The June Hit List: Driftwood, Kamp Social House, MEET Korean BBQ, and More

Since Dan and Jackie Mallahan took over the former Alki Beach Pub digs last year, Driftwood has been a highly regarded dining destination for local seafood lovers. The menu shines on shared plates and ingredients from local farms and fisheries, such as Little Big Farm sprouting Hakurei turnip greens with burnt leek, dashi vinaigrette, shaved radish, and Left Foot Farms egg yolk foam. Next, lumps of Dungeness crabmeat are warmed and served with ribbons of fennel, crab fat hollandaise, and pickled celery root. Then, there’s the first of the season Makah Nation halibut with stinging nettles, roasted cinnamon cap mushrooms, and pickled shallots. This dish truly highlights what’s best in the Pacific Northwest right now.

During Pride Month, every Monday is Lesbian Night at Kamp Social House. Come join the 21+ weekly theme party featuring music by DJ BB Brizz, Deejay HerShe, and DJ SummerSoft from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. In addition to fab performers, they’re serving $5 Aperol spritzes all summer and a Yonder Cider special cocktail the last week of June. There are plenty of low-ABV and non-boozy options alongside a tasty food lineup. 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.

Summertime is meant for socializing with friends, and MEET Korean BBQ is all about small groups. The menu revolves around the foundation of meat, fire, and fermentation. It serves only Prime Angus, American wagyu beef, and Kurobuta pork. Thinly sliced strips of meat are quickly seared tableside and served with all the traditional fixings to roll up into ssam (Korean-style wraps). For groups of four, the Large Beef Feast is $198. Order a crisp soju cocktail (soju is distilled from fermented white rice, often called Korean vodka). On Wednesday nights, bottles of Pacific Northwest wine are 50% off.

Summer vibes are in full effect at this Caribbean spot in Belltown. The crunchy half-jerk fried chicken plate is well-worth a long lunch break. Lighter and more piquant than most versions, it’s a bit of a cult favorite. Plus, it’s gluten-free. The Cuban-spiced, butter-seared PNW salmon is another delicious main, served with Caribbean slaw, rice and peas, and plantains. Of course, you’d be lax to skip the sides — think ginger yams and spicy Cuban beans. Rum-forward cocktails include a snappy Jamaican Hibiscus Ginger Punch, the perfect drink to toast 17.3 hours of daylight on the June 21 summer solstice.

You may recognize chef Melissa “Mel” McMillan from “Chopped,” “Guy’s Grocery Games,” or “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.” True to her Texas roots, McMillan roasts, smokes, and cures all her meats in-house; her brisket alone takes 16-20 hours. After achieving sandwich success in Portland, OR, she recently set up a food truck outside Lake City newcomer Project 9 Brewing Company. Her Chicago Italian Beef, a pile of thinly-sliced beef stuffed in a toasted baguette with giardiniera and seared sweet peppers, served slightly wet with beef juice, is legit — ask for it dipped. A tender house-brined and smoked pork loin, “Porkstrami,” is complemented by cabbage-arugula slaw, provolone, and jalapenos. Take it over the top with an order of Zombie Fries with crispy pastrami ends.

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Summer travel is in full swing, and Seattle Tacoma International Airport numbers are expected to near pre-pandemic levels. Whether you need a quick bite pre-flight or a real meal after a long day of traveling, Sharps RoastHouse will take care of you—they offer a 15-minute guarantee on food, or it’s free. Located within a five-minute walk from Sea-Tac, they serve a range of in-house roasted meats, including a pure-bred Hereford prime rib, Wenatchee fruitwood-smoked St. Louis ribs, and a buttermilk fried boneless chicken. If you time it right, you can imbibe on one of the area’s best happy hour deals — a generous $7 scratch Manhattan, served daily from 3 to 6 p.m.

Go with a group to make the most of this expansive menu. Sure, the appetizers and entrees are worth a look. But if you want to sample different flavors, textures, and ingredients, order the “tapas at the table.” There’s an option to try them all — everything from boquerones with preserved lemon and olive and beef ragu on creamy polenta to fig and jamon toasts and manchego croquettes. Chef Enrique Vargas (formerly of Rovers, Cantinetta, and The Rainier Club) is ambitious — and delivers — at this tasty Tacoma newcomer.

The Redwing Cafe is a popular community-driven cafe in the heart of Seattle’s Rainier Valley. The cafe also supports community events and initiatives, such as hosting live music and poetry nights, art shows, and fundraisers for local causes. Beyond its commitment to sustainability and social justice, locals rave about its relaxed and cozy atmosphere — mugs of Vivace coffee are best sipped on the charming back patio. Dishes like vegan biscuits and gravy with homemade “sausage” gravy and the Redwing TLT — tea-smoked baked tofu with greens and tomatoes — make it a go-to spot for discerning vegans. Gluten-free options abound as well.

Since 2001, this beloved family-owned Bellingham spot has kept mouths happy and bellies full. The menu shines on simple housemade staples, like shrimp scampi with eight juicy prawns drenched in lemon, white wine, and butter, plus crostini. The veal Marsala is another authentic pick; thin breaded cutlets finished with sauteed mushrooms, rosemary, and a rich, earthy Marsala sauce. Of course, you can’t go wrong pairing your meal with a classic, icy-cold martini, served up, of course. Twist or olives, your choice. Save room for a slice of the lemon and lavender cheesecake.

From the moment you step inside Westward, you’re transported to a cheery world that will leave you feeling like you’ve been on a beach getaway. From the spicy clam dip and potato chips to the spectacular seafood tower with 18 oysters, marinated albacore, Baja blue shrimp, golden whitefish caviar, and raw geoduck, the menu emphasizes fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and simple preparations. But the real star of the show is the view. Westward Seattle is right on the water, with stunning views of Lake Union and the city skyline. The view is always breathtaking, whether enjoying a cocktail on the patio or cozying up with a mezcal flight around the firepit on a chilly day. Save room for corn and almond olive oil cake with buckwheat honey.

Call 206-552-8215 for more info.