Having lived in the Seattle area my entire life and because eating is one of my favourite hobbies, I have eaten at most of the restaurants around here. I can usually come up with a few recommendations for each cuisine and neighborhood fairly easily—with one exception: seafood.

Seafood is one of the most commonly cited foods that Seattle is known for. Up until last year, I’ve had a hard time with which restaurants to recommend for the best seafood. Sure, oysters are fresh and great at Taylor Shellfish and Walrus and the Carpenter, but what about fish that is seared perfectly yet moist and flakey? It’s hard to consistently find anywhere. After frequenting Fremont’s RockCreek at least a half dozen times in the last year, I can definitively say that it’s the top seafood restaurant in Seattle.

RockCreek has freshly-shucked oysters, an array of interesting and flavorful appetizers, and a list of fresh, local and globally-sourced fish that is cooked to perfection. Fish is one of the hardest things to find cooked correctly when I dine out. A tender and moist steak, pork chop, lamb, and even chicken is much easier to find. On all the occasions I have eaten at RockCreek, they have been spot on.

The interior with the exposed-pipes-industrial look is quintessential Pacific Northwest and the patio is everything I want a patio to be. There’s a fire pit, beautiful wood tables, and glittery lights. For being such a busy and popular restaurant, the servers and hostess are exceptionally friendly and attentive.

Heirloom Cauliflower with farro, celery, toasted pine nuts, a white balsamic, and pecorino is a dish I order every time. The white and purple cauliflower is shaved thin and tossed in a light and creamy dressing. Norweigian Mackerel Salad on top of roasted eggplant is another delicious appetizer. The mackerel is seared precisely with crisp skin and drizzled with a bright, tangy shallot lime vinaigrette. The nicoise-inspired salad, Poached Albacore Tuna Salad with shaved fennel, chickpeas, a soft boiled egg, and lemon anchovy vinaigrette is a great starter to share or filling enough to have as an entree. I need more soft boiled eggs in my life.

The menu changes daily based on the quality and seasonal availability of their global and locally-sourced seafood. Every fish dish I have ordered has been consistently outstanding. My most recent visit was last night for Father’s Day. My dad was very impressed with the “surprising and creative flavor combinations”. Who knew pistachios as a garnish for seabass would be this good?

Save room for the S’mores dessert—a Valrhona chocolate mousse with smoked meringue and graham crumbs. It’s rich and decadent yet not overly sweet or heavy. It’s a must order.

RockCreek is open 7 days a week from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Brunch is served on the weekend from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Happy Hour runs everyday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm and 10:00 to close. They take reservations for parties of all sizes for dinner and brunch. You should seriously consider making a reservation, they get packed.

Photos by Jennifer Liu.

RockCreek           |           4300 Fremont Avenue N., Seattle           |         (206) 557 – 7532