DIL has a very special occasion in about 2 weeks. We had thought to send flowers but have decided that she and S
would much rather have a special dinner out.
I wanted to just buy a card for Stanford’s from Costco. They live in the U Village area. The menu of the Stanford’s
in Northgate confused me. It does not look like a typical steakhouse.
SO! Suggestions for $80-100 for a gift certificate for DIL? Does not need to be the most cutting edge place ever–just a nice ambiance and a decent steak.
Thanks!
Does it have to be a steak house? I had a great meal with friends at a restaurant called Ten Mercer a few weeks ago.
There are very few “typical steakhouses” around here because there are so few pure carnivores in this area. How about a card to a place that is not in their immediate area? I bet they would want to get out of their neighbothood to dine. We are huge fans of Seastar restaurants that are owned by the founding chef. There is one in Bellevue and one in Amazombieland (aka South Lake Union). The seafood is awesome, and the steaks do not disappoint! Chef Howie also owns a steakhouse.
Another thought - Daniel’s Broiler? Huge, yummy steaks. I think Costco sells their discounted cards, too.
Coworkers like Ruth’s Chris and Metropolitan Grill when the big bosses come to town,.
Canlis, near Queen Anne, is the classic Seattle steak restaurant with a beautiful view, but pricey. I would recommend Joule, which is near Wallingford and Fremont. It is called an “Asian fusion steakhouse” and the food is fantastic.
Metropolitan Grill is the place where presidents have been known to dine. Very good, some sides are brought to your table and cooked there. Real old school feel almost like the “smoking rooms” of old. It’s downtown. Stanford’s is not a steakhouse. but the food is pretty good. We go for their happy hour small plates. The Northgate one is in the mall.
For a twist on “typical” I would suggest Novilhos, a Brazilian style steak house. There is one in Bellevue off the freeway and one in the Lake Union area, closer to the U. There’s a Groupon for it right now. We went there the other night for my birthday and the prime rib literally melted in my mouth. I didn’t know steak could even do that. Every cut we were served was amazing.
I don’t normally recommend chains. Seriously, I don’t. But the best steak I ever had (and I LOVE steak) was at Morton’s in Seattle. (The second best was at a steakhouse in Naples, FL.)
Don’t know their financial situation but $80 - $100 for two won’t cover much at a typical big chain steakhouse. If you intend for that to cover a full meal and possibly part of a gratuity, might want to scale back a bit.
Agree. But $100 will cover a fancy meal for 2 during the Restaurant Week 
Add 2 glasses of mid-range wine and 10% tax, so all the diners have to leave is a tip.
Super ideas! I will look at all of these suggestions.
I have looked at some of the menus and, wow, $$$$.
Will add more or make this a couples gift for Christmas.
Gosh, may need to serve a steak this week!
Thanks everyone!
El Gaucho food is good but the place is so dark that the hostess walked right by me without greeting. I think it was because I wore a black outfit. Agree with the lack of good local steakhouses. We are more well known for excellent seafood. Can highly recommend Ray’s boathouse, a local institution. Anthony’s is also very good, less expensive.
Novilhos put me into a food coma afterwards, and this is lunch! Only for truly big meat eaters.
@ccreader in the famous words of H’s restaurant insider friend, “pace yourself”. Honestly, with steak as amazing as Novilhos serves, a small salad or selection of veggies from the salad bar take a few cuts of steak (or lamb or pork if you prefer, I guess) and you won’t even WANT to stuff yourself. After that melting steak I had I didn’t want to spoil the taste with anything else but another small piece of the same.
But I agree with both suggestions for seafood-both are excellent.
JaK’s Grill is a popular neighborhood steakhouse near U Village. They serve good steak dishes that won’t bust your budget. The ambiance may be a bit casual for a special occasion.
Bateau on Capitol Hill has received great reviews and lives up to the hype. The cuts of steak vary from day-to-day, which they write on a chalkboard. This will be a pricey dining experience, but the food is elegant and delicious.
Daniel’s or The Met. Stanfords is the worst of chain food. Part of Restaurants Unlimited, but not the good part.
Ethan Stowell’s Red Cow in the Madrona neighborhood is nice & wont break the bank.
Jak’s is kind of old-school, but good. Although I did have a bad experience there with a family who had obnoxious children doing obnoxious things. The Laurelhurst one gets a lot of families.
This is in Bellevue, so a bus ride away, but it serves great steaks and has a very nice views of Mt. Rainier AND the dining room is quiet!
Some sides are prepared tableside. Not cheap though!
And when I was in high school, that property was “the” movie theater in town. All the good shows debuted at the John Danz.
El Gaucho or the Met for steak, the chains are fine (Morton’s, Ruth Chris) but I vastly prefer the others. For their age El Gaucho is a much better fit ambiance wise.
I would not choose Stanfords for any kind of special occasion. We occasionally eat there in the bar, because it’s close and we get sick of the RAM. Enough said lol.
I’d maybe look at Joey Kitchen at Uvillage as an easy option with a nice variety of items on the menu.
Are you sure your DIL really wants steak? The seafood in Seattle is terrific- especially during salmon season. I noted a poster’s comment about Seattle not being as much a “meat and potatoes” town. Perhaps the local cuisine tastes have affected them.