From time to time, friends and acquaintances ask me to recommend places to eat, stay or shop. So, for openers . . .
My quick list of Seattle restaurants:
Harvest Vine. An authentic tapas place owned by Joseba Jimenez de Jimenez. Can get pricey when you stack plate on plate. Superlative Spanish wine list. Madison Valley.
Nishino. Johnna and I consider Tatsu Nishino’s upscale restaurant the best sushi place in the city. Worked with Nobu Matsuhisa before moving to Seattle to open his own place.
Sea Garden. De rigueur stop on Harrison’s Seattle itinerary ever since introducing him to it years ago. Chinese seafood in the International District.
Salumi. Armandino Batali’s now legendary hole in the wall serving house-cured meats, sausages, and salami. Lunch only; prepare to stand in line. Not to be missed.
Monsoon. Contemporary neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant owned by brother and sister Eric and Sophie Bahn. Fabulous food and excellent wine list.
How to Cook a Wolf. Intimate, simple Italian/Northwest/Country French on Queen Anne owned by Ethan Stowell, chef/patron of Tavolata and Anchovies & Olives.
Cafe Campagne. Okay, I admit that it was my place and that I love it like a child, but I was there a few weeks ago and, in my opinion, it remains the finest French bistro in Seattle. Delicious food and fabulous service in a beautiful space.
Lark. Small plates, Mediterranean influenced menu. Excellent food.
Cascina Spinasse. The best trattoria-style Italian in the city. In fact, the best Italian restaurant in the city. Capitol Hill.
Bisato. Scott Carsberg, arguably (and demonstrably, in my opinion) the best cook in the city, has reopened his Belltown space as Bisato, serving cichetti, exquisite small plates showcasing impeccable product with superior technical panache. I have not yet been in, but the word from trusted sources is that it’s over the top.
