Editor’s Note: The author, a former restaurant reviewer for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and assistant editor of Seattle Best Places, lists his favorite eating places in the Seattle area.

Salumi
$$ Very informal, very authentic Italian cured meats in sandwiches, cold platters and beautiful soups. 309 3rd Ave. S., Pioneer Square 206-621-8772

Kolbeh
$ Persian Restaurant. Authentic Iranian food in a friendly, secular setting. 1956 1st Ave. S., Pioneer Square 206-224-9999

Al Boccalino
$$ Old world service and great Tuscan cuisine in a pretty, romantic hideaway, great wine list. Yesler Way, Pioneer Square 206-622-7688

Flying Fish
$$$ Innovative, serious seafood in an energetic, casually chic setting. Lunch & dinner. 2234 1st Ave., Belltown
206-728-8595

Saito’s Japanese Cafe & Bar
$$$ Seattle’s best sushi- look for Ichiro or the Japanese Ambassador—don’t miss the geoduc. 2122 2nd Ave., Belltown
206-728-1333

Marjorie
$$$ Creative pan-global fusion of Indian, Moroccan, Italian, Sri Lankan, and French served in a beautiful room. 2331 2nd Ave., Belltown 206-441-9842

Axis
$ Glorious beer, sleek interior w/clientele to match; wood-fired meats, fried pickles, roasted salmon and sushi. 2214 1st Ave., Belltown 206-441-9600

Frontier Room
$$ Excellent upscale BBQ in a faux Western setting with bar clientele to match. 2203 1st Ave., Belltown 206-956-7427

Shallots Asian Bistro
$ Reasonable priced pan-Asian cuisine, in a bistro setting. 2525 4th Ave., Belltown 206-728-1888

Macrina Bakery & Cafe
$ Real Seattle hangspot—great for breakfast: with the best brioche in town, honkin’ sandwiches on some of the best bread in the region. 2408 1st Ave., Belltown

El Gaucho
$$$ Retro-swank continental dinner: chateaubriand, Baked Alaska flamed tableside by fusty waitstaff in arm shirts and tuxedos. 2505 1st Ave., Belltown 206-728-1337

Brasa
$$ Innovative Mediterranean, Euro-Hispanic flavors. Best happy hour in town. 2107 3rd Ave., Belltown 206-728-4220

Oceanaire Seafood Room
$$$ Retro fish house in steamship moderne with the biggest and best seafood menu in town, excellently presented. Terrific raw bar. 1700 7th Ave., Downtown 206-267-2277

Dahlia Lounge
$$$ Renowned upscale comfort food of the renowned Tom Douglas. Great wine list and service. 2001 4th Ave., Downtown 206-682-4142

Metropolitan Grill
$$$ Hunks of meat done well or well done. Impeccable service and seafood too. Great wines. 820 2nd Ave., Downtown
206-624-3287

Wild Ginger Asian Restaurant & Satay Bar
$$ The original and arguably the best pan-Asian restaurant in the universe. 1401 3rd Ave., Downtown206-623-4450

Afrikando
$ The tasty food of Senegal served with African hospitality. 2904 1st Ave., Belltown 206-374-9714

Palace Kitchen
$$ Tom Douglas’ conversation bar with lots of homey-chic shareables. Great wine list. 2030 5th Ave., Belltown
206-448-2001

Etta’s Seafood
$$$ Pit-roasted salmon and Dungeness crab cakes. 2020 Western Ave., Belltown 206-443-6000

Matt’s in the Market
$$ Seattle’ secret. Chefs troll the market for the freshest food. 94 Pike St., 3rd floor, Pike Place Market 206-467-7909

Puerco Lloron
$ The tasty food of Oaxaca reliably presented. 1501 Western Ave., Pike Place Market 206-624-0541

The Pink Door
$$ Campy hideaway with Italian family fare, a sense of humor and jazz in the bar. 1919 Post Alley, Pike Place Market
206-443-3241

Le Pichet
$$ Tiny, authentic Parisian bistro. Great wine list, oysters, etc. 1933 1st Ave., Pike Place Market 206-256-1499

Kaspar’s
$$ Classic Seattle Euro-Asian dinners. Excellent service, wine list. 19 W. Harrison St., Queen Anne 206-298-0123

Ten Mercer
$ Chic conversation bar with excellent hors d’oeuvres and little plates. 10 Mercer St., Queen Anne 206-691-3723

Racha Noodles & Thai Cuisine
$ Seattle’s best Thai restaurant. 23 Mercer St., Queen Anne 206-281-8883