Restaurant Roundup: Cookbook Central and Date Night Walk-Ins
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
By Ben McBee February 6, 2026
There’s plenty of bad news to go ‘round lately, but no matter how you slice it, what Will Grant has planned for National Pizza Day is good. On Monday, Feb. 9, the recently crowned master pizzaiolo—who owns Sourdough Willy’s Pizzeria in Kingston and That’s A Some Pizza on Bainbridge Island—will be cooking up 60 pizzas to deliver to 233 families, children, and frontline staff at Mary’s Place, a nonprofit that helps people experiencing homelessness.
“This is what pizza is really about—bringing people together and taking care of our community,” Grant says.
First, the palate cleanser, now the main course.
All roads lead to Roma Roma
Speaking of pizza, today is the official opening of Roma Roma in Capitol Hill, which serves up pies al taglio (by the cut) made on its signature slow-rise, naturally leavened sourdough crust. The opening-day menu is packed with traditional recipes as well as unconventional creations like beet and goat cheese or Thai green curry. At the counter, expect rectangular pizzas behind the glass, where you pay for your order by weight—a hallmark of how it’s done on the streets of the Italian capital.
“Alexa, where can I watch Super Bowl LX?”
Scrambling because your Super Bowl plans fell through? Don’t worry, there are plenty of watch parties with grub and suds going on across the greater Seattle area. Queen Anne Beerhall can pack in 350+ fans and keep the brews flowing. SoDo’s Vinason Pho Kitchen and The Roanoke in Capitol Hill will have the big game on, as will other fine establishments. To bring home a spread to enjoy on your couch, Jack’s BBQ is another go-to.
Come for the crab, stay for the sweets
Bangkok’s Chinatown is world-renowned, and Gao Lhao Bangkok Noodle Shop captures its vibrant ambience and melting pot of flavors for diners in Green Lake. Crab dishes steal the show: the XO soft-shell crab salad is a medley of textures where crunch and crispiness come out on top, and the bha mee hang is loaded with Dungeness crab, pork belly, and infused garlic oil. As Jay Friedman writes, save room for the sangkhaya bai toey, a toasted roll filled with a slice of butter and topped with grated coconut.
Seated at first sight
By now, if you haven’t secured a Valentine’s Day reservation, your options may be limited come date night. Don’t give up completely—there are plenty of fish in the sea, or should we say, restaurants worthy of your affection, that take walk-ins. The Infatuation’s Aimee Rizzo takes us on a tour of some of her favorite spots, including Persephone, a bar known for its aperitivos, D’ La Santa, a standout Mexican restaurant in Capitol Hill (that does have an online waitlist); and Homer, perfect for shareable Mediterranean and Middle Eastern plates. Like love itself, Rizzo’s main advice is: “Come up with a plan, come up with a backup plan, and just be flexible.”
Sink your teeth into these texts
It’s not often we assume (you know how that saying goes), but we’ll venture a guess you like to read about food. If that’s the case, make a visit to Book Larder your top priority. The store is dedicated solely to cookbooks, providing a gathering place for the culinary curious to devour page after page of the world’s recipes (and meet the authors behind them). Some upcoming events of note: tomorrow’s February Soup Club with Caroline Wright, author of Soup Club and Seconds, and Mind, Body, Spirit, Food with Nicki Sizemore on Monday, Feb. 9.
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