Where to Eat in March: Brimmer & Heeltap, MariPili, Bar Bistro, and More

Exciting things are happening at Brimmer & Heeltap. Since the beloved Ballard eatery opened in 2013, the old Le Gourmand space has seen many changes. Somehow, each iteration keeps getting better and better — the addition of chef Corey Bellett, formerly of LeGrande Bistro, is no exception. Her new menu is, hands down, B&H’s best one yet. Clouds of chicken liver are best smeared on slices of rustic bread, accented with kumquats and mustard. A simple baby gem lettuce salad with rich, salty lardons and a bright herb vinaigrette is blissful. As always, the cocktails are divine. Try the Turtle Ship Flip, a low-ABV option featuring chamomile-infused soju.

Galician tapas bar MariPili has been wowing palates since it opened in the former Café Presse spot. Small plates are served family-style, like a turnip gratin with pickled turnip stems and a pan-seared ling cod with herbed manchego gnocchi. For heartier appetites, there are plenty of mains, too. The Ibérico pork steak with Galician cider sauce and summer beans stands out. The wine list shines with Spanish varietals and a fair number of sherries. Finally, don’t miss the bone marrow sponge cake with arroz con leche crema and stone fruit dessert.

If you find yourself on the eastern side of the state, pencil in a night at Table 13. It’s a buzzy spot for locals in the know. The sleek modern dinner spot boasts an impressive wine collection and a charming craft cocktail bar. The menu shines on local ingredients, like a highly compelling Cougar Gold artichoke dip with roasted garlic and toasted baguette. Or try the browned butter salmon with honey, chicory salad, and fingerling potatoes. A refreshing take on a mule features Boise-based 44° North Huckleberry Vodka with fresh huckleberries and ginger beer.

Looking for a place to grab a proper burger and beer? Sam’s Tavern has all your bar food needs covered. Order the Brie Cream burger. Two beef patties are loaded with brie and cream cheese, then topped with bacon, a fried egg, tater tots, and onion rings. It’s an unexpectedly delicious — and decadent! — meaty masterpiece. For all the spud lovers, all burgers come with bottomless fries. Sam’s also takes its bloody mary game seriously — the spicy cocktail comes garnished with olives, celery, asparagus, a slider, mini sausage, and a chunk of cheese.

Everyone knows that the Pacific Northwest has some of the best bivalves in the country. Rock & Rye serves some of the top varieties grown along the coasts and inlets throughout the Salish Sea. Pro tip: If Judd Cove oysters from Orcas Island are on the menu, order them. A most excellent Rockefeller and pan-fried option is available, too, if raw mollusks aren’t your thing. There’s also a solid rib eye in a blackcurrant demiglace for the carnivores. Don’t sleep on the all-day Sunday happy hour. The bar is stocked with more than 400 spirits to lift your mood.

If you’re looking for a total escape from the city, head to San Juan Island and book a table at the Friday Harbor House. There, a frequently changing seasonal menu highlights the islands’ bounty. Start with a light and vibrant plate of roasted beets, rainbow carrots, pistachio, lemon, olive oil, and tzatziki, followed by wild Alaskan halibut with radicchio, king trumpet mushrooms, and miso vinaigrette. Paired with a glass of Washington (the wine list leans heavily on the Pacific Northwest) and views of the ferries and float planes coming and going from the marina, this is about as good as it gets.

Bye-bye, Super Six! Hello, Marination. After a few months’ hiatus, “Every day Aloha” is back in Columbia City with a brand-new Marination location. The fast-casual Hawaiian mini-chain serves an all-day menu, including weekend brunch. Expect tacos, loco moco, kimchi fried rice, and the quintessential luau plate, a Hawaiian staple with a protein, mac salad, white rice, signature slaw, and a sweet roll. Veggies and vegans love the sexy tofu option. Try the P.O.G., a grown-up version of passion fruit, orange, and guava juices, served with rum or vodka.

Need a weekend shopping refuel? Located in a strip mall near Westfield Southcenter mall (read: plenty of parking), Miyabi is the perfect stop for edomae-style sushi, bento boxes, and tasty izakaya food. Head sushi chef Masaaki Ishikura worked under the legendary Shiro Kashiba (who worked under the legendary Jiro of Jiro Dreams of Sushi fame). Whether you want tonkatsu or tempura, soba, or sushi, there’s something for everyone on Miyabi’s extensive menu. Celebrate your retail scores with a Toki Highball, a straightforward mix of Suntory Toki whisky and club soda. Also, save room for a slice of green tea cake.

Tucked in the Parkland area, you’ll find this date-worthy restaurant. What it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in a truly intimate dining experience. Food is unfussy yet delicious. For example, grilled elk sliders topped with housemade pimento cheese and lingonberry jam and served on a pretzel bun. The seafood paella is another prepared-to-perfection dish, packed with shrimp, mussels, and halibut. In warmer weather, there’s also a sweet little patio area.

Raising a mug of gløgg (pronounced “glue-gh”) around a fire pit makes the last gasps of winter a tad bit more bearable. This Scandinavian version of mulled wine instills that soothing Nordic feeling of hygge. Simple yet decadent, Fiskesuppe, a traditional Nordic fish soup with cod, salmon, and bay shrimp served with grilled rye toast, will also warm. Or, order one of the seasonal skewers (who doesn’t like the whimsy of food served on a stick?). May we suggest duck hearts dusted with Hunter’s spice or grilled farmer’s cheese served with spiced apple sauce? Both options are gluten-free.