Seattle Restaurant Week, a celebration of the city’s vibrant culinary scene, starts October 21. According to organizers, “More than 165 local restaurants are serving up three-course dinners for just $33, and many also offer two-course lunches for $18.” We’re excited to try some of the new participating restaurants—and it got us thinking about our all-time favorite restaurants in the area. On the list or not, these get a thumbs up from us anytime.

BaBar in University Village for street food and refreshing drinks
Praised in Seattle Magazine’s “The Best Noodles in Seattle” for its Oxtail Pho
Recommended by: Victoria Best

Black Bottle in Belltown for a gastropub fix
4.3 Zagat food rating
Recommended by: Mike Schultz

E.PU.Lo. Bistro in Edmonds for delicious food up north
4-star average of 324 Yelp reviews
Recommended by: Mike Gerke

Il Terrazzo Carmine for authentic Italian food
4.8-star average of 1,621 OpenTable reviews
Recommended by: Kevin Callaghan

List for small plates and great wine
4.5-star average of 284 Google reviews
Recommended by: Megan Hitt

Lola for a Tom Douglas dining experience
Among OpenTable’s “most-booked restaurants”
Recommended by: Curtis Pepin

Mai Thaiku for Northern style Thai food
Listed among Trillist’s “7 most underrated restaurants throughout Seattle”
Recommended by: Mitch Steiner

Matt's in the Market for the views of Elliott Bay and the Olympics—and the food!
Ranked #89 of 3,920 restaurants in Seattle on TripAdvisor
Recommended by: Tim Thomas

Mamnoon for modern Middle Eastern cuisine
Ranked #1 on Eater Seattle’s list: “Where to eat on Capitol Hill”
Recommended by: Paul Horng

Monsoon for tasty food near home
Dubbed by Seattle Magazine one of several “excellent Seattle brunch spots”
Recommended by Steve Phelps

Spinasse for a modern interpretation of traditional Northern Italian cuisine
Among the best Italian foods featured on Food Network's Top 5 Restaurants
Recommended by: Lisa Price

Thackery for the best breakfast in town
“Thackeray brings eclectic variety to Stone Way.” -The Seattle Times
Recommended by: Eileen Olson

Tipsy Cow in Redmond for good burgers, beer and milkshakes
4-star average of 978 Yelp reviews
Recommended by: Cal Spranger

Uptown China for house made Chinese specialties
“Consistently excellent,” says one of 204 Google reviews
Recommended by: Wendy Taylor