Café Presse What Watertown Coffee—12th Avenue's other favorite haunt that opens for morning coffee and remains so for evening whiskey—lacks in eggs, Café Presse has in spades. The jeans are a bit skinnier on this side of the street, but on Sunday mornings, there are few finer pastimes than reading The New York Times while scarfing down a petite omelet and sipping on a Caffé Vita Americano, which the staff will happily refill with drip so you can get to the end of Frank Rich's latest rant. CHRIS KORNELIS 1117 12th Ave., 709-7674, cafepresseseattle.com. $-$$ CAPITOL HILL
Canlis Thoughtfulness is clearly chef Jason Franey's strength. He uses great care and precision to coax the biggest flavors from even the smallest dishes. An amuse-bouche of celeriac-and-green-apple soup has the same bold flavors as the seared foie gras with pumpernickel streusel. After a little more than a year on the job, Franey's modern presentation of classic comfort foods has earned him approving nods by exacting Canlis regulars, and is drawing new fans every day. His attention to preparation and flavor profiles should not be dismissed. And don't be scared off by Canlis' fine-dining reputation; the staff is young, the menu is exciting, and Walt the piano man knows his way around a Lady GaGa tune or three. JULIEN PERRY 2576 Aurora Ave. N., 283-3313,canlis.com. $$$ QUEEN ANNE
Peter Mumford
The tacos are “where it’s at” at Taqueria La Venadita.
Peter Mumford
106-year-old Maneki “has transcended mere goodness.”
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"Here in Seattle, we've got it all. We've got the talent. We've got the product in spades. Revolutionary spirit? In some neighborhoods in this town, you can't chuck a rock without hitting some white-jacket with grill scars on his arms and a new restaurant opening in a former gas station or converted Airstream trailer."
Read Seattle Weekly food critic Jason Sheehan's intro to "Our Favorite Restaurants 2010" here.
A - B
All Purpose Pizza - Anchovies & Olives - Bakeman's - Bakery Nouveau - Betty
B - C
Bistro Turkuaz - Branzino - Buddha Ruksa - Café Flora - Café Juanita - Café Paloma
C - C
Café Presse - Canlis - Carmelita - Cascina Spinasse - Casper's - A Taste of the South - Chen's Village - Chinoise Café
C- E
Continental Restaurant and Patry Shop - The Counter - The Cutting Board - Delancey - Easy Street Cafe - Elliott Bay Cafe
E - G
El Mestizo - Emmer & Rye - Fort St. George - Georgetown Liquor Company - Green Leaf - Guanaco's Tacos Pupuseria
H - I
Hana - Harvest Vine - Hector's Restaurant - Hidmo - Hi Spot - I Love New York Deli - In the Bowl
I - K
Island Soul - The Italian Spaghetti House - Jones Origianl Barbeque and Catering - Joule - Kau Kau Barbeque - Kingfish
K - M
Kisaku - K.I.S.S. Cafe and Wine Bar - La Rustica - Lunchbox Laboratory - Maneki
M - M
Mawadda Cafe - Mecca Cafe - Mee Sum Pastry - Mistral Kitchen - Monsoon
N - P
New Saigon Deli - Ocho - Okinawa Teriyaki - Ototo - Pair - Palace Kitchen
P - P
Pam's Kitchen - Paseo - The People's Pub - Pete's Egg Nest - Pike Street Fish Fry - Plum Bistro
P - R
Poppy - Portage Bay Cafe - The Pub at Piper's Creek - Purple Dot Cafe - Rose Petals Restaurant - Red Bowls
S - S
Saba - Salumi - Serious Pie - Shultzy's Sausage - Skillet - Slim's Last Chance
S - T
Spring Hill - Spur Gastropub - Steelhead Diner - Tamarind Tree - Tammy's Deli
T - T
Taqueria La Venadita - Thaiger Room - Thai Tom - The Tin Table - Toulouse Petit
T - V
Tubs Gourmet Subs - Turkish Delight - Twilight Exit - Union - Volterra - Voula's Offshore Cafe
W - Z
Watertown Coffee - Wild Ginger - Zippy's
