Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in South of Seattle

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in South of Seattle? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Duke's Seafood - Kent Station

4.8

4.8 (826)

$30 and under

Seafood

Kent

About the restaurant

Duke's Kent Seafood Restaurant is an upscale casual Pacific Northwest restaurant & bar offering signature, flavorful, 100% sustainable wild seafood, Award Winning Chowder and grass fed burgers in a gathering place that is friendly, comfortable, unpretentious and filled with personality. We only source all natural, healthful ingredients. Duke's food is free of hormones, antibiotics and free of harmful chemicals. Guests sum up their favorable assessment of what Duke's has to offer with three words: It’s so good! Duke's in Kent is a locals favorite, perfect for grabbing a drink at the bar, lunch, dinner, outdoor dining or dinner with the family or group of friends.

Top review

Julie

Dined 2 days ago

Food was delicious as usual! The service was excellent, with our waitress being very attentive and accommodating. We usually eat at the Bellevue Dukes, but this Dukes at Kent Station will now be a favorite as well!

Smoke & Cedar Steakhouse

4.7

4.7 (431)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Auburn

About the restaurant

Experience the Evolution of Steakhouse Dining at Smoke & Cedar

Perched atop the Muckleshoot Casino Resort tower, Smoke & Cedar redefines steakhouse dining with sweeping 270-degree views of Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, and the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. Enjoy exceptional service, fine libations, prime steaks, and the freshest seafood in the region.

Our seasonally inspired menu highlights ingredients from local farms, foragers, and artisan purveyors. From house-made pastas to inventive non-beef cuts, each dish blends timeless flavor with creative flair.
Signature items like the Hanging Bourbon Bacon, 40oz Tomahawk Chop, and Baked Rainier make every visit unforgettable. Whether you're celebrating or simply savoring the moment, Smoke & Cedar is your rooftop retreat for elegant, approachable dining.

We can’t wait to welcome you. Bon appétit!

Top review

Tony

Dined 3 days ago

We were celebrating our wedding anniversary at Smoke & Cedar. We sat outside on the deck on the Mt. Rainier side and had an amazing view. The dinner was very good. Although it did seem like the prices may have gone up since the last time we were there a year ago. But overall we had a great experience and look forward to our next dinner there.

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (130)

$30 and under

American

Tukwila

About the restaurant

JOEY Restaurants marries iconic hospitality with a handcrafted, locally and globally-inspired menu from award-winning chefs, to bring an unparalleled guest experience. Instead of just one chef, JOEY has a whole team of celebrated Executive Chefs bringing you an experience you can't get anywhere else. JOEY Southcenter is located in the newly redesigned Westfield Southcenter just south of Seattle, it delivers polished interiors and a sleek scene for eclectic dining.

Top review

GraceVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Bartenders were welcoming and made the best drinks. The coconut smash and happy hour prawns are outstanding!

The Restaurant at Alderbrook

4.6

4.6 (1486)

$31 to $50

Northwest

Union

About the restaurant

Our location brings out the best in fresh local seafood, dry aged beef, world-class wines and waterfront views - making The Restaurant at Alderbrook a destination in itself.

The interior setting of The Restaurant at Alderbrook takes its inspiration from the outdoors with warm colors of chocolate brown and sage green representing the gardens and lawn of the resort. Floor-to-ceiling windows and multi-levels amplify views of the brilliant shore and snow-capped peaks of the Olympic Mountains.

The cuisine showcases local seafood harvested from Puget Sound and Hood Canal. After all, our shores are encrusted with oysters, our docks lined with mussels, and our sea teems with salmon.

Top review

Hink66VIP

Dined 4 days ago

The view from our table of the Hood Canal was so beautiful. Server was friendly, courteous and efficient. Buratta salad was absolutely delicious and halibut entree was perfectly prepared. Hubby had clam chowder and chicken….both rated highly with him. Dessert was Chocolate Cremieux and crème brûlée….chocolate dish was our favorite. Don’t forget to order a Huckleberry lemon drop….my absolute favorite cocktail.

