The Toughest Reservations In Seattle Right Now (And How To Get Them)

Verdict: This nine-seat counter serves an omakase that’ll undoubtedly be one of the best meals of your year if you love raw fish. You’ll get things like chopped toro handrolls, chutoro and otoro nigiri, uni wrapped in sweet shrimp, Japanese scallops, seared A5 miyazaki wagyu topped with caviar, and even a second uni course. The $215 price tag might seem like a lot to drop on a meal, but think of it like taking yourself out on a date, only one where you’ll reach out for a piece of eel instead of someone else’s hand.

Verdict: Whatever you have to do to book a spot at Ltd Edition Sushi, just do it. (More on that below.) This omakase spot only has 16 seats, and we’re fans of every nigiri that gets tossed into the $170 mix—but the best part of the night is when the uni cart comes out and you're served a buttery sea urchin hand roll as if it were a sidewalk snow cone. If it takes setting four alarms, buying your neighbor's kid a drum set, and constructing a booby trap to wake you up the morning that reservations are released, so be it.

Verdict: Canlis is the most upscale fine dining restaurant in the entire city, and qualifies as a Seattle bucket list activity. Don’t expect to be stunned speechless by the food, but do expect to share a fantastic night out with anyone from your betrothed to your boss. Especially if your boss picks up the check. You’re here to soak in the Lake Union view, eat a luxurious morsel of steak, and wear a gala-type outfit that would otherwise rot in a closet corner with your forgotten Halloween costumes. 

Verdict: Turns out that one of the best restaurants in town is located inside a butcher shop after hours. You can experience Beast & Cleaver a few ways: buy some chops or links to cook at home, grab a sandwich on Thursdays or Fridays for lunch, or attend a tasting menu dinner under their alter ego “The Peasant.” No matter when you show up, the steaks, burgers, homemade sausages, and surprisingly, the salads and desserts at this meat-focused operation are outstanding, and the wine list is excellent, too. 

Verdict: This eight-seat wood grain counter in Hillman City is more than just a 10-course dinner inspired by the owners’ Filipino heritage. It’s a billboard for the Pacific Northwest and a meal that should be required by law for every resident. Each dish represents a part of history that connects our city to Filipino culture, and Archipelago only uses ingredients exclusively sourced throughout the region. After two hours, you’ll walk away from Archipelago with a belly full of outstanding lechon (crispy skin and all) and a newfound appreciation for both Filipino food and the surrounding PNW.

Verdict: Even if you popped into this Ballard staple for a glass of bubbles, burrata in a pesto pool, and an iceberg salad with really, really good croutons, that'd easily be the highlight of your entire week. But that would be ignoring the charred pies topped with things like hot salami, caramelized Walla Walla sweet onions, kalamata olives, and summer corn—it's one of the best pizzerias in Seattle for a reason.

Verdict: If you like pasta even a little bit, you'll love a night out at Spinasse. Their homemade tajarin and cavatelli are phenomenal, and the rustic-meets-modern dining room works well for any type of special occasion, from graduation dinners with your entire family to an important date night.

Verdict: The wait was up to five hours when this popular Japanese tempura restaurant opened its first US location in Bellevue. While the dust has begun to settle, you’ll still have to wait—but it’s worth it. Despite a few menu misses (skip the appetizers), the tempura is excellent. And just the thought of their other tasty dishes, like comforting udon carbonara and katsu curry, have us contemplating putting an extra long dentist appointment on our work calendar and heading east.

Verdict: Sushi Kashiba is an institution, and the best sushi restaurant in Seattle, thanks to incredible imported and local fish prepared by a talented chef who is practically a celebrity at this point. From marinated lean tuna to Hokkaido uni, every piece is made with ultimate precision. You want a legendary seafood-eating experience that you can brag about to everyone you know? Sushi Kashiba always delivers.

Verdict: The Pink Door is an iconic Italian restaurant with Elliott Bay views, aerial performances, and a standout spinach lasagna with pesto, marinara, and velvety besciamella that occupies our daily thoughts. Don’t let the tourist hellzone location that is Pike Place deter you: The Pink Door is more than worth braving the crowds, lack of parking, and raw fish smells.