Whenever someone gives a recommendation for the best restaurant, it’s a bit of a gamble. Maybe 98% of the time, the food is fabulous, but what if the chef has had a fight with his wife and the fish ends up overcooked? Well, all one can do is go on experience and recommendations, and then hope for the best.
Two of these restaurants are in the Belltown / Downtown Seattle area. One is nearby, on Queen Anne. All are fairly close to the big hotels.
Seattle's Best Restaurants
These are good places for guys to take a date to make a good impression, or for business people to schmooze a customer. These are name-droppable restaurants to impress the neighbors back in Kansas. And, all of the restaurants are close to downtown hotels where business people, and cruise ship tourists, stay.
Waterfront Seafood Grill
Want to impress friends? The Waterfront is one of the best options. This place has a magnificent water-and-city view, great seafood, and a posh atmosphere, though Seattle is not a very dressy city. Maybe, Seattle is more of a casual dress-rehearsal city.
Travelers can do the Waterfront restaurant on the cheap by dropping in for happy hour and getting a nosh, such as crab dip. The service is always good. It’s a nice place. It's on the water.
El Gaucho Seattle
The same people, who own the Waterfront, own the El Gaucho steakhouse, but this restaurant has an old-school feel, like the early 60s, when going out to a restaurant was a big deal. And, though people can probably slide into El Gaucho in jeans, this is a romantic spot where a girl can get her slinky, sexy groove on and dress up. Their steaks are good. (Younger men should know that everything is ala carte and adds up fast.) And, for God’s sake, save room for Banana’s Foster.
The bar at El Gaucho is one of the few good places in Seattle where two gals, over 40, can hang out. (Maybe it’s the soft lighting?) To do this restaurant on the cheap, follow the lead of the single moms from Mercer Island: At the bar, two people can order wine and split a fruit-and-cheese dessert plate. Ask the bartender.
Canlis
The Canlis restaurant is an iconic Seattle landmark, and much more important than the Space Needle. (In one Seattle divorce agreement, early 70s, the wife got Canlis on Saturday nights and the husband had to settle for taking his young blonde to Trader Vic’s.) Unfortunately, it seems that the elegant piano bar (where people actually put drinks on the piano) is gone. Peter would be so disappointed to know that rat-pack-loving people no longer have a place to get foggy and sing, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” while perched over the best view in town.
Well, time marches on, and Canlis is still fabulous and has been updated. They have the best service and the most consistently good food in Seattle. Men wear jackets. Women wear jewelry.
Foods to consider:
- Canlis Salad
- Peter Canlis Prawns
- Dungeness Crab Cake
- Prawn, Mango & Avocado Salad
- Wild Mushroom Ravioli
- Grand Marnier Soufflé
- Tasting Menu
Canlis has the best wine list. Their mixed drinks are still as good as ever.
These are not the only good restaurants in town. There are cheaper places. There are trendier places. On the other hand, as new restaurants come and go, these three will stay around as long as people still want good service to go with their great meal.
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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