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Restaurant list

Seattle's Most Iconic Restaurants

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by The OpenTable team
Updated February 19, 2020

Seasons change, trends come and go, but these restaurants have withstood the test of time—and have become integral parts of the Seattle dining scene. Here are Seattle’s OpenTable Classics: the places that continue to excel after 10+ years. There’s a reason they’re still around: they keep giving us a reason to come back.

Purple Cafe and Wine Bar - Seattle
4.5 (5428)
$31 to $50
American
Downtown
You know the scene in Beauty and the Beast when Belle enters the beast’s soaring, book-lined library? If you’re a wine lover, you’ll feel the same way walking into Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. The walls are filled with bottles of all types and denominations, and the staff is eager to help you navigate the extensive menu. Plus, there are plenty of excellent pizzas and pastas to nourish you on your journey.
Top review
Barbara
Dined 1 day ago
Great food and wonderful service! And, cocktails were perfect! Our waiter, Isaac made our birthday celebration so much fun. The desserts were so delicious and HUGE! I will definitely go back!
You know the scene in Beauty and the Beast when Belle enters the beast’s soaring, book-lined library? If you’re a wine lover, you’ll feel the same way walking into Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. The walls are filled with bottles of all types and denominations, and the staff is eager to help you navigate the extensive menu. Plus, there are plenty of excellent pizzas and pastas to nourish you on your journey.
Top review
Barbara
Dined 1 day ago
Great food and wonderful service! And, cocktails were perfect! Our waiter, Isaac made our birthday celebration so much fun. The desserts were so delicious and HUGE! I will definitely go back!
Wild Ginger Downtown Seattle
4.6 (6436)
$31 to $50
Asian
Downtown
When Wild Ginger opened almost 30 years ago, the food scene in America was markedly different: there were few sushi bars, few ramen joints, few places to eat Korean barbecue. Wild Ginger, which features dishes from all over Asia, was a trailblazer then, and it’s still relevant—and delicious—today. Make sure to get a few of the offerings from the satay bar, and don’t miss their famous “fragrant duck.”
Top review
PatrickVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Wonderful food and guest experience. Attentive and well informed servers.
When Wild Ginger opened almost 30 years ago, the food scene in America was markedly different: there were few sushi bars, few ramen joints, few places to eat Korean barbecue. Wild Ginger, which features dishes from all over Asia, was a trailblazer then, and it’s still relevant—and delicious—today. Make sure to get a few of the offerings from the satay bar, and don’t miss their famous “fragrant duck.”
Top review
PatrickVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Wonderful food and guest experience. Attentive and well informed servers.
Lola Seattle
4.7 (4312)
$30 and under
Mediterranean
Downtown
On its surface, Lola is an excellent Greek spot—dig deeper, though, and you’ll see a Seattle institution, a restaurant with a true sense of place. Chef Tom Douglas uses the best of what’s around him—the bounty of the Pacific Northwest—and then cooks them in the Mediterranean spirit, giving us dishes like sockeye-salmon kebabs, lamb-shoulder tagine, and slow-roasted leg of lamb with oregano, rosemary, and lemon.
Top review
JanaVIP
Dined 6 days ago
Excellent food and drinks! The kabobs (salmon and pork) were so delicious, and the spreads and pita were delicious. Excited to try sister spot Neb soon too!
On its surface, Lola is an excellent Greek spot—dig deeper, though, and you’ll see a Seattle institution, a restaurant with a true sense of place. Chef Tom Douglas uses the best of what’s around him—the bounty of the Pacific Northwest—and then cooks them in the Mediterranean spirit, giving us dishes like sockeye-salmon kebabs, lamb-shoulder tagine, and slow-roasted leg of lamb with oregano, rosemary, and lemon.
Top review
JanaVIP
Dined 6 days ago
Excellent food and drinks! The kabobs (salmon and pork) were so delicious, and the spreads and pita were delicious. Excited to try sister spot Neb soon too!
Shuckers
4.7 (2589)
$30 and under
Seafood
Downtown
Shuckers is a Seattle classic in every sense of the word, from the oak paneling to the gleaming fixtures to the perfect platters of oysters. Come for a martini and a dozen at happy hour, or stay for dinner and dine on some of the freshest seafood the area has to offer.
Top review
SarahVIP
Dined 4 days ago
