Athenian Seafood and Bar

Athenian welcomed its first hungry Seattleite in 1909. It’s located in Pike Place Market, which by definition makes it pretty touristy, but that doesn’t change the fact that the views of Puget Sound are fabulous and it’s the best place in town for Happy Hour. As you might well imagine, the seafood is some of the freshest you’ll find, since that’s one of the specialties of its Pike Place Market location. Another plus for film buffs, a scene in “Sleepless in Seattle” was shot there.

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Ray’s Boathouse

The original Ray’s Boathouse dates back to 1945, when it opened as a coffeehouse on Shilshole Bay. Fish and chips and the like were the staples until 1973, when it was expanded and reimagined as a seafood restaurant specializing in Pacific Northwest fare such as singing scallops, Loughborough Inlet spot prawns, Copper River Salmon and Olympia oysters. The Café’s rooftop deck offers heart-wrenching views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, while the Boathouse presents casual dining right at the water’s edge.

The Herbfarm

A relative newcomer (comparatively speaking), The Herbfarm served its first dish in 1986. Considered the ne plus ultra of hyper-local seasonal Seattle food, the restaurant’s nine-course themed tasting menu changes every week, introducing yet another in a long line of culinary delights. Rather than being a place you can go once and say, “I’ve been there,” The Herbfarm is an always-changing experience.

And yes, we know, this list of four places you have to eat after moving to Seattle leans heavily toward seafood. Given the Emerald City’s location on the shores of Puget Sound, you’d expect to find lots of fresh seafood and you won’t be disappointed. However, if your tastes run more toward turf than surf, these restaurants have you covered in that regard as well.

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