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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
4.6 (5422)
$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
Lisa
Dined 2 days ago
Great food. Too many activation codes to take this survey.
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
Lisa
Dined 2 days ago
Great food. Too many activation codes to take this survey.
Wild Ginger Downtown Seattle
4.6 (6424)
$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
Mary LouVIP
Dined 1 day ago
A great experience this time. Our person Arianna took wonderful care of us and the food was as delicious as ever!
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
Mary LouVIP
Dined 1 day ago
A great experience this time. Our person Arianna took wonderful care of us and the food was as delicious as ever!
Lola Seattle
4.7 (4303)
$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
Cherry Ann
Dined 4 days ago
We loved the fried squid and meatball appetizers, chicken kebabs and seafood tagine! The donuts with cream and blueberry compote were to die for. We were seated pretty quickly, appetizers came out super fast and just overall great service.
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
Cherry Ann
Dined 4 days ago
We loved the fried squid and meatball appetizers, chicken kebabs and seafood tagine! The donuts with cream and blueberry compote were to die for. We were seated pretty quickly, appetizers came out super fast and just overall great service.
Shuckers
4.8 (2567)
$30 and under
Unspecified
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
KristinVIP
Dined today
Everything was amazing!! Service and food was top notch! Highly recommend!
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
KristinVIP
Dined today
Everything was amazing!! Service and food was top notch! Highly recommend!
The Capital Grille - Seattle
4.9 (3994)
$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
Nicole
Dined 1 day ago
Fabulous service and wonderful food. Thank you for being part of our birthday celebration.
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
Nicole
Dined 1 day ago
Fabulous service and wonderful food. Thank you for being part of our birthday celebration.
Tulio
4.7 (4120)
$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
PaulVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Always a wonderful experience! The lamb shank is incredible and the gnocchi are a favorite.
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
PaulVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Always a wonderful experience! The lamb shank is incredible and the gnocchi are a favorite.
Cafe Juanita
4.9 (3441)
$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
Jon
Dined 7 days ago
Unbelievable experience. Well thought out menus, very attentive staff, detailed execution from the kitchen. 11/10. Looking forward to coming back soon.
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
Jon
Dined 7 days ago
Unbelievable experience. Well thought out menus, very attentive staff, detailed execution from the kitchen. 11/10. Looking forward to coming back soon.
Umi Sake House
4.8 (2581)
$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
Skye
Dined 4 days ago
The fresh fish is obviously the star but the filet mignon was so good. Happy hour also has a lot of great options and service is always warm and welcoming.
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
Skye
Dined 4 days ago
The fresh fish is obviously the star but the filet mignon was so good. Happy hour also has a lot of great options and service is always warm and welcoming.

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