# What to eat in Seattle?? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029 "2006-05-24T14:29:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/21 "2006-05-24T21:41:01Z")
Great info, all. Since we’re only in Seattle for a few days, I’ll probably pass on the BBQ and the Indian (have some really good local places for that particular ethnicity…mmm…naan and nimbu pani…), bu I’ll take a shot at the Anthony’s, but I’ll probably aim for the “Pier 66” location, as we’re planning on walking for most of our stay (except for a drive to Mt. Ranier). So, if I see a pleasant, brilliant hostess dedicated to Fighting Ignorance…it won’t be you , **Anastaseon.** 🙂 Maybe we’ll try Dick’s if we’re fast-fooding it, and we’ll at least go up in the Space Needle…we love dorky tourist stuff…thanks, **Rico**. I’ll offer again…if anyone is coming out this way, please ask for recommendations. I used to do the Sales thing, and know a lot of restaurants (though it is a high-turnover restaurant biz in Chicago). **Ludovic** …would you believe I’e never had a full cup of coffee? I heard today that a place named Rover’s. Is it still around? Is it any good? I think it’s supposed to be French. ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/22 "2006-05-24T21:45:00Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > **Cemetery Savior** , is there any particular kind of price range you’re looking at? For example, there are a fair number of James Beard award winners in this town, but they’re at more upscale places. > > …you’ll eventually find the Zig Zag on your right. The food is nothing to write home about, but the drinks are fabulous. > > If you want to be _really_ hardcore about raw oysters, you can go to the University District farmer’s market and buy oysters and a shucking knife directly from the shellfish farmer 🙂 **Hunter** …I figure we’ll go high-style at least one night, and look for local cafes and things for the others. I love odd little bars, and Mrs. Savior doesenjoy a Cosmopolitan or two, so we’ll definitely check that out. I’m not sure how hardcore one can become about oysters when one’s from Chicago. You tend to stay in the “safe” zone on seafood here. Mmm…doughnuts. I may have to try Tip Top. And the cupcake place, to be fair. -Cem ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/23 "2006-05-24T21:47:34Z")
> [@Cemetery Savior](#): > > I heard today that a place named Rover’s. Is it still around? Is it any good? I think it’s supposed to be French. Rover’s has a very good reputation, though I’ve never been. If you want to go to a fancy place, though, I highly recommend Lampreia. Chef/owner Scott Carsberg [just won](http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/270447_chou17.html) a James Beard award. Don’t order off the menu, though – just go with the multi-course chef’s choice dinner. My wife and I have been twice. The food was excellent both times. The atmosphere is unusually reserved for the Pacific Northwest, but nonetheless friendly in our experience. ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/24 "2006-05-24T21:56:13Z")
> [@Interrobang!?](#): > > Rover’s has a very good reputation, though I’ve never been. If you want to go to a fancy place, though, I highly recommend Lampreia. Chef/owner Scott Carsberg [just won](http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/270447_chou17.html) a James Beard award. Don’t order off the menu, though – just go with the multi-course chef’s choice dinner. > > My wife and I have been twice. The food was excellent both times. The atmosphere is unusually reserved for the Pacific Northwest, but nonetheless friendly in our experience. Do I need to wear a jacket, by any chance? Then it just might be a no-go, since it _is_ vacation! Hmm…I see that a jacket is suggested at Rover’s…might have to re-think that. I’ll bet they don’t require a jacket at Tip Top! ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/25 "2006-05-24T22:11:03Z")
> [@Cemetery Savior](#): > > Do I need to wear a jacket, by any chance? Then it just might be a no-go, since it _is_ vacation! I don’t know if you _need_ to wear a jacket to any restaurant in Seattle (aside from Canlis) – but Lampreia would parallel Rover’s, formality-wise. I wore a jacket both times I went. But I didn’t wear a tie. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/26 "2006-05-24T23:38:11Z")
