This lively spot is known for its quarterly-changing menu that highlights a regional cuisine. So, in addition to the regular breakfast menu, you may find specialties like New Orleans po' boy breakfast sandwich, pain perdu (New Orleans-style French toast), or a Bourbon Street omelet. If you sleep through the usual breakfast hours, don't fret — Coastal Kitchen serves it till 3pm, and you can get the "All-Day Breakfast" any time (that's bacon, sausage, or ham, hash browns, three eggs, and toast). Local artists supply new themed pieces whenever the menu changes, and all of their masterpieces can be purchased and taken home with you.
Recommended for Homestyle because: Coastal Kitchen rotates its fare four times a year, highlighting a new regional cuisine each quarter.
Corinne's expert tip: This eatery is ideal for diners with a short attention span; the menu rotates four times annually, so you can experience new food each season of the year!
At four bright and airy spaces around town, enjoy consistently delicious fare at four Portage Bay locations, where the food is always "local, organic and sustainable." The menu boasts the tagline "eat like you give a damn" and an impressive list of local farms and producers that the restaurant's chefs proudly work with. Breakfast and brunch items include migas, an array of benedicts (from pork belly to Dungeness crab cake), gluten-free French toast (topped with unlimited fresh berries), goat cheese omelettes and Swedish pancakes. Tuck into a pitcher of refreshing mimosas, or savor Columbia Gorge fresh-squeezed juices (the berry-lemonade is a sure bet). These restaurants are ideal for large groups and families, and patios prove popular summer hangout spots at the 65th and SLU locations.
Recommended for Homestyle because: At four airy spaces around town, enjoy consistently delicious fare at four Portage Bay locations, where the food is always "local, organic and sustainable."
Corinne's expert tip: Find three other locations around town, including a bustling location near downtown in South Lake Union (by the Amazon HQ) and one located on the stretch between Ballard and Golden Gardens beach.
Featuring a vibrant, neon exterior and an intimate, welcoming interior, Taste of India offers a delightful dining experience from start to finish. The food, service and ambience make this a wonderful spot for enjoying Indian and Mediterranean dishes ranging from rich curries and creamy masalas to tasty vindaloos. Other highlights include the chicken tikka masala, spinach naan and homemade mango pistachio ice cream. Vegetarian diners enjoy dishes like the Madras chili masala with crisp-cooked squash and peppers. Thanks to its family-style dining tradition, this is a perfect option for large groups or those wanting to sample an array of Indian comfort-food dishes.
Recommended for Homestyle because: Taste of India gets high marks for its hospitable staff and tasty Indian fare, served family-style.
Corinne's expert tip: The service here is outstanding; don't be surprised if your server brings you complimentary chai tea, appetizers and/or dessert!
What was originally a lovely Victorian home has been transformed into a hip restaurant. The unbeatable breakfast menu features cheese-baked eggs, omelets, "green eggs n ham," breakfast burritos, ham steaks, bowls of granola and oatmeal and vegetarian selections like the tofu scramble, chock-full of fresh veggies. Be sure to try massive cinnamon rolls and world-class scones, and enjoy the patio during warm weather. The mid-day menu is served from 11:30am and includes fresh salads, sandwiches and soups. This eatery has been a hub of Madrona in the morning hours for some 30 years, and old-timers and newbies alike continue to relish its food and charm.
Recommended for Homestyle because: This community hub in Madrona means comfort food gone healthy in a transformed Victorian home.
Corinne's expert tip: Although breakfast service begins at 8 a.m., pop in for espresso and baked goods at 7 a.m. on weekdays.
A breakfast haven for locals since the late '70s, this friendly, offbeat cafe in the Eastlake neighborhood is known far and wide for its great breakfasts. From traditional eggs-bacon-potatoes combos to more unusual dishes like tahini French toast and Greek omelets, the menu has all bases covered. Coffee cake and cinnamon rolls are freshly baked, and there are four kinds of pancakes. Don't expect a fancy scene, though, because it's the type of place people head to having just rolled out of bed. On Saturday mornings, 14 Carrot tends to stay quite packed, so expect a wait. Lunch is good too!
Recommended for Homestyle because: In Eastlake, 14 Carrot Cafe serves up delicious breakfasts in a space as casual and friendly as your grandmother's kitchen.
Corinne's expert tip: Try unique breakfast treats like the 50/50 carrot/apple juice and 'make your own omelets.'
In Belltown (and now Capitol Hill, too), Ethan Stowell has done it once again by wowing diners at his Italian gem Tavolata. Here, pasta reigns--from rigatoni to casarecce, conchiglie to linguini. A restaurant whose name means "to gather around a table," Tavol?ta is an ideal space for large parties and private events. Monthly Sunday Feast dinners mean four-course family meals served at the communal table (that seats up to 26 diners), perfectly embodying the venue's philosophy. Enjoy nightly happy hours (from 5 to 7 p.m.) as well as dishes like brushcetta and salumi boards to start, rigatoni and potato gnocchi for pasta dishes, salmon and beef short ribs as entrees and grilled carrots as a side.
Recommended for Homestyle because: Tavolata means delectable Italian fare by Ethan Stowell and monthly Sundays feasts, served family-style.
