20 Best Restaurants in Kirkland, Washington
Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Kelly
Kirkland’s restaurant scene is definitely worth checking out. Instead of heading to Seattle or Bellevue for a date night, consider Kirkland! Kirkland has restaurants with waterfront views, fine dining, and more. We frequently visit Kirkland, and today we’re sharing our picks for the best restaurants in Kirkland!
Map of the Restaurants
We created this map of the best restaurants in Kirkland so you can easily plan your dining experience.
Also be sure to check out our full visit guide for a list of 20 things to do in Kirkland!
The Best Restaurants in Kirkland
1. COMO | $$$
Reservations are recommended.
We’ve dined at COMO several times, and it’s one of our favorite restaurants in Kirkland. COMO is an Italian restaurant located on Carillon Point. COMO has direct views of Lake Washington.
During the day, COMO has a light and airy decor that reminds me of a small town in the Mediterranean. At night, the lights are dim and the restaurant has a romantic feel.
The dishes at COMO are absolutely fabulous. The pasta is all handmade, so we definitely recommend you try at least one pasta dish.
During our last visit, we started our meal with the Baked Cedar Plank Pecorino cheese, which was topped with truffle honey.
I ordered the Dungeness Crab Risotto, which was decadent and creamy. Although it’s hard to see from the photo, the risotto had a generous portion of large chunks of Dungeness crab meat. It was delicious!
My husband ordered the Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu and Calabria Chili. The dish had just the right level of spice, and the pappardelle noodles were perfection.
The menu at COMO rotates frequently, so it’s definitely a restaurant worth visiting more than once. We’ve experienced excellent service on each occasion that we’ve visited. If the Rigatoni with Sausage ever makes it back on the menu, we highly recommend that one as well!
There’s a paid parking garage at Carillon Point. Once you’re inside the garage, follow the signs that lead to COMO. Once you exit the garage, you’ll just head up the stairs and you’ll be right at the restaurant’s entrance.
2. Cafe Juanita | $$$$
Reservations are recommended.
Don’t let the name fool you – this is not a casual cafe. Cafe Juanita is a fine dining restaurant located in the Juanita neighborhood of Kirkland.
Cafe Juanita is an upscale Northern Italian restaurant located in a grove of mature trees.
The restaurant offers four prix-mixe tasting menus: omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan. There’s also the option to have wine pairings for each of the menus.
The dress code for Cafe Juanita is formal. Cafe Juanita is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion in Kirkland!
3. Volterra | $$$
Reservations are recommended.
Volterra is another restaurant that specializes in Italian cuisine. Volterra focuses primarily on the Italian region of Tuscany. Celebrity chef Rachael Ray has stated that Volterra is one of her “favorite restaurants in the world.” Volterra has received numerous accolades, and it’s considered one of the best restaurants in Western Washington.
Volterra has an extensive menu that features homemade pastas. They also have an excellent wine list. If you’re looking for a good spot for a date night in Kirkland, definitely consider Volterra.
4. Cactus | $$
Reservations are recommended.
Cactus, a restaurant that focuses on Southwestern cuisine, has several restaurant locations in the Pacific Northwest. We’ve visited several Cactus locations, and we had a really great experience at the Kirkland location.
We started off our meal with two mocktails (since I was pregnant). We ordered the Hibiscus Mango Sour and the Avocado Pineapple Shrub. Both were really good. I don’t always think that mocktails are “worth it”, but these two definitely were great.
I ordered the Roasted Corn and Prawn Tamales from the Featured Menu. Oh my gosh, this entree was SO good. I especially loved the chipotle cream sauce.
My husband ordered the Brisket Burrita Leñera. This entree had lots of good reviews online, and it lived up to the hype.
For dessert, we had the flan. Every bite of our meal at Cactus was delicious!
5. Santa Fe Mexican Grill & Cantina | $$
If you’re craving Mexican food, Santa Fe Mexican Grill & Cantina is a great restaurant in Kirkland to check out. I went there for lunch on my birthday a few years ago, and I had a nice dining experience.
The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Kirkland. During the summer, they open the windows and it’s fun to people-watch and see all the activity downtown.
The menu is inspired by the Santa Fe neighborhood in the Mexican city of Guadalajara.
6. George’s | $$
George’s is a diner that’s located in downtown Kirkland. We highly recommend you visit George’s for breakfast or brunch. George’s has been awarded Best Breakfast in the Best of Kirkland contest for 9 years!
My husband ordered the Eggs Benedict, and he was a big fan of their Hollandaise sauce.
I ordered the Breakfast Parfait, which we both thought was amazing. (The sweetened yogurt tasted so good!)
I also ordered a side order of the Biscuits and Gravy. The biscuit was heavenly.
We really enjoyed dining at George’s. If you’re looking for a breakfast spot, definitely consider this restaurant.
7. Kathakali | $$
Kathakali is an Indian restaurant located between Juanita Bay Park and Juanita Beach Park. The restaurant specializes in cuisine from the Kerala region of India. After an afternoon at the waterfront, Kathakali is a great place to fill up.
8. Sparrow | $$
Reservations are recommended.
Sparrow is a new restaurant that’s located in the Juanita neighborhood of Kirkland. Sparrow specializes in contemporary American cuisine. In addition to their dining room, they also have a lounge with an excellent cocktail menu.
9. Oto Sushi | $$
Oto Sushi serves sushi and Japanese dishes. Both chefs have had extensive experience training with sushi masters. For high-quality sushi and sashimi, you should definitely check out Oto.
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10. Hearth | $$
Reservations are recommended.
