DINE Dining Guide NORTHWATER Regional NW 4260 Mitchell Way, Bellingham 360.398.6191, northh2o.com From breakfast to late night dinner, Northwater’s 185-seat restaurant features Pacific Northwest dishes made from locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. We found the restaurant’s wait staff to be personable and enthusiastic, and eager to answer our queries about ingredient sources and what desserts they’d recommend. There’s a diverse menu of classic dishes with a twist, like the Seafood Sausage Corn Dogs with blueberry mustard — sweet-from-the-citrus cornbread and spicy from the mustard. Try the Fried Chicken and Waffle, featuring savory flavors of garlic and herbs drizzled with a pepper syrup. SCOTTY BROWNS North American Cuisine 3101 Newmarket St., Bellingham 360.306.8823 4255 Mitchell Way, Bellingham 360.318.7339 brownsrestaurantgroup.com/scottybrowns Scotty Browns offers an edgy, energetic ambiance, a varied menu of mainstream and upscale creations, and excellent drink options for all ages. Outdoor dining is a popular alternative during warmer weather. The selection of beer, wine, and cocktails is broad enough to accommodate most any mood. If you are into martinis or cosmos, try the Mr. Pink. The name is a little unnerving to order if you are male, but worth the leap of faith. Some items on the menu, like appetizers, change seasonally, so you know you’ll never get bored. Casual to upscale dining options range from hamburgers, rice bowls, and pastas to higher-end seafood and steaks. Also now available in the Bellingham airport, travelers can choose sitdown or takeout pub fare like burgers and pizza. Hours there vary, so call ahead.
ceviche, mussels, halibut, and oysters. The ceviche ($14.5) is colorful, crunchy and tart. The rockfish is complemented with mango, lime, and blood orange for a zesty, fresh experience. To balance all that citrus, try the chicken liver mousse ($8) as a creamy and indulgent partner to the ceviche. There are “poolside” beverages like the daiquiri, paloma, and Cosmopolitan, all classics with twists. The rum-forward pina colada with caramelized coconut, pineapple, and rum, is delicious.
TASTE OF INDIA Indian 3930 Meridian St., Ste. 107, Bellingham 360.778.1262 At Taste of India all the dishes are rich, delicious, and truly feel authentic. Dishes come with your choice of pulao rice or the classic Indian bread naan. Taste of India offers a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, all with exquisite and well-developed flavors. There’s also a variety of flavors of naan, including garlic or spinach. For those unsure of what to order, or those who want to try multiple dishes at once, try the lunch buffet.
Serving fresh, healthy meals with the customer in mind is what Super Mario’s is all about, and it’s the consistent flavor and quality of the food that keeps bringing people back. The veggies are chopped fresh daily, nothing is frozen, and nothing is cooked until it’s ordered. In addition, nothing is deep fried. SWIM CLUB WET BAR American 1147 11th St., Bellingham 360.393.3826, swimclubbar.com The menus depend on the season, changing to take advantage of local ingredients as much as possible, Grayling says. For example, the spring menu, named De Le Mar, or “Of the Sea,” features numerous seafood dishes like
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ANELIA’S KITCHEN Polish 513 South 1st St., La Conner 360.399.1805, aneliaskitchenandstage.com A welcoming atmosphere, local food prepared with care, and great music make Anelia’s Kitchen & Stage a must-visit. The more than 25 house-infused Polish vodkas and myriad of local beers on tap will make you wonder why you didn’t visit sooner. Na zdrowie!
306 W. Champion St.,Bellingham, 360.676.8660, templebarbellingham.com Continually recognized for their craft cocktails and small plates, Temple Bar aims to please. Begin with the classic Temple Bar cheese plate, a collection of three rotating cheeses varying in texture and flavor. They are often paired with fruit, honey, toasted nuts, and bread. Next, dive into a piping hot gratin, which varies based on what is in season. In between bites of a salad made with locally sourced ingredients, sip on a unique cocktail with house made infusions and bitters. Finally nibble on the chocolate chili muffins: the perfect end to a charming experience. TORRE CAFFE Italian
3008 Northwest Ave., Bellingham 360.393.4637
SKAGIT
TEMPLE BAR Bistro
SUPER MARIO’S Salvadorian
cages and desks have been replaced with a sleek marble bar top and custom-made tables. Sinfully delicious is the Washington Mac & Cheese. Béchamel bourbon cheese sauce that includes local cheeses from Gothberg, Ferndale Farmstead and Twin Sisters, is topped with bourbon and truffle oil. The Seafood Chowder, made with bay shrimp and fresh Dungeness crab, is a sensually smooth and creamy rich soup that arouses one’s desire for more. A talented kitchen also produces flatbread style pizza that is served on thick, hand-crafted wooden trays, which helps keep the pie hot.
119 N. Commercial St., Ste. 130, Bellingham 360.734.0029 If you want an excellent early morning espresso or a taste of old Italy for lunch or just a midafternoon break, Torre Caffe is the place to go. It’s authentic, right down to their take-home lasagne. Traditional Italian lunch fare (soups, salads, paninis, and lunch-sized entrees) are made daily with the freshest ingredients. Go early, go often. Your tastebuds will thank you. THE VAULT Bistro 277 G St., Blaine 360.392.0955, thevaultwine.com This is the type of exceptional restaurant that Julia Child would arrive for late lunch and stay through dinner, and then remain for a night cap. Incredibly fresh ingredients make this wine-centric restaurant, located in a former bank building, a treat for the senses. Teller
BASTION BREWING COMPANY American 12529 Christianson Rd., Anacortes 360.399.1614, bastionbrewingcompany.com On the Bastion Brewing Company menu you’ll find classic salads like Cobb and Garden, no fuss burgers that can be gussied up with an array of add-ons including roasted jalapeños, onion straws, pineapple, and crispy chicken wings drenched in your choice of sauce. I ordered a fried fish sandwich with a side of onion rings. The food arrived to my table quickly, impressively quickly. Even more impressive was the quality of this fast-made food. Hot, crispy onion rings accompanied the equally crisp fried fish. A soft bun held the sandwich together. Biting through the Pankocrusted exterior revealed a succulent, flaky fish filet. Sandwich toppings were meant to complement the fish: fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, tangy pickles, and unassuming melted Swiss cheese. Halfway through the soft bun gave way, turning my sandwich into a five-napkin sort of meal in the best way possible. CALICO CUPBOARD American 901 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, 360.293.7315 720 S. 1st St., La Conner, 360.466.4451 121-B Freeway Dr., Mount Vernon, 360.336.3107, calicocupboardcafe.com Since 1981, Calico Cupboard has been serving the purest, most heart-healthy, and high-quality ingredients. Made with freshly milled, organically-grown, whole grain and unbleached flour, the cafe aims to promote its local farmers and gratify your body in the process. Sit down for breakfast or lunch, or just order from the bakery and grab an espresso to go. From cream puffs to eclairs to gluten-free berry crisp to