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Carmelita Cauliflower does not get the love it deserves. Long lumped by picky children into the same category as Brussels sprouts and lima beans, it rarely makes a menu at all, let alone earns center stage. But it should. Like mushrooms, cauliflower soaks up the flavors around it, and if cooked correctly, is so rich as to seem creamy—especially if you've stuffed it with mascarpone, beurre blanc, and other fatty delights inside a crepe. Carmelita chef Carlos Caula reveres cauliflower as if it were the vegetarian's filet mignon, throwing it into every section of the menu from soup to entrée. Caula does not believe that vegetarian food need be bland or—as evidenced by his generous use of cheeses—healthy. Carmelita doesn't always come through with the same commitment to vegan dishes, but it's perfect for proving to your relatives in town from Chicago that vegetarian really can be hearty and delicious. LAURA ONSTOT 7314 Greenwood Ave. N., 706-7703,carmelita.net. $$ GREENWOOD
Cascina Spinasse Pasta is still the focus of this neighborhood trattoria, nearly one year after its muse, Justin Niedermeyer, split. Jason Stratton, who originally worked with Niedermeyer to launch Spinasse, is its new chef and inspiration. Whether you order cipollini stuffed with salt cod ($12), roasted cauliflower flan with parmigiano-reggiano fonduta ($13), or fine hand-cut egg pasta with butter and sage ($22), your itch for homemade Italian food will be scratched. The humble but seductive flavors and textures that Stratton creates will leave you deeply satisfied yet wanting more. And you'll score extra points with the staff if you can pronounce the name of the restaurant correctly: spih-NAH-say. JULIEN PERRY 1531 14th Ave., 251-7673,spinasse.com. $$ CAPITOL HILL
Casper's A Taste of the South Don't worry—though Casper's recently moved to Aurora from its Lake City hole-in-the-wall location, it didn't leave any flavor behind. Ribs, catfish, and gator anchor the menu deep in the South, and Casper's po'boys are an awe-inspiring sight; when matched with perfectly battered okra and hush puppies, the only thing on the plate not fried to a beautiful golden brown is the sandwich's slaw and the signature Casper's Moppin' and Dippin' sauces. Draw on the butcher-papered tables, sip on some of the city's most authentic sweet tea, and transport yourself straight to the Everglades. NICK FELDMAN 15226 Aurora Ave., 361-3757,eatmoregator.com. $ SHORELINE
Chen's Village Don't let the exterior deceive you—Chen's is a true diamond in the rough in terms of Chinese food north of the ID. What Chen's lacks in ambience it makes up for in quality food and service. I strongly recommend ordering the sweet-and-sour pork, which melts in your mouth. Chen's makes everything to order, which could mean a bit of a wait. But it's well worth it. If you want to feel the local essence, head to Chen's bar in the back of the restaurant. Regulars emphasize they're "here for the beer" (meaning the $2 Buds during happy hour), and the crowd comprises fellows who might have worked with the late Capt. Phil Harris back in the day. LAUREN LYNCH 544 Elliott Ave. W., 281-8838,newchensvillage.com. $ QUEEN ANNE
Chinoise Café On a winter weekday, Chinoise Café might not have a crowd gathering in the window like Ototo Sushi across the street. But come summer, when the patio is open, those looking to grab a seat must wait to enjoy steaming plates of swimming rama, Vietnamese pho, and moshu pork. Inside, the cozy restaurant fits 20 tables at most, with a sushi bar taking up the majority of the room. Most of the tables are situated near the bathroom and kitchen, which could mean either pleasant or not-so-pleasant smells. I recommend grabbing the window booth. If you've come early enough for happy hour, the drinks are tremendously cheap, and the sweet-potato fries (served alongside horseradish dip) are better than any American restaurant whips up. You can order your food to any desired spiciness, and rest assured that the servers will keep refilling your water glass if you've made a daring decision. LAUREN LYNCH 12 Boston St., 284-6671. (Also 2801 E. Madison St., 323-0171.)chinoisecafe.com. $ QUEEN ANNE
