Seattle Oppos

"Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow" (chriskf)
06/07/2016 at 17:55 • Filed to: None

I need yo help choosing a date night restaurant.

My girlfriend and I are celebrating one year together by visiting Seattle. The PNW is one of my favorite regions, and Seattle allows us to see my brother, sister-in-law, and niece too.

I want to take her out for a nice dinner one night, and am looking for restaurants with great views. I currently have a reservation at Palisade, but am willing to change it if anyone can swear by a different option. I considered Canlis, and still might go for it if someone says it’s an absolute must or phenomenally better than Palisade, but it looks to be a fair bit pricier (and this is already turning out to be a pricey trip).

What say you, friends? Can anyone weigh in on this?

Climb to the Clouds goodness for your time and auto-relevancy.

DISCUSSION (33)

Jack Does Cars > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:00

I live in NC, but my father lives in Seattle so I’m out there all the time. What kind of food are you looking for, and what area do you want to be in?

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Jack Does Cars
06/07/2016 at 18:02

Looking for the typical PNW fare, so oysters and shellfish. We pretty much only plan to eat seafood while we’re in town. haha

Area doesn’t matter too much. We’re staying in West Seattle, but I’ve got a rental and don’t mind driving 30min or so.

whatisthatsound > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:10

I know of a spot called the pink door, they do a burlesque show after a wonderful italian dinner. Make reservations online it is 20$ a person.No views but the evening is Always fun.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:10

I want to say the Pike Place market’s restaurants partly because “oysters and shellfish” but mostly because of the waterfront views?

Spaceball-Two > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:11

Kinja'd!!!

Canlis is pretty much top of the list. There’s also Salish Lodge. Different view but a good.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > whatisthatsound
06/07/2016 at 18:13

Yeah, I looked at The Pink Door. Since she hasn’t been to the PNW before my focus is the scenery (much different and better than what we get in the midwest), so a view is one of my requirements. Also a seafood/PNW fare focused menu is a requirement for me, since I plan to stuff myself with copious amounts of oysters this weekend. lol

The Pink Door sounds like a very fun night though. Next time we go I’d like to do dinner there.

Appreciate the input! :)

lone_liberal > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:13

There’s always the top of the Space Needle. The view even changes! I’ve only ever eaten brunch up there but it was pretty good. The other places I’ve eaten there either had a good view, or good food, not both. Cutter’s Crabhouse did have ok food and a good view.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
06/07/2016 at 18:14

We’re gonna do Pike Place during the day. I’d rather do something different, and presumably a bit less crowded, for dinner.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Spaceball-Two
06/07/2016 at 18:15

OMG, that looks amazing!

I’ll check it out.

May still opt for Canlis. We’ll see...

Spaceball-Two > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:15

How long are you in town?

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Spaceball-Two
06/07/2016 at 18:15

Just checked out Salish, unfortunately the drive will be a bit too far for dinner. haha That place looks awesome though.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Spaceball-Two
06/07/2016 at 18:16

Friday through Tuesday.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > lone_liberal
06/07/2016 at 18:17

Yeah, my brother recommended Sky City. It’s on option, but I’d prefer to be waterside. I love the ocean, which we are in serious lack of in the midwest. Granted, Lake Michigan does look a lot like one, but the feeling isn’t the same. haha

Spaceball-Two > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:17

Bummer the nice weather is just on it’s way out too. Don’t forget to get a Dick’s cheeseburger also we have some really killer sushi joints in town. You might try Salty’s for brunch as well. Have fun!

lone_liberal > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:21

I like Metropolitan Grill for hardcore steak action, but there is absolutely no view.

Spaceball-Two > lone_liberal
06/07/2016 at 18:28

Same with Mortons. It’s like eating in a cave.

AkursedX > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:30

Went to Seattle on our honeymoon and Etta’s down near pike place was hands down the best meal we had.

RPM esq. > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:32

The Space Needle view is great and the food is fine, but it’s overpriced and touristy—I think you can do better.

RPM esq. > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:41

Finally, an Oppo question asking about something I actually know about! Canlis is the best but it will absolutely killmurder your bank account. Depending on your budget, it is a cut above everything else on this list. I’m not sure it’s the best meal in Seattle, but it’s up there and it’s the best meal with a view in Seattle. Palisade is a good option with a great view, as is Ray’s Boathouse—famous for the view of the sun setting over the Olympics. The only downside of Palisade is that it’s kind of far from anything else worth doing.

If you want to stay downtown, and eat outside on a nice summer evening, Maximilien is in Pike Place Market and has a deck with a spectacular view overlooking Elliott Bay. Six Seven in the Edgewater Hotel also has a great view.

