3 Places to Try in Seattle This Weekend

Welcome back to Eater Seattle's Something for the Weekend column. Every Friday, you probably ask the same question: Where should I eat and drink this weekend? Covering brunch, dinner, and everything in between, here, now, three places to try.

October 28, 2016

EZELL'S FAMOUS CHICKEN

If you haven't tried Ezell's yet, you're overdue. This Seattle mainstay will fill you with cheap, deeply satisfying fried chicken, hot rolls, French fries, baked beans, fried okra, and the like. Now with a location in Wallingford, plus several spots around the metro area, you've got plenty of opportunities to try Oprah's favorite fried chicken.

SEA WOLF BAKERS

Now open next to Manolin, Sea Wolf Bakers can spread its wings and grow beyond a cult favorite. Go early so you can grab the stellar rye and sourdough loaves, croissants, baguettes, and pastries with locally sourced, seasonal inclusions. Oh, and the bakery just received its liquor license, so be on the lookout soon for local beer and the addition of heartier food options, like meat and cheese plates, even if you don't make it out this weekend.

SEAPINE BREWING

Seapine's lovely SoDo taproom makes an excellent spot to linger with friends over outstanding beers that represent some of the best local takes on Northwest-favorite IPAs and pale ales. This isn't a one-trick pony, though; the Sea Witch stout, peach gose, and farmhouse saison are top picks if you need a break from the hop-bombs. The taproom welcomes patrons with kids and dogs, too.

October 21, 2016

NO ANCHOR BAR

Chris Elford's Belltown beer emporium, No Anchor Bar, serves a small but deeply nerdy selection of offbeat beers from the U.S. and elsewhere. Your pours will come in lovely Teku glasses, designed to maximize aroma and taste. Venturing beyond beer, there's plenty to get excited about. There's a phenomenal cocktail list, with each concoction coming in a unique vessel and incorporating, somehow, a beer ingredient or actual beer. On the food side, the menu is incredibly enticing, even if it does sometimes feel a little precious and pricey. Still, everything is so darn well executed, with flawless service to match, that the bottom line seems worth it.

TASTE

Taste at the Seattle Art Museum has recently been made over from a sit-down restaurant into a casual cafe, where you can just as comfortably linger over your laptop and a cup of coffee as you can meet friends or clients for lunch. There are grab-and-go options of sandwiches and salads near the front, plus hot items (and wine and beer) ordered at the coffee counter. The new menus draw heavily on seasonal ingredients sourced locally, so the options will change frequently. It all tends toward fresh and light without leaving you feeling like you will need to go eat a burger afterward just to get through 'til dinner. And the space is quite eye-catching, bright, and adorned with local art for sale.

URBAN FAMILY BREWING

It's a bit of an adventure to find Urban Family Brewing, tucked away as it is on the Magnolia side of Interbay. You'll see more XTRATUF boots than Keens 'round these parts, but you're probably due for a change of scenery. Once inside, you'll sit a few feet away from the fermenters while you sip a wild array of creative beers, many of which involve off-beat ingredients that play surprisingly well together and create endlessly pleasant, drinkable beers. There's also usually a juicy East Coast-style IPA on tap, a refreshing departure from the bitter hop bombs of the Northwest.

October 14, 2016

SHUG'S SODA FOUNTAIN

A recent addition to Pike Place Market, Shug's Soda Fountain delivers updated takes on vintage, made-from-scratch sundaes, floats, and more. Go for a scoop of Shug's ice cream, or craft a crazy float with a combination of your favorite flavor dunked in a glass of Shug's superb sodas. If sundaes are more your thing, there are plenty options—enough to encourage many return visits.

COUNTERBALANCE BREWING

A welcoming spot to drink a few beers amid industrial Georgetown, Counterbalance keeps things low key and light. Bring the kids, or just come with your buddies. The space is no frills, with all the attention turned to the beer. There's an ever-changing selection here, with standouts including the namesake IPA, Kushetka Russian Imperial Stout, and Raconteur Rye Pale Ale.

FONDA LA CATRINA

Festive and spunky Fonda La Catrina has earned a spot on Eater's map of Seattle's best Mexican food for several good reasons. The restaurant makes consistently great food using quality ingredients, but they don't charge and arm and a leg for it. And there are plenty of excellent vegetarian options and a satisfying selection of cocktails.

October 7, 2016

PLACE PIGALLE

A gem inside Pike Place Market, Place Pigalle is a rarity among restaurants these days. The mainstay is celebrating 35 years of continually excellent food and drink at a time when change and expansions and hip, shiny new restaurants are all the rage. Hit up this Seattle classic Sunday through Thursday from October 9 through November 3 for a $35, four-course tasting menu, offered with a $35 bottle of Gosset Brut champagne, which normally retails for $80. Because sometimes you just need something tried, true, and iconic.

MANU'S BODEGITA

Speaking of newcomers, Manu's Bodegita walk-up window is one worth trying. Manu Alfau expands on his offerings at his Pioneer Square restaurant, Manu's Bodega, and this smaller version on Capitol Hill will keep your stomach happy with a handful of empanada choices (bonus: they're gluten free), a messily delicious puerco asado sandwich, and morning options like breakfast tacos.

NAANSENSE

Indian food truck NaanSense makes everything from scratch daily and sources locally for its seasonal menu. There's always a nice mix of vegetarian and meaty options like a lamb meatball curry, channa masala, and eggplant pepper masala, all deeply flavorful and best eaten with a giant serving of the truck's warm naan bread.