By Christine Howard (@_eatwithstine)
The recent resurrection of Black food culture in Seattle has breathed new life into breakfast runs, lunch hours, date nights, and dinner time across the Pacific Northwest.
The return of the legendary Catfish Corner has diners throughout the region flocking to the city’s Central District for a taste of their homemade tartar sauce and flaky catfish strips. Media darlings like Communion Restaurant & Bar have become the standard bearer for authentic, yet innovative Soul cuisine. And newcomers like Metier Brewing, Seattle’s first Black-owned brewery, and mainstays like Osteria la Spiga are redefining what is typically considered a “Black food” experience.
As the number of Black-owned restaurants in Seattle expands, so does the regional palette. Food bloggers, like myself, are salivating. Actually – anyone with tastebuds is.
Though Black Restaurant Week 2022, sponsored by the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and Byrd Barr Place, is taking place from February 25 – March 6 in the Northwest U.S. – showcasing Black-owned restaurants in Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Tacoma, and Vancouver – these Black-owned restaurants are contributing to the region’s food scene 365 days a year. And they deserve our support for “More than Just a Week.”
Read on for my top picks of Black-owned restaurants in Seattle that you can support this week and every week!
Café Campagne
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 206.728.2233
Café Campagne is a delightful Parisian restaurant nestled in the heart of Pike Place Market. Chef Daisley Gordon began as a line cook in the restaurant’s first year of opening, and has since rose to the ranks of owner and executive chef. With nearly three decades of restaurant experience under his belt, Chef Daisley continues to impress locals and visitors alike with classically prepared French dishes.
Try this: My favorites are the Omelette Choisy, a rolled omelette with herbs, escarole & chèvre cheese, and the Brioche French Toast topped with fruit and maple syrup.
Boon Boona Coffee
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 206.328.5829
Boon Boona Coffee brings traditional East African coffee to modern Seattle. They source all of their beans from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, and more, with a focus on supporting woman-owned growers. Efrem Fesaha, founder and CEO, is a born and raised Seattleite from an Eritrean family with vast ties to the East African community and its rich history with coffee.
Go for: The harmonious atmosphere for a study session or remote work.
RELATED: The Best Black-Owned Coffee Shops to Work & Study in LA, Houston, New York, Portland, and More
Osteria la Spiga
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 206.323.8881
Osteria la Spiga is a modern Italian restaurant serving excellent dinner and decadent desserts five nights a week. Chef Sabrina Tinsley and her husband, Pietro Borghesi, opened this alluring neighborhood spot in 1998 with quality, seasonal dishes that will please even the most sophisticated palette. The newer location in Capitol Hill has the perfect atmosphere to impress an out-of-town guest. They host a superb wine collection alongside their handmade pastas that use fresh organic local eggs and sustainably produced Shepherd’s Grain flour.
Try this: My favorite pasta preparation is the Tagliatelle Al Burro Di Tartufo, which features tender noodles with white alba truffle butter.
Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant
Website | Instagram | Facebook| 206.860.1724
Meskel has been a mainstay for Ethiopian food in Seattle for nearly three decades. Tucked away in a converted home along a row of Ethiopian restaurants in the Central District, you will find authentic injera, tender tibbs, and a variety of vegetable options on the menu. All of the main dishes are generous in portion size and the fragrant sauces can be spiced to your liking.
Try this: If you are a fan of succulent meats, I recommend starting your experience with the Yebere (beef) Tibbs.
Plum Bistro
Website | Instagram| Facebook| 206.838.5333
Plum Bistro is my go-to spot for the best vegan food in Seattle. Settled in the Capitol Hill neighborhood for over a decade, Plum Bistro has an industrial-chic atmosphere with artfully plated dishes. Chef Makini Howell is a lifelong vegan who curates plant-based meals that include organically grown seasonal produce from family-owned farms. The Plum Restaurants family also includes Plum Chopped, Plum Truck, Sugar Plum, and the former Pantry by Plum Bistro.
Try this: You won’t think of dairy the same after trying their Mac & Yeast!
RELATED: Vegan Blackberry Donut Recipe
Communion Restaurant & Bar
Website| Instagram| Facebook| 206.391.8140
Communion on Union has quickly become a world-renowned fixture in the Black culinary community. Chef Kristi Brown and her son Damon Bomar co-own this elevated Soul Food restaurant and bar serving up dishes with a nod to Seattle greats like Ms. Thompson and Miss Hellen. Their menu includes divine gluten-free and vegetarian options like the Fried Oyster Mushroom Po’Mi, alongside lively libations – my favorite being the Nearest Green Apple made with Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey.
Try this: Don’t leave without trying the Hood Sushi and PTL Wings.
Simply Soulful
Website | Instagram | Facebook | 206.474.9841
Simply Soulful is a neighborhood Soul Food joint currently available for take-out only. What started as a farmers’ market stand selling their notorious sweet potato pie, has expanded into a café serving fried chicken, fried catfish, red beans, oxtails, cornbread, mac & cheese, greens, yams, and more.
Try this: I highly recommend starting with the combo meal to try a little bit of everything for under $20.
Author: Black Restaurant Week
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