Ballard

Bad Albert's Tap & Grill 5100 Ballard Ave NW, 782-9623, $
Consisting largely of what could be called bar food (although there's also breakfast on weekends), everything here's got a little something special. The coleslaw's got a nice sprinkling of dill; the black bean soup has big pieces of bacon and is served with a dollop of sour cream (and fresh pepper, if you want); sauces are homemade. The award-winning Dock Street Burger is juicy and stacked, and the Ballard Avenue Cheese Steak is a wonderful mess. And then there are the fries—hand cut, with the peel on, fried to a perfect golden brown and served in a great pile.

Dandelion 5809 24th Ave NW, 706-8088, $$
The menu at this delicately scaled cafe is pointedly unfussy: just six or seven appetizers, a few cheese choices, and six or seven entrées, all bundled up with lots of farmy name-dropping (Full Circle greens, Oregon Country beef, Quillisascut cheese) to let you know that someone in the kitchen cares about how the ingredients are grown. Very simple, careful food that's often very, very good.

Hattie's Hat 5231 Ballard Ave NW, 784-0175, $$
With stiff drinks, good food, and a gorgeous hand-carved bar, Hattie's is one of Ballard's most beloved joints. The Southern American-styled menu offers something for everyone, from classic burgers with sweet potato fries to smoked-salmon club sandwiches and buttermilk-soaked fried chicken. (There's good stuff for vegetarians, too.)

Patty Pan Grill 5402 20th Ave NW, 782-1558, $
The Patty Pan Grill might be famous for its vegetarian tamales—do you know how hard it is to find vegetarian tamales?—but the real winner here is the quesadilla. Offered with an odd array of seasonal veggies—a recent visit brought forth a bounty of bok choy, collard greens, zucchini, broccoli, and onion—and perfectly melted cheese, these little miracles are only made better then the addition of a hefty dollop of house-made roasted-tomato salsa.

People's Pub 5429 Ballard Ave NW, 783-6521, $
If you're looking for the kind of hearty fare Germans use to power through dark, cold winters, the People's Pub's Kraut-friendly menu may be just what you need. Giant Wiener schnitzel helps to soak up its many brands of beer—some of which are meals in and of themselves.

Sambar 425 NW Market St, 781-4883, $$
Spawned by the minds behind next door's Le Gourmand, the futuristically spare and stylish Sambar specializes in elaborate cocktails and dainty portions of Frenchy food, from croque monsieur to frites and cheeses.

Zagi's Pizza Ristorante 2408 NW 80th St, 706-0750, $
This New York-style pie is satisfaction incarnate. A little cornmeal on the bottom of the excellent crust adds body without giving the gritty sensation that your pizza's been dropped on a cornmeal beach. The cheese evades the mountain-of-mozzarella problem, and the flavors are intricate enough to make a plain slice a pleasure.

Belltown

Jai Thai 2132 First Ave, 770-7884, $
Here's good, cheap Thai food at your service, complete with a full bar, comfy lounge, and (weather permitting) an outdoor patio. Jai Thai scores big with their delicious homemade noodles, featured in dishes such as the phad kee mao, a variation on pad thai with wide noodles and curry, and tremendously good with shrimp.

Marco's Supperclub 2510 First Ave, 441-7801, $$
A truly urban place—one where a lot of people share a small space and interaction is inevitable—serving truly urban food, with ethnic flourishes from all over. The gossamer fried sage leaves have become something of a legend.

Mistral 113 Blanchard St, 770-7799, $$$
Mistral is one of a few Seattle restaurants offering an unapologetically haute-cuisine experience. The formal dining freaks out some people, as do the prices, but its young chef, William Belickis, gets consistent praise for his high-minded tasting menus, which are sometimes improvised for individual guests. Be ready to spend $100-plus per person.

