These three Washington restaurants were named some of the best places to eat in US
Three Washington restaurants landed spots on a list of the 50 best places to eat in the country.
The New York Times rated these eateries, all in Seattle, among the places in 2021 it is “most excited about right now.”
From welcoming soul food served at Communion to Korean dishes at Paju and modern Filipino cuisine at Archipelago, these restaurants made a lasting impression.
The list comes after the food industry suffered more than a year of hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Times editors, reporters and dining critics from across the country curated a list that reflects “the rich mosaic of American dining.”
They highlighted restaurants from coast to coast, noting classics and adding new places.
They all have one thing in common, though.
“All of them beckon us back to the table,” the newspaper wrote.
Communion serves “Seattle soul” cuisine such as grilled okra, neck-bone stew, catfish and grits, and local clams and mussels, the newsroom noted.
“Seattle soul tells the story of a marriage between a love for people, the cultures that made me and the food that’s nurtured me,” Chef Kristi Brown said on the restaurant’s website.
Paju’s dining room might be cozy, but the Korean dishes are “elegant and expressive.”
A Times food critic raved about Bill Soo Jeong’s Paju fried rice served with kimchi, bacon, squid ink and a smoked quail egg.
The chefs at Archipelago do more than serve “excellent” Filipino food.
“They tell complicated, expansive stories about the Pacific Northwest and the many ways that Filipino immigrants have shaped it, using words, pictures and even some unexpected dance moves behind the pass,” New York Times food critic Tejal Rao said.
Rao pointed out the puff of pan de sal, the tender rib-eye steak and the wafting smell of shrimp paste.
The small restaurant seats six to 10 people at a time and is booked for reservations until December.
“We love conversation and discussion, but also welcome those who want to sit back and enjoy the show,” Archipelago wrote on its website. “The restaurant is our second house.”
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 2:14 PM with the headline "These three Washington restaurants were named some of the best places to eat in US."
