Seattle’s dark, wet winters make candlelight and mood all the more important. You and the one you love can enjoy the glow and the great food at any one of these restaurants, any time of the year.
CRUSH 2319 E. Madison St., (206) 302-7874 Hours: Tues – Sat, 5:30 – 10:30 pm. Crush has been one of the hottest reservations in town since it opened in 2005. Chef Jason Wilson and his wife Nicole spent more than a year restoring the house that their restaurant occupies. With only 41 seats, you’d expect the space to feel crowded, but it doesn’t. The modern décor, the polished black floors and the elegant stemware all add up to a special occasion for you and your beloved. Wilson calls his food modern Northwest Cuisine, which adds up to the freshest local ingredients, finely prepared and beautifully presented. Try the roasted marrow and parsley salad – it’s a standout, as are the seared rare sea scallops. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $50-$80.
BRASA 2107 Third Ave., (206) 728-4220 Hours: Sun – Thurs, 5 pm – 10:30 pm. Fri – Sat, 5 pm – 12 am. Brasa means ‘live coals’ in Portuguese and chef Tamara Murphy’s restaurant remains as lively and interesting a place to eat as it was when in opened more than seven years ago. Brasa was a pioneer in Seattle’s now lively Belltown neighborhood. The warm rust-colored walls and the well-designed lighting scheme evoke the southern Mediterranean and set the mood for the restaurant’s sensual food. The menu changes seasonally, and is split between the small plates, (available in the bar, which has it’s own hard core happy hour fans), and entrées. If the roasted pig is on the menu it is a must order. The service is relaxed but attentive and never intrusive. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $60 - $100.
CROW 823 5th Ave. N., (206) 283-8800 Hours: Sun – Thurs, 5 pm – 10 pm. Fri – Sat, 5 pm – 11 pm. The relaxed pace at Crow matches the atmosphere. You’d never know you were eating in a converted warehouse. The elegant draperies, metalwork and dark woods heighten the sense that you are somewhere special. This kitchen doesn’t take shortcuts, and diners should plan on two hours for dinner – rest assured it will be two hours very well spent. Chefs Craig Serbousek and Jesse Thomas focus on seasonal ingredients and homey-sounding dishes, but everything here shines. The house lasagna is amazing and has a devoted local following. The salads and the small plates, like the steamed manila clams with chorizo, are large enough to share. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $50 - $80.
SERAFINA 2043 Eastlake Ave. E., (206) 323-0807 Hours: Hours: Mon – Fri, 11:30 pm – 2: 30 pm, Sun, 10 am – 2pm. Sun – Thurs, 5:30 pm – 10 pm, Fri- Sat, 5:30 -1 am. Dinning at Serafina is like taking a Tuscan getaway, without the airports, jetlag and language barrier. If that isn’t enough, the live jazz shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights have a great reputation all their own. The jazz brunch on Sunday morning is a big draw too. The food manages to be rustic yet refined at the same time. All the pasta dishes can be ordered either in first or second course sizes – the pumpkin gnocchi and the handmade meatballs are both extraordinary – but try to save room for one of the house specialties, like the braised lamb shank or the homemade fennel sausage. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $50-$80.
CHEZ SHEA 94 Pike Street, # 34, (206) 467-9990 Hours: Tues – Sun, 5 pm – 10 pm. Bon Appetite magazine called Chez Shea the “most intimate restaurant” in Seattle, and they were right. The dinning room, with its white table clothes, large, arched windows and candle-lit chandeliers feels like a hideaway, a perfect mood-setting spot. Chez Shea, is at the top of a half-hidden staircase in the Pike Place Market, and just getting there makes you feel like you are in on a secret. The contemporary French menu is seasonal and changes monthly. Chef Jeremy Bund’s eight course tasting-menu is always special and the regular menu is well balanced between first and second courses and entrée offerings. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $60 - $100.
LAMPREIA 2400 First Ave., (206) 443-3301 Hours: Tues – Sat, 5-10:30 pm Dinning at Lampreia is an intense experience, not to be taken lightly – but to be relished. Chef Scott Carsberg, regarded by many to be one of the best chefs in the country, has gone the opposite way of many celebrity chefs. He concentrates on doing what he does best every night at Lampreia, and the result is often pure magic. The space is small and Carsberg often circulates among the tables to chat with his patrons. The attention will make you feel like royalty. The ever-changing menu makes recommendations tricky, but the cheese course is one of the best in the city. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $60 - $100.
HUNT CLUB 900 Madison St., (206) 343-6156 Hours: Daily, 7 am to 2:30 pm, Sun – Thurs 5 pm – 9 pm, , Fri – Sat 5 pm – 10 pm. Rumor has that 20 couples a year get engaged at the Hunt Club. Is it the dim lighting, deep upholstered chairs, the mahogany paneling, or just hype? We think it all adds up to romance, and that after a visit here, you’ll believe the statistic. Located in downtown, in the Sorrento Hotel, the Hunt Club’s food is every bit as much a draw as the atmosphere. The carpaccio, made from filet minion, is an appetizer that sets a mood for luxury, and we have yet to try anything from the menu that didn’t reach that standard. Chef Brian Scheehser uses seasonal ingredients, organic whenever possible, and the elegance of his menu lives up to the surroundings. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $60 - $100.
HARVEST VINE 2701 E Madison St., (206) 320 9771 Hours: Daily, 5 pm – 10 pm. The city’s only Basque restaurant, the Harvest Vine is earthy, rustic, and inviting. It’s not a big space, and the open kitchen is the center of all the action, but you won’t feel crowded or overwhelmed. The wine cellar dinning room with its visible beams and floor-to-ceiling wine racks make you feel like you’re eating in a Spanish castle. Chef Joseba Jiménez de Jiménez’s menu features small dishes – salads, soups, cheeses and an amazing selection of hot and cold tapas. The pan-seared tuna belly, grilled venison and caramelized chick peas only represent a small portion of the variety available. This is a great spot to share every plate. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $50-$80.
PORTAGE 2209 Queen Anne Ave. N., (206) 352 6213 Hours: Mon – Sat, 5 pm – 10 pm Portage is a tiny French restaurant at the top of Queen Ann hill. The butter-colored walls, white table clothes, and votive candles on every table, reflect in the large mirror and give the place an illusion of size. But the fine food and polished service are real and add up to a great occasion. Chef Vuong Loc and his wife Tricia are both graduates of the Culinary Institute of America, and their first venture is fast becoming a hit. The menu is small, giving equal space to small plate offerings and entrees, and there isn’t a bad choice here. For dessert, the flourless chocolate cake is sure to be a turn-on. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $50-$80.
OCEANAIRE 1700 Seventh Ave., (206) 267-2277 Hours: Mon – Thurs, 11:30 am – 10 pm, Fri, 11:30 am – 11 pm, Sat, 5 pm – 11 pm, Sun, 5pm – 10 pm. Stepping into Oceanaire is like boarding a classic cruise ship from another era. The vintage 30’s jazz playing in the background and the art deco fixtures help complete the illusion. It is big, it’s part of a chain based in the Midwest, and family friendly no less, but the romance factor is still high. Most first course, side dish and dessert offerings are sized to be shared – the tuna tartar is a terrific. In addition to the many selections of fresh fish that can be broiled or grilled to your liking, the menu specials are always worth trying. One note though, if you don’t like seafood, there isn’t much for you at Oceanaire. The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $50-$80.
The Top List of Romantic Restaurants - Seattle, WA