Saito's Japanese Cafe and Bar 2122 Second Ave, 728-1333, $$$
Nestled in Belltown, Saito's, named for chef-owner Yutaka Saito, who has been preparing sushi since his teens in Tokyo, is a popular spot for fresh and impeccably prepared sushi. The restaurant draws a big lunch crowd, and though it's pricey, most sushi fans will find it to be worth every penny. Saito's also boasts an impressive sake bar, with over 40 selections.

Shorty's 2222 3/4 Second Ave, 441-5499, $
Coney dogs, booze, and pinball in one small joint spells fun for everyone (well, those 21 and older). Nostalgic soda pops and vegetarian options are offered for those who choose to abstain but still remember how to have a good time.

Zoe 2137 Second Ave, 256-2060, $$
A friendly upscale Belltown spot with European sophistication (they're not afraid of kids) and inventive, high-class American cooking.

Capitol Hill

Bleu Bistro 202 Broadway E, 329-3087, $
Bleu Bistro's veggie BLT is a tower of unbuttered, toasted sourdough; cold, perfectly ripe tomatoes; crisp iceberg lettuce; and layers upon layers of marbled, crisply salty "bacon"—the sandwich is not dainty. It is more than big enough for two, making it—at $8.95—one of the best sandwich deals in the city.

Capitol Club 414 E Pine St, 325-2149, $$
This snazzy nightclub/eatery specializes in seasonal Mediterranean-Moroccan fare, from seared duck breast and braised lamb shank to small plates of grilled spiced prawns and Penn Cove mussels. But what people lose their minds over is the Kobe beef burger ($13), a legendarily luxurious burger experience praised by devotees for its intricate flavors and juicy hugeness.

Crave 1621 12th Ave, 388-0526, $$
Crave is the kind of restaurant that seems to crop up in every district in San Francisco and Brooklyn. It is not a destination restaurant, but cultivates regulars with a slightly industrial space, medium prices, and a menu of homey dishes done up in noble ingredients. Restaurants like this should be a given.

El Gallito 1700 20th Ave, 329-8088, $
Capitol Hill regulars would be wise to take greater advantage of this homey, easy-to-overlook Mexican restaurant on the east edge of the hill. Generous doesn't quite describe the large portions. Greasy but tasty carne asada tastes just homemade enough to satisfy any carbohydrate addict in need of comfort. Also, try the guacamole enchilada, which is damn near the best thing that a person can put in their mouth on any given night.

Hillside Quickie Vegan Sandwich Shop 324 15th Ave E, 325-6429, $
This health-conscious, hiphop-oriented deli is vegan heaven on earth, serving opulent, organic tofu-, tempeh- and seitan-based subs and sandwiches that explode with spicy flavor.

Lark 926 12th Ave, 323-5275, $$$
The stress of eating at an expensive restaurant is missing from Lark, partly because everything is delicious, and also because you order two or three small dishes and taste lots of other things and therefore you don't have much opportunity to worry about what you're missing. The food is also not particularly "fancy," but the menu radiates both intelligence about excellent classic combinations and innovation.

Oasis Cafe 1024 E Pike St, 323-3293, $
Live in Seattle long enough and you start to feel like we have more Thai restaurants than freakin' Thailand. The lunch specials are outstanding here though, setting it apart from the many Thai restaurants on Capitol Hill. You can spend under $10 on a full meal—an entrée, Phad Thai, and steamed rice, plus a bowl of miso soup. The Buddhist Tofu is especially rich, its golden garlic sauce (peppered with spicy red flakes) covering tofu, broccoli, snow peas, carrots, and mushrooms with just enough flavor to avoid drenching the food.

Pho Cyclo Café 406 Broadway E, 329-9256, $
Pho Cyclo's signature dish, pho is offered with choices of sliced steak, flank, fatty flank, meatballs, chicken, and tripe. Basic? Yes. Delicious? Yes, especially with the addition of a small dish of ginger chili sauce, used either for dredging pieces of meat or adding to the broth. The rest of the menu includes rice and various stir fry dishes. But, seriously, why would you go to a restaurant with the word "pho" in the name and not get the pho?

