Seattle - Washington State - page 86

Great Brunch Choices
For brunch, there are some great options around the city. Try Cafe Flora,
Ivar's Salmon House, Palisade, Salty's on Alki Beach, or SkyCity at the
Needle. All these places have complete reviews in the appropriate neigh-
borhood sections of this chapter.
Dahlia Lounge PAN-ASIAN/NORTHWEST The neon chef holding a
flapping fish may suggest that the Dahlia is little more than a roadside diner, but
a glimpse at the stylish interior will likely have you thinking otherwise. One bite
of any dish will convince you that this is one of Seattle's finest restaurants.
Mouthwatering Dungeness crab cakes, a bow to Chef Tom Douglas's Delaware
roots, are the house specialty and should not be missed. The menu, influenced
by the far side of the Pacific Rim, changes regularly, with the lunch menu fea-
turing some of the same offerings at lower prices. For dessert, it takes a Her-
culean effort to resist the crème caramel. It's way too easy to fill up on the
restaurant's breads, which are baked in the adjacent Dahlia Bakery.
2001 Fourth Ave. & 206/682-4142. www.tomdouglas.com. Reservations highly recommended. Main courses
$9.50-$22 lunch, $18-$24 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11:30am-2:30pm and 5:30-10pm; Fri
11:30am-2:30pm and 5:30-11pm; Sat 5:30-11pm; Sun 5-10pm.
Etta's Seafood SEAFOOD Seattle chef Tom Douglas's strictly seafood
(well, almost) restaurant, Etta's, is located smack in the middle of the Pike Place
Market area and, of course, serves Douglas's signature crab cakes (crunchy on the
outside, creamy on the inside), which are not to be missed (and if they're not on
the menu, just ask). Don't ignore your side dishes, either; they can be exquisite
and are usually enough to share around the table. In addition to the great seafood
dishes, the menu always has a few other fine options, including several that date
from Douglas's Café Sport days in the early 1980s. Stylish contemporary decor
sets the mood, making this place as popular with locals as it is with tourists.
2020 Western Ave. & 206/443-6000. www.tomdouglas.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses
$9.50-$26. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11:30am-9:30pm; Fri 11:30am-10:30pm; Sat 9am-10:30pm;
Sun 9am-9pm.
Fandango LATIN AMERICAN Fandango is another groundbreaking
restaurant from celebrity chef Christine Keff, who also operates the ever-popular
Flying Fish restaurant diagonally across the street. The focus here is on the sunny
flavors of Latin America, and Fandango's menu is filled with combinations you
aren't likely to have encountered this far north before. Fandango just might be the
only place in the city where you can get a huitlacoche quesadilla (made with a corn
fungus that's considered a delicacy in Mexico). Whether you order the ceviche
(cold fish) of the day, the Brazilian seafood stew, or the suckling pig, you'll enjoy
some real taste treats. If you're lucky, you just might find grilled bananas on the
dessert menu. Be sure to have a mojito (minty rum cocktail) while you're here.
The Sunday night family-style dinners ($25) are a good deal.
2313 First Ave. & 206/441-1188. www.fandangoseattle.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses
$16-$22. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 5pm-1am (until 2am in the bar).
Flying Fish LATE-NIGHT/NORTHWEST/SEAFOOD Chef Chris-
tine Keff has been on the Seattle restaurant scene for years now, and with Flying
Fish, she hit on something the city really wanted. Not only does it offer the bold