The May Hit List: Samara, Bar Bistro, Chicory, and More

At this neighborhood favorite in Sunset Hill, chef Eric Anderson uses fire to make seasonal slow-roasted vegetables and heritage breed animals taste even better. Think smoked oysters, roasted sunchokes with a bright lemon purée, and oven-charred rainbow carrots bathed in an herbaceous almond salsa verde — even their old fashioned is noteworthy, stepped-up with brown butter and maple syrup. For the best view, book a spot at the chef’s counter. Seatings are available at 5:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. every Thursday.

The waiting game is one local ferry commuters know too well. Rondo and Tamari Bar owner Makoto Kimoto’s latest spot, Hi Life, makes patience possible. Plus, it’s a perfectly worthy destination unto itself. Located right next to the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal, the new restaurant focuses on the best seafood in the Pacific Northwest. Think aburi salmon sashimi, scallop poke bowls, and colorful shokado bento boxes. A crisp Suntory Toki whisky highball pairs well with everything and takes the edge off anything — even ferry delays.

In 2014, chef Michela Tartaglia started Cucina Casalinga in her apartment while living at the Diller Hotel. Nearly a decade later, Tartaglia’s weekly changing menus (Ocean, Farm, and Garden) at Pasta Casalinga attract both Pike Place tourists and locals seeking a warm bowl to dig into. A recent “From the Farm” offering was rigatoni with speck, walnut, saffron, and ricotta. Order a glass of rosé, sit at the counter, and escape the bustle of the market for a bit over a comforting, cooked-to-order pasta. In a hurry? Grab a Lasagna Casalinga to go or pasta by the pound, made fresh daily.

If a jaunt to Orcas Island is part of your summer plans, a stop at Rosario Resort & Spa is a must-stop. Take some time to explore the resort’s museum, built in the early 1900s, and showcasing former Seattle Mayor boatbuilder Robert Moran’s photographs and furnishings. Afterward, retreat to The Mansion Restaurant for a table overlooking Cascade Bay. Start with a San Juan Sunset, a simple cocktail of vodka, Douglas Fir Liquor, pomegranate, and lemon. Next, dip into some punchy pickle fries with roasted garlic aioli before moving on to the Alaskan halibut with roasted corn and poblano salsa or the oven-roasted duck breast with a five-spice plum and apricot sauce.

Inspired by their home state of New Mexico, sisters Miki and Yuki Sodos serve an obscene amount of green Hatch chiles at their Belltown and Othello Bang Bang Kitchen restaurants. The crisp, spicy flavor appears in burgers, burritos, and rellenos. Another favorite? The enchiladas come smothered in red and green Hatch chile sauces — the former, warm and smoky, the latter, earthy and slightly bitter. Vegan pro tip: Order the enchilada with Impossible meat and the vegan queso. Don’t skip the margaritas. And if tequila isn’t your thing, the BBK Old Fashioned is a solid sipper.

The yellow building that houses Finistère is as cheery and warm as the food and drink it serves. Run by the indomitable restaurant duo Scott Ross and Deborah Taylor, Ross runs the floor, making guests feel right at home, while Taylor brings serious culinary chops from Canlis and Per Se to the kitchen. Recent favorite plates include a springy salad of asparagus, poached egg, miner’s lettuce, hazelnut, and the classic Roman dish, bucatini cacio e pepe. The Chrysanthemum is the perfect sip to start on a warm evening, made with La Quintinye Blanc, Benedictine, Herbsaint, and orange bitters.

French techniques marry Japanese ingredients at this beloved neighborhood hang. Start with the sweet, tart, and tangy baby beets salad with arugula, strawberries, goat cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette. Next, spring asparagus is soy-buttered and puréed, served over arborio rice and topped with a poached egg. Save room for matcha profiteroles with raspberry and white chocolate coulis while soaking in sunset views from the Mount Baker ridge.

Okay, so maybe the location of this restaurant is a little out of the way. But a trip to the industrial neighborhood of Midland is worth it. Grab a seat at the small bar or book a table in the chic dining room, and settle in with an Empire State of Mind, a sexy take on the New York Sour made with Michter’s rye, walnut bitters, and a float of Whidbey’s Port. Another sophisticated take on a classic? The elk sliders are topped with housemade pimento cheese and lingonberry jam. Or try the always-popular seafood paella with red snapper, wild prawns, bay scallops, mussels, snow crab, and Portuguese sausage.

Diners looking for adventure on a menu will delight in the approachable yet innovative fare at Chicory. A rutabaga au gratin layers thin slices of the root vegetable between potatoes, Dungeness crab, and cream. A creamy nettle dip with Castelvetrano olives, Gruyère, and cream cheese is like the classic spinach and artichoke version — only much better. A recent special, beet strozzapreti, also dazzled, served with cultured cream, roasted beets, and bowfin caviar.

Reservations are recommended; seating is limited.

For the freshest of Pacific Northwest seafood and bivalves, head to All Water Seafood & Oyster Bar, located inside Loew’s Hotel 1000. Shucked offerings are served with a simple shallot mignonette and change daily. Beyond bivalves, PNW halibut tacos with pea shoots and avocado mousse, IPA battered fish and chips with caviar tartar sauce, and a local grilled salmon lacquered with a local cherry-Gochujang glaze are sure to sate seafood cravings.