Vios Cafe & Marketplace 903 19th Ave E, 329-3236, $
From the man who created Broadway's El Greco comes this new Capitol Hill jewel. Self-service cafe by day, casually elegant restaurant by night, and deliciously Greek all the live long day, Vios is a culinary universe unto itself. Sit at one of the long wood tables and enjoy a legitimate Grecian feast, from the eggs dishes, yogurts, and sandwiches of breakfast and lunch to inspired entrees and flowing wine of the evening. (And take something home from the fresh deli counter.)

Central District

Hidmo Eritrean Restaurant 2000 S Jackson St, 329-1534, $
The heart of Eritrean cuisine is injera, the spongy, slightly sour pancake bread that serves as serving platter, sauce sopper, and utensil. I find injera-eating one of the most collegial ways to share food, much better than the frenetic passing of small plates, or the vague menace of forks reaching across the table to try someone else's meat. Instead each person wraps their hand in a hygienic hunk of flatbread and grabs a morsel of whichever preparation looks appealing. Double dipping is nearly impossible.

Jones Barbecue 3216 S Hudson St, 725-2728, $
The longstanding alpha dog of Seattle barbecue, Jones has little to prove but the continued deliciousness of their food. Among the popular favorites: the excellent, sweet-and-fiery sauce, giant rib bones smoked with very Northwestern cedar, spicy collard greens, and a worship-worthy sweet potato pie.

Moonlight Restaurant 1919 S Jackson St, 322-3378, $
This place is great for vegetarians, great for non-vegetarians, and altogether great for the purse. Never mind the shady characters that sometimes line the street—they don't hurt people who don't owe them money. Just walk straight past them into the capacious restaurant, and enjoy its vast and original Vietnamese menu.

Philadelphia Fevre 2332 E Madison St, 323-1000, $
The sexy sandwiches at Philadelphia Fevre are filled with fistfuls of shaved meat and creamy melted American cheese.

Downtown/Pioneer Square

Alexandria's on Second 2020 Second Ave, 374-3700, $$
There isn't just one Southern cuisine out there, and the menu at Alexandria's is scattered to the torpid breezes of several southerly regions. It boasts Cajun classics like the jambalaya; soul food standards—fried chicken and catfish, barbecued ribs plus all the sides—the collards, the macaroni and cheese, the sweet potatoes; a Caribbean dish or two.

Campagne 86 Pine St, 728-2800, $$$
Unlike its casual cousin downstairs, Campagne is a full-on special-occasion restaurant serving French-style food adapted to Northwest ingredients (with the Pike Place Market right outside their door, they've got a lot to work with, after all). You can watch the staff professionally sidestep each other in the tiny box of a kitchen (their window looks out on Post Alley) as they whip up some of the finest food in the city. Don't embarrass us—dress nicely, please.

Elliott's Oyster House 1201 Alaskan Way, Pier 56, 623-4340, $$
Raw oysters are what the late Laurie Colwin would have called a "cheap luxury," meaning you can enjoy them in small amounts—therefore not nurse feelings of deprivation from high lifestyle—for a moderate price. You might not get full on a half-dozen oysters, but you will be more than satisfied.

Etta's Seafood 2020 Western Ave, 443-6000, $$$
Owned by Tom Douglas, situated in the Pike Place Market, and boasting both good views and good seafood, Etta's will always and forever be THE place to take out-of-towners seeking a quintessential Northwest dining experience. Plus, it's pricey—which makes it ideal for guests who insist on footing the bill.

Hurricane Cafe 2230 Seventh Ave, 682-5858, $
The Hurricane Cafe (one of the city's few 24-hour joints) keeps trying to reinvent itself, seemingly fighting the fact that it always has been and always will be the smoky, noisy after-show ritual of Seattle's late-night crowd. The wait staff's generally lazy (with a few exceptions), and the food is always half-assed, but who gives a fuck? It's 4 am and you want to eat.

