Some Tips for Seattle Restaurant Week

We’re now halfway through the latest round of Seattle Restaurant Week, which is actually two abbreviated weeks—resuming Sunday and continuing through Thursday, April 21.

The many discount-themed “weeks” and months (along with the overwhelming number of Groupon and Groupon-like deals—personally, I can’t wait for the inevitable consolidation and closings in that space), are garnering much discussion and debate. Do chefs skimp on quality or portion size? Does service suffer with the crowds? Is it really worth going?

Short answer: It’s just like considering a restaurant at any other time. You need to choose wisely.

A couple of quick thoughts about ways to look at Seattle Restaurant Week. This particular promotion is one of the biggest, with 150 restaurants participating. Peruse the menus at the website carefully (there are specific dishes for each course) to see if a deal appeals to you. I find that lunch ($15 plus tax and tip) sometimes offers sweet value, and gives me a chance to try restaurants I’ve long overlooked. For example, this week I went to Chiso, and found the bento box (plus appetizer and dessert) to be delicious and so filling that I could have skipped dinner. (No fears, dear friends, as this food writer made it to another restaurant for another meal that evening.)

Also, as the good folks at Delancey tweeted, note that with so many people flocking to the 150, Seattle Restaurant Week is a prime time to check out non-participating restaurants. Lines at Delancey are normally long, but during this promotion, you can sneak in to one of Seattle’s top pizzerias much more easily.

But if it’s Seattle Restaurant Week you want, my top picks are Canlis (those reservations filled fast, though), Crush, Joule, and The Corson Building. Me? I’m hoping to make my very first visit to The Pink Door next week for lunch.