Restaurants I'm Aspiring to Visit in 2011

The idea behind this post is not to limit my recommendations to restaurants I've found the time or resources to try. How about those that I hear good things about, but haven't yet tried. I'll call this my hit list for 2011. If you've dined there, please leave a comment. The list will grow through the year.

• The Walrus and The Carpenter in the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle is located at 4743 Ballard Ave NW (206) 395-9227.

Doesn't the name pique your curiosity? This is an Oyster Bar from the chef at Boat Street Cafe. (see blog post from September 2010) The idea to visit comes from a link found on the popular blog, Orangette.

• Copperleaf is the restaurant at a hotel near SeaTac airport called Cedarbrook Lodge. The chef is known for his recent tenure at the famous French Laundry in the Napa Valley and the restaurant is seeing lots of press these days.

• Pegasus Coffee House in the town of Winslow on Bainbridge Island is just a couple of blocks off the main street downtown. I stopped for coffee to go around Thanksgiving and the menu made me want to come back for a meal.

• Local 360 in the Belltown neighborhood in downtown Seattle is recommended by H.R. after his recent visit. Their manifesto is to use the bulk of their ingredients from within 360 miles of Seattle. The menu is tempting to me and I'm really interested in the "small plates" idea I've seen at lots of restaurants lately.

• Reds at Kent Station is a new wine bar that had its Grand Opening in February and I plan to visit soon.