For the sake of bringing diners and drinkers in, the Four Seasons turned to prolific local restaurateur Ethan Stowell and went in on this sociable home for Northwestern cuisine and waterfront views.

Website: goldfinchtavern.com
Number of seats: 183
Average per-person check: $40
Popular dishes: Seared local black cod with chanterelles, house-made bacon and delicata squash; Goldfinch Burger with waygu beef, Beecher’s cheese, homemade pickles, smoked onion marmalade and dill fries; king crab paccheri pasta with fennel pollen, sofrito and clams.
What people come for: Floor-to-ceiling windows with view, central fireplace
Address: 99 Union St.
Phone number: 206-749-7070

Goldfinch Burger

In the brimming neighborhood of Columbia City, this lively home for Hawaiian-Korean fusion marks the latest incarnation of a concept developed first as a food truck and later as two other Seattle hotspots (Marination Station and Marination Ma Kai).

Website: supersixseattle.com
Number of seats: 88
Average per-person check: $30
Popular dishes: S6 Hawaiian-style Fried Chicken Wings: Crispy wings with choice of char siu, ono sauce or spicy Korean preparation; grilled kalbi short ribs with soy and garlic marinade, thinly sliced and topped with a scallion salad; Malasada: Fried-to-order Portuguese donut filled with lilikoi caramel and sprinkled with sugar.
What people come for: Exceptional cocktail list
Address: 3714 S. Hudson St.
Phone number: 206-420-1201

Char siu chicken wings

Grilled kalbi short ribs with soy and garlic marinade, thinly sliced and topped with a scallion salad

Malasada, fried-to-order Portuguese donuts filled with lilikoi caramel and sprinkled with sugar

This Capitol Hill depot does active duty in all dayparts, with lunch and brunch turning to distinctive, largely locally sourced small-plate offerings, and lively bar action when the sun goes down.

Website: chopshopseattle.com
Number of seats: 67
Average per-person check: $40
Popular dishes: Gulf prawns with northwest bordelaise, smoked trout roe, celeriac, watercress and grilled bread; foraged mushrooms with salsify, pancetta, mustard greens, sunny side egg and foraged flowers; bavette steak with heirloom tomato, fingerling potato, marrow onion toast, soft herbs and balsamic vinegar.
What people come for: Expansive wine and spirits list, in-house juice bar, and the weekend brunch with a mix of savory and sweet.
Address: 1424 11th Ave.
Phone number: 206-535-8541

Chop Shop Breakfast Sandwich

A pork shoulder dish

Making everything in-house, or “scratch-casual,” makes for hearty, robust combinations of creative cuisine and craft-minded beer at this new favorite in the logging burg of Bothell.

Website: beardsleeph.com
Number of seats: 395
Average per-person check: $24
Popular dishes: Grilled Kalbi Meat Candy: marinated, dehydrated and grilled pork loin; stout-infused deviled eggs with pickled mustard seeds; house-made sausages on brioche or brewing-grain pretzel roll.
What people come for: Craft brews made in-house, and tables made exclusively from Red Sequoia trees harvested during construction.
Address: 19116 Beardslee Blvd., Bothell, Wash.
Phone number: 425-286-1001

Craft beer with hops

Pizza, sausage and cheeseburger dishes