Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Seattle

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Seattle? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Stateside - Seattle

4.9

4.9 (335)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Capitol Hill / First Hill

About the restaurant

Chef Eric Johnson cooks casual but elegant dishes at his Capitol Hill restaurant specializing in Contemporary Asian cuisine. Since opening in 2014, he’s won over Seattle diners with dishes like chili cumin pork ribs, fried master stock chicken, and crispy duck fresh rolls. The cocktails feature Southeast Asian ingredients like galangal and lime leaf. Stateside is conveniently located on lower Capitol Hill within a short walk of the Convention Center, the Paramount theater and downtown. Check out Stateside's cocktail lounge next door, Foreign National, for an intimate craft cocktail experience.

Top review

Lance

Dined 3 days ago

Stateside is a beautiful restaurant with excellent food and service. You have to try the sparkling passionfruit sour cocktail.

Single Shot

4.9

4.9 (1301)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Capitol Hill / First Hill

About the restaurant

Discover Single Shot, a neighborhood gem tucked away in hip Capitol Hill. The 1920’s-style space hums with cosmopolitan charm. Chef Antonio Palma crafts thoughtful fare in the wood-fired oven. Seasoned bartenders mix scratch cocktails at the gorgeous marble bar. The attentive staff will have you feeling like a regular whether it’s your first or fifth visit. Single Shot wears many hats; pop in for a sip and a snack, a lingering meal, or a nightcap.

Top review

Theresa

Dined 6 days ago

Food was excellent. Staff exceptional and accommodating.

Betty

4.9

4.9 (1450)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Queen Anne

About the restaurant

Nestled in upper Queen Anne, just a few blocks away from the iconic views of Kerry Park, sits Betty Restaurant. We are proud to have continued to be a Seattle neighborhood staple for over 12 years. Our menu is best defined as seasonally- driven, thoughtfully prepared comfort food. Betty is a gem and in some ways a throwback - to a time when the food and the guest were the most important part of the dining experience.
We look forward to seeing you soon!

Top review

Jim

Dined 5 days ago

Best Neighborhood restaurant in the business! Love Betty

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Popular dish

Oven Roasted Chicken

OOLA Capitol Hill

4.9

4.9 (110)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Capitol Hill / First Hill

About the restaurant

We always leave ample space for walk-in's so come on over! Party's over 6 people, give us a call or send a direct message on our website.

OOLA Capitol Hill offers craft cocktails showcasing OOLA spirits, elevated bar snacks and PNW casual fine dining, shared plates, driven by the seasons. Executive Chef Elizabeth Blacker creates photo-worthy share plates with the freshest seasonal ingredients with a Pacific Northwest flair.

Nestled in a private courtyard on Union Street between 14th and 15th, OOLA Capitol Hill is a gem of a building with two garage doors opening onto a patio shaded by mature Japanese Maple trees. With 11 seats at the bar and 22 on the floor, it is one of the rare intimate community treasures that make Seattle a marvel.

We also have a Private Dining Room for parties from 8-20.

Top review

Jim

Dined 7 days ago

This was our second time back in the last few months, the first time not long after the passing of Wayne Johnson, chef at Andaluca and Fare Start. Oola happily reminded us of the inspired offerings that Wayne created. Fresh, seasonal, locally sourced food with contemporary pan-pacific flavor and textures, beautifully presented and plated. Likewise, the wine offerings were appropriate and very satisfying. We were also lucky to sample a flight of Oola whiskey along with a description by the distiller of each offering; and a bonus description of their vodka and gin. The black label whiskey in particular was excellent! We had a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable evening.

