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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 (5431)
$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
micheleVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Very innovative food, friendly staff and an incredible wine selection.
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
micheleVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Very innovative food, friendly staff and an incredible wine selection.
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
MayVIP
Dined 2 days ago
We were 6 people and should have been given a round table. It was hard to hear one another on a long rectangle table.
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
MayVIP
Dined 2 days ago
We were 6 people and should have been given a round table. It was hard to hear one another on a long rectangle table.
Lola Seattle
4.7 (4309)
$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
Ginny
Dined 3 days ago
We had a delicious birthday dinner celebration with friends. Cocktails were great 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
Ginny
Dined 3 days ago
We had a delicious birthday dinner celebration with friends. Cocktails were great too
Shuckers
4.7 (2584)
$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
TonyVIP
Dined 2 days ago
We've been going to Shucker's now for many years - it is definitely one of Seattle's finest seafood restaurants. We enjoy the old-school setting, and the super fresh seafood that is always prepared just perfectly. Don't let the online menu fool you - there is always a "fresh sheet" on the wall, which features various "catch of the day" options that are simply grilled and served with vegetables. They have a nice, approachable wine list, great cocktails and the appetizers can also be made into a meal. Great spot.
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
TonyVIP
Dined 2 days ago
We've been going to Shucker's now for many years - it is definitely one of Seattle's finest seafood restaurants. We enjoy the old-school setting, and the super fresh seafood that is always prepared just perfectly. Don't let the online menu fool you - there is always a "fresh sheet" on the wall, which features various "catch of the day" options that are simply grilled and served with vegetables. They have a nice, approachable wine list, great cocktails and the appetizers can also be made into a meal. Great spot.
The Capital Grille - Seattle
4.8 (3996)
$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
ElaineVIP
Dined 4 days ago
One of my favorite places to dine Consistently best quality
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
ElaineVIP
Dined 4 days ago
One of my favorite places to dine Consistently best quality
Tulio
4.7 (4137)
$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
Hillary
Dined 5 days ago
Such delicious food and gracious service, helping us so kindly with dietary restrictions and food preferences! Pianist playing background music was great and we really enjoyed ourselves!
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
Hillary
Dined 5 days ago
Such delicious food and gracious service, helping us so kindly with dietary restrictions and food preferences! Pianist playing background music was great and we really enjoyed ourselves!
Cafe Juanita
4.9 (3435)
$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
RandyVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Low-key amazing. Best in Kirkland, worth all the hype.
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
RandyVIP
Dined 1 day ago
Low-key amazing. Best in Kirkland, worth all the hype.
Umi Sake House
4.8 (2593)
$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
Santos
Dined on May 6, 2025
For the price this place was exceptionally good. Great relaxed but not too informal ambiance, great food, friendly service and thoughtful. We had been seated next to a large table and the Manager got us a different table saying that a large party was going to get very noisy. When they showed up we were happy we had changed tables. Good catch by the Manager.
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
Santos
Dined on May 6, 2025
For the price this place was exceptionally good. Great relaxed but not too informal ambiance, great food, friendly service and thoughtful. We had been seated next to a large table and the Manager got us a different table saying that a large party was going to get very noisy. When they showed up we were happy we had changed tables. Good catch by the Manager.

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