Where to Eat in August: Sugo Hand Roll Bar, Delish Ethiopian, and More

Steps from Pike Place Market, this newcomer on the Seattle sushi bar scene specializes in hand rolls. Bright orange orbs of ikura top hand rolls that pop with briny flavor. For something more luxe, try the Bluefin tuna otoro. The fatty underbelly of the mighty bluefin is a textural dream and one of the world’s most desired (and priciest!) cuts. If you like sweet cocktails, the Melona poptail cools with fruit puree, sparkling sake, and a Melona popsicle (choose mango or strawberry). The ube cream puff is the perfect, savory last bite.

Life and business partners Katy Knauff and Marceil Van Camp, along with executive chef Bridgett Lewis (formerly with Poppy, Altura, and Reckless Noodle), just opened Kamp, a bistro for sober-curious folks in Madison Valley. There are plenty of options — with alcohol and without — and a tasty lineup of food. Think Kamp sliders, mini hand-pressed sliders with American cheese, house pickles, and onion jam on sweet rolls, and green plantain shrimp tostadas with peppered shrimp, corn salsa, and pickled Fresno chiles.

Follow @kampseattle for updates.

In Hillman City, diners can experience authentic Ethiopian delicacies like misir wot, a vegetarian dish made with stewed red split lentils, or kitfo, extra-lean cuts of prime beef finely chopped and mixed with seasoned clarified butter and mitmita (chile powder). Porous, slightly spongy flat pancake-like discs of tangy injera take the place of utensils to soak up all the rich flavors.

If you find yourself in Snoqualmie River Valley this summer, a stop at Flavour Bistro is a must. Owner Sean Langan, formerly of Fall City Bistro, has created an otherworldly dining destination that, as the name suggests, departs from the flavor norm. Think duck and pork stroganoff, alligator spring rolls, and foie gras on toast with salmon roe and fermented garlic oil. For a nostalgic summery finale, the s’mores old fashioned is a boozy take on the campfire staple.

After a two-year COVID hiatus, this beloved Rainier Beach vegan and vegetarian gathering spot is back caffeinating neighbors with its 1995 La Marzocco espresso machine. Settle in the café with cozy mismatched furniture over a plate of biscuits and gravy, with vegan or buttermilk biscuits and housemade “sausage” gravy. Local artists adorn the walls — right now, it’s Beacon Hill stencil artist Joe Wackerman. Or slip out back to the delightful patio — built sustainably with found materials — for avocado toast with Egyptian spices, sweet peppers, and olive oil. Don’t skip an order of tea-smoked tofu on the side.

Find more info here.

Check out this Belltown spot when you’re in the market for some seriously good food and drinks during the happiest hours of the day. Snag one of the two patio tables that sit along 1st Avenue, or venture into a chic space that serves low-level nightclub vibes with half-price bar food, $22 bottles of house wine, and $8 signature cocktails all day Sunday and Monday, as well as Tuesday through Saturday from 4 to 6:30 p.m., and then again, from 9 to 11 p.m.. Tubes of rigatoni swim in minced garlic and a luscious wild mushroom cream sauce. Thick slices of pinky-red beef shoulder tenderloin steak sidle up with crisp potatoes. Looking for something lighter? The Columbia River steelhead with spicy cilantro crust will sate. Note: bring your credit card; this is a cashless establishment — also, 21+ only.

No reservations. Find more info here.

If a tropical vacation isn’t the cards this summer, a meal at this cheery Caribbean spot will more than make up for it. The crunchy half-jerk fried chicken plate is worth obsessing over. Lighter and more piquant than most versions, it’s become a bit of a cult favorite. Then, there’s the Cuban pork belly plate — luscious, crispy golden slabs of half-fat, half-meat. You’d be remiss to skip the sides — the ginger yams or sweet pan-seared plantains pair well with any meal. Cocktails are rum-forward, including a refreshing Jamaican hibiscus ginger punch.

Since STK Steakhouse took over the old Palomino spot, Eastside dwellers have been soaking up its hip vibes, great cocktails, and beautiful grilled cuts of bovine from cowgirl rib eyes (a leaner version of the traditional rib eye) to dry-aged tomahawks. Although meat is obviously the main draw, don’t skip the epic shellfish platter, piled with clams, mussels, oysters, ceviche, Dungeness crab, and jalapeño pickled shrimp. A Spiced Watermelon is a light yet kicky tequila sip. Pro tip: Head there for happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6:30 pm.

Feed your belly pre- or post-flight with a quick meal at Sharps. Food is guaranteed within 15 minutes, or it’s free. Located next door to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, they serve everything from avocado toast and Alaskan cod tacos to smoked St. Louis ribs. Kick off your summer vacation with a whiskey flight or a draught of something local, like a Cascade Lake Blonde Bombshell. Washington residents with a valid driver’s license get 20% off Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Few views compare with those of Puget Sound from Six Seven Restaurant & Lounge at the Edgewater. For over six decades, its over-water location, seafood-centric menu, and occasional whale sighting have made it a prized dining destination. The menu is a love letter to local shellfish and sea creatures. Start with Pacific Northwest oysters. Then, move on to seared diver scallops with green curry pea puree or cedar plank king salmon in an elegant truffle cream and forest mushroom sauce. The extensive wine list highlights Washington, Oregon, and Northern California bottles.