I’ve had the opportunity to eat at quite a few restaurants while living in Seattle and these are some of my favorites from 2011.

Golden Beetle 

Another well known Seattle chef, Maria Hines, has opened a new restaurant in Ballard and I must say, this may be my favorite restaurant of the year. Hines is well known for her restaurant Tilth, which specializes in dishes inspired by locally grown produce. At her new restaurant, Golden Beetle  has begun experimenting with spices from Africa and the Middle East, mixing her trademark style of using seasonal and local foods and mixing them with flavors from the middle east at. I have yet to find a dish I don’t enjoy here.

Hunger

It’s easy to miss this small restaurant and bar located in the Fremont neighborhood, but I recommend not passing it up. As a former local resident of the wacky Fremont district, I made it a habit visits to this cozy restaurant a few times a month. The bartenders and wait staff here are laid back and friendly and its a great little nook to duck into for a cocktail and some small bites. 

Revel

Chef Seif Chirchi has been highly praised for her restaurant Joule, located on 45th in Wallingford. Her newest project , Revel seems to be another success, drawing crowds from all over to gather in Fremont to enjoy the chic cafe atmosphere and savor the Korean fusion and asian styled street dishes. 

Skillet Diner

Once the success of this food cart began to spread from word of mouth throughout the city, Skillet owners decided it was time to open a larger, more sedentary operation. Look out, there is sure to be a wait when you first arrive, but its worth it to stick it out and stay for the fried chicken or one of the many scrambles.