Restaurants & Dining in Seattle

Barolo

The vibe at Barolo is modern and upscale, with Italian glass chandeliers, dark wood, and white tablecloths making this a perfect date-night spot. It also has a great value happy hour, when the entire bar menu is 50 percent off and select glasses of wine sell for under $5. Barolo: 1940 Westlake Ave; 206-770-9000

The Butcher’s Table

An upscale steakhouse with an adjacent butcher shop, diners come here for the meat-focused menu, which even has “tasting flights” of Manhattan-cut New York steaks, ribeyes, and 5-star cuts. The Butcher’s Table: 2121 Westlake Ave; 206-209-5990

Cactus

For Southwestern and Mexican fare in South Lake Union, reserve a table at Cactus. Stick to items from the Features Menu, specials guaranteed to showcase what’s seasonal in the Pacific Northwest. Cactus: 350 Terry Ave; 206-913-2250

Cinque Terre Ristorante

Be transported to the Italian Riviera at the oyster bar which, in addition to oysters on the half shell, sells Dungeness crab legs, white sturgeon caviar and Alaskan King Crab legs. All the pastas—gnocchi, fettuccine, spaghetti, bucatini, agnolotti—are house-made, as is the daily-baked bread. Cinque Terre Ristorante: 2001 Westlake Ave; 206-456-6300

Collections Cafe

After visiting the famous Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit, grab a table at the museum’s colorful Collections Cafe, which serves classic American plates (burgers, chopped salad, clam chowder) alongside pork belly char siu, crab benedict and cheese curds. Collections Cafe: 305 Harrison Street; 206-753-4935

TanakaSan

Tucked away in in the Via6 Residence, TanakaSan serves bento boxes, bibimbap, griddled rice cakes, and a solid list of juices. While TanakaSan is a popular casual lunch spot, come for dinner and try the sake slushies or Asian-influenced cocktails (house-made sake with pineapple boba, Japanese whiskey with orgeat and bitters). TanakaSan: 2121 6th Ave; 206-812-8412