> [@Cemetery Savior](#): > > …I’ll take a shot at the Anthony’s, but I’ll probably aim for the “Pier 66” location, as we’re planning on walking for most of our stay (except for a drive to Mt. Ranier). So, if I see a pleasant, brilliant hostess dedicated to Fighting Ignorance…it won’t be you , **Anastaseon.** 🙂 That’s okay, even it _was_ me, it wouldn’t be. Enjoy your stay here! My husband and I spent last July 4th at the Edgewater, and spent several days just walking around the piers, seeing what there was to see. If you like marine life, be sure to check out the Aquarium while you’re there. It’s on Pier 59. And there’s this candy store down there… I got tonnes of jellybellies… We went to Anthony’s on Pier 66 while we were there. They have _awesome_ coconut shrimp, and Ahi, and the scallops melt in your mouth, oh my god… The waterfront is fun, I think you guys will enjoy it. 🙂 And maybe it’s because I’ve only been here a couple of years, or maybe because my first time up there was on my wedding night (in my dress and fuzzy slippers, because my heels were hurting my feet) but I _like_ going up in the Space Needle, especially at night. It’s nothing big, but as I’ve always said, do it anyway, because when you get back home, that’s the only thing anyone will really want to know that you did. And if it sucked, you can say with a bored look, “The Space Needle? Oh, yes. It was _okay_. If you like that kind of thing.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/27 "2006-05-25T00:20:00Z")
I would like to suggest any of the [Tom Douglas](http://tomdouglas.com/) restaurants. My wife and I have eaten at both Etta’s and the Dahlia Lounge and the food has been fantastic. Everything is a regional specialty and you get a lot of it. I had the pork loin at Dahlia about a month ago, it was easily the best I have ever had. The homemade ketchup served with the fries is a real treat. It cost us about $75 for the two of us which is more than reasonable considering the quality of the food. Douglas kicked butt on an episode of Iron Chef last year, he won by a wide margin over his opponent. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/28 "2006-05-25T00:33:13Z")
Our family went to a touristy looking pier restaraunt on the waterfront- I sure wish I could remember the name- and had a touristy 7 course seafood meal that was Absolutely Wonderful. That meal was an embarrasment of riches. Even the children who were 5 and 8 squabbled over who got the last mussel or crab piece (They, fortunately, are adventurous eaters, those two!). We wandered around the piers peeping in at the menus to make our choice and I have all the restaurants hopelessly confused in my mind now. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/29 "2006-05-25T00:48:14Z")
Another possibility is sushi. Try Shiro’s or Saito’s (both are walking distance from Pike Place Market), or Nishino (you’ll need a car or take the #11 bus from downtown). ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/30 "2006-05-25T01:04:02Z")
> [@Interrobang!?](#): > > I don’t know if you _need_ to wear a jacket to any restaurant in Seattle (aside from Canlis) – but Lampreia would parallel Rover’s, formality-wise. I wore a jacket both times I went. But I didn’t wear a tie. From what I understand (from someone who knows) Canlis doesn’t actually require a jacket either, but they don’t want you to show up in jeans. I’ve read that there’s nowhere in the city that you have to have a tie. If you’re in this weekend, so is [Folklife](http://www.nwfolklife.org/) (yea street festival season!). Which means all local junk and semi-junk food are conveniently located right next to each other in Seattle Center. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/31 "2006-05-25T05:37:20Z")
I almost forgot… We had a Dopefest at [Chinook’s](http://www.anthonys.com/restaurants/info/chinooks.html#1) It’s at Fishermen’s terminal. check out the menu. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/32 "2006-05-25T13:33:24Z")
The classic Seattle seafood restaurant is **Ivar’s Acres of Clams** , down on the waterfront. Ivar was a local institution and much loved, and his old Acres of Clams has been in business for years and years. Last time we ate there was maybe five years ago, and the food was just fine. I suspect that it’s the restaurant some of the previous posters have been talking about. Another local institution is **Andy’s Diner** on Fourth Avenue. It’s built up of old railroad cars. The food is standard steak-and-potatoes fare, but their Prime Steak is a marinated slice of heaven. Again, it’s been around for years and years; I remember eating there as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/33 "2006-05-25T14:45:01Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > The classic Seattle seafood restaurant is **Ivar’s Acres of Clams** , down on the waterfront. Meh, it’s okay. Not bad, but there’s better. Hangs around mostly through inertia and sentiment. > [@Cemetery Savior](#): > > is there a local oyster preparation that I should be on the lookout for? Raw all the way, baby. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/34 "2006-05-25T14:51:37Z")