Oceanaire Seafood Room 1700 Seventh Ave, 267-2277, $$$
Oceanaire has a kind of Titanic glamour, without the doomed feeling—although people were suspicious of this spiffy, expensive seafood restaurant opening when our economy was at its lowest. But Oceanaire has somehow proved them all wrong. Could the lobster cobb salad have something to do with it? The oysters Rockefeller? The insanely fresh fish? Dunno.

Salumi 309 Third Ave S, 621-8772, $
We love Salumi so much that we have a nickname for it: We call it "Hello, meat." At Armandino Batali's busy, narrow storefront/counter/tiny restaurant in Pioneer Square, you can find house-cured Italian meats all made by Batali and his talented staff—along with hot and cold sandwiches, and platters that feature cooked meats (sausages, meatballs, oxtails) as well as cured meats (various salamis, coppa, pancetta, prosciuttos, tongue, and cured lamb).

Tulio Ristorante 1100 Fifth Ave, 624-5500, $$
While Tulio's menu boasts some amazing and delicious-sounding Italian entrées (like lamb sirloin in a balsamic glaze), it's the impressive wine list that keeps people coming back.

Eastlake

Pomodoro Ristorante 2366 Eastlake Ave E, 324-3160, $$
The menu is divided in two: Spanish tapas on the left and Italian pastas on the right, and my dining entourage veered toward Italy. Inspired by the restaurant's name, we started with a giant slab of beefsteak tomato dressed in balsamic vinegar and topped with a confetti of basil and fresh mozzarella—an appetizer ample enough for three to share. Gnocchi (Italian for "dumplings") are hand-rolled little footballs of boiled dough. Pomodoro's were perfect: wee, dimpled, more tender than chewy, and joined by beer-boiled fennel sausage and mushrooms in a chunky tomato sauce.

Siam on Lake Union 1880 Fairview Ave E, 323-8101, $
Same great food as the original legendary Broadway location, offered in a snazzier, more expansive setting. Plus, E-Z parking!

Fremont

35th Street Bistro 709 N 35th St, 547-9850, $
The Girard & Dominique smoked-trout salad dazzles you with its presentation, then kicks you in the shins while you figure out how to eat it. A fillet of smoked trout—like smoked salmon only less briny, with an almost sweet smokiness—sits between a pile of lightly dressed mixed greens and an airy cream concoction, along with triangles of toasted brioche and slices of cucumber.

Bandoleone 703 N. 34th St, 329-7559, $$
A cozy, noisy, elegant restaurant with spicy, tasty Spanish-style cuisine. It's a little pricey, but you'll feel satisfied about dollars well spent.

Brad's Swingside Cafe 4212 Fremont Ave N, 633-4057, $$
This wood-paneled cafe routinely pleases the masses with an ever-changing menu of pan-Mediterranean delights. Fans praise the authenticity of the Italian/Sicilian dishes, joined on Brad's menu by a variety of seafood, soups, and a wealth of vegetarian options.

Paseo 4225 Fremont Ave N, 545-7440, $
In its essentials, Paseo's pork sandwich is like a Caribbean bahn mi: grilled pork on a sturdy roll with cilantro and lettuce, and not stingy with the mayonnaise. However, a bahn mi is a tidy little operation, and a pork sandwich from Paseo is a lovely mess, with dripping marinade and onions that have been grilled for so long that they just give up and become a sweet, mellow tangle. Other things here—like the jerk chicken—are very good, but it's the pork that you remember.

Greenwood/Phinney

Kabob House 8102 Greenwood Ave N, 782-3611, $
Their chicken boti kabob and lamb boti kabob—meat marinated in yogurt, garlic, and spices served with rice, a simple iceberg salad, and moon-sized naan—are wonders to behold.