It’s a different type of view, but Westward has its own little beach on Lake Union—a lake full of marinas in the middle of the city—with adirondack chairs and a fire pit, and great seafood. Finally, Salty’s on Alki (for brunch would be my recommendation) is a trek to West Seattle but has a cool view back toward the downtown skyline.

RPM esq. > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 18:52

Ray’s is a seafood restaurant with an unmatched view of Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains—basically as un-midwestern as you can get, but it’ll be a bit of a trek from West Seattle, albeit to a cool neighborhood. Six Seven is literally on a pier over the ocean downtown. Palisade is right next to the water too, but it’s in a marina and pointing south, so you’re looking at sailboat masts and downtown—very nice view but not quite as “nature-y.”

If you’re staying in West Seattle, I can’t recommend Marination Ma Kai for a quick lunch (sort of Korean/Hawaiian fusion fast food—actually had it for lunch today) highly enough, and they have a great view. Salty’s is also over there if you want a seafood meal with a view of downtown.

And if you’re at Pike Place around lunchtime and the weather’s decent, consider Maximilien’s deck.

Spaceball-Two > RPM esq.
06/07/2016 at 18:54

The all you can eat brunch at Saltys is a must.

just-a-scratch > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 19:09

If you want great food and a great view, you’re on the right track there. Palisade and Canlis are great options. I can’t say that any other places will serve better food with a better view in Seattle.

There are, of course, other options. In the past I’ve always liked the Ivar’s Salmon House, and the Acres of Clams locations. I heard an unfavorable review of the Salmon House lately though, and the Acres of Clams (on the pier) location is a bit difficult to get to. There’s a bunch of construction for the new sea wall on the water front.

I could go on, but you already have some great ideas. Don't over think it. Just go and have a good time.

SeattleHoon > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 19:34

Lots of great recommendations in the comments already. Oppo rocks!

What do you want to look at?

Stuff I haven’t seen in the comments: There is a little spot on the north end of Lake Union called Westward. Amazing oysters and a view of Seattle from Lake Union. Matt’s at the Market has a great view of the “Pike Place Market” sign, but pretty much nothing else. But holy shit is their food good. Aqua by Gaucho is down on the waterfront. I think it’s over priced, but it’s well reviewed.

My personal favorite is a little place in Fremont called Pecado Bueno. It has no view. It’s cheap Mexican food. Double margaritas are $7.50. It’s kind of a shit hole. They know me there by name. I love it.

StudyStudyStudy > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/07/2016 at 20:11

I would say Salty’s for the view, the little park next door has one of the THE vistas of the Seattle skyline, we used to drive there all the time for pictures and such. For shellfish and oysters, Walrus and the Carpenter comes to mind. It’s on my to do list of places to go, I’ve heard nothing but good things about the food, although ballard is a bit lack luster view wise.

Seattle is known for the small eateries focused on fresh local fare and such. The food is amazing, but the downfall is that those eateries charge quite a bit to just pay rent in the small space they occupy. The big eateries that command great views tend to have food that isn’t the best as the view is what sells, I would be tempted to eat a great mealat another location and take a casual evening stroll around lake union or something of that nature.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Spaceball-Two
06/08/2016 at 08:02

I’ve been to Salty’s before. We’re planning to do either brunch or happy hour there.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > lone_liberal
06/08/2016 at 08:02

My thoughts exactly.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Jack Does Cars
06/08/2016 at 08:04

Yeah, I was looking at Ray’s and Six Seven too. May have to re-explore those. Which would you say has better food? I tend to base such decisions off of their Zagat rating, but first hand experiences are always best.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > RPM esq.
06/08/2016 at 08:07

I’ve ruled Canlis out. My brother’s boss said it’s amazing, but more of a proposal sort of spot, which isn’t quite where we’re at (although not too far off from that). I think I’ll be switching to Ray’s or Six Seven. Both sound like amazing views, so I’ll likely go with whichever seems to have better food and decor.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > SeattleHoon
06/08/2016 at 08:13

Yeah, I definitely didn’t expect this level of response. Oppo seriously rocks.

Pecado Bueno sounds like my kinda place, especially being from Arizona and loving Mexican food. Haha But probably more of a dinner were my brother and sister-in-law would join us. Trying to keep it a bit more upscale and romantic for the date night thing.

Otherwise, I’m all about diveyhole-in-the-wall places. They always have the best food. Haha

Jack Does Cars > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/08/2016 at 08:38

I personally prefer Ray’s. It’s a Seattle staple and it’s just so good.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Jack Does Cars
06/08/2016 at 10:11

Good to know. Thanks!

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Jack Does Cars
06/08/2016 at 17:28

I just switched my reservation to Ray’s. From the pictures the view does look much better, and Zagat even has their food rated higher. Really looking forward to this meal!

Jack Does Cars > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
06/08/2016 at 18:54

Good luck, hope you enjoy.