A long-time Seattle favorite perched high above Lake Union, Canlis (2576 Aurora Ave. N., www.canlis.com, 5:30 p.m.–midnight Mon.–Sat., $45) is where the hip go to dig into juicy steaks and a tasty house salad that has had patrons raving for 50 years. The pastry chef here is one of the tops in the city, so do not skip that last course.

One of my favorite special-event restaurants in the city is hidden away in Magnolia over the Elliott Bay Marina. With a Southern Seas–type decor and incredibly tasty steaks, seafood, and Northwest cuisine touched with a bit of Polynesia, Palisade (2601 West Marina Pl., 206/285-1000, 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4–9 p.m. Sun., 11:15 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 11:15 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. Fri., 4–10 p.m. Sat., $45) never fails to impress.

The best parts of the menu bookend your entrees: the appetizer pupu platters and delicious desserts. If you’re with a group, don’t miss The Captain’s Tower Pupu with seared teriyaki tenderloins, tiger prawns, and Dungeness crab. And finish the meal off with the trio of flavored crème brulees. Yum.