With hundreds of restaurants representing a broad range of international cuisines, Seattle is a food lover's city. Traditionally European cuisines are particularly well represented, and Basque restaurants are relatively easy to come by for a city of Seattle's size. Basque cuisine is widely regarded as the best of Spain's many culinary regions and features a whirlwind of flavors often served as tapas ("little dishes of Spain"). Whether you're in the mood for lamb meatballs, white Spanish artichokes or Manchego cheese, Seattle's Basque restaurants have something to whet your appetite.
This stylish tapas restaurant offers many regional specialties from the Basque Country region of Spain. With its limited seating and enormous popularity, The Harvest Vine is a tough restaurant to get into, though many guests don't seem to mind standing at the bar as they feast on small plates hot and cold. Chef Joseba Jimenez de Jimenez serves up a mouthwatering selection of tapas, including fried Galician green pepper with sea salt, traditional gazpacho, grilled quail with saffron-almond sauce, duck leg confit and grilled venison served with oyster mushrooms. Finish off with an interesting olive oil and white wine cake with roasted peaches or a classic chocolate cake with orange compote.
The Harvest Vine
2701 E Madison
Seattle WA 98122
206-320-9771
harvestvine.com
Chef Phillipe Thomelin incorporates the dual influences of his upbringing in France's Loire Valley and having a Catalan grandmother at this authentic Basque restaurant across the street from the Harvard Exit Theater. Here you'll find only the freshest seafood, produce and meat available, all of which is prepared with gusto and imagination and served in a casual, warm atmosphere. Start off with an authentic tapa appetizer like sea scallops topped with leek fondue and toasted pistachios or Serrano ham with pickled cucumber. For your main course try Olivar's hearty marinated lamb tenderloin with green olive tapenade, honey glazed duck breast with summer squash or grilled eggplant cannelloni. A full tasting menu with wine pairings is also available.
Olivar
Loveless building
806 E. Roy
Seattle, WA 98102
206-322-0409
olivarrestaurant.com
A native of the coastal town of Bilbao in Spain's Basque Country, Chef Juan Hontanilla brings the flavors and recipes of his homeland to this university area Seattle restaurant. This dimly lit, convivial tapas bar and restaurant is popular with the movie-going crowd, though many stay for hours, savoring the unique dishes that only a Basque native could produce. Try Bilbao's hot tapas such as warm spinach with toasted pine nuts and golden raisins, pan fried goat cheese with sweet onions, roasted red pepper chorizo or marinated octopus topped with sea salt and Spanish olive oil. Or go for some cold plates like chilled pan seared tuna, medley of Spanish olives or roasted red peppers topped with saffron cream sauce. Bilbao's wine list features classic sangria and many Spanish wines.
Bilbao
4500 Ninth Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98105
206-547-5034
bilbaorestaurant.com
