacore Crudo with
strawberry, chili, and olive oil, or the shareable, dry-aged American Wagyu Ribeye Steak. There is also a special four-course chef’s tasting menu available to try for $97.
Seattle’s best biscuits and gravy
It’s a bold claim hefted upon Little Jaye, the South Park bakery (and offshoot of Lady Jaye) secluded in Cloverdale Business Park — but the recipe and customer praise are hard to argue against. Creamy, peppery, with just a hint of herbs courtesy of the sausage, the gravy is the ideal topping for the crispy yet fluffy buttermilk biscuits, with the sunny-side-up egg proving to be the proverbial cherry on top.
Embrace the Gloom
Gray skies are probably the last thing Seattleites want to see at the moment, but that shouldn’t stop you from grabbing a pour-over at Gloom Coffee, the vivacious Pioneer Square cafe and roastery that opened last month in the former Elm Coffee Roasters space. The new venture comes from four former co-workers, brought together by experiences in every part of the industry. Their roasts tend to lean on the lighter side, making for a smooth sipping experience that pairs well with croissants from The French Guys served on-site. You can also expect to see coffee-based mocktails hit the menu down the line.
Stay satisfied on your staycation
At hotels, sleeping is usually the number-one priority, but at these Seattle properties, the meals are what you will remember. Some standouts include Rider inside Hotel Theodore, the fine-dining restaurant that hits all the pasta, seafood, and steak cravings you have. Palihotel’s The Hart and the Hunter is a bright, classic American-style diner whose chicken pot pie warms the soul. There are also nightly drink specials (enjoy a $10 martini on Thursdays).
Galician goodness
Tasting menus can have your wallet empty and stomach full before you’ve even reached the last course, but according to Axios’ Melissa Santos, the one at MariPili Tapas Bar strikes the right balance (five courses for $75). The entire table isn’t locked into the Spanish prix fixe lineup either, so if you are interested but your dinnermate is not, there’s no conflict. Chances are, everyone will be game though, especially when they hear about the small bites like the octopus empanada and duck confit croqueta, and the chocolate cake Swiss roll with brandy mousse and Biscoff cream. There’s braised flank steak and quail breast in the middle, too, and you can add drink pairings for $40.