At Kirkland’s Northern Italian fine-dining mainstay, chef Holly Smith and her team have crafted several excellent tasting menus (including pescatarian and vegan options), as well as an exhaustive wine list. The warm, tastefully decorated dining room is more approachable than a lot of high-end restaurants, just note that proof of vaccination is required for entry.

Perched in Sunset Hill, this upscale bistro features fire-roasted veggies and an assortment of thoughtfully-crafted seafood dishes, including the popular Dungeness crab on a charred rice cake and the applewood smoked magret of duck. Don’t forget about the elegant cocktails, including a maple syrup old fashioned.

Fremont’s upscale-but-welcoming restaurant on Stone Way has made adjustments during the pandemic, including offering heat-at-home selections and pantry items. It also recently reopened for dine-in service, with a five-course tasting menu that includes white sturgeon with corn custard, char siu glazed pork belly, and a smoky dark chocolate take on S’mores.

This lively, Korean-influenced dining destination in Fremont from acclaimed chef Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi features wonderful seafood and red meat dishes, all impeccably presented. In particular, the entree simply known as ‘that’ short rib steak lives up to the hype, helping Yang earn a James Beard Award nomination in 2020.

Known as one of the most iconic special occasion destinations in Seattle, this Queen Anne classic wasn’t afraid to try out a host of different looks during the pandemic, including a burger drive-thru. But it has now returned to its full, award-winning indoor service with new executive chef Aisha Ibrahim at the helm, re-energizing a classic.

In 2018, chef Hiro Tawara opened this fantastic Japanese restaurant devoted to the art of kaiseki, a traditional multi-course meal featuring meticulously plated dishes with an emphasis on seasonality. Some notable recent items have included deep fried smelt in sweet vinegar sauce, lingcod with eggplant and plum, and wagyu rice bowls.

Chef Kristi Brown’s new restaurant in the Central District blends Asian, Ethiopian, and Southern influences in dishes such as fried oyster mushroom po’ mi (a banh mi-po boy hybrid), berbere black eyed pea hummus, and fried catfish sushi, all fit for a special feast. And the bourbon and rum-heavy cocktail program is out of sight as well.

Diners have long flocked to the spendy Pike Place restaurant to watch master sushi chef Shiro Kashiba at work, with seats at the bar among the most coveted. Its meticulous attention to detail remains a big draw, as the restaurant reopens for onsite dining. First-timers should choose the omakase option and embrace each seasonal offering.

Acclaimed chef Mike Easton turned the historic Alki Homestead into a classic Seattle dining experience, with meaty entrees and his famed handcrafted pastas that rotate regularly. He also aims to make the restaurant more accessible with a new “aperitivo hour” that doesn’t require reservations, as well as a patio. But the main dinner service continues to be a special treat.

This Lebanese restaurant has been a West Seattle staple for decades, and more recently underwent a striking revamp when it moved to a new location a block away. Its menu of entrees such as balsamic-braised lamb shank, and desserts like Nutella cheesecake, usually rise to any big occasion.

Located in an Italianate cottage from the early part of the 20th century, this restaurant-catering operation has won over diners for years. It’s seasonal, multi-course dinners include items such as corn soup with spot prawns, roasted lingcod, and grilled guinea hen with porcini, dandelions, hazelnuts, and cherries. Open for onsite dining, including patio seating.