Discover more

Paolo's Italian Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (1317)

$30 and under

Italian

Kent

About the restaurant

For more than 20 years, Paolo’s has been bringing the taste of Italy to Kent. Paul Raftis founded the restaurant after growing up learning to cook along side his mother, Darlene Raftis. He enjoys the open kitchen he can chat with guests as he works. He never tires of hearing "It smells so good in here!" As a marathoner, he is living proof that that you can eat Italian and be healthy. In fact, one of his signature dishes, "Fettucine Paolo" was featured in Runner's World magazine. "It's one of the dishes I developed, it has no cream in it, no butter." It's a delicious pasta dish that utilizes olive oil, garlic, chicken stock, garlic, balsamic vinegar, sundried tomatoes, artichokes, and chicken. So whether it's bruschetta, cioppino, pizza, or spaghetti and meatballs, Paul thanks each of you for choosing to dine here.

Top review

ScottVIP

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

I had friends coming into town and staying the Kent area so looked up good Italian restaurants. Paulo''s had great reviews and did not disappoint. The food and wine along with the staff were amazing, thank you very much

Anthony's HomePort - Des Moines

4.6

4.6 (4014)

$30 and under

Seafood

Des Moines

About the restaurant

We are a locally-owned, waterfront restaurant dedicated to giving our guests a truly Northwest dining experience. Anthony’s has earned the reputation for the finest fresh seafood, perfectly prepared and expertly served with an uncompromising commitment to quality and value. We feature fresh seasonal and sustainable fish and shellfish from our own seafood company accompanied by Northwest wines and micro brews as well our "Best of the Season" produce featured in our house-made desserts, salads, entrees, and beverages. Anthony’s in Des Moines features a lovely panoramic view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. Open daily for lunch with a casual style no reservation necessary restaurant on the first floor featuring seafood, pastas, salads, burgers and fish tacos.

Top review

richard

Dined 1 day ago

The waitress was nice, efficient, helpful and courteous.

Copperleaf Restaurant & Bar

4.6

4.6 (2297)

$31 to $50

Northwest

Seatac

About the restaurant

Copperleaf Restaurant & Bar is a Northwest gathering spot serving seasonally-inspired farm-to-table cuisine. Our team is committed to sustainable practices that bring the season's bounty to your table. We hand select products from small local farms, fishermen, ranchers and artisans to curate all our menus. Arrive early and experience a seasonal cocktail or glass of Washington State wine in Copperleaf Bar! Come see why Copperleaf Restaurant is a quintessentially Northwest experience.

Table reservations for the patio are honored based on request and availability at the time of arrival; due to the frequently changing weather circumstances of the Seattle area and the popularity of our outdoor dining spaces, we are unable to guarantee reservations for the patio.

Top review

Stacy

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

Julissa was our lovely food server and she worked seamlessly with the other wonderful staff to offer us a delicious meal. The chowder and risotto were outstanding!

Mama Stortini's - Kent Station

4.4

4.4 (847)

$30 and under

American

Kent

About the restaurant

Mama Stortini’s is home to a delicious blend of Pacific Northwest and Southern and Coastal Italian flavors. Popular pastas, fresh British Columbia salmon, crispy thin crust pizzas, juicy burgers and much more – there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Mama’s. Locally owned, locally loved. We strive to make you feel right at home!

Top review

Greg

Dined 6 days ago

Service little spotty. Seemed like inexperienced staff.

TOMO

4.7

4.7 (71)

$50 and over

American

White Center

About the restaurant

We serve eclectic Japanese-American cuisine and serious wine in a former adult video store. Since opening, Tomo has received recognition as one of the country's best new restaurants by Esquire and Robb Report and has been nominated for Outstanding Wine Program by the James Beard Foundation.

Chef Brady Ishiwata Williams’ menus are personal, and feature outstanding ingredients prepared simply and with confidence.

Our wine program highlights rare and ephemeral wines made by creative, principled people. We also serve a variety of classic and seasonal cocktails, emphasizing small-batch spirits and quality nonalcoholic options.

We strive to be a cherished part of our guests' lives, providing a warm atmosphere, ever-changing menus, and exclusive events with top chefs and industry experts from around the world.

Top review

Ryan

Dined 1 day ago

Very nice experience. Staff were very attentive, knowledgeable, and professional. Food was delicious, unique, and well-presented.

Explore Diners' Choice best of South of Seattle

Explore more Diners' Choice lists