Seattle

By neighborhood, 

a humble list of Seattle favorites

addendums welcome. 

Capitol Hill

Odd Fellows Cafe, best for quiche, ambiance and trendy staff, with a salad on most every plate.
Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch/Dinner
Order at counter
Table Service Optional
Sidewalk seating weather permitting





Skillet best for deconstructed Corned Beef Hash, Bacon Jam and anything whatever else is on the menu that day. It's magic in there.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Table Service (Capitol Hill)
Counter service, open seating (Seattle Center Armory)
Outdoor Patio

Photo courtesy of Kevin Fujii

Rancho Bravo best for cheap tacos and a selection of Tex Mex
operating out of an old KFC.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Counter service, open seating
Outside patio



Bluebird Ice Cream best for their rotating flavors, especially

vegan favorites like horchata. A well-contested rival of Molly Moon's you
can find them all over the city.


Molly Moon's Ice Cream best for their static menu of
flavors featuring my favorites: balsamic strawberry, honey lavander,
and earl grey








Big Marios best for a slice this side of Manhattan. I don't know
 where their water's coming from, but it tastes just like home.

Poquito's best for indoor/outdoor dining on grande tostada,
(you'll need a few soldiers to bring this down.) They also offer chapulines:
chili/lime salted & toasted grasshoppers, and the most amazing horchata
cocktail, El Dude.

Mamnoon best for shamndar bi tahini and baba ghanoush. Skirting
the edge of Cap Hill, (really in Melrose Square) it sports a beautiful interior
 and is perfect for a quick lunch, especially if you're just looking to pick up
 an affordable falafel from their walk-up window.

Lake Union

Serious Biscuit, best for unwieldy and designer-priced biscuit sandwiches by Tom Douglas. Upstairs is Serious Pie, with a devilish happy hour and crowd-pleasing pizza.

Queen Anne

Photo courtesy of Cederberg Tea House

Cederberg Tea House, best for hand-pulled Rooibos shots, especially in Lattes, hot or iced. Their baked goods are insane, and the owners are eager to please. They opened in 2013 and have taken Queen Anne by storm with their South African menu. Custom tea parties and catering available.

Madison Valley

Cafe Flora, best for flavor. I've only been there once, and I want to have a favorite dish, but everything I tasted at the table is still so scrumptuously stuck  in my craw. Pictured is the Hoppin Jon, a platter of black eye pea fritters, succotash, collard greens and cheesy grits. Don't act a fool, order the grits no matter what.
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Cactus best for Southwest satisfaction. A stellar happy hour, and brunch that will leave you feeling sentimental the moment your plate is cleared, Cactus has everything you want.

SeaTac

Pancake Chef, best for pre-Airport dining. Try the apple fritters, bacon and pancakes. Avoid the corned beef hash.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

University District

Agua Verde best for Chilaquiles, (we had them with verde tomatillo sauce), and the house Salsa Bar.

Georgetown

Calamity Jane's best for Bingo & evening events, but also for their shepherd's pie, (pictured) a generous pile of ground beef and savory veggies topped with mashed cauliflower and cheese. 

West Seattle

West Seattle Fish Co best for affordable oyster shooters, and a fresh selection of local fish and seafood-friendly sundries.

 Thaitan best for pad thai, tofu larb (pictured) black sticky rice and anything else you fancy. Their menu is affordable, delicious and always leaves you wanting more.

Cactus YES, Cactus again, this time on Alki Beach. Best for happy hour after a day in the sun? or sand, they make a fabulous Spanish rice, and THE BEST NACHOS I'VE EVER HAD. A gorgeous pile of chips, beans, guac and queso fresco finished with a drizzle of buttermilk crema. Salmon tacos pictured.





Firefly Cafe & Creperie best for vegan and gluten free crepes. Try anything with their nut cheese, especially the savory pear crepe with agave.








Meander's Kitchen best for Salmon Scramble, biscuits and a
long wait. Don't go if you're in a rush. Do go if you like bourbon in your French toast. Also, the menu is full of winners.





Easy Street Cafe best for $1 coffee, pancakes, bacon, perusing records while waiting for a table. The gals on the waitstaff aren't overly thrilled to see you, but will keep your cup full.





Luna Park Cafe best for piles & hobos, (you'll love the Field Roast  in anything), grilled biscuits & a very sexy Espresso Shake.






Christo's on Alki best for Salmon Benedict and genuine service. Family owned and operated, Johnny is easily the best waiter I've ever had.

Alki Cafe best for Rye Toast, not pictured, but certainly the best thing on the menu. Everything else seems to hit or miss. But people rave about the cinnamon roll and the grilled potatoes, which, on a good day, are very good.






Bakery Nouveau best for Twice Baked Almond Croissant, also try their quiche of the day; sure to be a sturdy, rich and a "sensible" choice for those on the run from pastries.

Heartland Cafe, best for cheese curds for breakfast. A sturdy neighborhood diner, without a long wait or too many frills. Excellently annexes with The Benbow Room. Mermaids and pirates implied, but fish swimming under the ship guaranteed.