Seattle summer is in full swing. That means it’s time to go out for dinner on these long warm nights! Here are the best Phinney Ridge neighborhood restaurants to visit this summer.
BARKING DOG ALEHOUSE
This restaurant is great because it’s so versatile. A place for families, date nights, or big groups of friends. They have a wide selection of micro craft beers from Seattle’s local breweries and from all around the country.
Since the sun is still shining, you won’t want to miss out on their delicious Rye Lemonade, a perfect adult version of your favorite summer drink. Barking Dog also offers a wide variety of food from brunch items to pizza. Their Aloha Bowl is a house specialty that will make your mouth water, with it’s amazing Ahi and grilled pineapple.
This is a pup-friendly establishment just as long as you don’t mind eating outside in the sunshine on the patio. With pup-friendly vibes, Barking Dog is a relaxed environment where it’s easy to have a conversation and feel cozy wherever you sit in the restaurant.
JOLI
The perfect date night spot. Joli offers a cozy and romantic dinner space with sleek eco-industrial interiors. They have a tasty drink selection and happy hour all day on Sundays when they open up for the dinner menu.
The 65th Street Splash is a favorite drink among Phinney locals. Joli offers an assortment of craft menu items, but you will definitely need to try the Steak Frites. They’re fried in duck fat and drizzled in caramelized-onion butter, a perfect dish to share with your special someone. Joli happily accepts reservations so you can plan ahead to make it a perfect date night out.
EL CHUPACABRA
A self-described punk-rock cantina, this restaurant adds its own unique twist on San Francisco mission-style burritos and other Mexican fares. Good for a night out with a small group, El Chupacabra offers a super comfortable patio area for those hot summer nights.
Cool off with one of their thirst-quenching margaritas. The Jalapeño Margarita is a spicy twist on a classic beverage, and one of their most popular drink items. The whole menu is tasty but you will need to try one of their Mission-style burritos at least once to get why El Chupacabra is so beloved. The restaurant is very vegetarian and vegan-friendly as well, offering menu items with mock meats, vegan cheeses, and sour cream.
BONGOS
A Caribbean joint that feels more like a party at the beach. This is the perfect spot for an event or a simple dinner out. Bongos is right next to Green Lake so it’s the perfect place to pig out after a long day at the lake.
The Desi Sandwich is a bite your friends will be begging for, featuring citrus braised pork, and banana peppers and pickled jalapeños. Or if seafood is more your thing, try the Shrimp Po Boy, a tasty treat atop a bed of mango slaw on a Kingston roll.
Grab some lawn chairs and lounge outside on Bongo’s backyard sandpit. Or sit by the outdoor fire pit to warm up when the sun goes down. Either way, with the scrumptious food and the colorful beachy vibes, there is no way to leave Bongos without a smile on your face.
CORNUTO PIZZARIA
An upscale twist on everyone’s favorite food, pizza. Cornuto Pizzeria is special because not only do they have an authentic wood-burning brick oven, but it was actually built from bricks imported straight from Naples, built from the ashes of Mt. Vesuvius.
If you sit inside, you can enjoy the darker ambiance, good for an intimate conversation. Or, sit on their outdoor patio to catch a breeze while gorging yourself on Cornuto’s Neapolitan pizza. Their Verde Pizza is an instant classic with the tastes of artichokes, goat cheese, pesto, bell pepper, need we go on!
Cornuto Pizzaria offers such a big selection of pizzas though, as well as calzones, pasta, and more, so definitely split multiple things if you can make the room in your stomach.
Phinney Ridge is a very walkable area, full of shops, and many bars or dessert spots for after-dinner fun, so don’t forget to check off some of these places the next time you go out! Your stomach will thank you and so will your friends.
