Dinner at Canlis

Few restaurants have a monopoly on their city's top echelon dining like Seattle's Canlis. That's not to say Seattle is devoid of really good restaurants; far from it. Seattle dining is fabulous, with an abundance of fresh seafood that restaurants in many other cities would kill for. Nevertheless, when people think of haute cuisine in Seattle, they think of Canlis. And as I would soon come to find out, for very good reasons.

'Almost perfect cocktail' - Canlis' take on a Manhattan
2017 Canlis. Seattle, WA

Opened in 1950 by Peter Canlis - the patriarch of the family - the restaurant has been family run ever since. In that time, additional restaurants were opened in Honolulu, Portland and Seattle, but none survive to this day. Meanwhile, the original and flagship restaurant in Seattle has continued to inspire ever since, with Twenty one consecutive Wine Spectator Grand Awards, along with a Michelin star, as its bona fides.

A Seattle afternoon through rose-colored Chihuly glasses

In the days leading up to this trip to Seattle, the original plan for Day 1 was checking off some of the Emerald City's more touristy offerings. More specifically, Pike Place market in the morning, Chihuly Garden and Glass in the afternoon, and a killer lunch/brunch in between. This all changed when I finally got connected with the Michigan State alumni group in Seattle, and found out there was a football game-watch at LTD Bar and Grill at 9AM. Being the good MSU football fan that I am, Pike Place market got bumped to Monday morning, and I made the trek up to the Fremont neighborhood to cheer on my Green and White. On the way North on Aurora Avenue, I caught a glimpse of Canlis: the subject for tonight's dinner post.

Thankfully MSU won, and I was able to depart for lunch in a good mood. Today's lunch location is a small bistro located just on the outer fringes of Seattle Center (think Space Needle, Chihuly museum, etc.) called Tilikum Place Cafe (TPC). Best known for brunch, including their famous Dutch baby pancakes that are made to order, patrons are treated to a light and airy space sporting huge windows that offers a bit of a reprieve from the nearby tourist mayhem. TPC offers reservations, and I suggest you make them, as the place fills up fast.

Dinner at Matt's in the Market (and first night in Seattle)

This post not only reviews a delightful restaurant in Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market, but also kicks off a series of posts centering on my second solo excursion to the Pacific Northwest. The first was last year's trip to Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. This year I opted to stay south of the 49th parallel, and visit lovely Seattle, Washington. Speaking with a few college friends, I was directed to visit in late summer for optimal weather. Labor Day was free, so I booked a flight and an AirBnB, and the rest is history.

View from Matt's: dusk over the sound and Bainbridge Island
2017 Matt's in the Market. Seattle, WA