The October Hit List: The London Plane, Nishino, New Luck Toy, and More

There are few better ways to start the day than with the kouign-amann and a latte from this much-loved Pioneer Square café. After a long pandemic hiatus, sweet indoor seating in the bright, airy dining room is back, so guests can linger over fried chicken croissants or albacore tuna escabèche. Need a last-minute hostess gift? Swing by the larder for a bouquet of flowers, small-batch tea, or stationery. The London Plane has got you covered.

With foliage colors peaking at Washington Park Arboretum, dinner at the nearby classic is the perfect way to round out a fall day at the botanical gardens. Grilled salmon skin and arugula salad or toro tartare with white sturgeon caviar are just two examples of how chef Tatsu Nishino’s menu ranges from simple to sublime. And after two decades, the omakase  remains a benchmark for extraordinary sushi. A Honey Mule made with ginger beer made by local architect Paul Hanson complements just about everything.

Situated directly across from Lake Washington, this delightful cafe is worth a trip south for a drink or all-day breakfast. The restaurant started out as Collier Service Station in the 1920s; when Stonehouse opened in 2015, the historic structure was preserved. The chicken and waffles are some of the best in the city, and the Monte Cristo, its version of the French toast and grilled ham-and-cheese mashup, is indulgent. Pro tip: swap maple syrup for ube syrup for an extra-sweet upgrade. On sunny days, grab a scoop of Laina’s ice cream (or a pint to go) and enjoy some of the best views in the city from the patio or dining room.

You can’t miss this West Seattle spot, thanks to smoke billowing out of the 2,000-pound smoker that sits out back. The dish to get right now is the smoked P.B.L.T., a classic BLT made so much better with crisp-edged pork belly. For non-meat eaters, the cornmeal-crusted fried prawns is a light and crispy version of the Southern dish. If you happen to be there when whole smoked ducks are on the menu, don’t think twice to order one served warm, straight off the smoker. Make a reservation and hole up on the covered patio by one of the fire pits with one of mixologist Sara Rosale’s (formerly of Radiator Whiskey fame) famous cocktails. The Whiskey Pearing, made with Makers Mark, spiced pear liqueur, Luxardo, and red wine syrup, warms you right up.

This woman-owned neighborhood favorite has been a go-to for Basque provisions during the pandemic, with a marketplace offering everything from sherries to jamon-flavored potato chips. Although the secret back patio more than sufficed all summer, thankfully the trusty  standby and its famed, 11-seat copper-topped bar are back in tapas-serving action. (As always, seats at the counter are first come, first served.) For a taste of Spain, order the grilled sardine with carrot-piment d’espelette puree, gordal olives, and boiled egg. Or find comfort in a fluffy tortilla española. Pretty much everything tastes great when washed down with a generous pour of crisp albariño.

What’s behind the doors of Delish is a food and cultural experience like no other in Hillman City. Here, guests are spoiled with authentic and traditional Ethiopian delicacies. One important note: dishes can and should be eaten with the hands. Expect ample portions of distinctly spiced dishes, like misir wot, a vegetarian stew of red split lentils, or kitfo, extra lean cuts of prime beef finely chopped and mixed with seasoned clarified butter and mitmita (chile powder). Be sure to order soft, tangy injera to soak up all the flavors.

Husband-wife team Shaun McCrain and Jill Kinney are finally welcoming guests back for casually elegant three-course menus that showcase Pacific Northwest ingredients and a touch of French elan. There are a few changes, like more spaced-out tables and more limited seating for the bar (and its separate menu), but the dishes still shine. Menus change every few weeks and come with choices. Things you might find: foie gras served with a waffle and berry gelée, gorgeous smoked halibut croquettes, cannellini bean agnolotti, and velvety cambozola grilled cheese with apricot marmalade and black pepper honey.

During the pending gray, rainy days, we’re happy to have this light-filled dining room and soul-soothing food back for a bit of solace. The cozy spot has something for everyone who loves to eat “clean,” including the perennial favorite “hot bowl,” a rotating blend of ancient grains, nuts, seeds, hearty greens, seasonal veggies tossed in sesame vinaigrette. For something heartier, there’s a dynamite bison burger, and crab noodles, a perfect marriage of rice noodle flakes, deep-sea red crab meat, chile jam, lime, and green beans.

Is there a better balm for rainy (or any) day weather than Chinese-American comfort food, frozen tiki cocktails, and a dimly lit dive bar? The pandemic closure of New Luck Toy created a void felt by many who call the bar and booths at this friendly neighborhood haunt home. And now, it’s back, including beloved dishes like dry-fried long beans, Mongolian beef, bitter broccoli, and crispy shiitake pork egg rolls. It’s best to come with a few hungry friends to savor it all while sipping umbrella cocktails, of course. A few mai tais or “Lucky” coladas and you’ll forget how much you missed this spot over the past year.

Run by a family with an affinity for vintage Italian racing, Café Veloce stands out as a true Kirkland haunt. Regulars lose themselves in eclectic biker decor and simple and straightforward bowls of pasta, from a shrimp scampi to beef Bolognese. Sip a glass of wine from the Italian-leaning wine list; local Washington wines are well represented, too. Pro tip: make a reservation on Monday nights for the wine flight special.