The 10 Best Places for Appetizers in Washington! By
Penny Fox
Out with a group of friends? Not looking to indulge in a whole entrée? Sometimes, it’s all about appetizers. At these great Washington restaurants, the apps truly steal the show. From delicious bruschetta to hearty crab cakes, there’s something to suit your appetite. Here are the 10 best places for appetizers in the state!
1. Palace Kitchen, Seattle, WA
The next time you’re in downtown Seattle and start to feel that pang of hunger, stop by Palace Kitchen for some great palate-pleasing appetizers. This upscale eatery features the delicious work of Chef Tom Douglas in a casual but comfortable atmosphere. You can pair your favorite cocktail, beer, or wine with one of the simple New American cuisine starters like warm olives marinated with orange, thyme, and rosemary, or the chilled yaya carrot soup made with poached shrimp, cashew mile, cucumber, and smoked sea salt. If you fancy something a little more robust but still on the light side, you can’t go wrong with the braised pork belly on hazelnut cornbread, whipped burrata, and fresh strawberries drizzled with maple vinegar.
2. Wild Sage Bistro, Spokane, WA
For those wild at heart foodies, Wild Sage Bistro is the perfect match for late-night appetizers. Since opening in 2006, this Spokane restaurant has been wowing diners with superb service and style. Bright and open during the day with the many windows that let the natural light inside, the eatery changes to an earthy, more private and intimate setting that features amazing starters like taquitos made with potato, white Cheddar cheese, avocado, salted cabbage, and a Chile lime sauce that will tickle your taste buds. Gluten free customers don’t have to be excluded because there’s a special menu developed with items like chick pea cakes made with green garbanzo batter, then fried until they’re crispy and served with a spicy tzatziki sauce and tomato-caper relish.
3. My Lil’ Cube Ramen and Asian Cuisine, Puyallup, WA
Word continues to spread about My Lil’ Cube Raman and Asian Cuisine. Folks just can’t stop talking about everything on the menu at this little Japanese and American fusion eatery in Puyallup, Washington. You can stop by any day except Monday and sample one or several tapas appetizers like the steamed pork buns, savory boiled and salted edamame, scallion pancakes, or lightly battered and fried tempura vegetables.
4. Bar Bistro, Tacoma, WA
If you appreciate a multinational approach to food, then Bar Bistro in Tacoma, Washington is a great place to stop and sample some of the eclectic items on the menu. Trendy and comfortable, this restaurant offers the best of traditional and innovative flavor combinations like flavorful combination of chipotle slaw, fresh fruit salsa, and bacon-infused black beans in a corn tortilla or lobster rolls made from a mixture of lobster meat and a rich aioli pesto on a sesame seed slider served with in-house made potato chips. You can add your favorite beer, wine, or cocktail for a winning combination. This award winning eatery is open every day.
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5. Bizzarro Italian Café, Seattle, WA
What was once an auto body shop was transformed to one of Seattle’s most popular eating spots since it opened in 1986, bringing its own eclectic version of food reality to the public through artistic expression. Quirky, unconventional, and unique are words used to describe Bizzarro Italian Café, a modern and exciting take on Italian food. From appetizers to entrees, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with menu items like Drunken Clams, made from local clams, a spicy tomato and prosciutto sauce, fresh basil, shallots, and ouzo or the classic street food of Italy, risotto balls infused with saffron and Fontina cheese, breaded and quick fried to a delicate finish and served with a smoky marinara. Start with one of these great appetizers and skip the entrée altogether. Go straight for the tiramisu, but come back for the entrée on your next visit. Open from 5PM to 10PM every day.
6. Josie’s Family Restaurant, Packwood, WA
Great atmosphere, great food, and great service. What could be better? Josie’s Family Restaurant in Packwood, Washington offers one more thing to the list—great prices. Located on the southeastern side of beautiful Mount Rainier, Josie’s is the perfect place to stop and take the edge off your hunger before or after visiting the popular tourist attraction. With an authentic Italian menu that features generous portions of starters like the bruschetta, grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil, fresh diced tomatoes, onions and Italian seasonings, you might not have room for anything else. Open Thursday through Sunday, this is one of the area’s hidden gems.
7. Thai Wok Kitchen, Vancouver, WA
This simple establishment offers traditional and international Thai food like the popular spicy vegetable Tom Yum soup, and many variations of fried rice. Start your meal off with a sampling of their appetizers, like eggs rolls, satay chicken, fried calamari, or moon crab, a mixture of crab meat, cream cheese, and green onion wrapped inside a wonton and served with sweet chili sauce. Open every day.
8. Bean & Vine, Everett, WA
According to social media sites, Bean & Vine is the friendliest bar in town. Located in Everett, Washington, this coffee and wine bar offers the best in Pacific Northwest wines, local beer, and sustainable coffee. Don’t confuse them with a wine bar, though, because the simple yet complex offering of small plate menu items puts them in an entirely different category. Open every day but Sunday, Bean & Vine has a robust selection of breads and olives, fried and adorned vegetables like truffle fries and Brussel sprouts, and ever popular chicken lettuce wraps, meatballs, and crab cakes.
9. Mediterranean Breeze Restaurant & Bar, Olympia, WA
You don’t have to travel to far away exotic lands to enjoy the food that comes from those parts of the world. Not if you stop by Mediterranean Breeze in Olympia, Washington, that is. Opened for business in 2002, the vision was clear—secure the best local ingredients, provide comfortable and traditional Turkish surroundings, and offer a dining experience to customers. Nothing has changed about that vision, except that the restaurant’s popularity has grown over the years. You can start your meal off with hot or cold variations of appetizers like lentil soup made with a blend of vegetables in a heavy cream base, artichoke hearts with sweet peas, carrots, onions, and olive oil, or traditional hummus and tabouli with falafel and stuffed grape leaves. Dine frequently and save more when you join their VIP program.
10. Bottlehouse, Seattle, WA
Looking for a great place to take a first date? Or a special place to pop the question? Bottlehouse in Seattle provides a great location for both. But you don’t have to be celebrating anything so life changing to enjoy this eclectic menu and charming wine bar. Happy Hour is the perfect time to go. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day, choose from assorted beers and ciders, get discounts on wine by the glass, and cocktails, and pick your favorite appetizer to share. It could be the pickled egg, grilled cheese, or a seasonal cheese or meat board.
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