Five Star Restaurants in Seattle
- Seattle restaurants do much more than seafood.Seattle Skyline image by Brandon Wagner from Fotolia.com
When you think of Seattle, you might think of grunge, coffee and the Pacific Ocean, but the city's finest restaurants might just help you to broaden this image--and it's more than just salmon!
Seattle's restaurant scene lacks conspicuous high points. Local food critics, in July 2010, don't award a single restaurant their maximum ratings, although they recommend several good restaurant experiences.
During the same time frame, the renowned Forbes Travel Guide (formerly the Mobile Travel Guide) bestowed four out of five stars on two Seattle establishments, The Georgian and Rover's. Beyond these two, the list below includes other restaurants that received 3.5 out 4 stars from the Seattle Times. - The Georgian, in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, claims to serve "French-inspired Northwest cuisine" but the menu could be found in any French-inspired fine American restaurant. Okay, maybe the Slow Poached Wild Spring King Salmon places it in the Northwest.
Dress is smart casual--no jacket required--and as of July 2010, you can expect to pay roughtly $50 per entree. You might want to consider the seven-course tasting menu for $90 a person (not including wine).
The Georgian
411 University St.
Seattle, WA 98101
206-621-7889
Fairmont.com/seattle/ - Like so many highly rated American restaurants, Rover's prepares local ingredients with French techniques. Here, the setting is an intimate clapboard cottage.
The menu is keyed to three tasting menus ranging in price (as of July 2010) from $59 to $135 before wine. Or you can order a five-course vegetarian tasting menu for $85.
Rover's
2808 E. Madison
Seattle, WA 98112
206-325-7442
Thechefinthehat.com - Another hotel restaurant, Campagne can be found at the Inn at the Market in Pike Place Market. Campagne takes Seattle's seaside culture and blends it effectively with the spirit of southern France.
Refreshingly, the menu offered no salmon in July 2010. Prices are reasonable for this sort of establishment: Most entrees cost less than $40, and a few fall below $30
The Forbes Travel Guide gives Campagne three stars.
Campagne Restaurant
86 Pine St.
Seattle, WA 98101
206-728-2800
Campagnerestaurant.com - Italian restaurants rarely make "best of" lists because, while tasty, Italian cuisine is basic and hard to make shine. Il Terrazzo Carmine expands its menu beyond pasta and osso buco to good effect.
Expect to spend a lot of time deciding what to eat, but not much money paying for it. As of July 2010, the lengthy menu offers no main course costing more than $38, and all of the pasta dishes cost less than $19. Locals return again and again for the value.
Il Terrazzo Carmine
411 1st Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98104
206-467-7797
Ilterrazzocarmine.com - Contemporary American cooking finds a welcome home at Spring Hill. Less-adventurous palates will enjoy the chicken, trout or rib steak, while foodies can delight in some slightly more daring appetizers.
The friendly menu reveals the source of the ingredients--your mussels come from Totten Inlet, Wash.--and save for the dry-aged rib steak, all main courses will set you back less than $26 (as of July 2010).
If you're looking for a place that treats its meals with five-star respect at reasonable prices, this is a place to check out.
Spring Hill Restaurant
4437 California Ave. SW., Seattle, WA 98116
206-935-1075
springhillnorthwest.com - This Italian restaurant isn't purely Italian; the menu includes the Japanese ingredients kurobuta pork and ahi tuna. Nevertheless, the food does not suffer in the least.
The menu presents a mere six pasta dishes--costing from $14 to $18 in July, 2010--but shines in the fish, fowl and meat departments, with prices roughly double those of the pasta. The restaurant broadens its appeal with gluten-free choices and a children's menu.
Tulio Ristorante
1100 Fifth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
206-624-5500
Tulio.com
