Seattle is definitely an eating town.
That’s according to real estate site Trulia.com, which used census data to create a map of which metro regions across the country are hubs for restaurants and bars.
“We didn’t try to measure quality since that’s a matter of personal taste, and the best-restaurant or favorite-bar debate can get fierce,” writes Jed Kolko on the Trulia blog. “Instead, we focused on the quantity of restaurants and bars that locals can choose from.”
The company’s analysis found Seattle ranked fifth in the nation for metros that eat out at restaurants, behind San Francisco, Fairfield County in Connecticut, Long Island and New York City. The ranking compares the number of restaurants to the number of households.
Here’s a heat map that shows the nation’s hotspots for eating out.
Seattle’s not too shabby in the restaurant department, huh?
And here’s the country in terms of bars.
Looks like Seattle is losing to Portland and surrounding parts of Oregon in this category. The nation’s top drinking city was New Orleans, followed by Milwaukee and Omaha.
But we’re still doing OK — we have these great bars, after all.
Best bars in Seattle
BEST WINE BAR: BLACK BOTTLE — Good wine, good food, not much pretension. Whether you know a lot about wine or just a little (that you like it), you’ll probably find something to love. Website: blackbottleseattle.com (Grant M. Haller / seattlepi.com file photo)
BEST MUSIC BAR: THE TRACTOR TAVERN — Granted, you’ll probably like this Ballard bar better if you’re into country rock or folk music. It has a small stage and a big reputation. Website: tractortavern.com (Amy Rolph/seattlepi.com)
BEST THROW-BACK BAR: THE VIKING TAVERN — This Ballard bar will remind you of how Seattle used to be before the tech industry put it on the map. Luckily, it’s far enough off the main drag in Ballard to avoid the non-resident crowd that invades every Friday and Saturday night. Website: thevikingballard.com (Amy Rolph/seattlepi.com)
BEST BREWERY: BIG TIME BREWERY — The University District alehouse has an on-site microbrewery and grumpy hour instead of happy hour. For a bar on “The Ave,” it’s surprisingly college-student free.Website: bigtimebrewery.comCreative Commons photo
BEST SPEAKEASY: BATHTUB GIN — This dark, brick-walled, speakeasy-style bar in Belltown makes drinks like they used to — before cocktails started turning pink and neon green. Creative Commons photo
BEST HISTORICAL BAR: BLUE MOON TAVERN — This University District bar opened in 1934, back when state law dictated students had to trek a whopping mile from campus to buy a beer. Sure enough, it’s a mile from the University of Washington. Website: bluemoonseattle.wordpress.com (seattlepi.com file photo)
BEST ENTERTAINMENT: THE CAN CAN — Oh, the sights you’ll see at this cabaret-style burlesque bar in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. Website: thecancan.com (Mike Urban / Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
BEST GEEK BAR: CHAO BISTRO — This Capitol Hill bar brought you the Barcraft fad that’s sweeping the country, showing Starcraft matches instead of professional sports event. Only in Seattle… except, that’s not exactly the case anymore. Website: facebook.com/chaobistro (Courtesy photo)
BEST BAR YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF: THE GRIZZLED WIZARD — This hard-to-spot bar in Wallingford is small, but rotating taps and an extensive bottle selection show the owners really know their beer. Website: grizzledwizard.comCreative Commons photo
BEST TEQUILA BAR: THE MATADOR — This isn’t your spring-break tequila, unless you drank good tequila on spring break. This bar and restaurant has locations in Ballard, West Seattle and Tacoma. Website: MatadorSeattle.com (file photo / Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
BEST PUB: THE GEORGE AND DRAGON — British beer, British football (that’s soccer to you) and British grub. Website: georgeanddragonpub.com (Amy Rolph/seattlepi.com)
BEST GAY BAR: RE-BAR — On any night of the week, you can bet this bar has something fun happening. It’s home to Dina Martina and Tuesday poetry slams. Website: rebarseattle.comCreative Commons photo
