Now, I’m a bit biased. We had our wedding reception at Typhoon! Not only that, I once sat three feet away from Wynton Marsalis as he was jamming with a group of musicians that had kind of spontaneously gathered for the evening. So the place has great memories for me.

That said, I also think this is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. It’s a bit on the spendy side, but my wife and I often like to go here for a special evening. The food never disappoints, the waiters are friendly and professional, and the atmosphere fits nicely between casual and formal, so it’s appropriate for anything from a romantic dinner to a fun evening with friends. In fact, we often take visiting family and friends here.

Lunches are very reasonably priced, so why not check it out during the day and see if you don’t want to come back for dinner?

My wife and I had walked by this Alki Thai restaurant several times and finally decided to give it a try last night. I’m sorry we waited. This is going to replace my old favorite Thai restaurant in West Seattle.

Siam Pura is tiny, but the food really impresses. The decoration and lighting are very tasteful, and little touches like the wooden menu holders are just delightful. Add to that the great view of Puget Sound out the front windows and this is a perfect place for a casual weekend dinner.

Winter is a great time to check out this restaurant, since Alki’s summer crowds are nowhere in sight. I hope you’ll give Siam Pura a try.

Circa is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. Everything on the menu… from appetizers to deserts… is delicious. The recipes appeal to my comfort-food preferences (the grilled skirt steak is my favorite), but each has a unique Circa signature. Eating here is a delight.

Circa is tiny (I think the whole place holds fewer than 60 people), so you’ll likely end up waiting for a table, but the food is well worth it. Closing times seem to depend on the whim of the staff, so your best bet is to get there a little early in the evening.