Lowell’s, at 1519 Pike Place, is a wonderful place for breakfast. Their omelette with dungeness crab is a must!
At the corner of Virginia and Western, at 2010 Western Ave., is Seatown Seabar and Rotisserie, one of chef and restaurateur Tom Douglas’s 10 restaurants. I had a great halibut entree outside on the patio overlooking the Sound, the market and the sunset!
I also tried his Etta’s Restaurant, now Etta’s Big Mountain BBQ, two doors north at 2020 Western. The salmon entrée, with his special rub used in the preparation, was really great! I even bought the rub to take home! I highly recommend it.
From here it was a short walk to Elliott’s Oyster House along the waterfront at Pier 56, 1206 Alaskan Way. It is right along the water with outdoor seating. They have great salmon!
Chinatown International District: Up from The Pioneer Square area is the Chinatown/International District which has influences from China, Japan, Vietnam and other Asian countries. I enjoyed seeing the old Panama Hotel, at 605 ½ S. Main, and stopped in for tea at the Tea and Coffee House on the first floor. It has many historic photos of the area before World War II. It is the center of the popular novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford which is about the neighborhood during WWII. I enjoyed dim sum at House of Hong, at 408 8th Avenue South, and walking the neighborhood checking out some of the shops and bakeries and seeing Uwajimaya Asian market.
Broadway is a street that runs the length of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. It has some interesting shops and restaurants and the neighborhood gets edgier as you get closer to downtown. You will find local flavor like Dick’s Drive-In which is known for its hamburgers (not bad ice cream either) at 115 Broadway East. Walking down Pine towards downtown, I found Stumptown Coffee Roasters which had good chai, at 1115 12th Ave.
In Fremont, I did have a great meal at Revel, at 403 N. 36th St., which I found through its review in the NY Times. It bills itself as Urban-style Korean comfort food. I had a wonderful meal, prepared with fresh local ingredients. The white gulf shrimp with cilantro pistou and coriander noodles was really amazing as was the green bean, grilled shitakes in a roasted sesame vinaigrette.
In Ballard, I really liked the old buildings on Market St., as well as Ballard Ave. NW. There were some nice stores, a tea store, Miro Tea, and several coffee shops including Cugini Coffee which had good chai. A short walk from the Sunday Market is the Ship Canal with boat slips, dry dock repair and maintenance facilities for ocean-going container ships.
I ate at the Salmon Bay Cafe, on the docks, at 5109 Shilshole Ave NW. What a great find!! It is a casual café/diner with great breakfasts. I had a huge omelette with crab and shrimp. I had read about The Walrus and Carpenter, at 4743 Ballard Ave. NW, which was recently featured in the NY Times. Unfortunately they are not open for brunch, only dinner. It is in a casual, attractive place and known for its oysters.
On Bainbridge Island, make you sure you walk down Madison Street where you will find Doc’s Marina Grill at 403 Madison, Pegasus Coffee House at 131 Parfitt Way SW, and the Harbour Public House & Marina at 211 Parfitt Way. Pegasus is the perfect place to have lunch, drink coffee, read and hang out. It had a great feel. I met locals who often come from Seattle to write and read!
In South Lake Union, I opted for the causal Portage Bay Café, at 391 Terry Avenue, which was totally packed for Saturday brunch with a very young crowd. The food was great and the toppings bar, for their popular oatmeal and pancakes, was full with mounds of blue berries, raspberries and strawberries.
I did not go to Canlis but it is one of the best restaurants in the city which is the fine dining/special event location of choice. A close friend recently hosted her friends here in celebration of her 60th Birthday. At 2576 Aurora Avenue North, it has stunning views and wonderful food. Casual attire is not appropriate according to their website.