Killer views and fresh seafood at Salty’s Alki

The best view of the Seattle skyline last night was from Jay’s and my table at Salty’s Restaurant on Alki. Period.

 

If you think Alki Beach in West Seattle is hard to get to, don’t. It’s a breezy drive over the West Seattle bridge. Then you just take the exit furthest to the right (Harbor Avenue) that leads to the beach, and Salty’s is the first and only restaurant on the right.

The food is good and the atmosphere is fun. Open, bright, an outside deck, whimsical sculpture throughout the restaurant. It’s a great gathering place and it requires reservations.

I had the halibut cheeks over sticky rice with a delicious pear and fennel compote of sorts on top—the special of the day, which is always the freshest and best on the menu. Jay had the mixed seafood cocktail of breaded salmon, cod, shrimp, etc. It was okay, but mine was better! I recommend the non-breaded seafood here to get the best taste and preparation. Salty’s purchases from fishermen who use sustainable practices, and the produce is locally sourced. The desserts look amazing—we were too full to eat one, but you can see what they offer as you walk past the open kitchen and dessert bar on your way to your table.

Alki is one of the best spots to be on a sunny evening, or during the day! And Salty’s is a great place to grab a bite to eat or linger over dinner with a special someone.

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There are lots of great places to eat in Kirkland, but not many have the view that Beach Café at the Woodmark on Carillon Point offers. It provides the perfect atmosphere for a summer evening—relaxed dining in a lounge or restaurant, and outdoor eating on the patio when weather permits.

I am a bit partial to the place on Thursday nights because my son and a couple of his friends play jazz there—and it’s fabulous! If you don’t believe me, just ask some of the regulars.

The menu is good, but not always consistent. I have enjoyed salads there, and the latest menu has an appetizer of chicken curry lettuce cups that is a great small meal. The burgers and sandwiches are consistently good and the fries are perfect.

After a casual dinner at Beach Café, Carillon Point is the perfect spot for walking on a summer evening! It’s one of my favorite hangouts.

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The Pacific Northwest is a great place to premiere a musical about hiking, especially with the mountains we’ve been seeing lately! The creative team of a brand new musical, Trails, agreed with me when I met them at Village Theatre’s Issaquah location. Christy Hall (book), Jordan Mann (lyrics), and Jeff Thomson (music) were hard at work getting Trails ready to make its world premiere, and every day they woke up in the shadow of the Cascade Mountain range. It seemed serendipitous to them, as did many things in the creative process of birthing this musical, which, in truth, is about much more than hiking.

According to the threesome, there is a sort of “trail magic” that happens to people on long treks, like the one taken by the main characters in Trails on the Appalachian Trail. Hall said the trail gives its trekkers what they need along the way. Likewise, the creative team has experienced what they needed at every turn, leading them to this point—the musical’s first full production with the talented cast and crew at Village Theatre.

It has been said that most people who hike a long trail, such as the Appalachian, are on some sort of a quest. As the musical progresses, the audience gains insight into the quest that Mike (Dane Stokinger) and Seth (Joshua Carter), best friends from childhood, are on. The haunting memories that underscore their pain propel them toward each other, even when they want to run in opposite directions. It is their friendship that ultimately brings the healing both need.

This is not a light-hearted show; it is a show about life and death, and how we deal with it. But it has moments of joy and laughter, and a solid cast balances the brevity and drama well. Village Theatre is always top-notch and its production of Trails is no different. I recommend it.

Trails shows at the Everett Performing Arts Center through May 19. Go to www.village threatre.org for more information.

Photos include Dane Stokinger (Mike), Joshua Carter (Seth), Kirsten deLohr Helland (Amy), and Bobie Kotula, John Patrick Lowrie and Sarah Rose Davis (trail guides). Photos by Jay Koh.

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