Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Columbia City

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchJapanese

Regions

EastsideSeattleSouth of Seattle

Neighborhoods

BellevueBelltown / Pike Place MarketCapitol Hill / First HillColumbia CityDelridgeDowntown

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Wheelchair access

60 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

A photo of Jackalope Tex-Mex & Cantina restaurant

1. Jackalope Tex-Mex & Cantina

4.8

Exceptional(24)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Tex-Mex • Columbia City

Booked 11 times today

Tex-Mex cuisine began in the Rio Grande Valley before migrating up to San Antonio during the l860's where a group of women known as The Chili Queens' began to pop up in the city's plazas selling chili con carne with tamales, enchiladas, and chili verde. They incorporated cumin into their dishes favored by settlers from theCanary lslands, which still has a strong influence on Mexican food in Texas. Tex-Mex also loves beef, flour tortillas, yellow cheese, fajitas and more.Our inspiration comes from the many classic Tex-Mex restaurants including Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen, Papasito's, Ninfa's, Blue Goose, Hugo's, Herrerra's Cafe, Chuy's, Valentina's Tex-Mex and many more. Jackalope combines excellent Central Texas-style smoked meats from Jack's BBQ with delicious Tex-Mex dishes. lt's truly the best of both worlds!

2. The Pink Door

4.8

Exceptional(9212)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Italian • Belltown / Pike Place Market

Booked 173 times today

The Pink Door is an independently owned (never cloned, never genetically modified) restaurant that has been quietly dedicated to fresh & local Italian food since 1981. Its seafood & produce driven menu has been the central theme throughout its wildly popular domain in Seattle's Pike Place Market.

3. Spinasse

4.8

Exceptional(3865)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Italian • Capitol Hill / First Hill

Booked 43 times today

We recommend making a reservation however, we have some counter seats available on a first come first serve basis for walk-ins. There could be a waitlist so come early!Cascina Spinasse is offering in-house dining seven days a week. Sunday-Thursday 5pm - 10pm. Friday & Saturday 5pm - 11pm.

A photo of Salty's on Alki Beach restaurant

4. Salty's on Alki Beach

4.7

Exceptional(9714)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Seafood • West Seattle/Alki

Booked 133 times today

Located on Alki Beach with the most spectacular view of the Seattle skyline, Salty’s is one of the Top 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America. Salty’s is renowned for our award-winning fresh seasonal seafood, Pacific Northwest Coastal cuisine, playful atmosphere, and uncommonly genuine service. Our Northwest wine menu has won the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence since 2003. We are open for year round outdoor dining in our cozy and elegant glass-like tents and on our decks. Beautifully decorated to lift your spirits, we welcome you to celebrate or just let the stress of the day slip away while enjoying the astonishing waterfront and fresh air of the Elliot Bay. We are truly a great escape and delicious fun! Established in 1980, we are a James Beard Smart Catch Restaurant, proudly independent, family owned and operated, and woman owned.

5. Terra Plata

4.6

Exceptional(4265)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Farm-to-table • Capitol Hill / First Hill

Booked 56 times today

Terra Plata is James Beard award winning Chef Tamara Murphy's "Earth to Plate" concept. It is the result of her love for creative and delicious plates inspired by the seasons and made possible by our local growers & artisan producers.

6. Lola Seattle

4.7

Exceptional(4309)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Mediterranean • Downtown

Booked 24 times today

Rustic Mediterranean cuisine at Lola, another in the Tom Douglas family of exceptional downtown restaurants. Don’t miss our hearty breakfasts including eggs benedict and pancakes with sausage, ouzo sizzling kebabs, or our grilled to order pita breads brought to us fresh from our own Dahlia bread bakery right across the street and served with house made spreads. Located in the heart of the bustling Belltown neighborhood, Lola offers the perfect urban dining experience in it’s upbeat environment, just minutes from downtown shopping and theatre to the south and great music and night life to the north on fourth avenue. We’re committed to a green community, composting 75% of waste and supporting our local growers.

