The Local Dish – 8 Great Restaurants North Of Seattle
It’s hard to beat the Pacific Northwest when it comes to fresh ingredients, innovative chefs, and an unmatched dedication to all things local. Seattle is the place to taste your heart out from seafood to wineries and breweries to serious sugar fixes.
The best part? This isn’t just in the city limits; we live north of Seattle and there are just as many unique and fabulous spots to enjoy! If you are planning a trip to the Emerald City or already live here and looking for must-checkouts, here are 8 great restaurants we love north of Seattle.
Note: Photos not bearing my watermark are property of their respective owners.
Edmonds
Whenever we are checking out the amazing waterfront of Edmonds, a stop at The Cheesemonger’s Table is a must. They offer one of the most unique cheese selections in the Seattle area, while serving delicious sandwiches, salads, cheese and charcuterie plates, and other pub and café favorites.
I am obsessed with all of their cheese plates and boards, especially the Salumi Salami Board. They make a mean grilled cheese sandwich and all their sandwiches come with amazing truffle popcorn!
Everett
Sol Food is where we go to get our Latin-Caribbean grub on! My family is from Panama and when you find a place that knows what patacones (twice fried green plantains) are, you hang on tight! There are no wrong answers here. We love this spot because the atmosphere is cheerful and laid back, the service is prompt and attentive, and the portions are ridiculous for the price.
I have made it my mission to try a new dish every time we go, but the Jerk Chicken and Chorizo is on point, especially with a cocktail or two. The husband gets the crazy platter with an assortment of meat and regrets it every time…it is too much meat, but he can’t stop eating it. Sorry for the horrible photo…but you see what I’m talking about!
We are pasta loving fools. But when you have giant teens to feed, you need a place that makes sure they do not walk away hungry. We’ve been going to Romio’s Pizza and Pasta since the kids were little. It was as grown up and kid-friendly as we could find that wasn’t Red Robin…and we’ve never stopped going.
We’ve never stood in a line for a table so it is a great spot when everywhere else is booked solid. Even cooler, Funko has opened up its headquarters right around the corner.
Snohomish
I don’t know if you got the memo, but I like pie. And when it comes to real pie, there is no other place than Snohomish Pie Company. Yes, they do have cookies and other food like sandwiches…but I came for the pie. Whether a slice alone or a guilty buy-a-pie-to-share-with-my-family or their Piescreams, a crazy concoction of shake and pie, I have to stop there whenever we are remotely close to the town.
Lake Stevens
No visit to this area is complete without a visit to the famous Jenny Cookies Bakeshop! It has been a thrill following Jenny on her cookie journey and getting her goods on demand is just the best! I love that her menu changes seasonally; right now it is Breakfast of Champions! I know, right?
One evening, the husband decided to take us out to a nice bistro in Lake Stevens. I laughed because I know the area well and there isn’t a nice bistro there that I know of. Apparently, LJ’s Bistro and Bar snuck in on me. But for a second, he too was unsure, since it is in a weird spot near a gas station and Safeway and even Google Maps was like ‘dude, it’s here but I don’t know where’. We found it and I fell in love.
It boasts an impressive menu and wine selection for a bistro in a weird spot near a gas station and Safeway. I definitely judged this book by its cover and it is on our list of ‘Places to take guests to impress them’. In the summer, the outdoor patio is a must!
Arlington
Another ‘I didn’t know they had a bistro’ find with my husband is Bistro San Martin. We were just there for Valentine’s Day….well, February 13th. We went there for the first time for our anniversary last year…that husband of mine is just full of surprises. You can sit in the front area of the restaurant and watch the chefs work their magic! With a separate banquet room that has a fireplace and comfy seating, a wonderful staff and of course, amazing cuisine and drinks, it is a great and unexpected surprise in downtown Arlington. And yes, my giant scallops were divine!
As the area’s only wine bar, Hidden Vine Wine Bar is exactly what you need when you’ve had a long week and just want a little down time before tackling the weekend. It is the perfect spot for gathering a few friends together in a comfortable and casual spot, but still feel classy as you pretend to know about the wine in front of you! You know I love a good chacuterie plate and a nice glass of rosé and they do both fabulously!
My north of Seattle peeps, any great restaurants you recommend? I can’t cover them all here, but I’m always on the lookout for a new place to check out!
Need more Seattle area spots to check out? Take a peek at last year’s summer bucket list…
