Where to Eat in September: Frolik, Salumi, Samara, and More

Celebrate the last gasps of summer on the fifth-floor deck at Motif Seattle. Sure, people come for the sprawling outdoor space and unparalleled views of Puget Sound. But Frolik’s outstanding cocktail program makes them linger until well after the sun dips below the Olympic Mountains. The Girl on Fire turns up the heat with mezcal, Ancho Reyes liqueur, Cointreau, cherry, lime, and “firewater.” The menu is small yet mighty. You can’t go wrong with crispy brussels sprouts and charred shishitos with za’atar-spiced dill yogurt sauce for a light nosh. To avoid inevitable waits, be sure to book a reservation.

Seats fill up quickly at this bright and breezy neighborhood spot atop Queen Anne. The menu has a variety of nibbles (labeled To Start, Garden, Sea, Pasture, and Sweet) sized more than amply to share. Start with a squash blossom relleno with roasted poblano, queso Oaxaca, guajillo mole, and pickled tomatillo. It pairs perfectly with an Electric Relaxation, a smoky mezcal-based cocktail with Oloroso sherry, Ordoki Patxaran (a Basque liqueur), Amaricano Bianco, and bitters.

No reservations. Find more info here.

Popular Maryland seafood chain Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls brings several styles of this classic New England sandwich to its first west coast outpost. For purists, the Connecticut roll is a simple concoction of warm chunks of sweet Maine lobster generously drizzled with butter and stacked inside a slightly crisp bun. That, plus some potato chips and a glass of rosé, will transport you to New England beaches.

Few views in Seattle can compete with the water’s edge at Ray’s Boathouse (and its upstairs, more casual café). For seafood lovers, chef Kevin Murray’s new menu hits the spot. Highlights include sizzled-up Yucatan octopus with romesco and red potatoes and seared wild Alaskan halibut with warm orzo and sundried tomato salad. Then, of course, there are plenty of Washington wines to pair, or if you prefer, cocktails. Rhu the Day marries citrus fruits with Tequila and a most delightful rhubarb, raspberry, and rosemary syrup. Seal the evening — and hopefully, a sunset over the Olympics — with a chocolate raspberry terrine with brown butter peanut crumble.

Skål means “cheers,” and this spot is not only a nod to Ballard’s Nordic heritage but a lively interpretation of what a Viking beer hall might look like. Raise a freshly poured pint alongside Dungeness crab croquettes or shrimp Skagen, a light and bright bay shrimp salad in a dill coriander cream topped with salmon roe and a side of rye crostini. When temperatures start to dip, escape to the beer garden and fire pits for that soothing Nordic feeling of hygge. Oh, and there’s happy hour Monday-Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. And for folks who like to start the weekend early, Fridays, noon to 5 p.m.

Looking ahead to the holidays, it’s time to start thinking about parties and entertaining. Sure, Salumi makes some of the best sandwiches in the city. The Porchetta, Salumi’s hot take on a classic Italian slow-roasted pork, is a dream. But their massive platters of meat are where it’s at for any get-together. Piled high with sliced Coro salami — think agrumi, mole, finocchiona, salumi, hot sopressata, and coppa cured meats — these boards are the key to no-fuss, totally tasty entertaining.

Fire almost always makes food taste better. Neighborhood locals live for the vegetables, hearth dishes, and heritage breed animals from the 900-degree wood-fired brick oven at this beloved Sunset Hill eatery. Think fire-roasted olive tapenade, best smeared on aniseed crackers with mint and fennel. Of course, you can’t go wrong with Samara’s signature dish, a seasoned rice cake charred on the grill, piled with chunks of Dungeness crab warmed in a pool of butter with parsley and tarragon puree. Don’t miss the cocktails — a classic old fashioned gets an update with toasty, nutty brown butter.

Before summer weather slips away, find an excuse to visit the sweet garden oasis behind this beloved Spanish restaurant. Start with sweet grilled figs with salty jamon serrano in a cold soup thickened with bread and almonds, before moving on to seared prawns with saffron bomba rice and chorizo. The Spanish wine list is vast and spans from Basque to Galician. If you prefer to sit indoors, the chef’s counter gives diners a front-row seat to the culinary action. Reservations are available for regular seating, but these coveted spots (and the kitchen bar tables) are first come, first served.

For the science nerds, Seattle may be the cloudiest major city in the Lower 48 states — 226 days a year with clouds covering more than three-quarters of the sky. So when gray days start to settle in, the sunny room at Eve Fremont is like a virtual fix of Vitamin D. Serving wholesome dishes like onion jam labneh with veggie chips or Eve’s beloved Hot Bowl with ancient grains, greens, legumes, and veggies, a meal at Eve’s will make your belly happy and boost your mood. A total dining out win-win!

Like its Everett and Mill Creek siblings, this small family-run Mexican restaurant chain serves South of the Border-style dishes. Tortillas are hand-pressed, and most ingredients are processed in-house. The chile Colorado burrito is filled with meaty chunks of steak simmered in a smoky ancho chile sauce. For something lighter, the shrimp ceviche is a simple, bright, and citrus-forward start. All day, every day happy hour is a deal with $6 margaritas and a variety of $7 small plates.