BEST KARAOKE BAR: THE ROCK BOX — You haven’t done karaoke until you’ve done it like they do in Japan. This bar has 11 private rooms in which you and your friends can warble into the wee hours of the morning. Website: rockbox.com (Getty Images)
BEST TINY BAR: SAMBAR — This Ballard bar is small, but worth the wait. Good cocktails, good food and great atmosphere. Website: sambarseattle.com (file photo / SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER)
BEST BAR THAT ISN’T REALLY A BAR: CHUCK’S 85TH MARKET — Chuck’s in North Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood looks part bar, part convenience store. If you’re looking for the best beer selection in the city, you’ve found it. Website: Chucks85th.com (Getty Images)
BEST COCKTAIL BAR: THE ZIG ZAG CAFE — Near Pike Place Market, the Zig Zag makes drinks you didn’t know existed. If you’re nice, they might even tell you how it’s done. Website: zigzagseattle.com (Amy Rolph/seattlepi.com)
SECOND-BEST COCKTAIL BAR: TAVERN LAW — They make them good and strong at this Capitol Hill bar. Here’s the not-so-well-kept secret: The Speakeasy-style place you’ve heard about is Needle and Thread, located upstairs. Website: tavernlaw.comCreative Commons photo
For all of Seattle’s restaurants, there aren’t many folks might consider exclusive — or overly tough to snag a table. Here are a few restaurants that buck that trend.
Make reservations or else…
Don’t see text? Click the “show captions” link at the bottom of the photo.
If you want to dine at Wallingford’s Art of the Table for Friday and Saturday Supper Club, you’ll want to call ahead. The restaurant does one seating per evening, and only prepares food for guests with reservations. Overall, the dinning room seats 22. Cancellations must be made three days in advance, and you’ll be charged the full price of a meal (for you and all your guests) if you don’t show up. (Amy Rolph/seattlepi.com)
The staff at the Corson Building welcome walk-ins, but note they might not be able to guarantee a seat. The highly-regarded restaurant starts accepting reservation requests for each month on the first day of the preceding month. (Scott Eklund / Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Willows Inn on Lummi Island near Bellingham isn’t in Seattle, but it is one of the region’s most sought-after dining experiences. The restaurant starts accepting reservation requests two weeks in advance, and has a reputation for booking up within minutes. One way to guarantee yourself a table: Stay at the inn. (Courtesy photo)
When you make a reservation at the Herbfarm in Woodinville, you’d better really mean it. A $50 deposit is required, and you’ll forfeit that if you’re a no-show. For a five-hour meal that costs about $200 per head, that’s probably justified. (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER)
Reservations at Rover’s are “highly recommended,” according to staff. Translation: Call ahead — several days ahead, if you can. The Madison Park restaurant is a fixture of Seattle’s culinary scene, and boasts a great wine selection. In this photo, chef-owner Thierry Rautureau can’t resist his own food. (Scott Eklund / Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
You’ll want a reservation at Sitka and Spruce — the food is good and the place is tiny. This locally-sourced restaurant is a favorite among Seattle foodies, so it’s worth the phone call. (seattlepi.com file photo)
Self-described as “Seattle’s best-kept secret, The Ruins on Queen Anne is more than that. It’s members only, meaning you’ll need more than just a reservation to get in. But dining here is like falling down the rabbit hole, so you might check friends list and see if you know a member. (Creative Commons FLickr photo by Rego – d4u.hu)
Ultimately, here’s the bottom line: Seattle might not have many RSVP restaurants, but it has plenty of RSVP tables. And that’s because the city has lots of beautiful scenic views. If you’re looking to snag a window table at Ray’s Boathouse, the Waterfront Seafood Grill or Canlis, you’d better make a reservation with time to spare. (Karen Ducey / seattlepi.com file photo)
Visit seattlepi.com’s home page for more Seattle news. Contact Amy Rolph at [email protected]. Find more of her stories on Twitter via @amyrolph and @bigblog or subscribe to her updates on Facebook.