Masala of India Cuisine 539-B NE Northgate Way, 417-1118, $$
The entrees are admirable warhorses, featuring resolutely tender meats and greens that are never stewed into grayish obscurity. But the real reason to visit Masala is the service, with waiters often residing somewhere in between Middle Eastern guru and 1920s vaudevillian. Who needs Teatro ZinZanni at $89 a pop, when you can have an improbable Indian comic dispensing riddles over a nice $10.95 lamb vindaloo?

Prost! 7311 Greenwood Ave N, 706-5430, $
This tavern is all about the beer, with a dizzying selection of German imports. On Wednesday nights, the dinner special—rippchen mit sauerkraut—is a must. This salty little treat is a gorgeous piece of pork tenderloin, smoked unto pinkness and then long-cooked until it just about falls apart in a pot of sauerkraut.

International District

Szechuan Noodle Bowl 420 Eighth Ave S, 623-4198, $
A no-nonsense source of fabulous Sino-starch, The Bowl specializes in all things doughy, from bowls of ropy noodles to hand-pleated gyoza to scallion pancakes. Nearly everything served there possesses a deeply satisfying chew.

Tamarind Tree 1036 S Jackson St, Suite A, 860-1404, $
There is a plethora of beefy delights here. They play fast and loose with the notion of courses here.; it's more like a stampede, as very shortly your table is covered with upwards of a dozen elegant dishes.

Madison Park

Cafe Flora 2901 E Madison St, 325-9100, $$
A mecca for vegetarians desiring a night out as first-class culinary citizens. From drinks to dessert, the Flora experience is intoxicating enough to stun even the hoariest carnivore into submission, at least for an evening.

Crush 2319 E Madison St, 302-7874, $$
Crush is sexy, and the food often tastes as if there's a naked-party in your mouth and everyone—yes, everyone—is invited. From the delightful duck confit tart topped with a poached egg to the dirty-delicious aroma of truffles that accompanies the braised short ribs, Crush seems to have the market cornered on orgasmic tastes.

Madrona/Leschi

Hi-Spot Cafe 1410 34th Ave, 325-7905, $
Two words: Pint-size mimosas. So much better than those dinky champagne flutes that are gone three times before your breakfast arrives. Even the hearty toast and good-as-Grandma-makes jam is yummy, and that's not just the mimosa talking.

Madrona Eatery 1138 34th Ave, 323-7807, $$
Offering a mixed bag of pub food and finer cuisines, Madrona Eatery is a family-friendly, early-to-bed local watering hole.

Queen Anne

Canlis 2576 Aurora Ave N, 283-3313, $$$
Fancy folks, businesspeople, and retirees love this atrium-like dining room that serves upscale surf-and-turf and specialties like wasyugyu tenderloin. Take your parents. Make them pay.

El Diablo Coffee Company 1811 Queen Anne Ave N #101, 285-0693, $
In addition to cinnamony hot chocolate and cafe cubanos sweetened with a little caramelized sugar, El Diablo offers nice snacky bits: coconut cake and sandwiches and cheese plates, plus milky tropical fruit shakes (batidos) made with mangos, papayas, and the like.

Mecca 526 Queen Anne Ave N, 285-9728, $
An old-timey counter-and-booth-style diner, for those times when only dependable food can hit the spot. The jukebox is a history lesson unto itself.

Perchè No 621 1/2 Queen Anne Ave N, 298-0230, $$
Cluttered and kitschy, Perchè No would fit right in among the Italian American restaurants on Mulberry Street. The restaurant's name means "why not?" and it's owned by a Chinese couple who asked themselves that very question. Alongside Italian standards you'll find dishes such as veal porterhouse, wild boar sausage, and an impressive selection of fresh seafood.

Shiki 4 W Roy St, 281-1352, $$
Owner Ken Yamamoto is the only chef in Washington State certified to handle fugu—the blowfish with the poisonous liver. If you like taking your life in your hands, this is the place to do it, although there are lots and lots of things on the menu (and gorgeous sushi) that are quite delicious and not life-threatening.

