Best Eats in the Best Neighborhoods

Here are some of our favorite places to dine or catch a bite in the top 10 Seattle neighborhoods

Last month, our team of researchers ranked Seattle’s Top 10 Neighborhoods based on everything from home values to school, parks and crime stats. This month, we’re taking this list one step further, by giving you our suggestions for sure fire spots to eat within these ‘hoods. From Queen Anne to Roosevelt, here are 49 restaurants where you can enjoy a meal while staying close to home.

(Note: Some of our top neighborhoods were heavily residential, with few or no nearby eateries. In those cases we’ve listed restaurants from nearby nabes.)

1. QUEEN ANNE Historic homes, views and a quiet neighborhood suburban feeling—with a vibrant shopping district within easy walking distance.

Canlis: Northwest. Swanky Canlis has been internationally celebrated for its wine selections as much as its expensive-but-worth-it dinners for decades. Now, with new chef Jason Franey at the helm, regulars may wonder where some of the classic dishes have gone, as much of the menu has been given a subtler makeover, with mixed results. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 2576 Aurora Ave. N; 206.283.3313; canlis.com $$$

Crow Restaurant & Bar: Eclectic. Crow’s warehouse-like room is warmed with hand-wrought iron and art in torrid colors, and chefs Craig Serbousek and Jesse Thomas’ menu is updated every few weeks to make the most of each season. Preparations tend to be simple but impeccable: prosciutto-wrapped chicken or lasagna with Manchego cheese wrapped in grape leaves on ratatouille. Dinner daily. 823 Fifth Ave. N; 206.283.8800. No Diners Club, Discover $$

How to Cook a Wolf: Italian. Chef/owner Ethan Stowell’s third restaurant is a wood-encased beacon for bright, clear flavors—lots of lemon, unguarded chiles—and disarmingly simple preparations. The small-plates menu showcases seafood, but Tavolàta’s beloved house-made pastas make welcome guest appearances. Dinner Thu.–Mon. 2208 Queen Anne Ave. N; 206.838.8090; howtocookawolf.com. No Amex or Discover $$

Via Tribunali: Italian. This dark and earthy Capitol Hill spot celebrates Naples’ pizza tradition with gusto, down to the plates, oven tiles, the flour, and even chef Espedito (call him Dino) Santonicola, who made pizza in Naples for more than 16 years. The succinct menu features pizzas with a delicate but toothy crust, with a few charry bubbles from the red-hot oven. Toppings are restrained but yummy. Dinner daily. 317 W Galer St.; 206.264.7768; viatribunali.com. No checks $

2. VIEW RIDGE Heart-stopping views of Lake Washington, the Cascades and Mount Rainier cause traffic jams at the intersection of 50th and 70th on clear, sunny days.

Restaurants in nearby Ballard and Shilshole

Bastille: French. Not yet reviewed. An all-star team—including chefs Shannon Galusha of Veil and Jason Stoneburner of How to Cook a Wolf, and legendary front-of-the-house man and Campagne alum Peter Lewis—have joined forces to bring Seattle its first real French brasserie, complete with rotisserie meats, frites, an easy-going vibe and a stunning zinc bar. Brunch Sun.; dinner daily. 5307 Ballard Ave. NW; bastilleseattle.com $ $

Cafe Besalu: Pastries. The heady scent of butter wafts out of James Miller’s tiny neighborhood bakery each time the door opens, inviting neighbors to come inside, and inspiring cross-town commutes. It’s all worth it: Miller’s croissants, pastries and quiches are nothing short of superb, and the warmth of the windowed storefront space lingers. Breakfast and lunch Wed.–Sun. 5909 24th Ave. NW; 206.789.1463. No Amex or Discover ¢

Delancey: Pizza. Not yet reviewed. Brandon Pettit traveled the U.S., tasting the best pizzas in the country and finding inspiration to create his signature pie at this petite wood-fired pizzeria. Along with NY-style pizza, look for seasonal roasted vegetables and desserts crafted by his wife, Orangette blogger Molly Wizenberg. 1415 NW 70th St.; delanceyseattle.com $

La Carta de Oaxaca: Mexican. Easily Seattle’s most authentic Mexican eatery, La Carta’s menu is imminently craveable. You’ll be haunted by the albóndigas (meatball) soup, lamb birria (stew) and, of course, chicken in Oaxaca’s signature sweet, sultry black mole. The tequila/mezcal display is particularly well researched. Lunch Tue.–Sat.; dinner Mon.–Sat. 5431 Ballard Ave. NW; 206.782.8722; lacartadeoaxaca.com ¢

Le Gourmand: French. Chef Bruce Naftaly is Seattle’s granddaddy of local, seasonal cooking, and his refined French tasting menus draw special-occasion diners to the redecorated dining room, which glows with glorious white-on-white purity and twinkling chandeliers. A recently added 3-course dinner ($45) keeps the experience within reach, but those seeking a less formal bite can head to Sambar, the Naftalys’ lounge and restaurant next-door, for terrific cocktails and French nibbles. Dinner Wed.–Sat.; Sambar, dinner Tue.–Sat. 425 NW Market St.; 206.784.3463. No Discover $$$

Moshi Moshi Sushi: Sushi. Kevin and Tracy Erickson (owners of Queen Anne wine bar Bricco) opened their modern sushi bar in January. A 17-foot-tall iron tree lit with hundreds of LED-certified lights anchors the angular sushi destination. The composed nigiri are especially nice, and the cocktail list is worth seeking out. Also notable: two happy hours, which keep locals dropping in well past dark. Dinner Mon.–Sat.; 5324 Ballard Ave. NW; 206.971.7424; moshiseattle.com. No Diners Club $$

Ocho: Spanish. Owners Zach Harjo and Gelsey Hanson serve incredibly affordable Spanish tapas in their tiny 30-seat storefront. A chalkboard menu lists a dozen-plus dishes, but equal care is given to the drinks, including Harjo’s “$10 margarita.” Dinner daily. 2325 NW Market St.; 206.784.0699. No checks, Amex or Diners Club ¢

Paseo Caribbean Restaurant: Caribbean. No one makes sandwiches like Paseo: drippy, sloppy, messy and utterly indulgent. You can get chicken or prawns on your Caribbean-style hero, but the classic is roast pork, with seasoned mayo, cilantro and jalepenos for punctuation. Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor seating. Lunch and dinner Tue.–Sat. 6226 Seaview Ave. NW; 206.789.3100 ¢

Ray's Boathouse & Café: Seafood. Ray’s seaside dining room is an institution—on a clear day, the Olympic Mountains fairly jump into your lap. The upstairs café has arguably the best deck in town, complete with warm blankets handed out after the sun goes down. Café: lunch and dinner daily; restaurant: dinner daily. 6049 Seaview Ave. NW; 206.789.3770; rays.com $$

Veraci Pizza: Pizza. The traveling wood-fired pizza company that made the Ballard farmers’ market a year-round mecca has finally opened its first area pizzeria. It’s supremely casual, serving cracker-thin-crusted pizza—topped with whatever’s freshest at the market—by the slice or the whole pie. But the best part: Now you can sip a glass of Italian wine or a local brew (and stay dry) while enjoying your pie. Lunch and dinner Wed.–Mon. 500 NW Market St.; 206.525.1813; veracipizza.com ¢

Volterra: Italian. In its dark and bustling room, Volterra offers big Italian food served with boisterous American spirit. Some details are sublime, like the olive oil soup with cannelini beans and a chestnut-honey panna cotta. Brunch Sat.–Sun.; dinner daily. 5411 Ballard Ave. NW; 206.789.5100; volterrarestaurant.com. No checks or Diners Club $