SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
Seattle restaurants to pair with Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker
Dec 6, 2012, 12:55 PM | Updated: Dec 7, 2012, 12:30 pm
The Coterie Room is one of the restaurants that Providence Cicero suggests for pairing with a night out at the Nutcracker. (Image courtesy Coterie Room)
(Image courtesy Coterie Room)
An annual trip to Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker has become a tradition for many Puget Sound residents including Let’s Eat Host Providence Cicero. The night is one she looks forward to every year, so to help others in planning that special evening, she’s compiled a list of convenient nearby eateries to make that holiday tradition truly special.
The following is a list of restaurants near to McCaw Hall that Providence recommends pairing with a night out to the Nutcracker:
Seattle Center Campus
“A great option for any Seattle Center event is the Collections Cafe at the Chihuly Glass Garden,” says Providence. “Whether you want to have a nice entree, or a light salad – we had some great sandwiches there – You can do something casual and you’re right there on the campus.”
Queen Anne Hill
“It’s not particularly fancy, but it’s nice enough that it will feel like an event if you go there with your family,” says Providence. “And they have a great kids’ menu.”
Grub describes itself as “what America’s made of: a diverse melting pot” with recipes the chef has collected since childhood.
On Queen Anne Ave, Betty serves bistro-style foods with seasonal ingredients.
Let’s Eat host Terry Jaymes says Betty has “the best steak frites you’ll ever have.”
“I’ve never had it better anywhere else,” says Terry.
Lloyd Martin serves homemade food with exotic ingredients like elk, mushrooms, and seafood foraged from Northwest shores.
Providence says Lloyd Martin has nice small plates that you can mix and match with good cocktails. Terry says in his experience, Lloyd Martin has excellent servers.
If you want to go elegant up on Queen Anne, Providence recommends Portage. She says they have white table clothes and lovely food.
“It’s always an interesting menu,” says Providence. “You can even go really fancy and have a tasting menu there if you want to do that.”
Lower Queen Anne
“It’s got this New Orleans liveliness to it and the decor is really interesting and feels fancy to me,” says Providence.
She recently took some teenagers to Toulouse Petit and says young people can easily find something to enjoy on the American-Southern menu.
Crow describes it’s menu as an eclectic mix inspired by Americana, French, and Asian flavors.
Co-host Terry Jaymes recommends the house-made lasagna.
Providence describes the menu items as “classy comfort foods.”
If you’ve got kids in your party, Providence says the melting pot can be a good time.
“That’s where you do the fondue,” says Providence. “The Melting Pot is actually a fun place to go with kids.”
Belltown
Boatstreet Cafe describes their food as the type French grandmothers make.
Providence recommends Boatstreet Cafe for something a little more quiet and elegant.
“It’s a great space,” says Providence. “It’s the kind of space that lends itself to being dressed up, although mostly people don’t dress up to go there.”
Providence recommends this restaurant especially for those going to a weekend show who might want to get brunch before.
South Lake Union
Providence says Cuoco has a beautiful dining room and the delicious pasta and noodles are very kid friendly.
“Anything I’ve had there I love,” says Terry, speaking of the Tom Douglas Italian restaurant.
Providence says Seastar restaurant and raw bar has great food and is a great place for seafood lovers.
For any restaurant you choose, Providence says reservations are a must. She also recommends telling your server you are going to a show, so they can work to accommodate your timetable.
Let’s Eat can be heard on KIRO Radio Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at noon. Available anytime ON DEMAND at MyNorthwest.com.
