Restaurants and live performance venues were two of the industries hardest hit by COVID-19. It’s been a rough few years, and the pandemic, in addition to some outright bad luck, has robbed us of some no-brainer spots that would’ve been on this list. For instance, we hope against hope that Vito’s somehow makes a comeback from a fire and subsequent water damage, and that the Factory Luxe can regain traction after a longer-than-expected building remodel. We’re still lamenting Ronette’s instant greatness being nipped in the bud by an ownership change-of-heart, and already miss Breezy Town Pizza since its move out of the Clock-Out Lounge (though newcomer Shady Lane Pizza & Pretzels is set to take over the space).
The good news, though, is that live music is thriving in Seattle, and despite the long odds, there’s still an abundance of spaces where you can catch a great show and an equally great bite. While it’s true that a majority of spots in town fall under the category of basic burgers-and-tater-tots bar food, or else standard New American, there are still places where the menu is as much of a draw as the music. And the best ones range from dress-up, dinner-and-a-show atmosphere to humbler fare that encourages you to, as one slightly famous Seattle band once put it, come as you are. Here are the standouts.
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