This is such a wonderful experience for our family! The atmosphere and ambience were beautiful. The food was super tasty and I love that the staff was so attentive, kind answered all my kids questions and really made us feel like we were in a welcoming environment. We will definitely return to this restaurant next time we are in Seattle!
Shuckers is a Seattle classic in every sense of the word, from the oak paneling to the gleaming fixtures to the perfect platters of oysters. Come for a martini and a dozen at happy hour, or stay for dinner and dine on some of the freshest seafood the area has to offer.
Top review
SarahVIP
Dined 4 days ago
This is such a wonderful experience for our family! The atmosphere and ambience were beautiful. The food was super tasty and I love that the staff was so attentive, kind answered all my kids questions and really made us feel like we were in a welcoming environment. We will definitely return to this restaurant next time we are in Seattle!
The Capital Grille - Seattle
4.8 (3993)
$50 and over
Steakhouse
Downtown
For a true steakhouse experience—the charred, meaty steaks, the perfectly crisp wedge salads, the rainbow of sides—it’s hard to beat The Capital Grille. The staff knows what they’re doing, and the consistency is always on point. Round out the meal with a martini or two, and you’re in for a luxurious night.
Top review
Kelly
Dined 2 days ago
Food and service was excellent. Portion size was large, had plenty to take with us. We were well taken care of.
For a true steakhouse experience—the charred, meaty steaks, the perfectly crisp wedge salads, the rainbow of sides—it’s hard to beat The Capital Grille. The staff knows what they’re doing, and the consistency is always on point. Round out the meal with a martini or two, and you’re in for a luxurious night.
Top review
Kelly
Dined 2 days ago
Food and service was excellent. Portion size was large, had plenty to take with us. We were well taken care of.
Tulio
4.7 (4141)
$31 to $50
Italian
Downtown
Tulio is a stately, handsome Italian restaurant in the downtown Hotel Vintage Park, where chef Walter Pisano infuses Northern Italian cuisine with the spirit of the Pacific Northwest. We’re particularly fond of the pastas, which include dishes like pappardelle with rabbit ragu, orrecchiete with spicy sausage, and linguine with local clams.
Top review
BarbaraVIP
Dined 6 days ago
Tulio’s is consistently good. A well established wonderful restaurant.
Tulio is a stately, handsome Italian restaurant in the downtown Hotel Vintage Park, where chef Walter Pisano infuses Northern Italian cuisine with the spirit of the Pacific Northwest. We’re particularly fond of the pastas, which include dishes like pappardelle with rabbit ragu, orrecchiete with spicy sausage, and linguine with local clams.
Top review
BarbaraVIP
Dined 6 days ago
Tulio’s is consistently good. A well established wonderful restaurant.
Cafe Juanita
4.9 (3439)
$50 and over
Italian
Kirkland
There are few places better than Cafe Juanita for pitch-perfect Italian food—and this Seattle institution has been going strong since 1980. And after a recent renovation, the space is as befitting a special occasion as the food itself; it’s the perfect place for a celebration.
Top review
Becky
Dined 3 days ago
Wonderful meal. The room is lovely, service impeccable yet not stuffy. The food is heavenly.
There are few places better than Cafe Juanita for pitch-perfect Italian food—and this Seattle institution has been going strong since 1980. And after a recent renovation, the space is as befitting a special occasion as the food itself; it’s the perfect place for a celebration.
Top review
Becky
Dined 3 days ago
Wonderful meal. The room is lovely, service impeccable yet not stuffy. The food is heavenly.
Umi Sake House
4.8 (2598)
$30 and under
Japanese
Downtown
Umi Sake House is one of the more fun spots to dine in Seattle, with a voluminous menu devoted to sushi and Japanese-American classics and, unsurprisingly, an extensive sake list. They do a particularly great happy hour, which is served on their back porch—lucky for you, those are the best seats in the house.
Top review
Kara
Dined 7 days ago
Excellent rolls and nigiri. Loved everything we tried including 2 different sake cocktails!
Umi Sake House is one of the more fun spots to dine in Seattle, with a voluminous menu devoted to sushi and Japanese-American classics and, unsurprisingly, an extensive sake list. They do a particularly great happy hour, which is served on their back porch—lucky for you, those are the best seats in the house.
Top review
Kara
Dined 7 days ago
Excellent rolls and nigiri. Loved everything we tried including 2 different sake cocktails!

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