The Herbfarm (Woodinville; tel. 425/485-5300): This restaurant, located northeast of Seattle adjacent to several wineries, was once little more than a roadside farm stand specializing in herbs, but over the years has become the most highly acclaimed (and most expensive) restaurant in the state.
The Chef's Kitchen Restaurant at the Inn at Langley (Langley; tel. 360/221-3033): This quintessentially Northwestern inn on Whidbey Island is one of the state's most luxurious accommodations. Open on weekends only, the restaurant serves some of the best multicourse gourmet dinners in Washington. Make reservations early.
Olga's (Orcas Island; tel. 360/376-5862): Although this delightfully eclectic little restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch, the food served at these two meals is as creative as you'll find at any gourmet restaurant in the state.
Molly Ward Gardens (Poulsbo; tel. 360/779-4471): Housed in an old barn in a small rural valley outside the Scandinavian theme town of Poulsbo, this restaurant sums up Northwest lifestyles with its country gardens, eclectic decor, and creative cuisine.
The Ajax Cafe (Port Hadlock; tel. 360/385-3450): With excellent food, live old-time music on the weekends, and silly hats hanging from the ceiling (and frequently worn by dinner guests), the Ajax Cafe is a hidden gem of a restaurant south of Port Townsend. Housed in an old wooden waterfront building, the restaurant is a favorite of people with something to celebrate.
The Ark Restaurant & Bakery (Nahcotta; tel. 360/665-4133): Oyster lovers take note, this restaurant on the Long Beach Peninsula is just down the road from Oysterville and is adjacent to oyster farms and an oyster packing plant, so you know the shellfish here is as fresh as it gets.
The Depot Restaurant (Seaview; tel. 360/642-7880): Small, out of the way, casual and inexpensive, yet with excellent food -- this is just the sort of restaurant you dream of finding on vacation. The Depot was indeed once a railroad depot, and today, the cooking here is right on track.
Sun Mountain Lodge (Winthrop; tel. 800/572-0493 or 509/996-4707): If you get vertigo easily, you may want to forego meals at this precipitously perched dining room overlooking the Methow Valley. However, if you relish creative cooking accompanied by dizzying mountain views, this restaurant should not be missed.
Patit Creek Restaurant (Dayton; tel. 509/382-2625): The small town of Dayton seems an unlikely place for one of the state's best restaurants, but the reliable French-inspired fare served at this unpretentious place draws diners from miles around.
Whitehouse-Crawford Restaurant (Walla Walla; tel. 509/525-2222): Located in downtown Walla Walla, which is at the heart of Washington's fastest-growing wine region, this restaurant is housed in a former mill building and shares space with a winery. The scene and the menu have a decidedly Seattle feel.
