Seattle: Date Night at Salty's on Alki Beach

Salty's on Alki Beach is my favorite date night restaurant in Seattle. The food is delicious and the staff seems genuinely happy for customers who are "visiting Seattle" and get to experience dinner with this spectacular view. 

Dan and I drove over to Alki Beach to find a casual restaurant that I had read a lot about. When we arrived, it was a little too casual, primarily take out and we decided that we'd rather have more of a Sunday Dinner.  A long quiet meal with a chance to soak up the view from Alki Beach.

We were able to get right in (it was 6 o'clock) and were seated at a table with a view. I ordered the True Cod and Prawn Picatta, which is finished with caper berries, artichoke hearts, baby heirloom tomatoes and italian parsley. It was delicious. The cod took on the bright flavors of the sauce and I ate every bite.

This view is a wider shot of the city - the buildings aren't as clear, but you can see the distinct skyline that Dr. Fraser Crane made so famous. If you are planning a visit to Seattle, you must include one lovely meal at Salty's on Alki Beach. During warm weather, you can request a table out on the deck.

Seattle: Bellevue's Crab Pot Serves Up Fresh Seafood

It was a seafood spectacle! We went to The Crab Pot in Bellevue with mallets in mind. We were in the mood for the best of the Pacific Northwest. It was a calm 70 degree night - perfect for dinner by the lake.

We donned our bibs and dug into "The Westport" Seafest (King crab, Dungeness crab, Snow crab, shrimp in the shell, steamed clams, Pacific mussels, andouille sausage, corn on the cob & red potatoes in their jackets).

Everything tastes better outside and we really enjoyed The Crab Pots take on fresh seafood. Word to the wise, "shrimp in the shell" means that the head is on and all the legs too. Dan had to intercept the shrimp and take care of a few things for me, but once he did, they were delicious.

Have you ever taken a mallet to a crab leg? It had been a while for me but it was like riding a bike. I had that gorgeous meat freed in no time. Messy but fun, I highly recommend an outdoor table at The Crab Pot.

Seattle: Coho Cafe Redmond: Fish Frenzy and Salmon Stats

My new friends were sure that I would like anything I ordered at the Coho Cafe in Redmond. They were right! I couldn't resist the special: fresh halibut with a blood orange glaze over sticky rice and pea pods. I ate every bite.

I missed taking a picture of our shared appetizer, but the Roasted Green Chile and Cornbread Waffle with agave butter was fantastic. Sweet and creamy and crunchy and hot. Yum. Who needs dinner?  

But we did, of course and everyone seemed very happy with their selection.  I had a bite of Paula's "limited edition" salmon, known as the Copper River Salmon, and it was deep red and so rich I described my bite as salmon pudding. 

In a region where fish is king, there is extensive seafood knowledge that I know nothing about.  The girls told me that when the first plane arrives from Alaska this time of year full of the beloved Copper River Salmon, the pilots walk off the plane holding up a fish (could I make this up?). I read an article in the Seattle Times that says the pilots then present the salmon to three chefs that cook it right then at the airport to kick off the season. You must see the article here.  I love this place.

On a whim, I ordered an Elderflower spritzer. It was light, non-alcoholic and tasted like a honey-flavored herb fizz.  What a great drink to enjoy with fish! Elderflower is all the rage right now and this is a fun way to try it.    

My husband worked late and missed dinner that night, but I promised him that he would have his day at the Coho Cafe before we flew home.

Seattle: Ray's Boathouse and Cafe

It was all about the view for me the night we had dinner at Ray's Boathouse and Cafe in Ballard. We had a late start after work so we missed the sunset, but we had a nice meal of fish & chips indoors and started to plot our return to Ray's. We simply must sit on this patio as the sun sets. 

Over looking Puget Sound, Ray's has a hard-to-believe water view with a backdrop of the Olympic Mountains.  After the sun sets, there was a chill in the air and in addition to the heat lamps being turned on, I noticed the staff handing out Ray's blankets to keep the patio patrons warm.  How thoughtful!

Ray's has a more formal restaurant on the first floor (Boathouse), but the indoor/outdoor cafe upstairs was exactly what we were looking for: fresh fish and a scenic view.  We will be back.

Seattle: Seafood Dinner at Chinook's at Salmon Bay

You can imagine how happy I was to sit down to fresh seafood at a great local place. Chinook's at Salmon Bay is part of the family of Anthony's Restaurants and I have come across recommendations for many of their restaurants as I read up on Seattle.  When I looked up Chinook's online to provide a link, I wasn't surprised to see that it was part of this beloved group of restaurants in the Pacific Northwest.  The food was delicious.

I wisely chose the tempura seafood platter (Alaska true cod, calamari, salmon and prawns with onion rings and zucchini slices) so that I could try a little of everything.  I had never heard of cooking salmon in tempura and it is a bit like "fish and chips" in that you can dip your fish in the sauce of your choice. I dipped my salmon in the teriyaki sauce and it has been on my mind ever since.  I loved it.  The cod was delicious dipped in their homemade tartar sauce and the shrimp was, of course, perfect in the cocktail sauce.  How soon can I go back and eat another plate of fried food?  The first chance I get!

Chinook's at Salmon Bay is located in Seattle's Fisherman's Terminal, which, by location alone, puts the fresh in fish.  The large glass windows of the restaurant overlook the marina and it is the perfect setting to enjoy a lively casual meal.

I was encouraged to order the clam chowder and I am so glad that I did.  It was perfect - plenty of clams, tender potato cubes and a delicious soup base. I didn't leave a drop.