When I visited, many years ago, my hostess insisted we try the local breaded and fried squid. It was great! It wasn’t the food, but the company elsewhere – I had an interesting conversation at a Wendy’s with an Eskimo who was a big Boston Bruins fan. Interestin place, Seattle. ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/35 "2006-05-25T14:58:09Z")
OK, I’ll definitely write down the different places. I love the phrase “acres of clams”… I think that maybe I’ll have some fried squid…there’s nothign better. I can’t think that squid is a local fishery…is it? We’re definitely doing the Space Needle, to check it off on our list, but I suspect it will be nice. I’ll try to get to that Folk Festival thing. Is Seattle Center near the downtown? We’ll be staying at Hotel Andra. Is it within walking distance? -Cem ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/36 "2006-05-25T15:05:18Z")
> [@](#): > > I can’t think that squid is a local fishery…is it? IIRC, my hostess implied that it was. But I could be wrong. It’s been a few years. it was great stuff. I know it’s a cliche, but “tasted like chicken” really applied. Not tough and rubbery like other cephalopod I’ve had (Cthulhu McNuggets). ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/37 "2006-05-25T15:39:16Z")
Hm… Hotel Andra is in Belltown… you’ll probably beeeeee… roughly ten blocks away from the Space Needle, I think? I don’t think you’re terribly far. The Space Needle is part of Seattle Center, so once you’re there, well, you’re _there_. 😉 Any locals, correct me if I’m wrong, I’m still just getting the hang of downtown. ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/38 "2006-05-25T15:44:07Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > Hm… Hotel Andra is in Belltown… you’ll probably beeeeee… roughly ten blocks away from the Space Needle, I think? I don’t think you’re terribly far. The Space Needle is part of Seattle Center, so once you’re there, well, you’re _there_. 😉 > > Any locals, correct me if I’m wrong, I’m still just getting the hang of downtown. That all sounds right. The hotel implied that I was in “downtown”, so that sounds good. I guess I’m about 4-5 blocks from Pike’s Place Market? And about 9-10 from the Needle. I was just told by a friend to make sure to take a ferry ride up the coast to Everett? Does that sound like a 1/2 day adventure? Worth it? ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/39 "2006-05-25T15:53:39Z")
> [@Cemetery Savior](#): > > That all sounds right. The hotel implied that I was in “downtown”, so that sounds good. I guess I’m about 4-5 blocks from Pike’s Place Market? And about 9-10 from the Needle. > > I was just told by a friend to make sure to take a ferry ride up the coast to Everett? Does that sound like a 1/2 day adventure? Worth it? There’s nothing of any note in Everett itself, which is just a crummy industrial strip-mall town centered around the Boeing plant, so the only attraction would be the scenery on the ferry ride. For that matter, I’m not sure that the ferries actually run to Everett. However, the ferries run to more interesting places (Vashon island, Whidbey Island) which might be worth a day trip. Whidbey Island is, of course, the site of the Pig War. 😃 One could also take a ferry to Bremerton and see the mothballed warships there. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029/40 "2006-05-25T16:16:07Z")
My sis called Ivar’s “Ivar’s Acres of Deep Fat Fried Stuff”- she’s funny like that. On my last trip to Seattle, we rented a car and drove around the top of the Olympic Peninsula to Forks, Wa., where we watched the sun set on the beach. The next day we visited the Hoh Rain Forest and spent a second night watching the sunset and exploring the tidal pools. We then drove back the same way we came, visiting the top of Hurrican Ridge on the way back. Very nice short side-trip. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-eat-in-seattle/358029.md?page=3)