Rainier Valley/Beacon Hill/ Mount Baker/Columbia City

Kusina Filipina 3201 Beacon Ave S, 322-9433, $
At its cafeteria-style steam table, Kusina Filipina puts out a memorable spread of Filipino food. There are eight or so stews and noodle dishes that come in shades of gold and scarlet and jade green. But the noodle dishes contain generous portions of vegetables and sport a cabbage-y undertone to balance out the flavors.

The Wellington 4869 Rainier Ave S, 722-8571, $
The dressed-up Southern menu is small but complete—what more do you need than gumbo, smothered pork chops, fried chicken, catfish, red beans and rice? Well, you need side dishes, and lots of them; each entrée comes with two, and extras are $4 each. You also need peach cobbler. Trust me.

Willie's Taste of Soul 6305 Beacon Ave S, 722-3229, $$
Willie himself looks like he may have starred opposite Pam Grier in one of her '70s movies: He's strapping and charismatic even while wearing a plastic apron. His barbecue is worth the trip down south to Beacon Hill: Ribs and brisket have a pleasant campfire tone, while Willie's sauce is not too sweet and packs a little vinegar punch. Greens, too, are delicious.

SoDo/Georgetown/South Park

Cucina De Santis 1759 First Ave S, 587-4222, $
Michael de Santis, owner and chef of the cucina, serves up family recipes, rich on red sauce and melted cheese, fried peppers and onions whose smell beckons you to eat more than you really should.

Jones Barbecue 3810 S Ferdinand St., 722-4414, $
The longstanding alpha dog of Seattle barbecue, Jones has little to prove, which shows in the decor—a simple room painted the color of barbecue sauce, with a fireplace burning to remind you how your food was cooked. But what food it is—an excellent, sweet-and-fiery sauce, giant rib bones smoked with very Northwestern cedar, spicy collard greens, and a worship-worthy sweet potato pie.

University District/Ravenna

Cafe Lago 2305 24th Ave E, 329-8005, $$
A clean, bright restaurant with big windows that look out onto the leafy Montlake neighborhood. Customers cram the place for the fresh handmade pastas and delicious rustic pizzas. There may be a wait, but don't worry: There's a bar.

Mona's Bistro & Lounge 6421 Latona Ave NE, 526-1188, $$$
Variations on French and Mediterranean cuisine, served in a swanky neighborhood joint that's ideal for romantic dinners. The full bar specializes in ambitious cocktails, while the kitchen offers everything from duck confit to filet mignon to daily seafood specials.

Wallingford/Green Lake

Bizzarro Italian Cafe 1307 N 46th St, 545-7327, $$
Occasionally verging on the cutesy, Bizzarro nevertheless manages to keep it together while seducing devoted diners with good wine, art-bedecked walls, the occasional singing waiter, and damn good food, of the traditional-yet-exciting pasta variety.

Eva 2227 N 56th St, 633-3538, $$
Amy McCray's menu is both worldly and grounded, with good honest cooking. She's got a nice knack for sides like chorizo-bread pudding with sherry-braised rabbit, squash spaetzle with a veal shank, and corn pudding with pork loin.

Jitterbug 2114 N 45th St, 547-6313, $$
Siutated across the street from the Guild 45th moviehouse and under vigorous new non-Chow Foods management since summer, Jitterbug is a perfectly fine choice for casual pre- or post-cinema dining. The menu offers thoughtful spins on nouveau American standards, seasonal surprises, and—sweet mercy—breakfast served till 3pm.

West Seattle/White Center

Jade West 6032 California Ave SW, 932-9840, $
Sit down at the low counter and choose between your favorite greasy American favorites (French toast, hamburgers, etc.) and your favorite greasy Chinese favorites (fried rice and chow mein). Chef/owner Wah will customize each order for you with flair.

West 5 4539 California Ave SW, 935-1966, $
If you're looking for something heavy and comforting, some down-home cooking that could put you into a food coma, then head over to West Seattle's West 5. They serve up some impressive meatloaf and macaroni and cheese that'll get you off to a good start.