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Seattle is a city that will keep you busy if you let it. It’s got a thriving arts and entertainment scene. It has numerous historic and modern attractions. And there’s often an interesting annual event of some sort happening in the area. But you’re going to have to slow down at some point during your Seattle stay in order to eat. When you do, you might want to visit one of the hot restaurants available in this fast-paced destination city. With great choices in nearly every type of cuisine that you can imagine, there’s got to be a leading restaurant or two that will stand out on your list.

Here are some of the hottest restaurants in Seattle:

• Cremant Seattle. The word that best describes this leading restaurant is “charming”. They describe their food as “cuisine traditionnelle” and describe the Madrona neighborhood where they are located as “rustic”. That should give you a hint as to the kind of romantic atmosphere that you’ll experience when you opt to dine at this French bistro. There are “plates for two” for those couples who want to really romanticize the evening but it’s a spot that’s good for anyone in Seattle who has a taste for France.
• Crow Restaurant and Bar. If you want to know what type of people come to Crow, you need only know that it’s a funky restaurant that was built into a converted warehouse space. If you want to know what kind of food you’re going to enjoy while you dine here, think cured meats and fish-of-the-day. The menu is strikingly simple so you have only a few items to choose from and can focus on enjoying the atmosphere of this trendy Seattle favorite.
• Cutters Bayhouse. One of the most famous attractions in Seattle is the Pike’s Place Market. After spending a day checking out this area, you can wander over to this nearby restaurant where you’ll find a selection of fresh Northwest cuisine to please your palette. Dishes include such items as pear-jicama salad but the menu is heavy on the seafood. In addition to the great food and location, people frequently cite their reason for loving this restaurant as being its striking views of the Elliott Bay.

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• El Gaucho. If you’ve ever traveled in the Northwest, you might know El Gaucho from one of its other locations in Portland, Tacoma or Bellevue. The Seattle location stands up to the bar set by the others as a terrific restaurant providing a great dining experience. Tableside food preparation and special wine events are among the reasons that El Gaucho has grown in popularity and gone from one location to four over the years. It’s a Northwestern legend that lives up to the myths surrounding it so it’s worth putting on the itinerary if you’re traveling there.
• Gypsy. This isn’t exactly a restaurant per se but if you can get an invitation to dine at this establishment then you’re going to be a fool not to take the chance. Gypsy is an underground dining spot which is part of a growing nationwide restaurant trend. These secret spots take exquisite dining out of the traditional restaurant atmosphere and host it in non-restaurant venues including art galleries, private homes and even libraries. There are very few cities that are participating in this fad but those that are seem to be setting the stage for a food movement that is only going to grow with time. Gypsy is Seattle’s contribution to that movement. There are events held in different locations so you’ll have to get some insider info to enjoy this Seattle hot spot but it will make you one of the trendiest tourists there if you can finagle it.

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• Matt’s in the Market. This is a lesser-known hot spot among tourists but one that is favored by the locals. The name is intended to indicate the fact that the menu is drawn from whatever happens to be freshest at the market when the chef does the shopping (and he goes twice daily to keep things fresh!) It’s a restaurant that is part of the growing movement to support local growers and reduce food shipping in the restaurant industry. This is an inspiring place to dine because it really shows off the creativity of a chef when he can take a selection of fresh ingredients and turn them into a complete, delectable menu.

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• Ototo Sushi. You’ll find no shortage of seafood and Seattle and there are lots of sushi restaurants to choose from but this ranks as one of the favorites among people in-the-known. Anyone who is seeking out an authentic Japanese dining experience will find that this Queen Anne restaurant is the place that has it. Simple dishes, plenty of sushi rolls and some surprising desserts round out the menu here. It’s a neighborhood place so it’s more casual than fine dining but you won’t regret the choice to dress down and dig into a great meal.
• Palisade Waterfront Restaurant. The name alone may draw you into this restaurant which, as you’d expect, has a stunning view of the water. If you happen to be up and hungry early then head here because the real winner is the brunch menu that’s available. The way that it works is you order an entrée (say Eggs Benedict) and then you also get to visit the luau bar (where there are fruits and brunch seafood options) as well as the Griddle Grill where the pancakes can be found. It’s not cheap but it’s worth your money for a Seattle dining experience worthy of any vacation scrapbook.
• Rock Salt Steaks and Seafood. Sometimes simple is the way to go and that’s the case with this restaurant which provides the “steak and seafood” menu that many Seattle visitors are on the hunt to find. The dishes are influenced by the tastes of the Pacific Northwest so you’ll find a heavy emphasis on Alaskan seafood here. Save room for the chocolate mousse that’s available at dessert time.
• The Herbfarm. If what you think is hot is spending a lot of money then you’ll want to make sure to make it to this restaurant which was on a Forbes Magazine list of the most expensive restaurants in the United States. Of course, you get what you pay for here so you’ll have nothing less than a stellar dining experience at this East Seattle restaurant that provides ambience along with taste. The theme here is that you’ll sit down to a nine-course meal that includes samples of six different wines and is centered on a specific theme of the night. Dining here isn’t just going out for food; it’s having an experience. It’s not something that can be had at just any restaurant in the country so if you’ve got the money to spare, you may want to think about spending it here.

As with any other city, there are many different types of restaurants to choose from in Seattle. The ones that are considered the hottest are those which combine the Northwest dining experience with trendier food fads from around the globe. The restaurants on this list meet that challenge and deserve recognition by travelers as trendy spots to dine in the city.

Tags: Food | North America | restaurants | Seattle | United States | Washington | Washington State