A friendly atmosphere permeates this stylish venue, making it a top choice for dinner or a drink. Well presented, popular dishes on the mostly organic menu include bistro bites like fish tacos, a gourmet burger and truffle fries, along with wild Alaskan salmon and roasted Oregon quail.

This discreet, highbrow Florentine restaurant has earned a local following for its excellent northern Italian cuisine and top-notch service. Starters might include garlic-sautéed clams and mussels or Tuscan bean soup, while main courses could be fish-stuffed ravioli or sweetbreads. There is a spectacular Italian wine list and outdoor seating in summer.

In the heart of the financial district, 'the Met' is famous for its custom-aged, mesquite char-grilled steaks. Tuxedo-clad maître D's, plush booths and ample use of mahogany and brass set the scene. The manly-sized grilled classics are tops, along with oysters and Dungeness crab claw cocktail to start things off.

This young, artsy spot attracts film industry wannabes and has a view of the Puget Sound sunset. Décor and ambience are laid-back New York, and diners can linger over the hummus or brie and apple plate starters before digging into excellent pizzas. Script readings, film screenings or live music occur some evenings.

Oysters, local seafood, home-made pasta and artisan pizzas are the culinary focus of this stylish new restaurant, which is inspired by the cuisine of the Italian Riviera. Choose from a diverse menu that encompasses everything from Alaskan king crab legs to thin-sliced smoked pork belly and pesto pasta.

Red walls, low-lit paper lanterns and touches of Eastern artwork create a cosy ambience at this gastronomic institution. Appetisers lean to Japanese-inspired seafood specialities, while the mains highlight juicy meats from the grill and rotisserie as well as fresh seafood. Desserts, made in the restaurant's own bakery, are legendary.

Inspired by street stalls and shophouse restaurants in Thailand, Little Uncle serves mouthwateringly good meals in this Pioneer Square eatery. You can kick off with mini curried rockfish fritters topped with cucumber vinegar, delve into spicy beef salad with tamarind dressing and polish it all off with black sticky rice and coconut custard.

When it comes to choosing a food truck, you can't go wrong with Marination, which dishes up Hawaiian-Korean combo cuisine. The truck, Big Blue, rolls up at a different location each day, so check the website in advance, but there's also a fixed location called Marination Station.

This funky new sandwich shack serves up Caribbean cuisine to die for. Think open baguettes crammed with caramelised onions and jalapeno peppers, succulent roasted pork slathered in Swiss cheese, and fire-grilled chicken breast drenched in marinade. With most main course dishes priced around $10, it won't break the bank either.