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.

September 23, 2016

CORVUS AND CO

Talented chef Mac Jarvis is at the helm at Capitol Hill's new Corvus and Co., and the restaurant is flying surprisingly under the radar considering how good the food is. A strong cocktail selection combining house concoctions and classics pairs well with bites like lamb shawarma and roasted chermoula eggplant, and brunch is well done, too.

KIZUKI RAMEN

Winning a coveted spot on Eater's list of eight elite ramen restaurants, the international Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya chain offers a great selection of ramen if you're interested in experimenting with different styles. The restaurant's garlic tonkotsu shoyu is a sure bet, as is the yuzu shio, with its hits of citrus. Kizuki's latest opening is in West Seattle.

SMITH TOWER

Get up to Smith Tower's new Observatory, whether you've been in the past or have yet to visit. The rebranded, refreshed 35th-floor space is a must for the views, the history, and now, the food and drink, which present a mash-up of the tower's Prohibition-era and Asian influences. Raw oysters, Chinese dumplings, and bahn mi sandwiches are among the offerings, as are beer, cider, sake, shochu, and a collection of thematically-appropriate cocktails.

September 9, 2016

JACK'S BBQ

Traditional Texas barbecue meets high-tech precision at Jack's BBQ in SoDo. Owner Jack Timmons draws on his personal history growing up in Texas and has built extensive knowledge of the intricacies of slow-cooking meat. That attention to detail shows in every bite, with highlights including the brisket and melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork. Leave room for the phenomenal, award-winning pecan pie.

FLOATING BRIDGE BREWING

The University District's new brewery, Floating Bridge, offers a wide range of beer styles and a delightful spot to kill a couple of hours with friends. Standouts on tap now include the desert blonde ale, imbued with the essence of jalapeños sourced from the University District farmers market, and the chai pale ale served on nitro.

SIMPLY DESSERTS

Tiny bakery and cafe Simply Desserts is cash or check only, so come prepared. Its massive cake slices are impossible to resist, whether you're into Mexican chocolate, red velvet, chocolate raspberry, or bittersweet hazelnut. This place has been around for 20 years, and it's seriously outstanding.

September 2, 2016

THE ATLANTIC

A welcome addition to the Central District neighborhood, The Atlantic brings a sensible menu of instant hits like the ginger molasses tofu bahn mi and the beef tongue French dip. There are plenty of seasonal offerings along side those standards, making this a great place to enjoy one final patio meal and the last of the summer's tomatoes, watermelon, corn, and more. They do brunch and cocktails, too, so you're covered for just about any weekend cravings.

PAM'S KITCHEN

Hiding in plain sight on the busy strip of Wallingford's 45th Street, and with a location in South Lake Union, Pam's Kitchen is an absolute delight. Owner Pam Jacob, who hails from Trinidad, wields an array of rich Caribbean flavors at lunch and dinner. Jerk wings, Trinidadian curry, whole fried plantains, and more—it's hard not to be overcome with indecision when literally everything on the menu sounds fantastic. Do get a cocktail to wash it down; they're sunshine in a glass and complement the food excellently.

BRIMMER & HEELTAP

Inventive as ever, Eater 38 member Brimmer & Heeltap straddles a careful line between sophistication and warmth. Though it's consistently one of the best restaurants in town, it is never pretentious. And oh, there's brunch as of April, which you absolutely must check out if you've only been here for dinner. Standouts include the hot puffed black rice, a sort of modernist twist on breakfast cereal, and the spice-laced fried duck leg with a Belgian waffle and nuoc cham maple syrup.