With such a rich history and a strong reputation for all things culinary, Seattle has a seemingly never-ending list of restaurants to explore. The city’s direct connection to fresh catch from the ocean to its collective consciousness in regard to local ingredients and cultural cuisines makes it a great place for a date night.
From sweeping views of the waterfront and fresh seafood to fine Italian dining, there is truly a date spot for everyone in Seattle. Below are 10 of some of the most romantic restaurants in Seattle, what they serve, where to find them, how expensive they are, and more.
Il Terrazzo Carmine
The romantic yet cozy Il Terrazzo Carmine is located in the southern part of Downtown Seattle, just 2 blocks away from the historic Central Saloon. Founded in 1984 by an Italian immigrant, the restaurant has spent the last 40 years creating some of the most authentic and delectable Italian cuisine that the city has ever seen.
The restaurant’s gorgeous wooden interior, chandeliers, and white tablecloths evoke the aesthetic of a classic Italian eatery. They are open for lunch and dinner and serve familiar favorites like rigatoni bolognese, calamari, and burrata. For the more adventurous couple, their pan seared sweetbreads are perfect for sharing. Il Terrazzo Carmine also has a full bar and a wine cellar. Couples can get wines by the glass or share a half bottle.
Sushi Kashiba
Founded by chef Shiro Kashiba, Sushi Kashiba is his third restaurant venture in Seattle. Not only is his food spectacular but Kashiba’s history within Seattle and in Japan runs deep. He trained for many years under sushi maestro Jiro Ono, famously known for the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Kashiba also founded the first sushi bar in Seattle in 1970. Decades later, his influence on cuisine in Seattle and his culinary prowess still shines bright.
Kashiba combines the Edo-mae style with the fresh seafood of the Pacific Northwest to create dishes that showcase the beauty and flavor of the different seasons and ingredients available in and around Seattle. The menu has a la carte options as well as set dinner options. Although it is fairly expensive, the omakase experience is worth the price for couples to share. Sushi Kashiba is especially great for anniversaries or Valentine’s Day.
The Pink Door
This restaurant is part Italian fine dining, part waterfront views, and part cabaret, the Pink Door is one of the most famous restaurants in Post Alley. Located just next door to Pike Place Market, the Pink Door has been providing great food and entertainment since 1981. Today, the restaurant is equally famous for its food, its eclectic interior, and its burlesque shows.
The Pink Door is a great place for couples to experience Italian fine dining in a whole new way. The menu combines Italian classic dishes with fresh and seasonal ingredients of the Pacific Northwest, including their own signature lasagna. Their wine list is extensive, hand picked by the owner and the bar manager. It is important to note that the Pink Door tends to fill up on reservations quickly so it is best to make your reservations at least a month in advance. They do accept walk-ins but the wait time could be quite long.
Le Pichet
With nearly 25 years of business, Le Pichet has become one of the coziest and cutest restaurants Seattle has ever known. Conveniently located next to Pike Place Market, Le Pichet is open 7 days a week, making it a great spot to visit for food before or after a cute date in the market area. Le Pichet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.
Breakfast runs from opening until 11:30 AM and includes delicious salads, mouthwatering baguette dishes, and a selection of charcuterie boards. Lunch runs from 11:30 AM to 5 PM and includes baguette sandwiches, salads, and more charcuterie. Dinner has the largest menu with more charcuterie, steak, fresh local fish, and gnocchi. They have a wine list and a cocktail menu as well. Their charcuterie boards and adorable desserts are perfect for couples to share.
Kamonegi
One of Seattle’s hidden gems, Kamonegi is Seattle’s soba and tempura restaurant. Although their location is quite small and parking can be sparse, Kamonegi is absolutely worth visiting for a date night. Their menu is constantly changing with the seasons and their warm soups make them the perfect spot for a date during wintertime.
Kamonegi always has rotating special appetizers and seasonal soba. They have a regular menu as well consisting of smaller dishes, tempura plates, and soba. Couples can share small plates or get adventurous and try the traditional dipping style soba in which the noodles and broth are served separately. On top of being delicious, dipping soba makes the meal fun. They have multiple broths available and they have alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including a menu dedicated specifically to warm sake.
How To Cook A Wolf
With locations in Queen Anne and Madison Park, How To Cook A Wolf is a popular date night spot in both of their respective locations. Both restaurants also have ample street parking available, making the restaurants easily accessible for couples to visit. Their menu is constantly changing and evolving, inspired equally by rustic Italian food and Pacific Northwest ingredients. They also have vegetarian and vegan options, as well as gluten free pasta.
How To Cook A Wolf is only open for dinner with a menu consisting of small plates and pasta entrees. They also have amazing house cocktails as well as a drink menu of beers and seltzers. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available. The best part is that every How To Cook A Wolf restaurant has a different menu. Combined with the fact that their menu is always changing, this means you can go to each location for multiple dates and likely experience something new every single time.
Momiji
Located in Capitol Hill, Momiji is the perfect late-night spot for hand-crafted sushi and drinks. The restaurant’s interior is a beautiful contrast to the bustle and noisiness of Capitol Hill; Momiji’s wooden interior is refreshing while the low lighting and beautiful garden space creates for a relaxing and calming atmosphere. Momiji is only open for dinner but they are open late, typically until 11 PM or midnight, so guests can take time to savor their meals.
Momiji’s happy hour starts when they open and runs from 4 to 6 PM. Their happy hour menu includes small plates, sushi rolls, fried rolls, and a selection of raw dishes like sushi sets, sashimi, and more. Dinner runs from 6 to 10 PM, featuring an amazing array of raw dishes, grilled and fried meats, noodles, salads, and a la carte sushi or sashimi. Omakase is also available. From 10 PM to closing, the menu changes once again but still offers amazing small plates and special sushi rolls.
The Walrus & The Carpenter
This legendary oyster bar is part of the All The Creatures In The Sea restaurant family of Seattle, known for other classics like General Porpoise and The Whale Wins. Named after the Lewis Carroll poem, The Walrus & The Carpenter has a menu that changes daily, adjusting to the availability of local ingredients and always providing the freshest seafood possible. This restaurant is great for a more casual date and is less pricey than many date spots in Seattle while still providing some of the best food the city has to offer.
Although they are best known for their oysters, The Walrus & The Carpenter has other seafood available, like scallops, albacore, and calamari. Most of their entrees cost around 20 to 25 dollars. They also have salads, cheeses, and desserts for 20 dollars or less. All of their oysters are available at market price and are all sourced from within Washington state.
Palisade
For waterfront views, there are few restaurants better for a date night than Palisade. Located right in front of a sweeping view of the city and the mountains, Palisade has become a landmark spot for great service, delicious food, and elegant atmosphere. The restaurant truly stands on its own, with ample space from other businesses and plentiful free parking, truly making the location feel special. They are open for lunch and dinner, although they are most popular for dinner dates amongst couples.
Palisade’s menu encompasses some of the best food Seattle has to offer. Their seafood options are ample, including sashimi, rolls, halibut, salmon, black cod, crab legs, and much more. Other meat options include steak, available either as prime rib, filet mignon, rib eye, or bone-in New York. Their dessert menu is perfect for celebrating an anniversary or Valentine’s Day while their drink menu consists of both house cocktails and bottled spirits.
