We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: the Seattle restaurant scene is always growing and expanding! There are so many amazing new places to try, and we know it can be overwhelming to decide which ones are worth it. That’s where we come in! Here are 7 Seattle area restaurants that we are loving right now and that you should add to your list.

John Howie Steak

John Howie Steak is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premiere steakhouses, located in Bellevue and offering an unmatched level of service and attention to detail with dishes that define culinary excellence. As of recently, John Howie Steak is featuring a delectable new dining experience called First Seating, a special three course offering for only $65. Guests can choose a starter, entrée, and dessert from the carefully curated menu, accompanied by an award-winning wine list featuring bottles from near and far. We highly recommend the filet mignon and the flourless chocolate volcano cake!

The First Seating early dining experience is available Monday through Thursday between 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm now through November 21^st.

OOLA Capitol Hill

OOLA is a modern restaurant in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, known for its innovative dishes, craft cocktails, and relaxed atmosphere. With their own distillery on-site, OOLA offers a fantastic cocktail program, featuring award-winning spirits like vodka, gin, and whiskey crafted in-house.

The food menu rotates often, emphasizing locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients. We are currently loving the seared albacore tuna and the hanger steak, and it wouldn’t be a true visit to OOLA without trying their famous potato rosti topped with salmon roe and caper aioli. From Tuesday to Friday, enjoy craft cocktail hour at OOLA, where all craft cocktails are $7 and tasting flights are $10.

Shaker + Spear

Shaker + Spear is a seafood-focused restaurant in downtown Seattle, known for its modern and approachable menu that showcases fresh, local ingredients. Located in the Palladian Hotel, Shaker + Spear has a stylish, intimate setting with a rustic-chic vibe.

Menu highlights include the charred octopus with a tamarind Korean bbq glaze, the seared scallops with mole verde, and the whole fried branzino with miso caesar salad and crispy capers. Shaker + Spear offers a well-curated wine list that complements its seafood-forward menu, and a fantastic selection of craft cocktails.

Ramie

Ramie is a modern Vietnamese restaurant located in Capitol Hill. Ramie opened this year by sibling chefs Trinh and Thai Nguyen of Bainbridge Island’s beloved Ba Sa. Ramie offers seasonal Vietnamese cuisine reimagined with innovation and creativity, alongside a fantastic cocktail program and thoughtful wine list. Ramie is all about celebrating the rich diversity of Vietnamese food culture while pushing the boundaries with inventive twists on classic dishes.

Menu favorites include the Gỏi Cá (hamachi with herb oil), the Tôm Cocktail with tiger shrimp, and the Cá Chiên (grilled branzino). The craft cocktail program at Ramie is excellent, with standouts like the Nhâm Nhi (similar to a gin martini) and the Cốm that features calamansi, bandoeng pandan liqueur, lemon, and an egg white. Ramie is open seven days a week, with a daily happy hour from 3-5 p.m.

Curry Pizza House

Now that fall weather is upon us, we welcome all the hearty comfort food, like the delicious Indian-fusion pizzas at Curry Pizza House down in Kent. The owners of Curry Pizza House have been immersed in authentic, Indian cooking since childhood as first-generation Indian Americans. Growing up in California, pizza became a favorite dish which united family, friends, and special occasions. Friday nights were always “pizza night.” On a few occasions, the owners started adding curry and spices to the pizza to change up the flavor. What started as a kitchen experiment turned into something unique and innovative.

While Curry Pizza House also offers traditional pies, we highly recommend trying one (or a couple!) of their crafty curry pizzas. The chicken tikka, curry chicken masala, and chilli paneer pizzas are all amazing! In addition to the pizzas, Curry Pizza House also has a great selection of small plates, like the desi garlic sticks and samosas. You can’t leave without trying their mango lassi—it’s the perfect sweet treat to accompany the meal.

Diamond Bay

Diamond Bay is a new dim sum restaurant that recently opened in the Chinatown-International District of Seattle. The space is absolutely stunning, with the grand banquet hall being perfect for special events and celebrations. Diamond Bay is serving up classic dim sum dishes with a modern twist. Our favorites are the pork shu mai, the roasted duck, the crispy pork, and the crispy “footballs.” Diamond Bay is open daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm with dim sum being offered daily until 3:00 pm.

FareStart

FareStart is a social enterprise nonprofit focused on job training and employment. They run food-based businesses that serve as classrooms for their students to learn on-the-job skills that will prepare them for careers, while nourishing the community and sustainably funding their mission. FareStart’s end goal is personal stability and economic mobility for people overcoming barriers to employment.

The FareStart restaurant, located in Seattle’s South Lake Union, is open Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm and is serving up breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and pastries. The lunch service takes place from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and includes a variety of small bites, soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers. There are also house specialties like steak frites and potato gnocchi. Every month, FareStart hosts Guest Chef Night, which pairs premier local chefs with FareStart students to create and serve a three course dinner.