From Hotel Theodore to Palihotel, these Seattle hotels offer great food
It's hard to remember to eat at a hotel restaurant in your own city. It's not there for you - you're not on vacation! But after sampling nearly a dozen downtown Seattle hotel restaurants, I'm here to change your mind. Yes, there is the requisite burger, fish and chips, and Cobb salad on nearly every single menu. But, from incredible lamb Bolognese rigatoni to delectable coconut curry mussels enjoyed in nearly empty dining rooms (!), I've proved to myself that we definitely should be eating in our hotel restaurants more. Here are four of Seattle's best hotel restaurants.
Rider
619 Pine St., Seattle; 206-859-4242, riderseattle.com
Located in Hotel Theodore about a block away from the Seattle Convention Center, I first went to Rider shortly after it opened in 2018. Outside of the space - glossy white subway tile set against dramatic black walls and large windows - I didn't remember anything special about the restaurant as a whole, and I fear I am not the only one to completely discount this space. The day I was there for lunch there was only one other table eating, a lone server responsible for the entire room. I wasn't overly confident, but then the food arrived.
A lamb Bolognese rigatoncini ($29) was a hefty plate piled high with rich, saucy noodles topped with a scoop of creamy ricotta, plenty of fresh basil and a shower of Parmesan. A steak sandwich, featuring thinly sliced tender steak slathered in chimichurri, blue cheese crumbles and crunchy pepperoncini ($27), proved to be just as delicious. Elsewhere on the menu, there's a chef's combo - a soup/sandwich of sorts each day for $34 - a burger and fried chicken sandwich, plus plenty of seafood in the form of smoked fish dip, prawn cocktail and clam chowder. If you're after dinner, there's a $55 three-course locals menu.
Salt Harvest
100 S. King St., Seattle; 206-309-1100, populusseattle.com
Holding down the corner of South King Street and First Avenue South in Pioneer Square since last May, Salt Harvest is in the very chic Populus hotel. I don't want to know the plant budget at Populus, because every nook and cranny has gotten attention by way of tree, climbing vine or fern, creating a lush oasis that envelopes you from the minute you step in off the street. There's also a substantial lounge space, filled with cushy chairs and small tables, perfect if you wanted to meet a friend for a few drinks, read a book or even get some work done. If I'm judging this on vibes alone, this is the hotel I'm booking. I want to hang out and work in the lobby; I want to go visit the rooftop bar. The only thing I don't want to do is linger at the tables in the restaurant because they are deceptively uncomfortable. The savior here,though,is the blessedly small lunch menu.
There're only a couple salads, steak and eggs (a holdover from the breakfast menu) and three sandwich options - burger ($32), grilled chicken ($29) and fish ($28). The burger here, although annoyingly expensive, was terrific. Topped with cheddar, Walla Walla onion jam, lettuce and tomato, it's cooked to order and has the cheddar finely shredded atop the patty, creating this melty little net of cheese that works wonderfully. Also great is the warm smoked salmon salad ($25), strewn with tender hunks of smoked, grilled salmon filet and topped with crunchy, fried capers and a poached egg. The light dijonnaise vinaigrette cuts the bitter frisee and radicchio lettuce beautifully.
Cinder + Salt
1610 Second Ave., Seattle; 206-256-7520, cindersalt.com
Cinder + Salt opened in late April alongside a daytime coffee bar just off the small lobby of Charter Hotel, located a block away from Moore Theatre downtown. Despite its newly refreshed digs, the restaurant overall feels cold and sterile, even with chefs shucking oysters along the raw bar and open kitchen. However, the competitive pricing and great food will cause you to overlook the impersonal décor.
I was especially impressed with the huge bowl of mussels with coconut curry cream for $22 and the wedge salad with asparagus, louie dressing and avocado for $22. I added Dungeness crab to the salad for $18 (yes, I know), but it was so worth it, not only because of the freshness of the crab but the amount of it. It turned the salad - which already featured an entire small head of iceberg stuffed with egg, asparagus and avocado - into a full main course. When it comes to the raw bar, in addition to a chilled Dungeness crab and a seafood tower, a half-dozen oysters on the menu is $18anda full dozen is $36, roughly $5-$8 cheaper than you'll see on menus at other oyster bars in the city - a fact alone that's worth a stop for shellfish lovers.
The Hart and the Hunter
109 Pine St., Seattle; 206-596-0700, thehartandthehunter.com
There are some very cute faux diner vibes with lots of exposed wood at The Hart and the Hunter, located inside Palihotel, a block away from Pike Place Market. The location is wonderful for anyone looking to explore the market or hop on a ferry, and there are plenty of day and night specials to tempt diners. First - the $30 lunch special (Monday-Friday) that includes a butter biscuit, any entree, a house salad and iced tea. Considering the chicken potpie on its own is $24, this is a screaming deal. Of course, a deal means nothing if the food isn't great. Luckily, here, it's solid.
That butter biscuit is terrific; buttery and crumbly with crispy edges, this is not a flaky biscuit. If your mom used Bisquick growing up, you'll love the biscuit here on taste memory alone. The house salad is a lightly dressed affair with mixed greens, tomatoes and shaved fennel. Andthepotpieis great,with just a flaky, buttery top crust covering a rich, chicken-filled stew. Also good are the Old Bay Jojos ($8) served with a side of malted mayo. I've got my eye on the fish and chips ($21) for next time. Also, in the realm of specials, there's a $10 martini night every Thursday and half-price wine bottles on Wednesday nights.
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