The Best Restaurants in Madison Valley, Seattle

05/25/2022 | by Andy | Bars & Restaurants

Looking for great food near your vacation rental in Madison Valley? Look no further than these amazing and diverse options. As locals to the area, we’ve tried the restaurants in Madison Valley and can safely say, these are our favorites in the area.

 

Nishino

A neighborhood favorite, Nishino is an outstanding Japanese restaurant (Zagat rating: 29) with modern flair that serves both sushi and cooked dishes. For a special occasion or just to splurge, treat yourself to the Omakase tasting menu ($70), which we’ve found to be a good value for the quantity and quality of food served. 

Some of our favorites from the regular menu include spicy salmon tartare on crispy rice (don’t miss it!), shiso shrimp dumplings, baked geoduck, black cod marinated with saikyo miso, and curried halibut cheek. Plan to share dishes among the group! We recommend reserving a few days in advance, particularly on the weekends or for larger groups. There is also a sushi bar.

 

The Harvest Vine

Spanish tapas are located a very short walk from many of our vacation rental homes in Madison Valley. These dishes are best shared with your companions. Ask your waiter for help in ordering and sequencing the delivery. 

We’ve never had something we didn’t like, though some of our favorites include the beet salad and the Ibérica (grilled pig, which looks and tastes like tender beef) and the Txistorra pork sausage. The menu includes a large variety of Spanish wines. 

Book several days in advance – more if you have a large group. If there are just two of you and you can’t get a reservation, drop by and you might be able to find a seat at the bar overlooking the open kitchen.

 

Aglio e Olio

You don’t go here for the atmosphere, but the food is great! It’s located in a former Pizza Hut and the owners have not invested much in décor. If you can put that aside, you will be treated to friendly service and delicious Italian basics at a very reasonable price. 

Our favorites include the seafood risotto and veal parmigiana. If you can’t make a decision, request the moderately priced family-style dinner and sit back and relax while the chef prepares a feast for you. 

The restaurant is small, so we recommend making a reservation or calling before you go to ensure they can accommodate you. If they don’t have a table available, they’ll call you back when they do. This is also a great option for take-out and they are open for lunch.

 

Araya’s Place

Araya’s Place offers vegan Thai. For Thai, we much prefer Kin Dee, Thud Suan (Capitol Hill) and Bamboo Thai in Madison Park, but if you’re looking for vegetarian or vegan options, this might be a fine bet. 

While the food isn’t our favorite, the atmosphere is lovely. They offer a lunch buffet daily.

Bar Cantinetta

A small Italian restaurant and wine bar serving mostly fresh pastas and pizzas. It’s quite small, so call in advance, particularly on the weekend. Their wines skew on the expensive side, but the two house wines are very good.

Cafe Flora

If you are looking for vegetarian fare, this is your destination. Andy can’t attest to the quality as he is allergic to vegetables (or so he claims). Located at the corner of Madison and 29th Ave East.

 

Jae’s Asian Bistro and Sushi

Well-liked, though fairly ordinary, restaurant with sushi and pan-Asian dishes. Not a bad option for a casual meal (particularly if you are looking for a lunch spot in the neighborhood), though there are other options (Nishino, International District) that are a better sampling of Seattle’s extraordinary Asian cuisine.

 

Kin Dee

A casual restaurant featuring delicious Thai street food. If you prefer take-out, they have an easy online ordering system. The Crispy Kapow Duck is especially good! Closed on Monday.

 

Luc

A casual French bistro owned by the renowned “Chef in the Hat” Thierry Rautureau. Across the street from Voila (see below) and also walking distance from most homes. The atmosphere is nice and in the summer they have outdoor seating. The food is ok, but not exceptional. Nevertheless, it’s a nice neighborhood spot if you don’t want to venture too far. We especially love their burgers!

 

Nick’s on Madison

Opened in June 2019, Nick’s offers a small and simple menu in a bright, charming space on Madison. Portions struck us as a tad small, but the food is tasty and the service friendly. Closed Sunday and Monday.

 

Pagliacci Pizza

This is our go-to neighborhood pizza delivery option. You can order online and they will tell you exactly when your pizza will be delivered. The restaurant is located on Madison St. at Lake Washington Boulevard and has plenty of tables if you prefer to eat there. They also sell pizza by the slice and the menu includes calzones, several salads, lasagna and pints of gelato.

  • Website: www.pagliacci.com
  • Address: 3015 East Madison St. (they also have locations in Capitol Hill and throughout the area)
  • Phone: (206) 726-1717

Voilà! Bistrot

Another French restaurant that contributes to Madison Valley’s reputation as “Little Paris.” A block down Madison Street from Harvest Vine and across the street from Luc. There’s a small garden patio in the back. They are open for lunch every day and have happy hour specials every night, as well as a $35 prix fixe menu on Wednesdays.