Corinne's expert tip: Enjoy the monthly Sunday Feast, a four-course family meal served at the tavol?ta (communal table) where seating is limited to 26 diners. Check out a new location that recently opened in Capitol Hill.
The owners of Pintxo, Bar Abajo and The Upstairs have opened Branchwater, an alluring Kentucky Bourbon-focused bar in Belltown. The concept, developed after a series of pop-up nights at The Upstairs bar and inspired by co-owner Amanda's Kentucky roots, showcases an expansive craft cocktail and delicious bites menu with Southern flair. The cozy, casual neighborhood bar features a stunning stained-glass ceiling piece, an indoor circular fireplace and sweet touches of Southern hospitality (including furniture from Amanda's parents' home). Menu highlights include mint juleps (of course) among other delightful cocktails; also try Amanda's mom's potato salad, the Mac and Cheese (corkscrew pasta, Iberico cheese, mahon cheese, milk, cream and egg, topped with bread crumbs), Shrimp and Grits (polenta and brown butter grits served with fried shrimp, red pepepr, tomato-shallot relish) and the Southern Hot Fried Chicken (buttermilk-brined, hot fried chicken thigh served with a smoky, spicy and sharp blue cheese dressing).
Recommended for Homestyle because: This Kentucky Bourbon-focused bar in Belltown features delicious Southern fare, an array of craft cocktails and a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.
Corinne's expert tip: Guests can enter through the Bell Street alley entrance (the main entrance for Branchwater), or through sister restaurant Pintxo during their business hours (entering on 4th Avenue). Be sure not to miss the venue's sensational sweet potato and baby red potato salad with aioli, celery, apple and toasted pecans.
A fairly recent addition to the Capitol Hill restaurant lineup, Omega Ouzeri whisks diners away to the rich flavors, welcoming vibes and cool hues of the Mediterranean, and it's an experience you won't want to miss. Executive Chef Zoi Antonitsas (Food & Wine's Best New Chef 2015) fills the menu with delectable Greek fare (authentic and contemporary), and the venue aims to "redefine traditional Greek recipes from earth and sea, around the long-standing tradition of mezedes �— small portions, of exceptional food, to be shared by everyone around the table." Some of chef's favorite shareable dishes include Fava Santorini (fava: red onion, capers, evo, lemon), Kolokithokeftedes (zucchini fritters: graviera, mint, Aleppo aioli), Horiatiki (Greek salad: tomato, cucumber, pepper, feta, Kalamata olive, oregano), Keftedakia (grilled lamb meatballs: ouzo tomato jam, lemon yogurt, parsley, red onion, sumac) and Lavraki (whole, grilled Mediterranean sea bass: oregano-grilled lemon dressing). Diners will quickly fall for the welcoming venue's family-run feel and flavorful, inspiring dishes.
Recommended for Homestyle because: In Capitol Hill, Omega Ouzeri whisks diners away to the rich flavors and welcoming vibes of Greece with the eatery's delicious, sharable dishes.
Corinne's expert tip: Keep your eyes peeled for special events like winemakers' dinners as well as the daily "Early Happy Hour" in the the bar from 5 to 6 p.m. and "Late Happy Hour" from 9 to 10 p.m.
This Skillet outpost may look and feel like the original on Capitol Hill, but it has its own unique features. Take, for example, the 40-foot curved bar and a welcoming patio on which to enjoy handcrafted cocktails and contemporary comfort food--a delightful twist on modern American fare. The diner is housed in the Greenfire Campus, an eco-friendly building doing its part to keep Seattle green. Enjoy all of the Skillet classics here, like the maple-braised pork belly and waffle, the beloved Skillet burger with hand-cut fries, southern fried chicken with biscuit as well as the pork chop, pan-roasted steak frites, cheddar bacon hush puppies, legendary kale caesar and other veg-friendly sides. A full bar hosts happy hour daily and offers hand-crafted artisan cocktails along with beer and wine on tap.
Recommended for Homestyle because: This Skillet outpost on a quiet Ballard street features an airy, friendly space and delightful American comfort food (with an elevated twist).
Corinne's expert tip: Save room for sweet treats like seasonal pies, the Skillet Cookie and the can't-miss Pie In a Bowl—bittersweet chocolate pudding, pie crust, sea salt and cocoa nibs.
This friendly spot in Upper Fremont boasts perks ranging from easy street parking and a lovely, laid-back neighborhood vibe to delectable French Creole cuisine and occasional live music. Chef Rodel Borromeo takes the flavors, ingredients and style of Creole food and brings in Pacific Northwest influences and his classical French training. According to the website (and we'd have to agree), "The combination of the bold, assertive flavors of New Orleans, the commitment to quality ingredients that Seattle prides itself on, and the attention to detail in technique and presentation that are hallmarks of French cuisine make for a truly unique, memorable and most importantly delicious experience." To complement your meal, enjoy local beers that Roux keeps on tap, a thoughtful wine list and an enticing lineup of classically-inspired cocktails that truly help "les bon temps rouler!"
Recommended for Homestyle because: This friendly neighborhood spot in Upper Fremont boasts perks ranging from delectable French Creole cuisine and live music.
Corinne's expert tip: Enjoy happy hour every day from 4 to 6 p.m. and live music a couple evenings a week. (Check the website for days and times.)