Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Eastside

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Eastside? 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!

Bake's Place

4.9

4.9 (1295)

$31 to $50

Bistro

Bellevue

About the restaurant

Bake's Place Bar & Bistro is a restaurant, bar, live music & private event space in downtown Bellevue that exudes atmosphere and elegance. Bake's is also home to the largest, most unique patio on the east side. We feature outdoor covered & heated areas as well as being very dog friendly. We feature a chef driven seasonal menu that is available for takeout, a well curated wine and spirits list that includes over 300 whiskies and an ever evolving craft cocktail program. Inside the restaurant, our high vaulted ceilings give way to a spacious, multi-level dining room with full AV capabilities, making it one of the most ideal spots for private events in Bellevue. Free on site parking is available as well.

Top review

RonVIP

Dined today

Always a great time with Chris and the team. My first time seeing the All Stars and sitting on the patio. Great fun!

Rimini Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (381)

$30 and under

Italian

Kirkland

About the restaurant

Rimini Restaurant is a new Italian restaurant in Kirkland, Washington. It is owned by the Nardone family, who are multi-time, nationally acclaimed restaurateurs. The restaurant is located in downtown Kirkland's historic waterfront. Rimini Restaurant offers a unique Italian dining experience. The menu features classic Italian dishes, as well as some modern twists on traditional favorites. The restaurant also has a full bar and a wine list that features a variety of Italian wines. Rimini Restaurant is open for dinner seven days a week.

We are open during the outage unfortunately our phones are down but we are offering service

Top review

Jules

Dined 7 days ago

I have been looking at the wonderful Facebook posts and wanted to celebrate my birthday at Rimini. We were a group of six, ordered various dishes and all of them exceeded our expectations. The service was impeccable and the price very reasonable. I have found my new favorite Italian restaurant and look forward to many more meals at Rimini. Further, there is a private room that looks to seat approximately 25 people for private events. I highly recommend this amazing family restaurant.

Japonessa Sushi Cocina - Bellevue

4.7

4.7 (436)

$30 and under

Sushi

Bellevue

About the restaurant

Japonessa Sushi Bellevue is traditional sushi, sashimi, and specialty rolls with a Latin twist. In addition to an extensive happy hour, Japonessa Bellevue offers semi-private and banquet dining, as well as an exclusive omakase section of the sushi bar with Chef Masa Nakashima.

Top review

laura

Dined on Jun 17, 2025

Great dining experience! Staff was absolutely lovely! Get the omakase! Everything in that set was delicious!

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Bellevue, WA | Mountvue Place

4.6

4.6 (651)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Bellevue

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Rebecca

Dined on May 24, 2025

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ in Bellevue is one of our favorite spots, and we find ourselves coming back often. The staff is always attentive and helpful, offering great menu suggestions that make the experience even better. The menu is extensive but not overwhelming, and there's always something new to try. Tonight, we decided to go for the à la carte menu and chose duck, chicken, and the prime kalbi short ribs—each one was delicious. We also ordered a variety of sides, including the spicy addictive cucumber, spicy tuna volcano, Gyu sushi (roast beef), garlic edamame, and Japanese chicken karaage. The chicken karaage here is my kids' favorite compared to other local spots. We also couldn't resist two orders of the cheese corn butter, another top pick, as well as the karage avocado salad and the beef sukiyaki bibimbap. Honestly, the food was so good that we forgot to take pictures, which rarely happens! For drinks, everyone had a Coke, but I opted for the Lychee Berry Fizz, which is my go-to favorite. I also tried the Mango Tango, but it wasn’t quite for me. For dessert, we ordered the Fish Taiyaki with green tea ice cream—an excellent, sweet way to end the meal. The ambiance is casual, with a lively atmosphere that works well for families. It’s a bit loud, which might not be ideal for those looking for a quiet dining experience, but it fits our vibe. If you're in Bellevue and craving Japanese BBQ, this spot is a must!

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Experience

Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...

Big Fish Grill-Woodinville

4.5

4.5 (429)

$30 and under

Northwest

Woodinville

About the restaurant

"Fresh, inviting, simply perfect" is our motto at The Big Fish Grill. Best known for fresh seafood, we offer seafood fare with a Northwest twist. From our seafood cobb salad, seared sea scallops and coconut crusted rockfish, to our hand dipped halibut fish & chips, we prepare and serve our food with the freshest products available; always keeping our guests in mind. Our guests are our priority and something we've always held true to is "anticipating guest's needs and desires." We pride ourselves in customer service with a personal touch and when a guest dines with us we want them to feel as though they are in our home.

Top review

Shane

Dined 1 day ago

Great food and service. Will be back again to try the other items on the menu.

El Encanto

4.5

4.5 (458)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Kirkland

About the restaurant

El Encanto is the latest restaurant to join Carillon Point, from the group that brought you Cantinetta and COMO. Enjoy Chef Gabriel's elevated Mexican menu featuring recipes passed down through generations. We offer two semi private dining tables that come with their own patio (weather permitting), available to book via email. Expansive outdoor dining and lounges overlook Lake Washington, which will be on a first come, first served basis. Come enjoy the gorgeous PNW with us, a margarita and your new favorite Mexican dishes!

