Dine Around Seattle

Seattle Restaurant Week is one of my favorite dining events in the city, particularly for lunch.  It only happens twice a year -- in November and April, so here we are in early March with another option to consider: Dine Around Seattle, which runs the entire month of March.

Right off the bat, let me say that I'm not a big fan of Dine Around Seattle, mostly because the list of restaurants is half of the ones who participate during Restaurant Week. However, I'll list my picks for the restaurants that I've tried in the past year:

Betty, Queen Anne - I ate here several months ago and had a happy hour appetizer (salami, olives and marcona almonds.)  For dinner, I had the fish du jour, that if I remember correctly, was trout with Medditeranean vegetables. My friend had a luscious duck confit.  It was a very enjoyable meal.

Andaluca, Downtown - I've eaten lunch here twice during Seattle Restaurant Week and loved my meal both times.  I remember having the halibut last year that was juicy, tender and perfectly cooked.  They have a new executive chef, Sarah Lorenzen, who has been on the line at Andaluca since 1999.  I'm eager to show my support for Chef Lorenzen and applaud Andaluca for promoting from within!

Blueacre, Downtown - I went to lunch here with six co-workers in November during Restaurant Week and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and service.  If you're looking for an intimate dining experience, this is not it, but the seafood was fresh and the restaurant was packed.

Lecosho, Downtown - I've been here for lunch during Restaurant Week and for dinner on a "normal" Wednesday night.  There was definitely a difference in service.  At night, the server was attentive and pleasant.  I'd brought a special bottle of wine to share with a friend during our meal, and the server didn't charge us for a corkage fee.  She explained the menu in depth, making me feel like the chef was cooking just for us.  However, during our lunch, the menu changed from the one posted online, and the portions were incredibly small.  A little cookie was the only thing they offered for dessert.

Eva, Greenlake - I had dinner with a friend here about a year ago and insisted upon returning.  I want to write a full review of this restaurant, so stay tuned.

There are a couple more restaurants that I've tried that aren't half bad, but their Dine Around Seattle menus look bland, so I'll stop here.