A photo of Il Terrazzo Carmine restaurant

7. Il Terrazzo Carmine

4.9

Exceptional(4161)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Pioneer Square

Booked 54 times today

Il Terrazzo Carmine, owned and operated by Carmine Smeraldo, is one of Seattle's true dining anomalies - a highly successful restaurant with unfailingly high standards and a loyal, sophisticated clientele. The cuisine has been acclaimed as Seattle's best by the media and more importantly, by local diners. Il Terrazzo Carmine is located in historic Pioneer Square - nestled in an urban-renewed alley with entrances through the vintage lobby on First Avenue or through the delightful courtyard in the back. Since 1984, Carmine Smeraldo's classic Italian restaurant has been where the locals have chosen to return over and over again. From the Carpaccio Di Bue and Spaghettini Dell 'Ortolano for lunch to the Suprema Di Pollo Farcita and Zuppa Di Pesce for dinner you will know you have gone to a place where excellence is a way of life. Arguably the best Italian restaurant in Seattle, Il Terrazzo serves classical Italian cuisine with an atmosphere you may want to call home and never leave

A photo of Momiji Capitol Hill restaurant

8. Momiji Capitol Hill

4.8

Exceptional(1841)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Japanese • Capitol Hill / First Hill

Booked 23 times today

Momiji is a hand-crafted Japanese restaurant located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Our menu features sushi, omakase and other traditional Japanese foods prepared from great Northwest ingredients. Our courtyard will be an oasis in the bustling neighborhood.

A photo of Wild Ginger Downtown Seattle restaurant

9. Wild Ginger Downtown Seattle

4.6

Exceptional(6433)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Asian • Downtown

Booked 58 times today

** Wild Ginger - Downtown The food at Wild Ginger spans the Pacific Rim from China to Indonesia. We pride ourselves on offering traditional dishes from these distinctive regions and insist on house-made ingredients. Chefs make spicy chili sambals, fresh coconut milk, delicate egg noodles, and our pungent oyster sauce all from scratch. To achieve the sublime flavors of the East, there is no substitute for the time-honored customs of these rich and ancient cultures.

10. 2120

4.7

Exceptional(1522)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary American • Downtown

Booked 17 times today

Nestled beside the iconic Amazon Spheres, and just a short stroll from the Space Needle and downtown’s premier hotels, 2120 brings “casual fine dining” to South Lake Union—inside our chic, energetic dining room, and on our partially covered heated patio with those beautiful Spheres views. You’ll discover a seasonally driven New American menu built around the freshest, locally sourced ingredients—because what grows together truly goes together.Our thoughtfully curated Pacific Northwest wine list celebrates the region’s best vintners, while our playful cocktail program weaves kitchen‑inspired flavors into every sip. Whether you’re unwinding after work at the bar, gathering friends on the patio, or settling in for a relaxed dinner indoors, 2120 offers an inviting backdrop for memorable moments in the heart of Seattle.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

P
PatrickVIP
Calgary / Southern Alberta •35 reviews
5.0
Dined today
The food was exceptional - fresh and high quality ingredients. The service was outstanding, Heather was super friendly, knowledgeable and outgoing.
More info
SpinassePrice: Very Expensive• Italian• Capitol Hill / First Hill
•
4.8
J
James
Seattle / Eastern Washington •10 reviews
5.0
Dined today
Good food, great view, good service, we had a good time
More info
Salty's on Alki BeachPrice: Expensive• Seafood• West Seattle/Alki
•
4.7
C
CorinneVIP
Chicago / Illinois •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Our server was great and had excellent suggestions.
More info
Terra PlataPrice: Very Expensive• Farm-to-table• Capitol Hill / First Hill
•
4.6
E
Egan
Seattle / Eastern Washington •1 review
4.0
Dined 4 days ago
Terrific venue and excellent menu and service. Cannot wait to return.
More info
The Pink DoorPrice: Very Expensive• Italian• Belltown / Pike Place Market
•
4.8
T
Tice
Seattle / Eastern Washington •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Apr 27, 2025
Had such a great experience at Jackalope! I went for a date night and everything from the atmosphere to the service was spot-on. The highlight for me was definitely the Prickly Jalapeño Cooler – perfectly balanced with just the right kick of spice and refreshing flavors. I could’ve had two! I also ordered the migas, and they were incredible – hearty, flavorful, and super satisfying. You can tell the kitchen puts real care into the food. Overall, it was a fantastic evening, and I’ll definitely be back to try more of the menu. Highly recommend Jackalope for a fun, relaxed night out!
More info
Jackalope Tex-Mex & CantinaPrice: Expensive• Tex-Mex• Columbia City
•
4.8

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