Top review

CherylVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Drinks were innovative, menu was interesting, food was well prepared and tasty although perhaps overly salty. We enjoyed excellent service from all staff we encountered - friendly and competent. Situated on the shores of Lake Washington at Carillon Point, the view is difficult to beat. This is the former Beach Cafe property. The Mexican-themed remodel has made it louder. We were celebrating our anniversary but could hardly hear one another above the constant din. Vibrant, I suppose, if that's what you want - my mistake! Patio furniture is stained and lumpy and so the patio space is not particularly inviting, despite the fantastic views. Nevertheless, it's a good value for the price and probably a good bet for a happy hour with friends but not for an intimate dinner.

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Prosecco Restaurant & Pizzeria

4.5

4.5 (31)

$31 to $50

Italian

Kirkland

About the restaurant

At Prosecco Restaurant & Pizzeria, we believe great food starts with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Our menu features hand-tossed pizzas, flavorful pastas, and crisp salads, crafted to satisfy every craving.

Family-owned and locally operated, we take pride in serving our community with authentic Italian flavors and warm hospitality. Open seven days a week, we're here for casual lunches, family dinners, and special nights out. Experience fresh ingredients, family tradition, and true Italian passion—one delicious meal at a time!

Top review

SusanVIP

Dined today

What a great find!! We are so happy to have an excellent Italian Restaurant right in Downtown Kirkland. The food was suburb, the service was perfect and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. All the employees were very welcoming. My salmon was cooked to perfection. This is our new go to restaurant. I want to try the pizza and chicken piccata, actually I want to try everything on the menu. Thank you all, we had a fun evening.

Purple Cafe and Wine Bar - Woodinville

4.4

4.4 (2494)

$31 to $50

American

Woodinville

About the restaurant

Reservations full? Feel free to call or walk-in!

Purple Café and Wine Bar pairs a global wine selection with a menu that combines classic American styles with seasonal Northwest ingredients.

We are currently open at full capacity with a variety of indoor, outdoor, and limited bar seating. Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee specific tables or areas of the restaurant and wait times may be longer. Each table has a 2-hour time limit.

Top review

KarenVIP

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

We haven’t been to Purple in ages. Need someplace to have a celebratory lunch for Mom’s 94th birthday. Figured Purple Cafe would be perfect. Upscale cafe, not too noisy. We were seated promptly. Service pace was relaxed, giving us time to settle and make choices. Two of our party had to get back to work so hoping they weren’t stressed by the pace. Food was delicious. Three of us enjoyed the cranberry/chicken salad. The light dressing is delish. Our two guys chose the lunch combo. Both enjoyed very much. Almost had a snaffu when Inwas trying to pay via the inKind app for the first time. I was confused as to where my discount was take off. While my server didn’t know, another server was an expert and told me I needed to hit the Review Transaction button, not review receipt. Yay! Snaffu resolved. Nice to get reacquainted with Purple. We’ll be back.

Fogo de Chao - Bellevue

4.2

4.2 (2305)

$30 and under

Brazilian

Bellevue

About the restaurant

Fogo de Chão is an internationally-renowned steakhouse from Brazil that allows guests to discover what's next at every turn. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo elevates the centuries-old culinary art of churrasco - roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame - into a cultural dining experience of discovery. Please join us in our dining room, in our more casual Bar Fogo, or bring the Fogo Experience to you with Fogo To-Go or Catering. Visit our website to make a reservation or place an order.

Top review

JaclynVIP

Dined on Jun 17, 2025

They always ask us if we’re there to celebrate an occasion every time we go. If you are there to celebrate a specific occasion, then they will more than likely ask you as well or maybe I’m guessing you can tell them. They will have you pick a dessert on the menu. The Tres Leche cake was supreme!

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Experience

Surf & Turf Cocktail Party

4.0

4 (17)

$31 to $50

Chinese

Bellevue

About the restaurant

JIANG NAN inherits the ethnic cooking skills of modern Chinese cuisine, featuring Peking Duck, Xiao Long Bao (soup dumpling), Grill Fish and etc, as the signature dishes. We serve not only indulgent and comforting dining experiences featuring the best of Chinese fusion flavors from each region of China, but also consistently high-quality food and ingredients and superior customer service.

We are honored to be recognized as one of the only Chinese Fusion restaurants on the 2024 Michelin Recommended List, and grateful for the positive media coverage and customer reviews we have received, including on significant media streams like Eater, Eater NY, and the New York Time.

Our values include a commitment to high quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. We strive to be a leader in the Chinese cuisine industry and are dedicated to providing the unique experience of refined banquets and gatherings to our customers.

Top review

Dined 6 days ago

I always come to Jiang Nan for the best duck. I always recommend this place to eat. Great Asian restaurant.

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