It’s your birthday? Congratulations on another trip around the sun. Don’t worry, we won’t ambush you with singing waitstaff, but there are plenty of ways Seattle restaurants can make your special day even more memorable, from intimate settings for private celebrations to that dish you won’t stop thinking about for the next 365 days (like the catfish at Rainier Restaurant). 

Don’t forget to blow out the candles! And if your birthday wish is for more local food tips, you’re in luck. 

A delightful Turkish dessert

Fremont’s Hamdi, known for its wood-fired Anatolian cuisine, has added a seasonal dessert unlike anything you’ll find around town. The çıtır kabak (pronounced “chuh-TUR kah-BAHK”) incorporates Washington-grown squash pickled and braised in simple syrup, creating a crisp outside and soft, pumpkin-like interior. The pieces are drizzled with tahini and roasted walnuts, then topped with a house-made goat milk ice cream infused with mastic gum harvested in the Mediterranean, imparting notes of pine, honey, and fresh herbs. This refreshing take on fall flavors fits perfectly into the restaurant’s prix fixe menu.

These sweets are neat

Forgive all the sweet talk this week, but we can’t help it when stories like Russell’s Pie & Whiskey Wednesdays land on our plate. Over the summer, Esquire named the watering hole on Stone Way to its “Best Bars in America” list, and it’s once again in the spotlight for its superlative pies made by owner Ashley Russell. Don’t overthink the choices; follow your heart to whatever’s in season (right now it’s whiskey apple crumble).

Lunch on-the-go

Looking for a quality bite that doesn’t break the bank on your next road trip north? Pull off in Lynnwood, where The Seattle Times’ Jackie Varriano checked out two fast, flavorful, and affordable restaurants—Tokuni Tonkatsu & Donburi and Fork Mediterranean Grill. The first offers a bento box with your choice of katsu (pork, chicken, or tofu), rice, gyoza, miso soup, seasonal fruit, and a salad for just under $20. At the latter, counter service gyros and Greek fries are the go-to. 

Scary on the Sound

Eerie energy is emanating from The Edgewater Hotel. Eek! Oh, it’s just the Little Haunted Lobby Bar, a new pop-up serving handcrafted cocktails and festive bites every day this month, 5-11 p.m. The menu reads like a vampire’s shopping list, offering cocktails like the spicy blood orange and tequila Blood Lust or the cold brew and rum Uninvited Guest. There are creepy eats too, such as beet-infused hummus and butternut squash arancini served with black garlic aioli.

West Seattle bagel lovers, rejoice

With the opening of Royal Bagel planned for this fall in Morgan Junction, another big-time name in the bagel game has entered the neighborhood ring. Hey Bagel, an award-winning shop in University Village, will expand with a second location just north of Alaska Junction in May. Owner Andrew Rubinstein also teased an Eastside spot but says the search for the right opportunity is ongoing.