The February Hit List: The Mountaineering Club, Chengdu Taste, Harvest Vine, and More

Doesn’t matter if you sip cocktails on the rooftop at socially distanced (and timed) tables, get a box for a bed picnic in your Graduate Hotel room, or order drinks and snacks for a cozy date for two near the water, TMC has you covered. The Campsite Spread is a good place to start, with pimento cheese, prosciutto, chile-pumpkin pesto, crackers, and sweets. Cocktails for two, like the Can’t Stand the Rain, will put you in the right mood.

Speaking of rain, expect bottled martinis, a raw-bar menu, and Mountaineering Club-inspired umbrellas for “Wet February.” And come March, yurts, blankets, and warm cocktails will make an appearance on the rooftop.

Dining status: Rooftop reopens Feb. 5; check website for details. Takeout (pickups are at Poindexter Wine & Coffee, 4507 Brooklyn Ave. NE) and local deliveries are also available; find more info here.

Pop-ups have been a silver lining in this ever-shifting restaurant landscape. While Brendan McGill continues to reimagine his Bainbridge Island restaurant with the Burgerhaus concept, he’s added a new guest-chef series to round out weekends.

Coming up: Carlo Lamagna from Portland’s Filipino-inspired Magna Kusina; and from SingleThread in Healdsburg, California, Osmel Gonzales making Cuban sandwiches and other street food with Hitchcock’s own Mangalitsa pigs, and Berk Gudal doing Turkish food. Check out the schedule here.

Dining status: The outdoor biergarten is covered and heated; order for pickup here.

The L.A.-based chain debuted in the International District in October, but only with limited hours. Now open six days a week, there’s a better chance of tasting the toothpick lamb and fish in tongue-numbing Sichuan pepper broth that set late-great food writer Jonathan Gold’s heart aflutter.

Even if these dishes are more common now, Chengdu Taste has new items, like “guess guess shrimp,” a mess of shrimp and French fries loaded with chilies. There’s a small selection of Taiwanese beer, wine, sake, and soju, too.

Dining status: Pickup and delivery only; order here (best to use mobile device).

One way to cure the winter blues is with the Korean-inspired dishes from this Ballard go-to. Think: Fluffy rosemary waffles topped with gochujang-spiced fried chicken; breakfast sandwiches with marinated pork belly; and loco moco. Banchan come by way of kimchi — or a thick slab of Macrina’s whole wheat cider bread toast. And to accompany, a latte with Camano honey and lavender is the right way to go.

Dining status: Takeout is available; all orders must be done online. Free delivery is available within a limited area.

This birria newcomer is making a splash in Columbia City — and yes, we do mean into a pool of deeply-hued beef consommé. While there are many things to be had from the Taco City menu (the breakfast burritos are a weekend hangover savior, and thank goodness for watermelon mint margaritas in winter) the tacos filled with slow-cooked beef and lots of melty cheese are raised to spiritual status with the ruby-red jus on the side. Dip, drip, and dip again. Taco Tuesday with $20 bottomless tacos and $5 Tequila is another balm you didn’t know you needed.

Dining status: Spaced outdoor seating is available, as is delivery and takeout.

Put all pandemic worries on pause while soaking up bird’s-eye views of Elliott Bay from the 16th floor of The Charter Hotel. Toast your bestie with a Lucy & Ethel cocktail. Take comfort in a Fog burger, its substantial patty topped with cheddar, aioli, and a tangle of lip-smacking scotch onions. The Dungeness crab roll needs little intro. The room has COVID safety and comfort figured out, and from the view to the food, the whole experience feels like things are normal, just for a moment.

Dining status: Outdoor covered and heated dining is available; more info for takeout and delivery here.

Honestly, this longtime Madison St. space has become a perfect one-stop pandemic shop. There’s well-spaced outdoor seating; a marketplace for take-home meal kits, including paella for two; Spanish wines to match (and a wine club); and even a Valentine’s menu full of so many goodies, it’s sure to knock anyone’s socks off … or anything else you’re looking to shed. The regular Basque-inspired menu features everything from gildas to jamon Serrano and gambas a la plancha, which at least will mentally take you away to far-off locales.

Dining status: Takeout and limited outdoor seating are available; reservations are highly recommended.

For years, this farmers market darling served up tasty Indian street food. In 2019, it set up permanent digs in Capitol Hill, and in January, expanded to Ballard. Everything on the menu is a winner, but the chicken tikka kathi roll keeps customers coming back. It’s all in the meat, a long-marinated bird that’s grilled, brushed with spicy green mint and cilantro chutney, and folded into a pillowy wrap for a no-fuss meal. A creamy mango lassi is the perfect accompaniment.

Dining status: Takeout only right now; order ahead.

There’s a lot to love about the fresh Pacific Northwest takes on Vietnamese fare at this long-standing favorite. Both the Capitol Hill and Bellevue locations have all the favorites to-go, including the caramelized catfish claypot, duck confit congee, and even weekend dim sum. Keep an eye out for annual Lunar New Year dishes, which should show up sometime around Feb. 12.

Dining status: Covered outdoor dining at both locations (reservations recommended); find more info about takeout and delivery for Seattle here and Bellevue here.

Shelter Lounge teamed up with vegan food truck Cycle Dogs to launch a fully plant-based menu, and the results have been known to sway even the most diehard of meat-eaters. One unlikely hit pairs the nostalgic flavors of a PB&J and jalapeño poppers — peanut butter and cream cheese stuffed peppers drizzled with raspberry jam.  Brunchgoers are faced with hard decisions: Five biscuit options will lure diners out of bed on even the darkest days. Portions are generous and filling. 

Dining status: Currently open for covered, heated outdoor dining for brunch and dinner; takeout and some delivery is available too.

As a special for Lunar New Year, in partnership with Luckyrice, American Express, and Resy, the Capitol Hill Sichuan-Yunnan specialist is offering a $88 menu for two from Feb 12 to 14. The dishes, created to celebrate the Year of the Ox, include lion head meatballs, longetivity noodles, red-braised pork ribs, and more. Order here.