Best Places for Thanksgiving and Holiday Meals in Seattle

Like most great cities, there is no shortage of fine restaurants in Seattle. There is the restaurant atop the Space Needle that rotates as you eat so you can take in the panoramic view of the city, the mountains and city and lake and ferries and the Puget Sound. There is Pike Place Market and its little eateries and bakeries and fresh fish. There are many excellent Chinese restaurants, like The Garlic Tree downtown. They have sushi establishments, excellent Italian food, and so on; anything to be desired. But when it comes to Thanksgiving, you want certain hominess, a charm, tradition, comfort, a feeling, and a kind of food. Here are a few places that will satisfy your Thanksgiving cravings, in or around the Emerald City.

1. Just down the road from Seattle, a drive of thirty minutes or less, are Snoqualmie Falls and the Salish Lodge (which sits at the edge of the falls). While they were made famous, immortalized in the television series "Twin Peaks," they offer more than star power. The restaurant at the lodge is a fantastic place to go for breakfast, or lunch and dinner, or wine and cheese. You sit and look over the falls, at the mountains and trees and river and clouds and mist that rises from the falls. The breakfasts are very elaborate, several courses, and they are delicious. The dining room is cozy and old. It seems cold outside, but it is perfectly warm inside. There's a fireplace. You can bring back their special oatmeal and pancake and waffle mixes, syrup, biscuits or gourmet coffee. It is a wonderful place to spend a holiday morning, day, or evening.

Additionally, they offer a Thanksgiving celebration. On Thanksgiving Day, in the dining room, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., they offer the following menu:

Menu

Autumn Spiced Butternut Bisque
candied chestnut, caramelized apples, soft nutmeg crème

"Harvest Greens"
baby organic greens, vanilla poached pears, smoked salmon
toasted brioche, lemon chive vinaigrette

Whole Roast Turkey
yukon gold potato puree, winter vegetables, cranberry, currant and vanilla relish, herbed sausage and sage stuffing, old fashion turkey gravy

Dark Chocolate Huckleberry Bombe
crips chocolate cookies, huckleberry sorbet
$79 per person

Vegetarian Menu
Autumn Spiced Butternut Bisque
candied chestnut, caramelized apples, soft nutmeg crème

"Harvest Greens"
baby organic greens, vanilla poached pears, artisan goat cheese
toasted brioche, lemon-chive vinaigrette
"Hazelnut Ravioli"
wild mushrooms, glazed fall vegetables, marinated cherries
and fines herbs beurre monte

Dark Chocolate Huckleberry Bombe
crisp chocolate cookies, huckleberry sorbet

They also offer a similar buffet in their ballroom from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and a special three-course Thanksgiving menu from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in their attic (no reservations required for the attic). For more details, you can call 1-800-2-SALISH (Note: In the unfortunate case of a change in plans, a 72 hour advance notice is required to avoid cancellation charges.) The Salish Lodge is located at 6501 Railroad Avenue SE, Snoqualmie, WA 98065.

2. Another restaurant very fitting for a Seattle-style Thanksgiving dinner is Salty's Seafood Grills. There are two in the Seattle area, one on Alki Beach and one on Redondo Beach. Both offer excellent waterfront views and seafood, and a true Seattle experience. The service is friendly, which is certainly a must when it comes to Thanksgiving; and they do offer a special Thanksgiving buffet (adults $36.95, seniors $30.95, children ages 9-12 $20.95, ages 5-8 $14.95, children 4 and younger free). Salty's restaurants are extremely popular, so reservations are a must, and should be made at least 24 hours in advance. Salty's on Alki Beach can be reached by phone at (206) 937-1600, and on Redondo Beach at (253) 946-0636. If you crave some of the best seafood in the Seattle area, and great service, for your Thanksgiving holiday, then definitely consider Salty's.

Alki Beach: 1936 Harbor Avenue Southwest, Seattle, WA 98126
Redondo Beach: 28201 Redondo Beach Drive South, Des Moines, WA 98198
3. Arnies seafood restaurant, a favorite of the Pacific Northwest, will be serving its own special Thanksgiving dinner. Located in Mukilteo (714 Second St. 98275; and there's also one in Edmonds, WA), a short, picturesque drive from Seattle, Arnies sits above the water, providing waterfront views (or water-top views) and fresh fish. With 25 years of service under its belt, Arnies knows how to treat its customers, and will be providing a four-course dinner with four entree choices (adults $19.95-$23.95) as well as children's turkey dinner (younger than 12 $10.95). They are open from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. that day, so plan accordingly, if you want to experience Thanksgiving at its Pacific Northwest best. (Reservations can be made at 425-355-2181.)

4. Honorable mention: Woodland Park Zoo will feature a buffet at the Rain Forest Pavilion (zoo member price: adult $21.95, children 3-10 $12.95; nonmember adult $26.95, children 3-10 $16.45; price includes zoo admission) on Thanksgiving Day; a great idea if you have kids!

5500 Phinney Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103
Reservations and information: 206-684-4825
Hours: Three Seatings, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.