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Experience

Craft Cocktail Hour

Nick's on Madison

4.8

4.8 (512)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Madison Valley

About the restaurant

Located just outside of the Arboretum on Madison Street. Nick’s on Madison is your favorite neighborhood spot for casual sophistication. Seasonal dishes, draft beer, wines and craft cocktails. Follow us on Instagram @nicks_on_madison

Top review

Joseph

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Excellent friendly service, efficient food service and quality has improved since past visits. We will be back soon.

a stir

4.8

4.8 (979)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Capitol Hill / First Hill

About the restaurant

New Year's Eve Dinner Reservations are now available. Please note that pre-fixe menu will be the ONLY option offered on New Year's Eve.

We offer gluten-free contemporary Pacific Northwest cuisine with Northern Mediterranean
influences - think Spanish, French, Italian, Greek & Turkish, diverse & healthy options, courtesy of Chef Ton Yazici & Sous Chef Ben Jones. We specialize in wine, cider and spirit flights.

In addition to our 50+ ciders, beer & full bar, we serve local Washington wines as well as a selection of Mediterranean ones, curated by local winemaker Rich Burton of Locus Wines.

Main dining room is all ages with 75 seats. Downstairs bar/event space holds 150 people - 21+only for regular hours. Please note that food service stops 45 minutes prior to posted closing times.

SPECIAL NOTE: We require a credit card hold for reservations 6 or more. If tables are available, you can make reservations up to 16 people. If you are unable, email us at info@astirseattle.com.

Top review

Ella

Dined 1 day ago

This was a fantastic dining experience. The chef was the greeter and it was wonderful to meet him! The waitstaff was as knowledge, helpful, and patient. The food was delicious and the menu was curated beautifully. You have to try the corn gibblets!

2120

4.7

4.7 (1475)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

2120 is a lively, independently owned and operated restaurant, located next to the famous Amazon Spheres.

We're only a few blocks from the iconic Space Needle, and within a short walk of most of the area's major hotels.

Our culinary team has put together a flavorful New American menu that changes seasonally. We use the freshest locally sourced ingredients from farms in and around our local countryside.

We're also proud to feature a broad selection of local wines, with a focus on the Pacific Northwest. We firmly believe that what grows together, goes together.

Our talented team behind the bar has designed an approachable, playful, and creative cocktail menu that ties in elements from the kitchen to the bar.

Top review

Casey

Dined 2 days ago

Another great experience at 2120! I made a reservation for a team holiday party and they were more than accommodating with 1) giving us a slightly separate space so we could celebrate and do a gift exchange without annoying others, 2) understanding when numbers fluctuated even the day before, and 3) helping us preorder appetizers so there was no waiting. Service was excellent and the recommendations were on point. They even went so far as to graciously bring us a trash bag for holiday gift wrap. We appreciate you 2120!

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FlintCreek Cattle Co.

4.6

4.6 (1865)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Greenwood

About the restaurant

Flint Creek Cattle Company is a new American steak restaurant that emphasizes ethically raised beef and sustainable farm practices. The dining area is extremely wide open and spacious. There is a large, high vaulted ceiling in addition to floor-to-ceiling windows that lets in lots of natural light and lets guests feel like they are eating outside.

Flint Creek's menu is an ever rotating selection of modern American cuisine. The items on it frequently change based on the seasonality of the ingredients, ensuring new items are introduced as others leave. Favorites on the menu include Fennel Braised Wild Boar Shoulder, Durham Ranch Bison Hangar Steak, and the Oven Roasted Duck Confit.

Top review

Dan and Amy

Dined today

The food quality, presentation, ambiance and service are consistent and one of the few restaurants in Seattle that consistently delivers.

Lark

4.6

4.6 (1219)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Capitol Hill / First Hill

About the restaurant

Welcome to Lark, Seattle’s beloved fine-dining destination for 20 years, with New American cuisine from Chef John Sundstrom celebrating the bounty of the Pacific Northwest in a luxurious, comfortable atmosphere with impeccable, welcoming service. Visit our elegant space in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, easily accessible from Downtown Seattle, and experience our James Beard Award-winning food and hospitality.

Top review

michelleVIP

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

lovely dinner! everything as perfectly prepared and the wine was great

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