When it opened in 1996, Carmelita was only Seattle’s second option for vegetarian fine dining. Yet 15 years and a whole host of competitors later, it’s still the city’s best. Both a neighborhood standard and a veg-foodie destination, Carmelita welcomes all with its rich tapestry of sights, smells, and tastes. While catering exclusively to vegetarians and vegans, it has always done what some consider impossible: please meat-eaters too. Though the menu is seasonal and constantly changing, diners can always depend on, at the very least, one menu item that will appeal to—and appease—disciples of the flesh. ZIBBY WILDER 7314 Greenwood Ave. N., 706-7703, carmelita.net