Hearth is located adjacent to the elegant Heathman Hotel in downtown Kirkland. Hearth focuses on American comfort food, handmade pizzas, and craft cocktails. In addition to their dining room, they have an outdoor heated patio. The heat warmers are powerful and they really do make the patio comfortable year-round. I sat outside on the patio on a cold day, and I was very comfortable.
During our visit to Hearth, I ordered the Complete Breakfast. The breakfast potatoes were my favorite. They were so crispy!
My husband ordered the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich. He also enjoyed his meal.
We definitely enjoyed our brunch at Hearth in Kirkland!
11. Coastline Burgers | $$
Coastline Burgers runs by the motto of “The Greatest Buns of All Time.” They definitely make sure that the bread on their burgers is perfection!
Coastline Burgers has an extensive burger menu, with favorites such as The Coastline, The Super Bacon, The Spicy BBQ, and the Avocado Burger. They also have seasonal selections. For example, at the time of this writing, the seasonal selections include options such as the Rojo Burger and the Fried Rojo Burger. Also be sure to grab one of their milkshakes!
12. Santorini Greek Grill | $
Santorini Greek Grill is located in downtown Kirkland and they serve up authentic Greek food. On their menu they have an assortment of gyros, souvlaki, falafels, and baklava. There’s a small dining room inside, and you can also take your order to-go. (We brought our meal back to our hotel.)
We ordered a gyro and a spanokopita. It hit the spot!
13. Bottle and Bull | $$
Reservations are recommended.
Bottle & Bull is a tavern that serves craft cocktails alongside a scratch kitchen. Their menu rotates based on local ingredients, so it’s definitely a restaurant that you’ll want to return to again and again.
The theming of Bottle & Bull is inspired by the life of Ernest Hemingway. Two of Hemingway’s primary hobbies were drinking and bullfighting, hence the name of the restaurant.
14. Feast | $$
Reservations are recommended.
Feast is a French brasserie located on Kirkland’s beautiful Park Lane. Whether you’re craving Steak Frites or a Duck Cassoulet, you’ll find numerous French classics on their menu. Also be sure to check out their extensive wine list!
15. Anthony’s HomePort | $$$
Reservations are recommended.
Anthony’s HomePort is a franchise of seafood restaurants located in the Pacific Northwest. Anthony’s is located within walking distance just south of the Marina Park Pavilion.
Anthony’s HomePort is known for its waterfront views and its fresh seafood selection. I’ve dined at several of the Anthony’s locations, and I especially love their clam chowder.
16. Lynn’s Bistro | $$$
Reservations are recommended.
Lynn’s Bistro serves French cuisine. You can find French classics like Escargot and French Onion Soup, as well as Rack of Lamb and Dungeness Crab Cakes. In addition to their regular menu, Lynn’s Bistro also offers a multi-course prix fixe menu.
17. Ristorante Paradiso | $$
Reservations are recommended.
Ristorante Paradiso is an Italian restaurant located on Kirkland’s famous Park Lane. The menu is inspired by Sardinian recipes. Their menu is filled with authentic Italian favorites.
18. Lady Yum | $$
For dessert, we recommend that you head to Lady Yum. Lady Yum is a Pacific Northwest franchise that focuses on macarons, champagne, and artisanal gifts. Their macaron selection is extensive, and I’ve tried many of their flavors over the years. I definitely could not pick a favorite… they are all too yummy!
In addition to their regular menu of macarons, they also offer monthly favorites and a seasonal menu. Last time I was there, I tried the Unicorn macaron. It tasted just like cotton candy! The macarons at Lady Yum are also beautifully-packaged for gifts. We recently traveled to Paris, and we have to say, the macarons at Lady Yum are just as good as the ones we tried in Paris!
19. Kirkland Bakery | $
We were lucky to find the Kirkland Bakery after staying at the Heathman Hotel in downtown Kirkland. The bakery is located right across the street from the hotel, and we headed over for coffee and a pastry one morning.
We could immediately tell that the Kirkland Bakery was popular! The whole time we were sipping our coffee, there was a good line. (The line moved swiftly, but there was certainly a lot of demand!) In addition to our coffee, we also ordered a Bear Claw. It was scrumptious! My husband made me promise we’d come back to the Kirkland Bakery for more of their pastries. Everything looked delicious!
20. Sirena Gelato | $
After a nice dinner in Kirkland, definitely head to Sirena Gelato for dessert. The name “sirena” translates to “mermaid” in the Italian language. Sirena Gelato is located on the beautiful Park Lane in Kirkland. My husband ordered an ice cream cookie, and I ordered a cup of the Double Cookie Dough gelato. It was super creamy and delicious!
Kirkland Waterfront Restaurants
If you’re looking for restaurants in Kirkland with views of the waterfront, we recommend the following:
- COMO
- Anthony’s HomePort
- BeachHouse Bar + Grill
- Le Grand Bistro Americain
Each of these restaurants has tables with views of Lake Washington.
Summary
As you can see, there are tons of great restaurants in Kirkland. If we had to pick our absolute favorites, we would probably choose COMO. The restaurant has waterfront views, homemade pasta, and excellent service. It’s hard to beat that combo! We hope this restaurant guide was helpful as you plan your own night out in Kirkland.
To recap, here’s our list of the best restaurants in Kirkland, Washington:
- COMO
- Cafe Juanita
- Volterra
- Cactus
- Santa Fe Mexican Grill & Cantina
- George’s
- Kathakali
- Sparrow
- Oto Sushi
- Hearth
- Coastline Burgers
- Santorini Greek Grill
- Bottle and Bull
- Feast
- Anthony’s HomePort
- Lynn’s Bistro
- Ristorante Paradiso
- Lady Yum
- Kirkland Bakery
- Sirena Gelato
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
