Seattle
1. Oxbow
Montlake
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The long awaited sequel to Sea Wolf Bakers finally landed. After years of lines for their baguettes and pastries at farmers markets and their Fremont bakery, Jesse and Kit Schumann opened their sophomore venture next to storied Italian restaurant Cafe Lago. This shop is devoted to the sourdough bagels that couldn't quite fit into the Sea Wolf space. They've also got quiches, scones, biscotti, coffee, beer, and wine. Even though they are staying takeout only for the time being, the scallion cream cheese already has a devoted fandom.

2. Lotus Pond
Haller Lake
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North Seattle's Vietnamese food scene has been stepping it up recently, first with the addition of Green Tree in Greenwood, and now with this spot from a former Tamarind Tree chef in a low building off Aurora. The big menu includes all the classic dishes familiar to Seattle's strong Vietnamese food scene, as well as specialty dishes not seen as often, such as bánh hỏi, which they list as woven vermicelli, and a red rice noodle crab soup (canh bánh đa cua hải phòng). The big portions and affordable prices make it easy to try plenty of the menu's exciting options, and there are tons of vegetarian and gluten-free options prominently noted.

3. Seabird
Bainbridge Island
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Brendan McGill continues to evolve his restaurant empire that stretches across Elliott Bay by turning his original Hitchcock on Bainbridge Island into an upscale, eminently Northwest seafood spot. With a marble bar and nautical pops of color, the design telegraphs the fancy feast of oysters served alongside the kelp they grow with, sea urchin French toast, and Dungeness crab custard. Executive chef Grant Rico leads diners to seasonal, local specialties with creative and high-end touches, like wood-fired halibut filet served over black garlic mole.

4. Maripili Tapas Bar
Capitol Hill
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The wounds of the city losing perennial favorite Cafe Presse stung just a little bit less when this Galician tapas restaurant took over the space. Grayson Pilar Corrales stepped down from her role as Pastry Chef at JuneBaby when allegations of harassment rose against Edouardo Jordan, and went to work in Spain. Using that experience and comfort food recipes learned from her grandmother, she serves classic tapas patatas bravas and her own specialties like local pickled asparagus with charred spring onion relish on a pillow of Marcona almond hummus and covered in Marcona almond streusel. There are also hearty mains, including braised oxtail on broken spaghetti and an arroz caldoso with lobster tail, scallops, and egg yolk custard.

5. Señor Carbón Peruvian Cuisine
Pioneer Square
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Four years after Joe Tuesta first hung a handwritten sign offering Peruvian food, his pop-up evolved into this smart spot, where he combines his training as a hotel chef with his favorite dishes from his home country. Classics like pollo a la brasa, Nikkei dishes from Peru's Japanese population—think South American sushi—and chifa dishes from the Chinese restaurants there all share the menu with bright ceviches. The drinks menu brings Peruvian classics like the pisco sour and updates like the maracuya sour (passionfruit), along with imported beers, including a Peruvian craft brew. To complete the dinner trip to the country, #MamayLama stands in the corner to pose for selfies with customers.

6. Muriel's All-Day Eats
Seward Park
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Books, beer, and bagels don't leap to mind as an obvious combination, but Zylberschtein's Deli owner Josh Grunig saw an opportunity to take on a unique business and leapt at the chance, teaming up with Chuck's Hop Shop to take over the restaurant space in Seward Park's Third Place Books. Even though he doesn't keep Kosher himself, he knew what the neighborhood needed, and made sure to adhere to the dietary restrictions of many in the historically and somewhat contemporarily Jewish neighborhood. The basement bagel shop turns out American Jewish classics like bialys, lox, and whitefish anchor the restaurant, and a few vegetarian specials slip in, including a mezze plate with spicy chickpeas, and carrot fritters with dukkah dipping sauce. Israeli fruit drinks and Dr. Brown's sodas round out the non-alcoholic drinks menu.

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