DINING KEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . up to $9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . $20–29 . . . . . . . . $30 or greater . . . . . . . . . . . . Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dinner . . . . . . . . . Family-Friendly . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takeout . . . . . . . . Outdoor Seating . . . . . . . . . . Reservations . . . . . . . . . . Happy Hour . . . . . . . . . New Review Menu items and prices are subject to change, so check before you go. See all our restaurant reviews on our Eat and Drink tab at BellinghamAlive.com * Review provided by restaurant.
WHATCOM BELLINGHAM CIDER CO. American 205 Prospect St., Bellingham 360.510.8494, bellinghamcider.com The food reminds me of the type of homecooked meal that, as a youngster, you would look forward to when your parents decided to make a special meal. Comfort food is reflected in the simple, yet thoughtful and well-executed dishes. Each dish has a handful of components and ingredients all locally or regionally sourced. The kitchen is open, and you can sit at the bar and chat. Dinner is Wednesday through Sunday, with lunch added on weekends. The short ribs, slowly braised in beer for hours, are fall-apart tender. With the appetizer of burnt carrots, lightly grilled/charred and fantastic on their own, the meal reminds me of my mother’s pot roast, in the best way. The most popular item on the menu? The chicken and waffles. Some advice: If you order the burnt carrots, ask for them extra dark.
CHIHUAHUA MEXICAN RESTAURANT Mexican 5694 Third Ave., Ferndale 360.384.5820 chihuahuamexicanrestaurant.com Dine in at one of the largest Mexican restaurants in Washington and experience the authentic cuisine that has come from more than 15 years of dedication to excellent food. Using family recipes passed down for generations, Chihuahua Mexican Restaurant will not only leave you full, but deeply satisfied. LATITUDE KITCHEN & BAR American 1065 E. Sunset Dr., Bellingham 360.707.7400, latituderestaurants.com With gourmet burgers on pretzel buns and pesto prawn linguine, Latitude Kitchen and Bar establishes itself as one of the first higherend, modern restaurants on Sunset Drive in Bellingham, just off I-5. This is a sister location to the Loft, a waterfront restaurant at Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor Marina. Latitude serves up the rich flavors of the Pacific Northwest. The locally sourced ingredients are all prepared in a “scratch” kitchen where nothing is microwaved, and all savory sauces, like those on the Seafood Chimichanga ($23.90) and decadent pastas (try their Crab Ravioli, $24.90) are made in-house.
209 N. Samish Way, 360.714.9995, Bellingham 2200 Rimland Dr., 360.738.9995, Bellingham 1224 Harris Ave., 360.676.9995, Bellingham onricethai.com Ask any college student: On Rice is the place to go in Bellingham. With its affordable lunch specials and three locations around town, it’s easy to enjoy one of On Rice’s many flavorful Thai dishes. A classic Thai favorite, Pad Thai, is interpreted well here. It’s sweet, without being overpowering, and has just enough spice to balance the dish out. All dishes are available with chicken, pork, beef, seafood, or tofu and can be made as spicy as you want them to be, between one and four stars. THE STEAK HOUSE AT SILVER REEF HOTEL C ASINO SPA Steak/Seafood 4876 Haxton Way, Ferndale 360.383.0777, silverreefcasino.com This award-winning restaurant offers elegant dining and an intimate atmosphere. Primegrade steaks are broiled at 1,800 degrees to lock in the natural juices and finished with a special steak butter. The wine list is ample and recognized for its quality by Wine Spectator. This dining experiences rivals any of the bigtown steak houses in quality and service without the big-city price tag.
THE LEADER BLOCK WINE CO. AND EATERY Italian
2026 Main St., Ferndale 360.306.8998, leaderblock.com
SWIM CLUB WET BAR American
The Leader Block pairs their extensive wine list with an Italian, from-scratch menu that emphasizes flavors of the region. To begin, start with a formaggi e salumi plate which features a selection of international meats and cheese, fruit, nuts and mustard for $18. For dinner try the salmone al forno for a classic Italian dish with a Pacific Northwest twist ($20). The fresh Pacific Northwest salmon is served with pesto, herbs and roasted fingerling potatoes. The Leader Block’s upscale menu make it a perfect spot for a date or special occasion, while the friendly Ferndale atmosphere and kids menu keeps it appropriate for family dinners too.
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 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.
MUTO RAMEN AND IZAKAYA Japanese 638 Peace Portal Dr., Blaine 360.306.8342, blackforeststeakhouse.com Black Forest Steak house offers a versatile dining experience. It’s fancy enough for special occasions, anniversaries, and graduation celebrations, but it’s also a place you’ll want to go to any day. Black Forest makes their steaks different than most other steakhouses: They broilsthem in a 1,600-degree oven, leaving the meat tender and flavorful.
DINE
ON RICE Thai
BLACK FOREST STEAKHOUSE German/Steak
Dining Guide
105 E. Chestnut St., Bellingham 360.647.3530 19505 44th Ave. W. Ste. K, Lynnwood 425.322.7599, mutoramen.com
TORRE CAFFE Italian
Muto Ramen and Izakaya does not disappoint for those looking for both atmosphere and flavor at a reasonable price. From crowd pleasers like chicken teriyaki and katsu to udon noodles and yakitori (Japanese skewers) to long lists of different ramen, sushi rolls, sashimi, and nigiri. Guests can look forward to many visits to explore the wide selection of Japanese dishes.
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.
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