Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in South of Seattle

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems 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!

Grazie Ristorante - Southcenter/Tukwila

4.8

4.8 (1952)

$31 to $50

Italian

Tukwila

About the restaurant

We are an authentic Italian restaurant featuring wines and foods from the different regions of Italy. A remarkable aspect that sets our restaurants apart is our employees are taken to Italy for education in Italian food and wine knowledge. Our servers are personable and also educated to help you with your dining selections. We take no shortcuts with our food and make everything on our menu from scratch, using only the freshest ingredients and imported products. When you step inside the door of our restaurant our goal is to take your senses on a culinary journey to Italia.

Top review

Pam

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

Enjoyed our fried ravioli appetizer and the bread with olive oil. My husband enjoyed his rack of lamb and my daughter and I enjoyed our salads. Our host helped us pick out a nice bottle of wine. All in all we had an enjoyable time.

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Duke's Seafood - Kent Station

4.8

4.8 (822)

$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

Rebecca

Dined 4 days ago

We were a chaotic group celebrating a graduation with people coming and going not all at the same time, and our server was extremely accommodating, patient, and we really appreciated the service. Over and above! The food was amazing, as always! Thank you for helping to make our special day a little bit extra amazing!

JOEY Southcenter

4.7

4.7 (114)

$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

Vickie

Dined 1 day ago

Our waitress was attentive and did an excellent job! Food was delicious and drinks was super good! Thank you Joey's for the great experience!

Copperleaf Restaurant & Bar

4.6

4.6 (2287)

$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

ChuckVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderful food and service in beautiful surroundings.

Anthony's HomePort - Des Moines

4.6

4.6 (3998)

$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

toddVIP

Dined 2 days ago

great service, wonderful food and nice atmosphere; we will be back next time were on the area

Paolo's Italian Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (1315)

$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

Brenda

Dined 3 days ago

The food was amazing, the Lasagna is my go to for the over ten years, it’s always full of flavor and crisped delightfully. We also had the Ravioli and again 10/10 wound have again. The Ravioli with marina has a robust flavor and the noodles are perfect size. The Focaccia hero is tasteful and the lunch menu but you can order it at dinner is a nice size portion and very good. Carole I believe was her name who was our waitress and she was a delight. Very friendly, attentive and patient while me made our selections. She has great customer service and would love to have her again at our table.

TOMO

4.5

4.5 (56)

$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

Glen

Dined 5 days ago

Delightful experience in an unexpected location and worth a visit. First, the food quality and flavor is top-notch and equals or betters most venues at this price level and is not what you expect in a neighborhood outside of a "downtown" restaurant. Flavors and ingredients are what you might expect of a Japanese restaurant but presented in a very modern American food style. The beverage choices range from an excellent wine list and full bar. I highly recommend the NA Oolong Tea Sour. Staff made us feel welcome into a decor that is decidedly modern and feeling of old Japan.

Mama Stortini's - Kent Station

4.4

4.4 (845)

$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

Sonya

Dined on May 24, 2025

Great food! Great Service! A pleasant experience! What more does someone want?

Claim Jumper - Tukwila

4.1

4.1 (667)

$30 and under

American

Tukwila

About the restaurant

Our friendly environment is ideal for celebrating special occasions, hosting a business lunch or gathering for a delicious meal with friends and family. Our saloons are a comfortable gathering place to relax after a day at work, to catch a game or share an appetizer with friends. The saloon menu features signature cocktails, chilled martinis, premium and ultra-premium spirits, specialty non-alcoholic beverages, an extensive wine list, and imported and American craft beers including Claim Jumper’s own Honey Blonde, Original Red Ale and IPA. In addition to the saloon menu Claim Jumper offers a Steakhouse menu which includes USDA Prime steaks and premium house made shareable sides. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Claim Jumper offers a selection of freshly prepared items using only the finest ingredients available. Favorites include Certified Angus Beef®, fresh fish, baby back pork ribs, fresh baked pot pie, specialty salads, pasta, sandwiches, burgers and more.

Top review

Lizbeth

Dined on May 11, 2025

Mother’s Day brunch was very nice and lots of choices of foods. I appreciate that it was not too crowded so we could enjoy ourselves.

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Experience

Happy Hour: Sun-Fri 3pm-Close & Saturday 3-7pm

Experience

Birthday Celebration

Experience

Father's Day Brunch Buffet

Muckleshoot Restaurant

4.1

4.1 (114)

$30 and under

American

Auburn

About the restaurant

Discover the Heart of Flavor at Muckleshoot Restaurant where the warmth of comfort food meets the creativity of culinary innovation. Featuring three new menus inspired by your favorite classics and the most-loved dishes from the former Market 253 menu, this is your go-to spot for meals that feel both familiar and exciting.

From creamy mac ‘n’ cheese to vibrant farm-to-table salads, hearty soups, every dish is crafted with care and high-quality ingredients. Enjoy your meal in a modern, cozy café atmosphere, complete with the signature weekend tradition of our open wood-fired Salmon Pit.

Whether you're dining solo or gathering with loved ones, our friendly team is here to serve up memorable moments with every plate. Come rediscover the flavors you love—reimagined at Muckleshoot Restaurant.

Top review

RussellVIP

Dined on May 23, 2025

Portions have gotten way to small for the price…. Lower the price or increase portions.

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